|
Forums >
Photography Talk >
Portable strobes & packs...what are you using?
What's everyone using for portable studio strobes? Oct 25 07 01:49 pm Link Hensel + Alien Bee. Power: www.innovatronix.com Small, gas-powered 1200 watt generator for longer location shoots. Oct 25 07 01:50 pm Link Bowens Gemini (2 heads) and it's matched DC battery pack. Oct 25 07 01:54 pm Link what are you getting for recycle time on the Aliens? Are you running the hensle pack or the Alien pack? Oct 25 07 01:57 pm Link I got AB800's and a Vagabond 300. I've never really driven it to the edge before, but as far as I can tell it's a good combo Oct 25 07 02:00 pm Link Alien Bee's and Vagabond PS Oct 25 07 02:01 pm Link lumedyne 200 w/s kit. and a 580 ex it does anything i ever need it to do. Oct 25 07 02:02 pm Link Calumet (Bowens) Gemini 750s with travelpack plus and a couple of battery extenders. Oct 25 07 02:03 pm Link profoto compact-r monolight + vagabond 2 + and alot of patience Oct 25 07 02:15 pm Link Brian DeMello wrote: The Innovatronix Sine Wave inverter I use can run both the Alien Bee and Hensel together. It has a dual input for two strobes simultaneously. It recycles within 1-2 seconds. Oct 25 07 02:17 pm Link Thanks guys...this is just confirming me research Keep 'em coming B Oct 25 07 02:25 pm Link profoto b2 Oct 25 07 02:26 pm Link Profoto acute r 600 Oct 25 07 02:44 pm Link Two Calumet Travelites 750 watts. I also use the Profoto from school. It's a nice mid size powerpack that is both a powerpack and built in battery for location. I wished that I had that pack before the Travelites because I will have to by a power unit for location in order to use my Travelites. But I love them. Oct 25 07 02:50 pm Link Visatec Litepac. The good thing is that it takes Broncolor modifiers. The bad thing is that I hate paying for Broncolor modifiers. Oct 25 07 03:01 pm Link I use Hensel Integra mono lights with Vagabond II on location. They are a little heavy for out doors but they work out OK. I am still saving up for Profoto. Oct 25 07 03:19 pm Link For lite duty, 3 Nikon SB800s powered by Quantum Turbo batteries. For medium to heavy lighting outdoors, an older Novatron 440 power pack and various heads powered by a 5kw generator. For best results, the Sun and an array of reflectors and scrims. Oct 25 07 03:27 pm Link ab400's or wl1600's and a vagabond 150  Oct 25 07 03:27 pm Link ward wrote: I second the Innovatronix. The Tronix Explorer 1200ws power source is great and has really good recycle times. It is better power and cost wise compared to the Vagabond. Oct 28 07 01:01 am Link Gregory Storm wrote: The Tronix is a 150W inverter w/ 12Ah battery. Comparable yes (to the old Vagabond), but "better power" physically no. Oct 28 07 01:12 am Link Innovatronix when I go monolights. Sunpak when I go battery. Oct 28 07 01:17 am Link Elinchrom Ranger . . . Quick recycle, great power . . . love 'em! Oct 28 07 01:24 am Link Speedotron Explorer 1500 Oct 28 07 05:29 am Link Ranger... BryanSikoraPhotography : High five! Cheers, Thomas Oct 28 07 05:33 am Link 2 sb800s with the remote commander Oct 28 07 08:15 am Link Photogenic PL's powered by a EU2000 Oct 28 07 08:28 am Link profoto acuteb 600 (wish i had pro 7b2) Oct 28 07 08:31 am Link The SB800's do it for me as well. I've shot thru an umbrella and against the sun as backlight with no problems. Scrims and reflectors with 1 or 2 SB800s for added "punch" is an amazing combination given the incredible remote control capabilities you get either with a third SB800 or the SU800 controller on camera. No cords, no heavy battery pack, infinite control, and the whole system (less modifiers and stands, of course) would pack in a shoebox. What could be better? Oct 28 07 08:42 am Link Used to use my JTL mobil lights and never had a problem with them. Have now wanted to travel even lighter and am starting to use the SB800 Flashes and California Sunbounce Reflectors. Good luck on the search and shoot well. Oct 28 07 09:06 am Link Profoto 7b and Elinchrom Ranger Oct 28 07 09:07 am Link Elinchrom Ranger Speed is something I would like to buy. But I think that the days of proprietary branded off the shelf batteries is over and thank fvcking goodness for that. I could get a Ranger Speed with 2 lights for around 3 K. Will it power my 2k Arri Tungstens on location? NO. Will it power my monolights/heads from another brand? NO Will it power my Fan on location? No. FVCK THAT. Honda Generator - $ 1000.00 4 hours on a tank of petrol Thousands of shots. Powers my Arris, Alien Bees, Fan, and anything else. Vagabond/Innovatronix as backup/additional power. Oct 28 07 09:12 am Link AB+ Vagbond and Quantam T5d-r(sweet little liight) Oct 28 07 09:16 am Link My "ghetto" system consisting of three Sunpak 383's, (Two with 60" umbrella, and one with 45" umbrella) performed admirably at a group shoot last night, taking over 400 images on a single set of batteries. The setup is shown in my profile. Flashes were run on 1/4 or 1/2 power throughout. Oct 28 07 09:20 am Link rp_photo wrote: Great setup and interesting that you are using these on 1/2 or 1/4. Oct 28 07 09:27 am Link ab/800 ab/1600 ab/ringflash and a vagabond2 Oct 28 07 09:30 am Link  Speedotron 2401A pack and 102 heads for the studio, W/L Zeus 2500 pack with standard head and Ringmaster ring light for studio and location, and finally an AB800 monlight and ABR800 ring light with Vagabond power source for location work.  Also speedrings, soft boxes, grids, scrims, barn doors, gell holders, octaboxes, reflectors, radio slaves and only a vague idea how to use any of it. I've got more lighting equipment than most professional photographers, and I shoot virtually everything outside. My most commonly used light? An on-camera flash. As my best friend likes to say, when my ship finally comes in, I'll be waiting at the airport!  Fish -- John Fisher 900 West Avenue, Suite 423 Miami Beach, Florida 33139 (305) 534-9322 http://www.johnfisher.com Oct 28 07 10:03 am Link Two Hensel Porty Premiums with three strobes, although they're damn heavy to lug around. I can fit two lights, one power pack, and a spare battery in one Kata case. If you have an assistant, not a problem. If you don't, eat your spinach and develop some bulky arms. Oct 28 07 10:10 am Link I also have an Innovatronix used with Bowens (Calumet to you guys) heads. Recently got a Quantum and a Chimera softbox so going to be using that along with a couple of SB800s and pocket wizards from now on. Oct 28 07 10:18 am Link Canon EX550, EX580 & ST-E2 (16 AA batteries) - total weight maybe 10 lbs. Oct 28 07 10:24 am Link I am using a Boat battery and a car inverter to power my two Photogenic strobes on location. I have the AlienBee Ringlight also but need a full sine inverter to power it on location. THe battery is placed on a folding pushcart and the inverter is bolted on the back of the cart. And because it folds fairly flat I can carry both the cart and inverter and the battery to any location. I have used it with two photogs shotting more that 500 shots on the last shoot. with no problems with recycle times at all. Oct 28 07 10:27 am Link |
