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Alien Bees Ringflash?
Looking at it and wondering if anyone have any experience with it. Good or bad. Nov 28 07 07:35 am Link New Dawn Photography wrote: Really good value for the money, IMO. Not exactly built like a tank but if you are careful with it you should be OK using it. I have well over 3,000 snaps on mine (about 1/2 using it outdoors) and no problems yet. Nov 28 07 07:39 am Link I shot it once. Wasn't really happy with the results. I'm using the ProFoto ringflash on occasion instead. Nov 28 07 07:42 am Link for the price it's great - get the moon unit softbox attachment, too, softens the light a bit and makes it easier to use the ring as fill if need be Nov 28 07 07:43 am Link Yes I have one . Just used for the 1st time last week so maybe I'm not the best voice for it but I was impressed ..... I'm waiting on the new portable power adapter to come. I mostly bought it for outdoor use. The images I snapped so far with it were impressive , no shadows and a nice light in the eyes. Nov 28 07 07:45 am Link Thank you all, I appreciate it. I will also look into the Profoto. Nov 28 07 07:53 am Link I love mine.  one of the first shots I took with it. Build quality is real shitty and feels very cheap, but I love the results. Nov 28 07 07:58 am Link Its cheap and easy.... Its heavy and plastic... don't like how it attaches to the camera.... Still looking for a better value proposition  RM Nov 28 07 08:02 am Link JLC Images wrote: Thanks. Yeah, I hear a lot of AB stuff is not built to quality but people seem to like the results and the price is hard to argue with if the results are decent. Nov 28 07 08:04 am Link Thanks Ramses! Nov 28 07 08:05 am Link The AB ring flash is kinda klunky, but for 1/4 the price of other brands and considering that you'll only use it occasionally, it's quite a bargin. Here's one of my shots:  Nov 28 07 08:20 am Link I think it is a good value for the $$$ you will spend on it. Shooting vertical photographs with it feels a bit weird in my hands but it does the job.   Ron Nov 28 07 08:42 am Link  I just finally used mine last night in some testing... it can be a lot of fun, but it's not easy to use.  Nov 28 07 08:44 am Link Good quality of light, but nonetheless, a plastic POS. AB monolights are also plastic, but are nowhere near as fragile as this. I wouldn't give it any more than 10 shoots before something breaks on it..... I guess better than renting or paying a grand+ for a ringflash? Nov 28 07 09:28 am Link Another product to consider is the Zeus Ring Master, produced by the related company White Lightning. It lists for $300, but with the required Z1250 power pack ($600), may be beyond the budget of most casual shooters. Nov 28 07 09:44 am Link New Dawn Photography wrote: I don't have the AB ring flash, but I have several of their other lights and accessories, including the Vagabond II and haven't had any issus. To the person waiting on the Vagabond...you'll wonder how you ever lived without it. Nov 28 07 09:54 am Link Will Headley wrote: The monolights are Lexan. Same material used in many aerospace applications and in some bullet-proof materials. Nov 28 07 09:54 am Link I'm partial to the ProFoto @ f~11 *Left image only* - *beauty dish, right image only* You can feel the heat come off the ProFoto it when it fires. Cool !  Nov 28 07 09:58 am Link https://www.modelmayhem.com/pic.php?pid=4641953 ^^ (the first image in my port) was shot with the moon unit of the ring-bee Nov 28 07 10:13 am Link Is it my imagination or does the mount for the ring flash not support mounting your camera for a vertical shot? I can't tell for the life of me how you are able to use it vertically other than handheld, which I don't like because I'd be tempted to move and destroy my metering. Wm Nov 28 07 10:44 am Link Second Glance wrote: When I shoot with the ProFoto, you are able to shoot with a 70-200mm lens. Since the lens has a vertical lock/horizontal lock on it, you can just release it and flip the camera vertically with the ringlight still attached to the tripod in a vertical position. I can't remember how the little plastic mount bracket works on the AB, or even if you can shoot with a 70-200 on that set up. Nov 28 07 10:47 am Link Will Headley wrote: Oh bullshit. Nov 28 07 10:53 am Link I LOVE mine.. and use it all the time. yes, it's built a bit cheap, but the price is right and I (IMHO) see no difference in that and the expensive ones. And white-lightning is excellent about sending you part upgrades for free as they make them. Awesome company. And absolutely get the moon unit soft box.. it makes a big difference. Nov 28 07 10:55 am Link I have one...dropped it at least 3 different times, have had it bounce around. Its Still intact. The silver paint around the ring chipped out, but the unit is not broken. Its limited with its light output, but for the price its fantastic and its much better than the Sunpack dx12. I have to tell you that being form the worst city in the US for crime, I would rather hand over a cheap ring flash than a high dollar unit if I was being mugged. For entry level its fantastic...it holds up and if your not using the model lights and full power you should be able to get throughout a set with out much problem. Nov 28 07 11:11 am Link I have been curious about this as well. Have never used one but we built a cheapo ringflash with good results IMHO.  Nov 28 07 11:30 am Link Ramses Moya wrote: At 2.5 lbs the Paul Buff Alien Bee Ring is lighter than every other ring light except for the Paul Buff Zeus. Nov 28 07 12:31 pm Link It is money well spent. Just make sure to get the Moon Unit. It will give you many more options for lighting. All these were taken with the ABR800 as the sole light.    This was shot with the 1pm sun behind him and the ABR800 to camera right.  Gregory www.gregorystorm.com Nov 28 07 01:06 pm Link Nice shots Gregory. While I occasionally use a ringflash, I prefer to arrange a circle of mounted strobes with beauty dishes or reflectors in a fairly wide circle (often 3 feet) and shoot through the middle. Amazing light quality. The ABR800 is what it is. A solid, workable ringflash that you can justify as a purchase for the few times that you would use a ringflash (unlike some of the Euro versions out there). Nov 28 07 01:14 pm Link Will Headley wrote: Bought it the day it came out. Used it in the field every week since. Nov 28 07 02:06 pm Link Tons of good advice and great examples! Thank you all! Bill Sylvester: If I had used the search tool...I would have never gotten to meet you. Nov 28 07 02:18 pm Link New Dawn Photography wrote: Yeah, and you met me on a grumpy day too. :-) Nov 28 07 04:04 pm Link The AB ringflash is great, and you can't beat the price! Any light can be damaged... but I just won't cry as much when I break a light that costs $300 vs. a light that costs $1000+! Nov 28 07 04:08 pm Link I love it and shoot with it all the time!   Nov 28 07 04:21 pm Link I bought the first gen ringflash and I couldn't put it down for at least 2 months. It seems like everything I shot was with it. I didn't have a single problem with it. It handled wierd but it worked, it seemed a little flimsy with it handle but it worked. I sent it back for the upgrade and I was even happier when I got the upgraded version back. The upgraded version seemed to be sturdier and guess what, it works!!! I'm not the type of guy who throws his equipment around or is ever in such a rush that I can't handle it with care, so because it's built a little different than other ringflashes costing 3 times as more, is not a problem for me. I got the Vagabond II as well. My experience with that wasn't as good. I burned out two monolights using it, an AB800 and an AB1600, I sent both the monolights back for repair and I also got the upgraded inverter for the Vagabond II. I have yet to use it since I got the new inverter, but I'm sure it will work without problem. For $350 or whatever it costs, get it, or don't get it. It's definitely a value packed item, and you'll get your monies worth the first time you use it. It's easy to blow out your subjects with it so take your time.. I saw some examples on this board of the more expensive ring flashes and the models face seemed to be a bit hot, maybe that was from all the heat coming off the more expensive ring flash when it fired.. lol Nov 28 07 04:22 pm Link Also meant to add, you can use the 70-200 on the ABR. Nov 28 07 04:25 pm Link I like it best for outdoor shoots. Nov 28 07 04:25 pm Link Guys, there is a Search Function at the top of the forum now, please use it. Threads on Alien Bees Ringflash. https://www.modelmayhem.com/search.php? … rch+Forums Nov 28 07 04:27 pm Link ^^ i'm with dodge here, as long as you understand it's limitations (build, power, weird-ass mounting system) it's the best bang for the buck out there. would i spend $1200 on a pro ring? not at the time, $400 to see if i will use one, hell yeah! i really do suggest a search on the ABRing, there are at least 10 threads about it already. (all this being said, if i come across a hensel 1200 pro ring for under $900, i will buy it BUT i would keep the ABR just for it's usefulness) Nov 28 07 04:28 pm Link brilliant Z photography wrote: I wouldn't be so quick to speak. This was done the day before one of the sturdy little knobs broke....... Nov 28 07 04:46 pm Link I've got the AB ring flash and agree with most here in terms of it being a great value but cheaply made. Bottom line, a ring light is incredible if you know what you're doing with it. But that's true with most things. It can bring out certain qualities in portraits that nothing else can. And the Bee is a cheap way to get into trying it and you can always upgrade to other brands later. I highly recommend the moonunit softbox. Makes a big difference and I would not like the light at all without it. I've also seen people make them - interesting and may be worthwhile - see strobist.com   Nov 28 07 06:30 pm Link |
