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Alien Bee Strobes... the haves and have nots!
I recently made an executive decision to dump my hot lights and purchase the often used, less expensive and extremely effective Alien Bees (www.alienbees.com). Reason being.... I've been shooting with the Nikon Creative Lighting system for a little while and really like the strobe system. 3 remote speed lites and on camera master made for wonderful photography indoors and outdoors. I really like the look and feel of strobes, and I think I'm ready, plus the Alien Bees are even cheaper than speed lites. However before I take the plunge and just BUY them, I figured I'd poll the world of the best photogs on the planet (He sighs!). Do you have Alien Bees? Do you not have them but use strobes for your work anyway?? Let me know. And thanks in advance! Apr 28 08 07:49 pm Link have them. love them. use them all the time. Apr 28 08 07:51 pm Link I've been using a single Alien Bees B800 for a few years now and have had great results with it. A couple of years ago, I added a Nikon SB800 that I use as a hair/fill light. I would have no problem recommending them, pretty much all the shots in my portfolio were done with it. Apr 28 08 07:52 pm Link Russ, I have 2 White Lightning 1600s....made by the same company as Alien Bees. I like them very much. From what I understand, they function exactly like the Bees.....just the White Lightnings have the more rugged construction and a 250W modeling light (as opposed to 100W on the Bees). But, I know photographers who use the ABs and swear by them. Good luck with your purchase! Walt Apr 28 08 07:52 pm Link Russ Ferrante wrote: Did my first shoot with an AB800 last weekend, and have just ordered a second one. Apr 28 08 07:53 pm Link I have one AB ring light, in addition to a dyna-light 500 w/s pack with 3 heads. There's no way the AB compares to the dyna-lights, but for the money it's not bad. Not sure how it will hold up over time (the dyna-lights are over 10 years old). Apr 28 08 07:59 pm Link If you do decide to buy, Welcome to the club! :-) All of the non-natural light photos in my port are using ABs. I have 3 AB800s (black), 2 small white/silver umbrellas, 1 large white/shoot through, 1 medium octobox, 1 heavy stand, and two regular stands. I also got one of the spill kill reflectors- I use it with my large umbrella at times. Oh, and my Vagabond (original) has gotten a ton of use. (My avatar used one AB800 with the large umbrella and powered by the vagabond.) Apr 28 08 08:11 pm Link I was the first "real photographer" this new model shot with, and as of now, all the images in his port are from our shoot: https://www.modelmayhem.com/pics.php?id=680836 Main light was an AB800 with 60" silver umbrellla. Fill was 4 Sunpak 383's with 45" white umbrella. I have another AB800 on order. Apr 28 08 08:22 pm Link I haven't made the leap to AB's yet, but they're next on my list of purchases. I'm going to buy a AB800 with a softbox, and then build up from there... buying one unit + accessory every other months until I have a 4-5 light setup to work with. that's the plan.... but it seems things never go as planned. For now I just make do with a 580ex and 2 430ex speedlights. Apr 28 08 08:53 pm Link I have them, and rent with a studio which has 8 of them or so. They work pretty well. Apr 28 08 08:59 pm Link I have 4 AB 1600's and 2 Zeus systems. I love them, and don't see a need for any others. I rent higher end on commercial projects, but for my studio - all I need... Best, Jason Apr 28 08 09:02 pm Link Wow... well you all have great ports from them.... so it's final! Good Bye hot lights. Too heavey anyway. I'm trying to do maternity pics of my wife for the first time in my life. I know the look I'm going for, but can't achieve it. Guess tomorrow I'll get the old plastic out! Thanks gang. Apr 28 08 09:03 pm Link Have 4 AB800's and have been very happy with them... my more recent half was shot with them in my small studio. Overall, they have been a great buy and I don't regret the purchase for a second. Not thrilled with their stands for long term purposes, but they work fine for the time being. Their accessories have been working great so far for me also. Apr 28 08 09:05 pm Link I'd look into the ringflash and a moon unit and Zeus Pp if your buying several pieces, it's versatile, fairly lightweight and works tirelessly. Apr 28 08 09:10 pm Link Three B400's and two WL 10000's here. Apr 28 08 09:13 pm Link Russ Ferrante wrote: Just what kind of look are you going for, that you cannot achieve with the gear that you already have? Apr 28 08 09:21 pm Link had them, liked them, wanted better, sold them. Apr 28 08 09:29 pm Link At the top of the forum there's a thread entitled Photography Talk: Rules, Resources and FAQ. In that thread, there are links to key threads on Photography. One of those is the Lighting, Flash, Ring, & Battery Strobe Reference thread, which has a large section on Lighting Equipment, including a dozen or so Alien Bee threads asking the same question. Here's a few of 'em * Alein Bee Lights (200+ posts) * alienbees pro and cons * Alienbees * Alien Bee Lighting * AlienBees and one grand to spend (50+ posts) * Alien Bees - Anybody Using? Pros & Cons... Apr 28 08 09:34 pm Link I don't have much experience with the ABs...but most pics I've seen posted with them seem to be on the cold side. But it's something that can be adjusted for. Strangely enough, though, I used a White Lightning X1600 the other weekend, and it worked great. I was quite pleased with it. Apr 28 08 09:58 pm Link Steve Gray wrote: I use mostly AB's. I never get cold shots: Apr 28 08 10:07 pm Link I have 3 AB-800's and 1 AB-400. They work well for me. Most of the inside lighting you see in my port are with these lights Apr 28 08 10:09 pm Link Steve Gray wrote: Ok, so some people haven't figured out how to shoot RAW and compensate for slightly-cooler-than-daylight strobes. I can't help that. Apr 28 08 10:13 pm Link Kevin Connery wrote: Sorry... don't cut m head off. I was in a rush to know. Apr 28 08 11:35 pm Link Russ Ferrante wrote: No biggie; it happens so often I've got it as a macro. Apr 28 08 11:50 pm Link steve prue wrote: ditto..now I use the zeus pack (1250) with one dynalite 4040 and a zeus head as my back/edge light Apr 28 08 11:53 pm Link I'm pretty split on the Bess. I have two AB800s and discovered their limits the hard way. I'll admit, I was shooting pretty hard, but I managed to blow them both during a shoot. Their customer service was great but inadequate - they were extremely responsive and ended up overnighting me replace men strobe bulbs, but that left me stranded early in to a two day shoot, with two shoots on the second day. I'm two blokc from several major camera stores in NYC and none had replacements that I could buy, so the fact that everything is proprietary, sucks. I had to rent from Adorama. The strobe I rented were far far sturdier, but the AB's recycled faster and were much easier to use. Plus the little metal clip on dishes are much more effective on the AB's. I ordered a softbox the other day, which arrived early (nice), but it came with a note explain the the manufacture had change the material and the color balance may be slightly bluish. They know the issues, yet the didn't mention it. In the end, the AB's are great for the money, and while you can shoot pro shoots and use them for pro work, they are not pro lights. Make sure you understand the implications of buying into a system where everything is proprietary. In hindsight, I'm not sure what I'd do. I hate being locked into a company where I have to waith for shipping for parts, yet if I went with another brand it could easily have cost double - in which case, buying double the number of AB's doubles the reliability and gives you the options of more lights for the same price. They are really good, but there's definitely a get what you pay for element to them. Apr 28 08 11:55 pm Link Lot's of threads on the subject, as Mr Connery pointed out. Lots of threads for a reason....Bees work. I used Bees on almost all of the indoor images in my portfolio uploaded since Mar 2007. Apr 29 08 12:30 am Link not this question again....... sigh! Apr 29 08 12:32 am Link I have 2 each AB400, AB800 and AB1600. They work great had the 800 and 1600's for over 4 years now and the AB400's for over 2 years now. No problems with lights, minor problems with a couple of the accessories - both problems out of warranty. To avoid the not available problem I have spare bulbs and more lights then I routinely use. have not had to swap bulbs yet. And they probably receive medium abuse, with me taking them down and putting them in the back of my car for location work. Apr 29 08 12:38 am Link Everything on page 1 of my portfolio was shot with them, and half of page 2. Apr 29 08 12:41 am Link I have two AB800's. I'm very satisfied with them, will probably add a 3rd in the not too distant future. Apr 29 08 12:44 am Link have three ab400 plus abr800 Apr 29 08 05:35 am Link Just gave them about $2300 of my tax refund check... So far so good...got two 800's and 2 1600's saved my butt in a dark ballet studio on Saturday...I was going to get 4 1600's but the lady on the phone recommended I get 2 800's for more control when stopping down to the lower levels. Apr 29 08 06:05 am Link I am pleased with mine and can't imagine any other strobes being so cost effective. I have learned if you buy a mix of AB400, 800 and 1600's to buy them in different colors so you can tell at a glance which is which. Also from the posts above if you really rely on them go ahead and get some replacement flash tubes before you have to have them. Apr 29 08 08:14 am Link I used a single AB800 for about a year with various modifiers. About a month ago, I picked up 3 more. I love them. I would suggest if you're buying multiple heads with this order, save some room for a vagabond also. It's discounted if you buy it with heads. Also, you may want to wait for them to release their new radio trigger and get that discounted with the order also. The absolute best think about Paul C. Buff, Inc. is the customer service. They kick ass!! Other companies should model their customer service after them. Apr 29 08 08:17 am Link I have 4 AB800s and an ABR800. I haven't found a better value. While there are better lights available, none provide more bang for the buck. Apr 29 08 08:21 am Link Intensity Studios wrote: It's funny how people post this kind of crap 20 posts down... you read it all though, didn't you. Get over it! Damn! Apr 29 08 09:40 am Link Russ Ferrante wrote: Priced right but a little delicate ... don't be kickin' 'em over. They really don't like that. There are more rugged options but Bees is wonderful at the price. Apr 29 08 09:44 am Link For my small home studio I have a couple of AB400s (umbrella on one; Brolly box on the other) and the ABR. Just got the ABR and I'm struggling with it; my wife is now blind; but collateral damage is to be expected. I'll figure it out; it's user error at this point in time. Everything has always worked perfectly; Paul C. Buff and the ABees guys are making some great, inexpensive stuff. I haven't tried their remotes; I'm hooked on the Wizards.. Best of luck, Jim Apr 29 08 09:45 am Link Four 1600's and two 800's. Work great. Good value for the money. Apr 29 08 10:18 am Link |
we'll see what i can afford next 
at least a back up monolight asap 
