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best strobes to buy for the buck
If you want to read more about lighting systems, go to my articles on Samys.com: Multi Formula Light http://www.samys.com/articles/robert_sa … _light.php Light Modifiers: http://samys.com/articles/robert_sander … ifiers.php Interview http://www.samys.com/articles/robert_sa … anders.php Jul 13 06 09:18 am Link I really like my force 10 by speedotron Jul 13 06 09:19 am Link randy wolf wrote: Really? Well then, it sounds like you'll get out what you put in to it. Jul 13 06 09:37 am Link Merle wrote: and the word of the day is..."sarcasm" Jul 13 06 09:50 am Link I use AB's because I had to perform a cost justification. Since I started on my own, I have carefully watch cash flow and expenses. There are definately better made lights available, but would they make me more money? My gut reaction is probably not. I'm better off spending the money on other things, such as marketing, backdrops, props, lenses, etc. Eventually, I'll upgrade, but for now I'm happy with my bees. Jul 13 06 09:56 am Link randy wolf wrote: Nah, just another lazy MM'r who is content to let others do their leg work at the push of a button. Funny how so many are willing....Ka sara sara :-) Jul 13 06 10:14 am Link I have been looking at two Elinchrom kits the bx400 and the rx600 and also the Profoto 600 compact kit. My conclusion was the BX 400 will be fine for my needs and you can upgrade the softbox to a larger one at some resellers at reduced cost. The profoto 600 kit is also a good kit and cheaper than the elinchrom rx600 kit, so if i was to spend a little more i would buy the profoto. matt Dec 31 08 04:06 am Link Alien Bees are awesome. Dec 31 08 05:35 am Link i like my alienbees and nikon speedlights Dec 31 08 05:53 am Link Thyronne wrote: Yes they are..... and also their floor packs are just as good, if not Better. Dec 31 08 06:01 am Link Interesting -- The people that have trouble with Alien bees seem to have trouble with everything - reflectors, power levels, and fastener to the stands. I have experience with every brand of strobe except Profoto and Dynalite. Norman has the worst stand adapters -- I have replaced hundreds of them when I worked in a pro camera store. reflectors - the fasteners were awful. The alienbee reflectors are bendable and cheap but they are also free when you buy the lights. If you do not like them replace them with Balcar ones. Check the price of other reflectors. Balcar beauty dish $300 AB $120 The sliders on mine are accurate and precise and yes my units have different power, but then so did my Norman, Bowens and others. (That's what your flash meter is for) capacitors are very hard to get in precise units. As far as breakable when using them on location --put them in good cases. Mine have about 300,000 to 500,000 flashes on them and still going strong. Dec 31 08 06:27 am Link I've been very happy with my AB's (two AB800's). I had a model knock one over. It bent the reflector a little bit, but survived. I have two and use a Cybersync on one and leave the second in slave mode. It always pops. The only AB accessory I have is a giant foldable softbox, but I'm very happy with it and it was reasonably priced. They're portable and light for location shoots. I don't like the slider controls and they are hard to adjust and get consistent results at lower output levels. Another affordable and portable entry level entry I haven't seen mentioned yet is the Calumet Genesis series. They cost less than the AB's for equivalent power, have a digital adjustment for light intensity, are more ruggedly constructed, and can use Elinchrom accessories. I bought one of the 200 light kits for a rim light. If I had it to do over again, I probably would have bought a set of the 400s over the AB800s. Dec 31 08 06:50 am Link Smith Victor, if you're broke. http://www.smithvictor.com/index2.asp Dec 31 08 07:25 am Link Alienbees with the new Alienbees wireless triggers, awesome combo. Dec 31 08 08:10 am Link |