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Portable Lighting
I can't really move the Novatrons around very much or use them remotely. Is there an affordable light someone would recommend that I can put on a tripod and use an umbrella with? I know people use the 580ex Canon flash in that manner, I just want to see if something else is available and better, being good and portable too. Jul 31 07 08:01 pm Link Jul 31 07 08:02 pm Link Jul 31 07 08:12 pm Link ChanStudio wrote: How is that considered portable? Jul 31 07 08:13 pm Link Get yourself a Alien Bees AB800 with their new Vagabond II power supply and you'll love it. Light and portable. http://alienbees.com/ Jul 31 07 08:19 pm Link BlindMike wrote: How is that considered affordable or portable? It's $1000 for the pack and head and you still need an AC outlet. Jul 31 07 08:24 pm Link I have two custom cases that will take three of my photogenic heads, three lightstands and some modifiers, together they weigh about 40 lbs, wheels make them easy to move, a third case takes a deepcycle marine battery and a 2000 w inverter for power (nearly 80 lbs !!), the battery is good for about 500 cycles with all three heads on full power, never killed it yet These lights are the same ones that I use in my studio, so I don't have to make allowances for power output, or own a second set of lights - Jul 31 07 08:32 pm Link Can't go wrong with Profoto 7Bs but they are a bit pricey... Jul 31 07 08:34 pm Link BlindMike wrote: If you can carry it, it is portable. Jul 31 07 08:36 pm Link ChanStudio wrote: Not a bad choice. Jul 31 07 08:37 pm Link Quantum Jul 31 07 08:37 pm Link Profoto Acute. Jul 31 07 08:38 pm Link Tommy So wrote: I have been thinking of Profoto a lot lately. I need to have some cash first. Jul 31 07 08:39 pm Link Mark M Gong wrote: ??? Uh... The Vagabond is a Portable Battery Pack... no need for an outlet. Unless you mean combined with one of the Buff lights, but you just plug those into the Vagabond for power... Jul 31 07 08:40 pm Link ChanStudio wrote: They're great. Powerful, reliable, and durable. There's also a great selection of modifiers and accessories. I'm looking to get another kit but I definitely need to save up. Jul 31 07 08:43 pm Link BLACKtheFotologist wrote: You are missing something. Jul 31 07 08:44 pm Link Bob Cervelli wrote: I just did this. It looks nice and is fun to play with. Prompt shipping and looks like good quality. I plan on really using it in a shoot a couple weeks from now. Also get the remote trigger / receiver set that works well for not much money. Jul 31 07 08:47 pm Link BLACKtheFotologist wrote: You are. The Zeus is a power pack system not a generator power packsuch as the Profoto Acutes and 7Bs. You will still need to plug that Zeus power pack into a Vagabond. Jul 31 07 08:55 pm Link Has anyone used The Speedotron Explorer 1500 Portable Power Supply Jul 31 07 08:59 pm Link Tommy So wrote: Man, stop tempting me. My alternative is to get a portable gasoline Honda generator. Jul 31 07 09:00 pm Link MM Threads on PORTABLE FLASH options * Power strobes outside, invertors * Pro portable lighting * Portable Power?: Detailed part-list and build instruction for a DIY Vagabond-type battery/inverter system * Best battery powered ring flash? * Digital monolights and generators * White Lighting Vagabond precautions (Inverters, generators, grounding...) * Portable Battery Power... * Does white lightening need pure sine wave inverter * Homemade Portable Power Help * Portable power question. * What kind of lighting are u using on location?? * options for portable battery powered strobes On the 'Net * Strobist: Blog about lightweight, inexpensive lighting solutions that give expensive-looking results. Jul 31 07 09:03 pm Link Greg Cobb wrote: I worked at Samy's camera for 4 years and researched indoor/outdoor light sources Jul 31 07 09:06 pm Link Mark M Gong wrote: couldnt agree more. Jul 31 07 09:17 pm Link schipper photo wrote: It looks like you got a good set of the Mobilight 300's. These reviews seem to indicate a lot of battery pack failures. Anyone else have any experience with these? Jul 31 07 09:49 pm Link Nick Zantop wrote: I just got an Acuteb 600 WS battery pack. Very nice. Jul 31 07 10:11 pm Link Right now, the Mobilight 300 sounds good. It looks like there is a new battery pack out maybe. The price is right. I would like to have the B800, but it's a little more than I can shell out right now. I'd like to have 2 but I can work with one for the time being. I need to check out the other links. Jul 31 07 10:12 pm Link I picked up some photogenics gear for location shoots and have been very happy with them. When buying less expensive lighting you want to make sure you dont go too cheap. Most important is consistant output with a constant colour temp. Alien Bs, White Lightnings, and Photogenics are a few that do the job well. Jul 31 07 10:22 pm Link For you monolight owners out there... I suggest the DynaLite XP1100 ... No grounding rod or any BS like that. Battery life is long and recycle times are very short. Additional Batterries are cheap. I run 4 monolights and a laptop off of it with no issues or power fluxuations. Aug 01 07 01:03 am Link I use Elinchrom monolights. I have some 400 watt, some 500 watt, and a couple 1000watt units. I was thinking of getting their Ranger kit, but I recently purchased an Innovatronix Explorer. It seems to work great. Aug 01 07 01:31 am Link Thyronne wrote: I bought one and returned it. I've got Hensel monolights with digital output control. Call me stupid but I didn't realize just what the hell their site meant when they said "will not work with digital output controlled lights" because I'd never even seen nor used something analog like ABs. On top of it all, I was specific about which monos I had when I ordered, so I'd have thought they'd catch it. Aug 01 07 01:37 am Link element6 wrote: I have been accumulating lumedyne equipment at camera flea markets and on ebay and currently have: 2-heads, 2-mini batteries, 1-ac power supply, 1-200/400 pack, 1-16x16 soft box, 1-light globe (my manufacture), 1-high speed battery charger, 1-snoot and a few other items. I have found this system suitable for full body lighting using the globe and the softbox. The AC supply is usually used but the batteries could also be used in conjunction with the high speed charger keeping one battery ready for next use. This system has probably cost me less than $600 (used) with batteries being the larger cost even though they see little use. Aug 01 07 01:51 am Link I have a used Photogenic StudioMax II 320B Monolight ($200.oo) and a used Quantum Turbo Battery ($200.oo) and a very nice Bogen 12ft. Air Cusioned Stand ($75.oo). I attach my Quantum Turbo to the Bogen stand and I have a free carrying very light, very portable outdoor lighting system that I can use with: â¢Bare Bulb or Standard Parabolic Reflector â¢24" Beauty Dish â¢48" Octadome â¢4'x6' Soft Box I did an urban outdoor fashion shoot this past weekend with my 24" Beauty Dish and shot at a variety of Power Settings ranging from a FULL 320ws (I was getting f/8 @ 10ft away using ISO 100) down do 1/8 power. I shot for a little over 3 hours (over 600 images) using the flash in every shot in one way or another and by the time I was finished, the Quantum Battery was down to only half it's power. Which means I probably could have shot another 500-600 images (up to another 3 hours) I LOVE MY SYSTEM..... Aug 01 07 01:51 am Link capturecharacter wrote: Apparently they will only work on units with sliders or dials for the power settings. My EL500s and EL1000s have sliders and it works amazing. My 400BXs are digital and cause the unit to shut down. Word is they're working on a unit that can handle the draw of the digital units. Aug 01 07 01:58 am Link capturecharacter wrote: Compatibility list (good reference for checking compatibility with inverter/battery setups in general) - Aug 01 07 02:00 am Link BlindMike wrote: For the record... the "Integra Pro Plus -- NO" wasn't on there when I ordered. They probably added it after I, and someone else I read about returned them :-) Aug 01 07 02:55 am Link capturecharacter wrote: Ah, sneaky Aug 01 07 03:04 am Link Just Shoot Me Photograp wrote: My friends are using Tronix Explorer, I think it is cheaper than Speedotron. Aug 01 07 03:34 am Link Go to Calumet and buy some Bowens Gemenis and the Battery Pack- It is great, they are similar in quality to the studio versions but can fire 1500w per shot. I Have 2 750 heads and love them. Aug 01 07 03:36 am Link ChanStudio wrote: That's actually not a bad alternative. I've been thinking about doing that too. But I'd want a Profoto 7A 2400 pack to go with it... which would actually be more money... Aug 01 07 04:04 am Link Greg Cobb wrote: Define affordable. And how many lights do you want to get? On the low but great side that canon flash and a small Quantum battery to power it. Next step up would be 2 of them. After that the AB800 ring light ($400) and the Vagabond Power pack (under $400) gives you a great light source. Add a second AB monolight for backlight or BG light and you're better. I personally love the Calumet Travelites. The 750 is under $600 and they make a power pack for it for under $600. After that I'd suggest older used monolights from the higher end manufactures. Try Ebay or KEH cameras in Atlanta Aug 01 07 04:14 am Link |
