Alien Bees & their accessories - DPChallenge Forums

Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM

10/26/2005 05:01:03 PM · #1

I've had enough of my hot lights, and will finally be able to afford a nice Alien Bees set-up. I have some questions for those of you that have them!

1) Colors - Anyone have any trouble with any strange color cast from the pink or green models? I'd hate to be bouncing the light off an umbrella and have a flourecent pink shade to my subject ;)

2) The stands - I was looking at the 13' light stands. How is the quality? I have a backlight stand as well as a background stand from Amvona.com and I LOVE them. I'm not sure whether to go with the AB stands or just go with Amvona.

3) Should I get 3 or 4 lights? I always use a background light, a main and a fill. I am debating on another light for a hair light or use as a 2nd background light. I'm not sure that is necessary, though. What ones would you recommend? I want to have enough juice to shoot large groups (8-10 people) if need be. I don't want to have to upgrade later. I was thinking of going with the 800's.....but should I just suck it up and get the 1600's now? I use muslin for my white backdrop, so I need the extra punch to blow it out. I just don't know how much extra with strobes vs. hotlights.

4) What size softbox do you suggest? I was thinking of the Large. Giant seems a bit big. I prefer rectangle catch-lights...so Im not sure I want the octobox.

5) Any other accessories that you love? I plan on the honeycomb filters, a couple umbrellas and the softbox.

Thanks for any help!!!
Jenn
jralstonphotography

idnic

Canon EOS-60D

10/26/2005 05:14:16 PM · #2

I love my Bees, JRalston. Mine are hot pink and no, I've never had them cast a color reflection. The stands are plenty sturdy enough for their small flash heads. And i would suggest getting atleast 3, but you could get by with 2 if you had some other light to use for bg.

Patents4u

Canon EOS-40D

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

10/26/2005 05:28:18 PM · #3

In the grand scheme, I'm an idiot on such things. With that grain of salt, I have two AB 800's. I have shot groups of 10-12 (hockey teams) and never had a need to go much above 1/2 power (shooting about f9 I think). That was just bouncing off white umbrella's. YMMV with different accessories, but the 800's are fairly powerful (don't know much about how you will use them - I am just a hobbyist).

Plus, within 60 days if you decide you want different lights, you can simply return the lights, no questions asked (just pay shipping). And I've heard that within two years you can upgrade for the price difference plus $25. Nice to know you can grow your system so easily if needed.

Stands are fine for lights/umbrella's - don't know how they'd fare with a large softbox. My AB's are black so can't help you on color cast from the housing - imagine it's not a problem or they wouldn't sell the colors. I've heard bigger is better for softboxes, but I haven't gotten around to buying any yet. Let me know what size you get/if you like them, if you don't mind.

Message edited by author 2005-10-26 17:31:53.

EddyG

Canon EOS-1D Mark II

10/26/2005 06:06:10 PM · #4

The 13' light stands are great. I have some Amvona stands as well and I like the Paul C. Buff ones much better. Especially the air-cushioned models.

The B800's should be plenty. But you may actually want to get one B1600 for your main, especially if you like big lighting modifiers. When you start bouncing all that light around inside a softbox (instead of focusing it with a reflector), you need the power. And there is no such thing as a softbox being too big. :) The bigger the better! (For reference, the box on my main is 78"x54".)

10/26/2005 06:15:58 PM · #5

That is one HUUUUUUUUGE softbox...LOL So you think I should go ahead and get the giant one? I think it is 60" long. Thanks for your feedback on the lightstands. I will just go ahead with the AB stands then.

Now I just have to decide on which units to get!

Thanks everyone for your feedback. Keep the ideas coming ;)

Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM

10/26/2005 06:18:06 PM · #6

Oh, and do you think I should get 2 softboxes? I was thinking one softbox and then an umbrella for the fill would be fine.

BTW, I do portrait photography.....mostly children :) I am excited to be able to use something smaller than f/4 for portraits on a black background...LOL I am so sick of my hot lights!

idnic

Canon EOS-60D

10/26/2005 06:24:00 PM · #7

Oh, JRalson - If you get your softbox(es) elsewhere (which I did), be sure to buy the AB speed ring because nothing else fits them.

10/26/2005 06:28:43 PM · #8

what about the shipping to Canada? anyone here from Canada?

ralph

Nikon Z9

10/26/2005 06:43:55 PM · #9

Originally posted by melking23:

what about the shipping to Canada? anyone here from Canada?

you can beg them to post the stuff at a steep $$ but it is cheaper than (evil) UPS across the border - though it took mine 30days to come by ground Post .. -- the dollar looks better now in comparison but atthe time i would have been smarter to get a name brand in Canada ...

i do have the small Octabox which is fine for table top stuff but to small for full or 3/4 portraits (of course my "studio" is too small for any thing else ;)

10/26/2005 06:48:12 PM · #10

I was looking at getting the The Busy Bee Package! $1675.00

Message edited by author 2005-10-26 18:49:19.

ralph

Nikon Z9

10/26/2005 06:53:31 PM · #11

Originally posted by melking23:

I was looking at getting the The Busy Bee Package! $1675.00

wow.. i wish ,,,
if you are going that big -- toss the beauty dish in as well
that has had very positive remarks on the lighting forums at dpreview
(it is likely my next .. eventual .. someday ,,,, purchase )

10/26/2005 07:34:30 PM · #12

What I had in mind is similar to the Busy Bee Package. I am just putting together my own package, though :)

10/27/2005 06:50:49 AM · #13

the Shipping on this package would be $170.00 to Canada I wonder what kind of taxes and fees I would have to pay to?

10/27/2005 07:20:28 AM · #14

I've never seen Alien Bees for sale here in Australia. I wonder why?? Everyone seems to rave about them.

10/27/2005 08:04:46 AM · #15

maybe beacuse of Shipping Cost!

10/27/2005 08:08:51 AM · #16

Originally posted by melking23:

maybe beacuse of Shipping Cost!

Hmmm...maybe...dunno! We do import a lot to Australia.

10/27/2005 08:09:38 AM · #17

I believe AB's are only sold online and are not in any stores. We are moving to Guam in a couple months, our stuff is being moved next month, and I really hope to have the set before then to avoid shipping costs to Guam!

Nikon AF-S Zoom-Nikkor 24-85mm f/3.5-4.5G IF-ED

10/27/2005 08:14:13 AM · #18

Originally posted by JRalston:

Ahhh....that would explain a lot then! Cheers mate!

Beach_mel

Nikon D70s

10/27/2005 08:55:27 AM · #19

Originally posted by melking23:

I was looking at getting the The Busy Bee Package! $1675.00

DROOL!!!! thats it I'm not buying anything else I'm saving for this ;-) And whats a beauty dish?

10/27/2005 09:11:54 AM · #20

Just also as a matter of interest, what sort of trigger system are you guys using to fire your Bees? I have a cheapo remote trigger here that will only fire once until I turn the camera on and off, then fire once more again etc! They only seem to mention a remote...not a hot shoe mounted trigger?

Mick

Canon EOS-5D

10/27/2005 09:34:45 AM · #21

Originally posted by Makka:

I use the AlienBees wired remote control to adjust and fire my 4 light setup. It connects to the PC terminal of my 10D. With my wife's 350XT, it plugs into a hot shoe adapter.

I'm still kicking around the idea of buying the wireless remote package.

10/27/2005 09:36:07 AM · #22

Originally posted by micknewton:

Originally posted by Makka:
Just also as a matter of interest, what sort of trigger system are you guys using to fire your Bees? I have a cheapo remote trigger here that will only fire once until I turn the camera on and off, then fire once more again etc! They only seem to mention a remote...not a hot shoe mounted trigger?

I use the AlienBees wired remote control to adjust and fire my 4 light setup. It connects to the PC terminal of my 10D. With my wife's 350XT, it plugs into a hot shoe adapter.

I'm still kicking around the idea of buying the wireless remote package.

Do their setups (not individual lights) usually come with a hot shoe adapter or is it something you get extra?

10/27/2005 09:36:43 AM · #23

I *think* how they work is one of the lights is plugged into your camera via sync cord. The rest of the lights are set to slave and fire when the first flash goes off. That or you can use your on-camera flash to trip the lights.

Again, I may be wrong, I am new to strobes!

Prof_Fate

10/27/2005 09:42:59 AM · #24

A hot to sync cord adapter is under $10. actually, 8.99 at ritz camera.
you can get for under $40 a wireless trigger setup off ebay that works well,. being un-tethered is the way to go, plus you know for sure you won't exceed the max 6 volts flash trigger voltage that the rebel can take.

Mick

Canon EOS-5D