Profoto vs Alien Bee

[StealthLude]

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=239611&is=REG&addedTroughType=categoryNavigation

Please see the above link,

Im thinking of selling my Alien Bee lights for this kit. I want to be able to control everything from the power pack, and the built in PocketWizard radio slave is a huge thing for me.

In terms of power only, how do you think this would stack up the the alien bee? I know you really cant even compare the two, and price ranges are totally different. But im really looking to get into some pro gear.

[DocFrankenstein]

You can't compare the two.

Why do you need profoto? What are you planning to do with it?

Acute heads are compatible with D4 generators... you might want Pro7 depending on your needs.

[StealthLude]

I wanted to freez action and i understand these strobes are for just that.

I know you cant compare the two, i just need to try and find something else because the alien bee units just arnt doing it for me.

[SkipD]

I wanted to freez action and i understand these strobes are for just that.Look at the specifications tab on the B&H site. These strobes are SLOW when compared to the AlienBees. They will not even begin to stop action that can be stopped by the AlienBees lights. Yes, they are much better quality lights, but they have a fairly long flash duration. This isn't normally a problem in a studio, but it doesn't meet your stated need.

[StealthLude]

not only freezing action, main use would just to a nice setup for product photography and portraits.

Im just looking for an excellent system thats going to last me for years to come. Something with a pro look and feel and performance. I dont mind spending a few bucks if its going to get me nice stuff. Im also looking at Elinchrom, and Im starting to like some of the systems more than ProFoto. I liked profoto for the built in PW.

Im also looking at Photogenic with hte built in PW units.

I guess i can still with the bees, they just seem real cheap to me.

[Longwatcher]

Why do your Alien Bees seem cheap? - is it the AB logo, I have heard of several people painting over the logo just to make them look more professional.

I do know that most people do not get as fussy over the lights as they do the camera As long as you have an umbrella or softbox on the light. Of course if you have the pink or neon green that could make them look a little cheap.

If it is just you that feel they are cheap, can't help you there except to say that from my research Elinchrom is the ones I would have gotten if not for cost instead of AB's.

And a final note: I have seen some really well built 'looking' lights that both fell apart faster and did not do as good a job as the AB's. Get what works for you.

I am rather fond of my ABs, but then they work for me.

[DocFrankenstein]

I do know that most people do not get as fussy over the lights as they do the camera As long as you have an umbrella or softbox on the light. Of course if you have the pink or neon green that could make them look a little cheap.
It really amazes me how people with a lot of money invested in glass and bodies just skimp out on the lights... saving the cost of half a decent lens.

[StealthLude]

It really amazes me how people with a lot of money invested in glass and bodies just skimp out on the lights... saving the cost of half a decent lens.

Ya i know, IMO its all about balance. I thought to myself one day, if i buy all the glass i ever wanted, what good is it w/o light. I took a sacrafise, and said, im not going to get the 70-200 IS L, instead i spent the $ on a 580ex, and additional slave, Alien Bee 800, AND Monico Color Calibration for my monitor, along with a light meter. It turned out to be a VERY VERY smart move on my part.

The lens was nice, but having gear (lighting expecially) is what being a photographer is about. Now that i have light, and in the studio, my glass works wonders.

One day ill get the lenses i want, but right now, i need a balance in my gear. I started this hobby just wanting bodies and lenses till i realized i was being stupid.

I guess ill keep using the AB units, for the price, i guess you really cant complain. I just buy some Pocket Wizard units and call it a day, enjoy some wireless freedom with my camera and light meter.

[DocFrankenstein]

Agree 100%

Whatever light you get - do not get a small softbox 4*4 feet is minimal.

[StealthLude]

Even with all that said, I still want my 70-200 IS L !!!!

Its nice to have lots of lighting tho, I have strobes and a wireless speedlights setup. Having light is wonderful

Eventually, after i get rolling and get all my gear in check, ill finish it off with a nice lens collection.. In the mean time, im still itching to get a 50mm 1.4 and a 100mm macro lens.

I do want to get a few more backdrops since all i got is a chromakey one, and some more strobes + pocket wizards.

[chtgrubbs]

I'm a big fan of Elinchrom myself, although they are not the brand that I use. But I think they are just as good as Profoto. But alot depends on whether you have any local support. Are there dealers nearby with parts and accessories for the system you buy? Otherwise if you need a reflector, or flashtube or whatever you have to order it and wait. With studio strobe one aspect you have to consider is service. How far away is the nearest repair station and how long do they take to turn around your repair? If you don't have backups you can be out of commission for weeks unless you have local service with quick turnaround time. And every strobe that I know of will need service at sometime or other, usually right before a crucial job.

[Longwatcher]

Okay I felt the need to actually compare AB, Profoto and Elinchrom lights. So I visited BH web site.

Still give it to Elinchrom,
but Profoto look cheesier then the Yellow AB lights (just my opinion) They look like my desk lamps (I grant I can only see the web pictures) (still have to admit the neon green and pink don't look real professional)

The AB's stand up with all the offerings from those two, except they have 6 stop to AB 5-stop (I can live with that - and chose to when I got my AB's)

AB Flash duration is better then the mono lights I referenced from Profoto (several of them) and only their Pack and head lights do as good in terms of output. And they cost 2-3 times more. It was harder to compare the Elinchrom but I chose for price comparison ones that appeared comparable (in the same range).

As for the original AB setup I got ; I spend $2926.15. Drop the vagabond ($500) and the radio remotes ($520) and it was around US $2000 (give or take part of the shipping and discount).

Just to get close to the same with either Profoto or Elinchrom would be around $5400 for equivilant lights and then I would have to add a softbox ($250), honeycomb grids (all but the cheap ones are way more then AB's), trade up two light stands for 13' versus 8' with the Elinchrom kits ($150 each) Or add about $600 so a total of $6000.

So 6000 versus 2000 or 3 times the price for a better name and one stop of adjustment and in the case of Elinchrom's a slightly more professional look and hopefully more professional build - Oh joy. And to get the same flexability I still need the portable power source and the equivilant of the radio remotes (ability to control lights, not just trigger them). Elinchrom has this ability at twice the price (Add another $1400 versus $520) and I have no clue on the battery.

Can't complain about my lenses ; All 2.8L zooms and two of the best primes in their range (although I will admit two are technically out of date).

And Nobody can complain about my camera (except photojournalists and sports shooters and only when doing those. The price of chosing 16.7MP over 8FPS.

So instead of getting Elinchrom lights I got a Alien Bees. In return I got a 1DsMkII instead of a Kodak SLR/c or 1Ds and several "L' class lenses for the difference.
I don't chop on anybody with an APS-C camera, I think they are very good - they just don't work for me (even though I still have two (D60 and 10D), so please don't chop on my lights which are the equivilant of a 5D versus a 1DsMkII or a 350XT versus a 20D.
They are not as good, but they are quite sufficient for the price.

Just my opinion and some really quick, probably highly biased, although I tried not to be, research.

And just in case I want to make it perfectly clear that if we ever meet (and I have some warning so i remember to bring them) I will still let you play with both my 1DsMkII and Hasselblad. :) 8) :)

Just have to defend MY Alien Bees... 8)

Disclaimera: I own no stock in Paul C. Buff, Inc. except I own 6 AB lights and a whole bunch of accessories to go with them. And the free jack plugs they gave me don't count as they give them free with the kits these days. :)

And in comparing power I note that AB uses 10 feet as the range, Profoto on BH site uses 2M (or about 6 feet) for pack heads and 3.3feet for monolights and Elinchroms were 3.3 feet as well so tried to adjust appropriately. My math may be off, but not too badly. I am curious though if they were supposed to me 3.3M or about 10ft in which case they gain a stop or two over the AB in power, but as the ABs have more power then I need not an issue.

[DocFrankenstein]

Okay I felt the need to actually compare AB, Profoto and Elinchrom lights. So I visited BH web site...
but Profoto look cheesier then the Yellow AB lights
Well... gee :lol:

I felt the need to actually compare this http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/olympusstylus800/

To 1Ds MkI. So I visited bh website.

The 1Ds looks cheesier than the silver point and shoot... and they both have the same megapixels... and one costs 300 and the other one 3000...

Also you need to buy lenses for 1Ds and the OlymPuss has the "high quality zoom"

I am happy with my olympus. I don't own olympus stock...


Sorry for the sarcasm, but I'm just getting the point across.