AB800 or 1600 studio/arena

[HammerCope]

Ok I just want to get everyones ideas I've seen several threads on this but none fitting me. I will be shooting in a small home studio but mostly Indoor/outdor rodeo Arenas. From distances in arenas from 20-100+ft to the camera . So would it be better to get all AB1600's and power down for the studio. Atleast thats what I'm thinking of doing. Let me know what everyone thinks.

[Steve Beck]

1600's for sure.

[HammerCope]

Will it handle being out in the dust?

[MrWills]

I have had mine out side, but I dont think any will last out in the dust for a long time. They have to be open for cooling, they do get hot if your model lamp is 100wt bulb like mine :D I guess you could use a lesser one maybe rig something up to cover the body of the flash but not touch the unit itself.

[hard12find]

My advice is to get the most flash you can afford, you can tone them down and modify them or just move them further back if you need to....1600's.....
Jim

[FlashZebra]

Personally I think if you want to illuminate large areas in a gym, a Alien Bee 1600 will not quite do it (unless you use several).

An Alien Bee 1600 is a very powerful flash for studio work, but a pretty anemic flash for gymnasium work.

The inverse square law is not your friend.

I suggest you check out both of these recent threads discussing this same issue:

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=229293

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=242257

Enjoy! Lon

[Wilt]

Based upon this information... http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showpost.php?p=2327179&postcount=31

assuming an AB1600 was one f/stop different than AB800 on power, you would have f/22 +0.2EV at 10', or a Guide Number of about 240 or so. Shoot at ISO100 with an f/4 lens, and you have 60 shooting distance. Change to ISO400, and the GN of 480 gives you a 120' shooting range.

[RSN]

I couldn't decide when I order which I should get the AB800 or the AB1600 I researched everywhere.

I just got a pair of AB800 with 11" reflectors and used them tonight to shoot high school basketball. The results where amazing once I learn how to use them my shots will get even better. I amied them direct at the court in each corner and had them turned down to just below half power and shot at ISO 200 at 250 shutter and F2.8 the recycle time was impressive they would flash about as fast as I could pull the trigger. I know its a little different than a rodeo arena but I would say a pair of AB800 would work fine.

Hope this helps.
Rod

[SkipD]

The previous post, to me, says that the B1600's would be the proper choice. Rod is using the B800's at the full-power level of the B400's and having to shoot at f/2.8 (using ISO 200 which is good for quality). If you used the B1600's at full power in the same setting, you could use f/5.6 (again with the ISO 200 setting). That would be a lot more practical for shots where you need some depth of field or especially when you are using lenses with smaller max apertures than f/2.8.

[HammerCope]

Thanks for the help everyone. If you have any Ideas for protecting them from the weather let me know.