ABR800 vs Do It Yourself

[Phocus73]

I am really interested in how a ring light/flash work...studio lighting is new to me and I am really interested in learning more. I've talked with photographers on the net who have made their own, and I've seen some really nice examples of homemade ones. I am not sure if I should just save my $$$ and go with alien bee? I think they have a great looking design and it's prob the best option for me. http://www.alienbees.com/abr800.html

I would love to use this in portrait and model photography, I am just nervous about the price...however I am not sure making one myself will be any cheaper. I am not sure how pricing out the materials will go and what the end number will be. If anyone that has made one or have info can help, I'd be happy to hear some opinions. I really love how pictures done with this type of lighting look.

http://www.alienbees.com/images/abr/ABR800MAIN.jpg

[TMR Design]

I am really interested in how a ring light/flash work...studio lighting is new to me and I am really interested in learning more. I've talked with photographers on the net who have made their own, and I've seen some really nice examples of homemade ones. I am not sure if I should just save my $$$ and go with alien bee? I think they have a great looking design and it's prob the best option for me. http://www.alienbees.com/abr800.html

I would love to use this in portrait and model photography, I am just nervous about the price...however I am not sure making one myself will be any cheaper. I am not sure how pricing out the materials will go and what the end number will be. If anyone that has made one or have info can help, I'd be happy to hear some opinions. I really love how pictures done with this type of lighting look.

http://www.alienbees.com/images/abr/ABR800MAIN.jpg

Unfortunately I can't give you the specific answer you want but what I can offer is that if you are getting into studio lighting and portrait work the AB Ringflash can be used as a standard B800 with the same power and accessories available. So the ringflash can be a studio strobe or ringflash. Not sure if you knew that.

[stckciv]

How would the ABR800 compare to the AB800 as far as using them both on stands with an umbrella or softbox? What about being used with a grid?

If they are the same basically any reason to get AB800 over the ABR800?


Sorry to highjack your thread

[TMR Design]

How would the ABR800 compare to the AB800 as far as using them both on stands with an umbrella or softbox? What about being used with a grid?

If they are the same basically any reason to get AB800 over the ABR800?


Sorry to highjack your thread


Exactly identical. If you check the AB site or give them call they will tell you tthat the tube and power and design is that of an AB800. Once you remove the ring and mount it is and AB800 in every way. I'm not sure if you need to get the adapter for the top of the light stand or if it's part of the assembly but that was the idea of the ABR800... to give you a ringflash that can be used interchangably as another B800.

[stckciv]

So can you attach a softbox to the ABR800? Is the adapter different? What about an umbrella, or would that mount differently?

[TMR Design]

So can you attach a softbox to the ABR800? Is the adapter different? What about an umbrella, or would that mount differently?

If you're attaching a softbox then you would still use the AB Speedring. If you're attaching an umbrella I believe the housing still accepts an umbrella and you need the reflector with the opening for the shaft of the umbrella. To the best of my knowledge it literally is an AB800.

[stckciv]

Thanks for your help.

I noticed you can attach an umbrella, it goes right through the center.
I emailed them about the softbox, I just felt the diameter might be to great for the regular speedring.

If its basically the same and I can do most everything that I could with the AB800 then I will spring for one of those first. I can always get a AB800 later when I have more $$ and need a 2nd or 3rd light. This just seems to be a good option right now if it is close enough to the AB800.

Thanks for all your help, I will post the email I get from AB once I recieve it.

[TMR Design]

Thanks for your help.

I noticed you can attach an umbrella, it goes right through the center.
I emailed them about the softbox, I just felt the diameter might be to great for the regular speedring.

If its basically the same and I can do most everything that I could with the AB800 then I will spring for one of those first. I can always get a AB800 later when I have more $$ and need a 2nd or 3rd light. This just seems to be a good option right now if it is close enough to the AB800.

Thanks for all your help, I will post the email I get from AB once I recieve it.

You seem to be expressing doubt that it really is a B800. I'm not just saying it is because I think so. AB themselves will tell you that. It's not close, or slightly different. It is a B800. If you got a second B800 this is a match for it. No difference and all the same accessories.

[stckciv]

I dont have a doubt the output is the same, I have doubt on what accessories will fit and which ones wont. The website does not say you can mount the regular softbox only the moonlight that is new.

[Phocus73]

It's not highjacking, this is the kind of stuff I wanted to know...thanks for adding the info and questions. Since I have two AB400's I was always planning on adding another light...I didn't know it's essentially a AB800, this is great news, as I was thinking about getting an 800 and using the 400's later as backdrop lights and hair lights. I am excited now, I think I will go for this as it fits in rather nicely to my plans for my studio. :) I just hope the wife doesn't yell too loud at me when I ask to get it...lol. It was an expensive christmas (37" LCD HD TV).

[TMR Design]

I dont have a doubt the output is the same, I have doubt on what accessories will fit and which ones wont. The website does not say you can mount the regular softbox only the moonlight that is new.

It will accept the standard AB Speedring and that will allow attachment of a softbox. :cool:

[stckciv]

I think I will just start off my set with the ABR800, since I have no lights now this will cover a couple uses. Once I add others I'll just save $$ and go with the AB800.

Be interesting to see what the improvement are and how long they will be B/O for.

[TMR Design]

I think I will just start off my set with the ABR800, since I have no lights now this will cover a couple uses. Once I add others I'll just save $$ and go with the AB800.

Be interesting to see what the improvement are and how long they will be B/O for.

I believe it was StealthLude that said he spoke with AB and they will be shipping the revised version in about 3 weeks.

[stckciv]

Well that gives me time to save up another $100

[stckciv]

Just got this email from AB

Thanks for checking out the Bees! You can use the RFT1RX and RFT1TX on the ABR800 and it attaches just like the other Bees. The ABR800 give a flat, even, shadow free light so it is a little different from the B800 but they do put out the same amount of light because they are both 320 ws. When using the ABR800 you can only attach the moon unit because the speedring for the softboxes isn’t designed to fit onto the Ringflash and there isn’t way to attach it either because they have different ways of mounting the accessories but the Moon unit acts like a softbox. I hope this helps and if you have anymore questions just let us know. Thanks and have a great day!



Brittany

AlienBees


So the speedring for the AB800 will NOT fit the ABR800.

I emailed back to see if there would be any difference using an umbrella with final light output on the subject. Will let you know when I get a message back.

[TMR Design]

Thank you for looking into that and clarifying. Brittany at Alein Bees is very nice and knows the products well.

[stckciv]

Just got an email back that I sent this morning, they are really on top of it over there!!
Any way here it is-

Q:
Will there be any difference between these two lights when used with an umbrella? (difference on light output, how it looks on the subject?)

A:
The ABR800 with umbrella adapter will place the umbrella exactly on center with the light source and will provide more even coverage across the face of the umbrella. You shouldn't see any great difference in the lighting effect though. I hope this helps and if you need anything else just let me know. Thanks and have a great day!
Brittany
AlienBees



So it looks like I will get one of these once they come available.
Hope this helped with any of your questions.

[rcanzano]

I love AB! I bought the ABR800 for Christmas (I mean my wife bought it for me). AB has made some changes and they are just going to ship all the new stuff to me for free. Gotta' love them! I didn't even have to call them, they contacted me.

[Sledhed]

I would like to see some sample shots from one of these units. I would like to buy one too.

[Phocus73]

I would like to see some sample shots from one of these units. I would like to buy one too.

You can see some samples of the alien bee on their website, some are samples from their webpage: http://www.alienbees.com/moonunit.html mostly of the moonunit.