ABs on their way...

[Baadil]

Just got permission from my better half and order the following.

1 AlienBees B800-Alien Green
2 AlienBees B800-Deep Space Black
1 AlienBees B800-Mello Yello
4 AlienBees Carrying Bag
1 Foldable Large Softbox (32"x40") speedring attached
1 Four Honeycomb Grids
1 Four-Channel Wired Remote
1 Backlight Stand
2 10-foot General Purpose Stand
1 13-foot Heavy Duty Stand
1 32" Silver/White Umbrella
1 48" Shoot-Thru Umbrella

Now that I ordered all this, I am worried I won't know exactly how to use all this stuff. So far I have only been using built-in Flash on my XTi and available light. I have mostly been shooting in AV mode.

Anyone has any good links on how to use studio strobes properly? What should the camera be set to, what lens to use? (I have the kit lens, 50mm 1.8, and recently ordered Sigma 55-200mm F4.

Thanks a bunch.

[AmpedPhoto]

nice, I am gonna be putting my order in here pretty soon. heres a great book
http://www.amazon.com/Lighting-Cookbook-Fashion-Beauty-Photography/dp/0817442316/ref=sr_1_1/002-2133011-4133669?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1174885321&sr=1-1

[suyenfung]

you're going to need something to connect the camera to the lights. simplest way is with the hot shoe adapter they sell on their site. call and add one!

[Ronald S. Jr.]

cheapest way is what suyenfung suggested.

simplest way is the radio transmitter and receiver, which is what I use. Not nearly as expensive as most options, and works like a charm.

[milleker]

One light at a time, too many times someone will throw two, three or four lights into the mix without knowing which one is doing what. Only when you understand what your Main light is doing, add a reflector, then a fill, then a background or hair light. Take samples every step of the way, you're in for a lot of fun!

Wires are ok and get one for now (the other flashes will flash when they see the wired one flash), but I'd suggest eventually buying one of those cheapie wireless flash triggers on eBay. I have receivers for all my lights and a transmitter for both my camera and light meter. Think all in all I paid around $50 including shipping.

Edit: This is the receiver/transmitter I purchased though there are plenty of kinds and I'm willing to bet they all work equally well.
http://cgi.ebay.com/4-Channel-Wireless-Flash-Trigger-for-Film-or-Digital_W0QQitemZ280099354978QQcategoryZ30086QQssP ageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem


Now that I ordered all this, I am worried I won't know exactly how to use all this stuff.

[Ronald S. Jr.]

Just remember that lighting in a studio isn't as tricky as it seems. No matter whether you have one light or ten, you have but one main light. The rest of the lights that are on the subject are to control the shadows. Sometimes you'll use background lights, which can be an art all its own.

I think that the easiest way to think of lighting levels is in ratios. This is where you'll thank yourself for getting matching lights. Say you want a 3:1 ratio for the main to fill on your subject. Say you have your main set to 1/4. That means you'd have your fill set to around 1/32. You really just have to practice and experiment, I think. there's so many types of lighting, you'll be amazed when you let your creativity flow.

[suyenfung]

cheapest way is what suyenfung suggested.

simplest way is the radio transmitter and receiver, which is what I use. Not nearly as expensive as most options, and works like a charm.

fair enough, he's right! i use a 4 channel magic trigger i got on ebay for $35. works great, wireless is super sweet, i would never go back to wires.

checked ebay, here is the one i have (http://cgi.ebay.com/Digital-Radio-Slave-Flash-Trigger-4-Channel-Wireless_W0QQitemZ140101665888QQcategoryZ30086QQss PageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem), looks like it's $10 cheaper now.

[Stackinchips]

Conbgrats man... boy do I tell you. I got mine 3 weeks ago.. and the amoputn of boxes that show up. Rofl... you'll be a little overwhelemd.

[Baadil]

Thanks everyone for your response. I am really looking forward to these lights :-)

A quick question; some of you recommended ebay-wireless triggers. I bbelieve I ordered AB Wired Remote Control. Will that not connect to my camera? That is about $100. Should I not get that and instead get these wireless remotes? How do these work outside in sun light? If I am correct one of them will trigger because of the wireless while others may not if it is too bright. Am I correct or thinking totally the wrong way.

Thanks.

[Stackinchips]

The wired remote is a Light remote to adjust power to all your ab's on one remote... instead of lwoering your lgiht stand or getting on a ladder everytime to adjust the power, etc.

It doesnt connect or trigger your lgihts from your camera though.

The cheapo RADIO slaves on ebay can be used in most enviroments..

I belive you were thinking OPTICAL slaves, which sense light. Your AB's will have those built in.

[Baadil]

Thank but from this description I get the idea that I get a cable that will connect it to PC/Sync connection. Man, I am so very confused.
http://www.alienbees.com/wired.html

[RGolfJ]

I do not believe your camera has a PC connection. You need something to run through your hotshoe.

[fuzzygraphics]

Thank but from this description I get the idea that I get a cable that will connect it to PC/Sync connection. Man, I am so very confused.
http://www.alienbees.com/wired.html


I just went through this when I bought two AB800s few weeks back. I bought the radio transmitter set from AB for $80 and it works great. One piece fits on the flash shoe on the camera and sends a signal to the receiver that is plugged in to 1 AB head. My other AB detects the flash and fires as an optical slave. No wires and it has been really dependable for the portraits I have been shooting.

You can get by getting a cable to run from your hotshoe to the flash head, but the AB radio set has four channels and doesn't cost that much more.

Just my 2 cents

[Baadil]

Thank s guys. You guys saved me from a big disappointment. I would have received my lights and not been able to used them :-) I just odered this from ebay:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220097466906
I think I have everything now to start with :-)

Thank you.

[aferrara]

I bought a bunch of stuff from AB's last year. I signed up for a studio lighting course at betterphoto.com with Vik Orenstein.
She walked us through every type of lighting set up over 8 weeks, with different backdrops and light positions. I highly recommend their courses.
April