Which is the better buy Travellight vs. Allen bee

[kevhead]

Ok so I know that many people have asked about building a home studio, and which strobes to buy. I have read alot of the comments, and learned alot so far. Now that I am almost ready to buy, I am between two companies. Allen Bees, and Travel lites from Calumet photo. I have around $2300.00 to spend on a home studio. Here are the two kits that I am looking at.

The Busy Bee Kit - $1676.00
- 4 B800s
- 2 13ft heavy duty stands
- 1 general purpose light stand
- 1 backlight stand
- 1 30in x 60in softbox
- LG4X Four channel wired remote control
- 1 32in silver/white reversible bounce unbrella
- 1 48in translucent white shoot thru umbrella
- 1 HG4X set of four honeycomb grids
- carring bag

Calumet Travellite 2250 light kit $2100.00
3- 750 Travelites
1- Litelink triggering system
1- 24 x 32 Nova soft box and speed ring
2- 45in silver/white unbrellas,
2- two umbrella reflectors
3-9ft light stands
- one sync cord
- carring bag

I think that I will have to buy a barn door reflector set, that will run around $190.00. I don't know if I need to have say 7in. reflectors on the other two lights. That would be again another $150.00. That makes it around a grand total of $2500.00. If I wanted to add that 4th light, I would have to add another say $900.00.

With either set I will be buying a Sekonic L-358 with wireless triggering -$300.00.

It looks like to me that the Allen bee lights are made cheeper than the travellites. The replacment bulb for the travellite is $100.00 more than the bee. I would like to buy good quality lights only one time. I am just starting out with portraits, and don't know where it will take me. I do think that if I spend this amount of money, this hobbie should start bringing in some money to pay for itself. Any comments would be great. Love this forum. I have learned alot and hope that I will be able to give my two cents worth soon.

Kevin

[SkipD]

Kevin, the wireless triggering option for the L-358 is totally useless unless you buy at least two PocketWizard radio slave units - one for your camera (used most often as a transmitter) and one for at least one of your flash units. My suggestion - get the L-358, but without the wireless option. It's a great meter (and it's what I use), but you probably will not need the optional transmitter. Put that money into more important stuff first.

I much prefer a white umbrella with a black cover over the shoot-through types. You have much more control of your light. A lot of light bounces back (away from the subject, that is) from the shoot-through type and becomes stray light in the studio.

The AlienBees products are quite well made. I've been extremely happy with mine.

[JSimonian]

Kevin,

I agree with Skip regarding the L-358 and not needing the wireless transmitter. As an aside, if you are considering the Travelite kit with the Lite-Link modules ~ they will not work with the L-358 wireless transmitter. I use the Lite-Link modules with the system you specified and it's only a quick connection between the light and the meter (I also use the L-358.)

EDIT: Kevin: Your parts list for the Travelite~ you get a sync cord for each of the lights. You may want to ask them to include that. You never know when you'll need them.

[Titus213]

I have not used the Calumet lights but the ABs we have are quite nice.

I agree with Skip on the remote and the umbrella. We also have the silver/white reversible umbrella and I find almost too harsh and use a white w/black cover more often. We may just have to experiment a bit more with the silver/white.

We also ordered the ABs wireless rather than the wired remote. I know being able to adjust from one spot is nice but the wireless units get rid of all the wire on location shoots which is a real plus. We ordered two transmitters and one is used when metering and as a backup. They are the eBay remote but I assume if I have troubles Buff will stand behind them.

And the difference between the standard light stand and the 13 footer is rather amazing, well worth the upgrade.

[kuanyu]

Personal I would go with the Alien Bees. Great company and great lights! Also as mentioned in previous post get the AB wireless set-up, for the money its a alot better than shotting with cables attached