Portable lights for outdoor shots?

[DrFil]

I've been having some trouble researching this and was wondering if anyone could help me out. I'm interested in taking some glamour-ish shots outdoors but am a little uncertain how to pursue this. I want to know whether the small strobes like the alienbees can be battery-powered (couldn't find an answer on their site) or any similar strobes for that matter. Alternatively, if they're not, does anyone use their car battery for power, like by inverting the DC from the cigar lighter to AC? I would hate to be tethered to my car, though I'm sure I could get an extension cord...but then how much could I use my strobe before my battery died (not a favorable situation)? Getting a generator is kind of out of the question as they're loud, big, heavy, and expensive (I don't really know if they're expensive, just guessing).

Another question is does anyone use the sync cords on these kinds of lights or do people get wireless transmitters (sorta expensive)?

Would I just be better off getting a 580EX? Gah.

[Bucster]

If you do some research on this matter you will find tons of answers. You have so many options its mind boggling. You need to answer several questions before you'll get more specific responses.

1. What is you budget

2. How many lights do you want

3. How do you intend to trigger these lights

4. How powerful do you need the lights to be

5. What is you current set up


Quick answer:

Alienbees are fantasic lights and they offer a portable power system called the "Vagabond" http://www.alienbees.com/VIIsystem.html

Don't be harsh on the 580ex II, it is a great solution for outdoor stobes if used properly.

I would strongly suggest that you do some more searching on this forum, I have been using this forum for over a year and I found that at some point and time someone else had asked every question that I wanted to ask.

Good Luck

[Bucster]

I forgot, if you plan on using a power inverter it has to be a pure sine or you'll run the risk of ruining your strobes. Also check out the stobist blog.

[sleibrand]

Synch cords don't bother me - I shoot indoors and use the optical slaves for the rest. For those hard-to-reach lights dangling 8' up in the air off the end of a boom, moving the power sliders gets extremely tedious. I had just about pulled the trigger on the AB wireless solution when they discontinued it. The new version is due out fairly soon and I'll wait for that to see how well it works. Adjusting power levels wirelessly seems like it'd be the shizzle.

[ShootingStars]

I run my Photogenics on location using these battery power supply units from Innovatroinix.( http://www.innovatronix.com/ ). I started using one for both 1250's and the recycle time was still only 3-4 seconds. At their affordable pricing point I ended up getting another, one for each light. Add your radio slave of choice the overly priced Pocket Wizard or one of the eBay units (which have worked well for me) and you should be in business.
I am a big supporter of the "Strobist" style but there are times when you can't beat the look of a big light with a big soft box out doors.

[tetrode]

Rather than adapting an AC/Studio flash to the great outdoors, why not look at units that were designed with portability and battery power in mind in the first place? There are 200WS and 400WS battery powered flash units available from Norman (200C, 400B). Then there are the Lumedyne and Dynalite systems. Even a Quantum Qflash packs 150WS worth of power. Finally, let's not forget the Photogenic StudoMax AKC320B which is an AC/DC unit offering 320WS (but beware of its longish flash duration).

JTL has its Mobilite 301 but I think those get very mixed reviews.

Dave F.

[René Damkot]

And while we're at it, let's include ProFoto and Broncolor ;)

I have a Lumedyne set, but if I ever win a lottery, some ProFotos would be nice ;)

[sevans16]

Elinchrom Ranger's are a great battery powered system. I myself went with AC mono blocks. Elinchrom Style RX's. I power them with a Tronix Explorer XT. There are several threads going on Tronix and Vagabond V2(Alien Bee company) power packs.