Please critique my first Alien Bee purchase

[kellmeister]

I'm about to order my first lighting setup and wanted to get some suggestions.

My room is really small, (12x10), with one window. I would like the flexibility to shoot at a small depth of field. I thought about ordering the B400 but I guess I can use ND filters if the B800 is too bright. My only concern with the B800, is that the modeling light will not be bright enough (150w). Since I'm learning about light this might be really helpful.

My only other choice is the x1600, which would give my 7 stops and a brighter modeling light (250w), but alas, it's not as portable.

B800 light - $280
13' Heavy duty air-cushioned light stand - $100
Giant (30"×60") softbox - $140
Beauty dish - $120
Accessory Mount - $55
Snoot - $50
Barndoors - $50
18° grid - $35
Cybersync Transmitter and Receiver - $150
5-1 reflector kit
Four honeycomb grids

Any suggestions or opinions would be appreciated.

[bobbyz]

What you going to be photographing in that 12x10 room?

I have 14x20 room and find that quite small if I have to do full length shots. 30x60 SB will be huge in that space.

[doidinho]

I would forgo the lightstand; you can get much better stands for around the same price or a few bucks more.

[Calbeee]

hmm how about get a FF camera for wider space and boom stand that can adjust ur light easier

[eduardofrances]

I'm about to order my first lighting setup and wanted to get some suggestions.

My room is really small, (12x10), with one window. I would like the flexibility to shoot at a small depth of field. I thought about ordering the B400 but I guess I can use ND filters if the B800 is too bright. My only concern with the B800, is that the modeling light will not be bright enough (150w). Since I'm learning about light this might be really helpful.

My only other choice is the x1600, which would give my 7 stops and a brighter modeling light (250w), but alas, it's not as portable.

B800 light - $280
13' Heavy duty air-cushioned light stand - $100
Giant (30"×60") softbox - $140
Beauty dish - $120
Accessory Mount - $55
Snoot - $50
Barndoors - $50
18° grid - $35
Cybersync Transmitter and Receiver - $150
5-1 reflector kit
Four honeycomb grids

Any suggestions or opinions would be appreciated.

For heavy duty light stands there are cheaper options that are great, http://www.adorama.com/SALSB13AC.html
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/253065-REG/Impact_LS_13HAB_Air_Cushioned_Heavy_Duty.html

I have used both and the quality is nothing short of stellar, you can save some money here.

[GenuineRolla]

BTW...the giant soft box is really big. I'm not sure if you know how big it really is....You'd be fine with a large softbox.

The b800 is fine. The lowest power on it isn't all that powerful so you have nothing to worry about there. The 150w modeling light is good enough. Why don't you think it'll be enough? You'll like the Ab stands. Their footprint is very nice, wide and sturdy.

[Cathpah]

I would forgo the lightstand; you can get much better stands for around the same price or a few bucks more.


yep, the impact air-cushioned heavy duty 9.5' or 13' would be right in that same price range but a whole lot better.

[blam]

hmm how about get a FF camera for wider space and boom stand that can adjust ur light easier

or a wider lens.... would be much cheaper.

12x10 is a really small space to be working in. I was working in about 15-20 feet long earlier and i was struggling.

[kellmeister]

or a wider lens.... would be much cheaper.

12x10 is a really small space to be working in. I was working in about 15-20 feet long earlier and i was struggling.

Actually I'm purchasing a 5d mark II, so I'll have a full frame camera at least.

Most of my shooting, for now, will be just head shots and products, which is why I was interested in a light that would help me get a shallower depth of field.

[Benji]

If you want a shallow DOF you don't want a powerful flash unit because even when set at the lowest power you will need to use a small aperture and small apertures equal great DOF. This is especially true in a small room like you have. If you want shallow DOF use some ambient lights.

Benji

[blam]

Benji is correct...

I have 400 strobes and even on the lowest setting iam at F7

[tim]

For narrow DOF just use a tripod and the modelling light.

[kellmeister]

Thanks everyone. I"m really thinking about just getting a x1600 and taking advantage of the 250 watt modeling light and 7 stop range. It seems to be pretty versatile, especially since I'm starting out. May pickup and ab800 as my next light.

[Benji]

Thanks everyone. I"m really thinking about just getting a x1600 and taking advantage of the 250 watt modeling light and 7 stop range. It seems to be pretty versatile, especially since I'm starting out. May pickup and ab800 as my next light.

You obviously didn't listen to anything anyone said. The WORST thing you can do is buy the 1600. Sure it will give you a seven stop range, it will start at f/8.0 and end at f/128. If you want a 250 watt modeling light to shoot by just buy a 250 watt bulb for $3.00 at Wal-Mart.

Benji

[TMR Design]

I have to agree with what Benji just said. If you haven't followed other threads on getting strobes with the 'correct' amount of power or threads on color shifts experienced when using Alien Bees strobes at their lowest power levels then you're doing yourself a disservice.

If you're set on getting Alien Bees then you would do just fine with a B400, which is 160ws and will allow you to work at wider apertures with shallower depth of field. I used to own B800's and work in a 14' x17' room. In order for me to shoot with shallow depth of field I had to either turn the power way down on the B800 or use ND (neutral density) gels or scrims on my modifiers to mechanically reduce output.

There are 2 downsides of running Alien Bees strobes at low or minimum power levels. One is the color shift, which can of course be remedied by setting a custom white balance for that power setting and other is the lack of precision you get from the nonlinear power slider used. Once you get below half power on the Bees the distance between f stops gets smaller and smaller so by the time you're adjusting power between 1/16 and 1/32 power you're dealing with about 1/4" of movement as compared to about a full inch between 1/2 and full power. This makes it very hard to fine tune your power level and small movements can equal 1/3 stops.

Even with a B400 you can use the modeling light for shooting with shallow depth of field. I strongly advise against getting a B1600 for shooting indoors in a small room. You'll kick yourself for doing it.

[kellmeister]

Hey Guys,
I wasn't trying to ignore the thread. But I noticed that with the White Lightning x1600 I could power down to b400 or go up to b1600. I wasn't thinking about buying the ab1600, that WOULD be way to much. I thought by choosing the white lightning series it would be more versatile for starting out.