Tired of carrying studio strobes...

[Rhinotherunt]

So, I have been reading and reading...

I am really digging the Vivatar 285 flash guns. They seem to be best bang per buck. I will most likely pair them with CyberSyncs. What I am trying to narrow down on is a battery pack for the lights. I am going for bang per buck here. Any suggestions? Also, feel free to recommend light mods, but I will most likely be doing bare. Feel free to post samples of your work using listed products. :) Off camera is where it is at!!! Many thanks in advance...

[alabama1980]

I've been thinking of getting a couple of those myself. I have one 430ex and two genesis strobes, and I have enjoyed the hot shoe setup immensely. No cords to trip over, no huge cases. The loss of power takes some adjusting, but it has freed me up to "play" a lot more and practice. The others got to be a pain to drag out just to try something new....I notice you are in Jasper....Gadsden here so we're practically neighbors. Are you getting them locally or via internet?

I got the cybersyncs as well and man am I ever happy with those!

[Vad]

I've been thinking of getting a couple of those myself. I have one 430ex and two genesis strobes, and I have enjoyed the hot shoe setup immensely. No cords to trip over, no huge cases. The loss of power takes some adjusting, but it has freed me up to "play" a lot more and practice. The others got to be a pain to drag out just to try something new....I notice you are in Jasper....Gadsden here so we're practically neighbors. Are you getting them locally or via internet?

I got the cybersyncs as well and man am I ever happy with those!
If all depends on what you do. Sometimes it feels like I can tell a photo taken with speedlights from a picture taken with strobes. If you need an ultimate quality of the picture Vivitars are no alternative to strobes. I do not see many photographers with strobes at a wedding for example. But still sometimes I do :-)
I think thre is no other way - you need both strobes and speedlights and use them depending on the situation.

[Rhinotherunt]

I've been thinking of getting a couple of those myself. I have one 430ex and two genesis strobes, and I have enjoyed the hot shoe setup immensely. No cords to trip over, no huge cases. The loss of power takes some adjusting, but it has freed me up to "play" a lot more and practice. The others got to be a pain to drag out just to try something new....I notice you are in Jasper....Gadsden here so we're practically neighbors. Are you getting them locally or via internet?

I got the cybersyncs as well and man am I ever happy with those!

You are pretty close aren't you. I am getting mine through B&H most likely. Maybe Camera's Brookwood... We have an Alabama meet coming up in late Aug. Good time to network. Can get mor info for you if you want.

If all depends on what you do. Sometimes it feels like I can tell a photo taken with speedlights from a picture taken with strobes. If you need an ultimate quality of the picture Vivitars are no alternative to strobes. I do not see many photographers with strobes at a wedding for example. But still sometimes I do :-)
I think thre is no other way - you need both strobes and speedlights and use them depending on the situation. I think they would be great for receptions and less formal stuff or smaller weddings. I bring my studio strobes for larger weddings. No way you can light this: http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2185/3535434112_fe6b49e089_o.jpg
or this:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2039/3534617037_0b3facae1f_o.jpg

with out studio strobes.... unless you have quite a few of them. Granted I am going to stock up on them. There are some creative things I want to do and will require several of them.

[alabama1980]

You are pretty close aren't you. I am getting mine through B&H most likely. Maybe Camera's Brookwood... We have an Alabama meet coming up in late Aug. Good time to network. Can get mor info for you if you want.

I haven't been to Camera's Brookwood. Next time I'm around the Ham I'll try to swing by and check it out. There really is a lack of food camera stores around here. There is one in Anniston, AL but judging from the prices I'm not really sure they want to sell anything. $150 for the 50mm 1.8....sheesh.

I'm not 100% sure I could come as my b'day is in late August and I'm hoping my wonderful girlfriend is taking me on vacation, but if it isn't any trouble to get the info I would appreciate it. If I'm in town I would definitely come. There is one group that meets here in Gadsden, and I was invited then UNinvited when it was learned I don't own a studio...haha. Apparently "on location" shooters are like the scrubs of photography to them...lol.

[Rhinotherunt]

I haven't been to Camera's Brookwood. Next time I'm around the Ham I'll try to swing by and check it out. There really is a lack of food camera stores around here. There is one in Anniston, AL but judging from the prices I'm not really sure they want to sell anything. $150 for the 50mm 1.8....sheesh.

I'm not 100% sure I could come as my b'day is in late August and I'm hoping my wonderful girlfriend is taking me on vacation, but if it isn't any trouble to get the info I would appreciate it. If I'm in town I would definitely come. There is one group that meets here in Gadsden, and I was invited then UNinvited when it was learned I don't own a studio...haha. Apparently "on location" shooters are like the scrubs of photography to them...lol.
They have decent prices on a good bit of their stuff. I understand they have to make ends meet too. I have a studio in Jasper. Funny they uninvited you. I could see it if you did it part time and they were full time. My b-day is this week! Go August b-days! It looks like I am getting 3 Vivatar 285's. I will probably have to get the cybersyncs myself, but that is cool. Then some cheap tripods.