Alien digi bee package

[smittymike19]

ok so i have convinced my wife to let me buy some lighting. The alien digi bee package seems the way to go. I have searched the forum and havent seen this question . i will be taking pictures of relatives and my kids in a small studion i am going to set up in my basement.
1.would a softbox and one of the umbrellas be better than 2 umbrellas? if so, which umbrella do i get? a shoot thrugh or reflective? i dont see in the alien bee page a combo umbrella (one that changes from shoot through to reflective).
2 S hould i get 2 softboxes and no umbrellas? what gives better results? Thanks.:)

[jaisai01]

funny you ask this ? cuz i just purchased the setup. i ordered 2 B800s with a large softbox and a reflective umbrella. i was readin on the net this would be the best way to go. if the softbox is out of ur budget. then go with one of each on the umbrellas.. can give u a better choice on tuesday when i get the setup to my house. thanks
arul

[Longwatcher]

theoretically two softboxes should normally give better results then 2 umbrellas.

However, umbrellas are a lot more portable then softboxes and also they take up less room. They also can come in different shades with alternative covers in some cases.

So an umbrella can be more flexable, but the softbox will usually be better in a studio if you have the room.

Just my research and opinion.

[smittymike19]

well i guess here is the next question. I need an external flash for my camera for random indoor events (bdays, church, etc...)

Would i be better off getting an external flash and a b800 to use for a home studio? are they compatable with each other? i would then add another b800 later and then use the 420/550 for a hairlight. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated, as i want to order soon to get soem maternity pictures of my wife...but we are running out of time.

[jgbeam]

I do actor's headshots frequently with the wireless ST-E2/550/420 system and have had great results. I use the 550 with an unbrella for key, 420 with a snoot for hairlight and a collapsible silver/gold reflector for fill. Very portable, very flexible and I can do the family events with all the same gear. I may eventally go to studio strobes for the portrait work but feel no pressing need to do so.

Jim

[smittymike19]

I do actor's headshots frequently with the wireless ST-E2/550/420 system and have had great results. I use the 550 with an unbrella for key, 420 with a snoot for hairlight and a collapsible silver/gold reflector for fill. Very portable, very flexible and I can do the family events with all the same gear. I may eventally go to studio strobes for the portrait work but feel no pressing need to do so.

Jim

do you have any pics with this setup? i am really starting to sweat. i need to get lights soon as my wife is expecting july 15 and i want to get this shots before end of june, just in case. should i go with a 550 and a b400? how well will they match? if i get one of each how will i control each one?

[JaertX]

do you have any pics with this setup? i am really starting to sweat. i need to get lights soon as my wife is expecting july 15 and i want to get this shots before end of june, just in case. should i go with a 550 and a b400? how well will they match? if i get one of each how will i control each one?

Isn't the 420/550/STE-2 setup more expensive than the digi-bee package?

I have the 420 and I don't think I'd buy another on-camera flash...I want the studio setup!

Surely umbrellas with the bees will give better results than these expensive Canon flashes?

Plus...less than 1 second recycle times! woohoo!

[smittymike19]

Isn't the 420/550/STE-2 setup more expensive than the digi-bee package?

I have the 420 and I don't think I'd buy another on-camera flash...I want the studio setup!

Surely umbrellas with the bees will give better results than these expensive Canon flashes?

Plus...less than 1 second recycle times! woohoo!

yeah but if dont get an external flash (420/550) i wont have a birthday party, church, indoor flash to use still. i guess i am trying to kill 2 birds with one stone. get an indoor studio and a portable flash that i can mount on my camera. maybe i am trying to do too much, with too ittle money?

[JaertX]

I see your point.

Maybe getting the 420 with the shoe cord and a stroboframe?

It seems like the bigger flash and the transmitter will be a waste if you end up getting studio equipment someday

[smittymike19]

I see your point.

Maybe getting the 420 with the shoe cord and a stroboframe?

It seems like the bigger flash and the transmitter will be a waste if you end up getting studio equipment someday

so get a stroboframe, hot shoe cord, 420, b400, softbox? will it work?

[mbze430]

It all depends what you want to shoot. a setup of small head flashes will work for headshots. However if you want to go full lenght you might need more power. And if you start to get larger subject or multi-subject you will definately need a studio setup.

with my 4x580 setup it is best for headshots and 3/4. but if I know I am doing full lenght, the Bees comes out to play.

[smittymike19]

It all depends what you want to shoot. a setup of small head flashes will work for headshots. However if you want to go full lenght you might need more power. And if you start to get larger subject or multi-subject you will definately need a studio setup.

with my 4x580 setup it is best for headshots and 3/4. but if I know I am doing full lenght, the Bees comes out to play.

to be hinest the very current idea is to get full body pregnancy pics of my wife. the reason i even mention the 420/550, is because i have NO external flash and need one. i wante dto try and get the best of both worlds. a small studio setup and a flash to use on the camera. i am tempted to just get the digi bee (with a softbox or 2) then get the 550 later. can i use just one b800 and 420 or 550 for fill light? would it work? or is it best to just get the digi bee and forget the external flash for now?:cry:

[scottbergerphoto]

There is alot of good advice given already. I don't think you can really compare the level of control and the quality you get from studio lights and the kind you get from portable speed lights. Each has their own place in the photographers tool kit. I use SP Excalibur 3200's (3) in my home studio with a 2'x3' softbox, beauty disc reflector, and umbrellas. I keep (3) 550EX's in my Tenba 899P for portable work. For soft diffuse lighting you can't beat a softbox or large diffusion panel (which you can make on your own). The main problem with softboxes is that you need the box to be at least as large as the subject you want to photograph. That gets pretty expensive. Scott Smith at www.lightingmagic.com is a proponent of large diffusion panels. I plan to make one, one of theses days.
So base your decision on where you plan to use your equipment and how you plan to move it around. I have no personal experience with the Alien Bees. Many people love them.
These were done with 2 550EX's and a 420EX in wireless ETTL:
http://www.pbase.com/scottbergerphoto/ayana_bailey

[Reminisce]

You sound like how I was a couple months ago. My only source of light was a Sigma 500 DG Super which I still love to this day. I got to the point where I was doing a lot more portraiture and needed to invest in some more lighting. So after tussling with the debate for a while, I went and picked up a second Sigma 500. I eventually sold the second flash and picked up an Alien Bees package. I now have a flash and a B800 and for right now this is all I need to do what I need to do. As for my opinions on each setup:

2 Flash setup is indispensible for quick portable lighting, hands down. They are very small, very light, very easy to setup and get going. The Sigmas come with hotshoe mounts and mount on the tripod easily like a camera would. From there I'd attach a small shoot through umbrella, put the offshoe sigma in Optical mode, adjust my power and go to work. You can take this lighting source anywhere without any additional pieces to make it work.

Strobe lighting, however, is invaluable for control and expandability. The Alien Bees are easy to pack up and take on the road with you, however, not as quick to setup, but quick enough. You have to purchase the Vagabond (on their site) or some portable power in order to not have to use an AC outlet, but then of course there are always extension cords =). The light and control from my B800 is simply astounding, and I can still trigger my Sigma 500 with the AB so in essence I have a very good 2 light source. However, I will be buying a couple reflectors for fill light (because I want to focus on my skills of using a main light and fill light) and use the Sigma as a background light. I love my ABs and wouldnt trade them for anything.

If you dont have a flash, I'd advise you to get one of those first and learn to work with using your flash, learning how to bounce light and so on. Theres SO MUCH you can do with a good flash that you probably wont need a second light for a while if you spend a lot of time with it. Lighting is a very broad area and I never realized it until I got into it. If you do end up getting a flash, get a good flash with a lot of control first, like the 550EX, 580EX, or the Sigma 500. You cannot go wrong with either. From there on you can decide if you want a second flash or a strobe. Hope this helped a bit.

[jgbeam]

do you have any pics with this setup? i am really starting to sweat. i need to get lights soon as my wife is expecting july 15 and i want to get this shots before end of june, just in case. should i go with a 550 and a b400? how well will they match? if i get one of each how will i control each one?

Here's one with just the 550EX in a silver lined umbrella and a siilver reflector for a bit of fill. I used an ST-E2 on the hot shoe but you can do this with an off-shoe cord, too.

http://upload.pbase.com/image/43822785/original.jpg

I know, I know, the hand is very distracting but this is what she wanted and has ordered several copies. It does give you an idea of what you can do with one light, though. In this case a hairlight wasn't essential since her blonde hair stands out from the background. Start small and learn what you can do with a simple setup before going all out. You can build up slowly to the studio probes.

Jim

[JaertX]

How about the very best lighting: a window?

Window light portraits can be very flattering. I love them.

And it's cheap! I love that more!

[scottbergerphoto]

How about the very best lighting: a window?

Window light portraits can be very flattering. I love them.

And it's cheap! I love that more!
They have lots of different windows at Home Depot. Which is best to carry around and easiest to set up? ;) Wouldn't it be great if diffuse daylight and a well situated window were always available?

[jgbeam]

Here's a guy who is called "King of Hollywood Headshots". He throws open his garage door, puts a chair in the middle of the door opening, sits his subject down with a big white reflector in the subject's lap, stands out on the sidewalk and snaps away with his DSLR. Never uses artificial light. His prices aren't posted but he does note that his April special is a $150 discount! Check out the Quicktime video taken from a TLC special on "The Human Face". Fascinating approach to headshots and very nice work, even with the unusual catchlights.

http://www.headshot-photography.com/portfolio.htm

His background is whatever is in the garage, blurred out. He likes a very tight crop - not one of his shots shows the top of the head.

Jim

[smittymike19]

Here's a guy who is called "King of Hollywood Headshots". He throws open his garage door, puts a chair in the middle of the door opening, sits his subject down with a big white reflector in the subject's lap, stands out on the sidewalk and snaps away with his DSLR. Never uses artificial light. His prices aren't posted but he does note that his April special is a $150 discount! Check out the Quicktime video taken from a TLC special on "The Human Face". Fascinating approach to headshots and very nice work, even with the unusual catchlights.

http://www.headshot-photography.com/portfolio.htm

His background is whatever is in the garage, blurred out. He likes a very tight crop - not one of his shots shows the top of the head.

Jim

hey i am all for natural light photography. srioiusly i wouldnt even consider spending a nickel. its just that for the shots i have in mind are ones of my naked pregnant wife. i would love to see the reaction on my neighbors faces when i popped open the garage door and there is my naked wife swollen belly and all laying on a featherbed. There would certainly be something to talk about at the community annual bbq. lol

[mbze430]

Yes natural light is great to use, IF you know how to use it. Or everything will just look like "Snapshots". I have many diffusion panels from 5' to a 22" disc. You can definately get great light from the sun if used properly.

As for artifical lights, you can get the Dennis Reggie dual head (which I own). With a large umbrella 42+ you can use two 580ex to light up a full body as the Key. Use another 580ex as the fill. My last 580ex is used as a kicker or background. For this is the reason why I own 4x 580ex.

[scottbergerphoto]

hey i am all for natural light photography. srioiusly i wouldnt even consider spending a nickel. its just that for the shots i have in mind are ones of my naked pregnant wife. i would love to see the reaction on my neighbors faces when i popped open the garage door and there is my naked wife swollen belly and all laying on a featherbed. There would certainly be something to talk about at the community annual bbq. lol
Perfect situation for a large softbox or diffusion Panel. You can actually make a quick and cheap diffusion panel using a whie bed sheet held up by two light stands. You adjust the lighting not by moving the panel but by moving the light source closer and farther away from the panel.
Check out www.lightingmagic.com

[smittymike19]

Perfect situation for a large softbox or diffusion Panel. You can actually make a quick and cheap diffusion panel using a whie bed sheet held up by two light stands. You adjust the lighting not by moving the panel but by moving the light source closer and farther away from the panel.
Check out www.lightingmagic.com (http://www.lightingmagic.com)

what lights would you recommend i put behind the sheet then?

[scottbergerphoto]

what lights would you recommend i put behind the sheet then?
I think for that kind of lighting you need monolights like Bees or SP Excaliburs. Speedlights won't have the juice for broad diffuse lighting.

[davepgh1]

FYI, I just answered your question I found embedded in another thread.

Here is some more data to mill over, “420/550/STE-2”, the 420 will not allow you to manually adjust the output power, it will work off camera as a slave using the 550 or the STE-2 as the wireless master. It does not support a sync cord or optical trigger only the off-shoe cord which is only two or so feet long, short of the distance needed to fire a hair light. You would need the STE-2 or a second 550 to fire the 420 or 550 off camera at any distance.

The 420 or 550 will fire the AB via its optical trigger, however if someone else is taking pictures of that beautiful baby their flash will also fire the AB’s.
The older Rebel 300D does not support a PC sync cord I don’t know about the XT model. I use a Wein Safe Sync to connect the camera to the AB’s via the hot shoe.

I just read that the 420 is going for 160-170 dollars on eBay, maybe you can go for the AB’s and swing a 420 as a traveling flash.

You should think about getting a FLASH meter, it will make your life easier when you start playing with the AB’s, used ones are running $135-150. Some here think you can use the camera to measure the light when setting WB, as you may already know. I’m old school on meters if you are still having kids my Dad gave me my first one before you were born.

PS: Check out this link about the AB light modifiers.

http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=00AviY&unified_p=1

[mbze430]

I think for that kind of lighting you need monolights like Bees or SP Excaliburs. Speedlights won't have the juice for broad diffuse lighting.


Actually you got me thinking, and I might try this, but the recycle would be horrible. A full pop of the 580ex with the 14mm panel down with a wide panel might have the same effect. What you think??

[arpi]

Here's a guy who is called "King of Hollywood Headshots". He throws open his garage door, puts a chair in the middle of the door opening, sits his subject down with a big white reflector in the subject's lap, stands out on the sidewalk and snaps away with his DSLR. Never uses artificial light. His prices aren't posted but he does note that his April special is a $150 discount! Check out the Quicktime video taken from a TLC special on "The Human Face". Fascinating approach to headshots and very nice work, even with the unusual catchlights.

http://www.headshot-photography.com/portfolio.htm

His background is whatever is in the garage, blurred out. He likes a very tight crop - not one of his shots shows the top of the head.

Jim


hi

my first post!

that is such a good idea. you can see the reflection of the photographer in many of the pictures but the most noticeable is this one:

http://www.headshot-photography.com/photos/0047b2e0000.jpg

I'll have to give it a try oneday :D

PS: it looks like that the darker the skin, the deeper the subject is from the door

[stampchick724]

The ideal setup IMHO would be:
a large window to replace my garage door...floor to ceiling, wall to wall. But, since my husbands hobby takes of all of the basement (woodworking and bicycles), its not an option.

My favorite "prego" shots are with a large softbox on one side with a large westcott reflector on the other side.

but, I will try the large sheet ASAP. I like the idea of "creating" a large window.
large sources of diffused natural light is the best, and creates the best catchlights.