Buying Alien Bees, what wattage should I opt for?

In a couple months I'll be buying a pair of Alien Bee flash heads and wanted some advice on which wattage to get. Right now I'm considering one AB400 and one AB800. It seems like a versatile set up with two different power outputs from the heads. I want to do portraits, in doors and out doors, and really use these as my go to flash units.

StayLucky wrote in post #12284443
In a couple months I'll be buying a pair of Alien Bee flash heads and wanted some advice on which wattage to get. Right now I'm considering one AB400 and one AB800. It seems like a versatile set up with two different power outputs from the heads. I want to do portraits, in doors and out doors, and really use these as my go to flash units.

have u looked at the white lightning x1600?

It has the power of the b1600 but also has a 1/4 power switch which makes it like a b400. It's like having a combo of a b1600 and b400 in one rugged aircraft aluminum case.

Or the einsteins. They cost more money but have a much larger power range and will allow you to shoot wider apertures.

derekchinese wrote in post #12284498
have u looked at the white lightning x1600?

It has the power of the b1600 but also has a 1/4 power switch which makes it like a b400. It's like having a combo of a b1600 and b400 in one rugged aircraft aluminum case.

Or the einsteins. They cost more money but have a much larger power range and will allow you to shoot wider apertures.

I'm willing to pay more for quality and I think anything by Paul Buff is worth the money. Wasn't aware or larger power ranges allowing you to shoot at wider apertures. That's a good bit of info to learn!

I've been doing some more research on AB and comparing them to some Elinchrom models, I really like what I've seen from Elinchrom. They seem really user-friendly and rugged. But, they are way out of my price range. Alien Bees really does seem like the best bang for the buck.

Considering the advice given above about larger power ranges = wider apertures, should I opt for two B1600s? That would be about $730. I have stands and umbrellas, so I wouldn't have to buy those.

If you're set on the Alien Bees and are doing indoor and out portraits, I'd probably get a B1600 and a B800. Ideally 2 Einsteins...bear in mind, you'll also need to power them and figure that into the budget.
The 640 w/s B1600 isn't very flexible indoors, but is pretty necessary outside. The B800 tends (for me obviously) to be a little underpowered outdoors, but has plenty of power inside. I bought mine before the Einsteins were available; knowing what I know now about photographic equipment/my personal demands on the versatility of equipment, I would've saved up a little more and gone with the Einsteins.

anlenke wrote in post #12286510
If you're set on the Alien Bees and are doing indoor and out portraits, I'd probably get a B1600 and a B800. Ideally 2 Einsteins...bear in mind, you'll also need to power them and figure that into the budget.
The 640 w/s B1600 isn't very flexible indoors, but is pretty necessary outside. The B800 tends (for me obviously) to be a little underpowered outdoors, but has plenty of power inside. I bought mine before the Einsteins were available; knowing what I know now about photographic equipment/my personal demands on the versatility of equipment, I would've saved up a little more and gone with the Einsteins.

I'll keep that in mind, thanks. I'm not 100% set on Alien Bees. Can you recommend another brand?

StayLucky wrote in post #12286551
I'll keep that in mind, thanks. I'm not 100% set on Alien Bees. Can you recommend another brand?

Calumet Genesis strobes are pretty well liked as well. They use Elinchrom mounts so a later upgrade would be a little less painful if you're thinking about the future. They wouldn't be very good for sports, but outside of that, they should handle what you might want them to do.

StayLucky wrote in post #12286551
I'll keep that in mind, thanks. I'm not 100% set on Alien Bees. Can you recommend another brand?

I can, but not in the price range most likely. I have a Profoto set of lights, and have had the privilege to use some broncolors too, but they're in the $5,000- $20,000 range. Alien Bees are very good, Einsteins are even better, especially for the price... I've heard good things about the Genesis, and Elinchrom too, but I recall you saying they were a bit on the pricy side.

anlenke wrote in post #12289249
I can, but not in the price range most likely. I have a Profoto set of lights, and have had the privilege to use some broncolors too, but they're in the $5,000- $20,000 range. Alien Bees are very good, Einsteins are even better, especially for the price... I've heard good things about the Genesis, and Elinchrom too, but I recall you saying they were a bit on the pricy side.

I do like the Elinchrom D-Lite-it 400s, I think they are about $580 a piece. B+H has a kit that includes the strobes, soft boxes, stands and carrying bags for about $850. Elinchrom's have always piqued my interest because they seem to be built really well and seem to be easy to use. I always read a lot of pro's talk about using them (ie-scott kelby, etc.) and they can't say enough good things about them.

lazer-jock wrote in post #12289201
Calumet Genesis strobes are pretty well liked as well. They use Elinchrom mounts so a later upgrade would be a little less painful if you're thinking about the future. They wouldn't be very good for sports, but outside of that, they should handle what you might want them to do.

I'll check those out, thanks!

The Genesis lights also tend to go on sale in November and also in May. If you like them and aren't in a rush, you might wait for the next sale.

You mentioned wanting to use the monolights both indoors and out.
That means either a long extension cord or a battery pack of some kind.

Elinchrom makes good lights. They are digitally controlled which means accurate power adjustments.
They make two options that are battery powered, both at relatively pricy.

Other monolights can be powered by external packs, either made for the lights or generic.

Genesis lights, including the 300B with its battery pack, are entry level lights with an inconsistent power adjustment that has a digital readout.

At the present time, the Einstein from PCB, especially when mated with a Vagabond Mini, is the most versatile and economically efficient option.

Most modifiers (soft boxes etc.) can be made to work with just about any monolight via a speedring adapter. Elinchrom softboxes, including their octaboxes are an exception. The adapter is riveted into the speedring.

dmward wrote in post #12290051
You mentioned wanting to use the monolights both indoors and out.
That means either a long extension cord or a battery pack of some kind.

Elinchrom makes good lights. They are digitally controlled which means accurate power adjustments.
They make two options that are battery powered, both at relatively pricy.

Other monolights can be powered by external packs, either made for the lights or generic.

Genesis lights, including the 300B with its battery pack, are entry level lights with an inconsistent power adjustment that has a digital readout.

At the present time, the Einstein from PCB, especially when mated with a Vagabond Mini, is the most versatile and economically efficient option.

Most modifiers (soft boxes etc.) can be made to work with just about any monolight via a speedring adapter. Elinchrom softboxes, including their octaboxes are an exception. The adapter is riveted into the speedring.

The digital control of adjustment with better accuracy only adds to why they look more appealing. I would like to use them outside, but I would be doing mainly indoor stuff to start. That I think would help me understand how to light subjects better, how to use the strobes, etc. Then later, picking up a battery back for out door use. I've been watching a lot of videos on the Elinchrom D-Lite 400 ITs and they're starting win out over the PCB lights.

Elinchrom D-Lites are nice lights. They are bi-voltage with causes a problem with inverter based battery power. There are solutions coming if you want to power two lights from same source.

The biggest advantage the Einstein offers is a wider power range than any other light of which I am aware. It goes from 2.5 to 640 Ws in accurate 1/10 step increments.

dmward wrote in post #12290151
Elinchrom D-Lites are nice lights. They are bi-voltage with causes a problem with inverter based battery power. There are solutions coming if you want to power two lights from same source.

The biggest advantage the Einstein offers is a wider power range than any other light of which I am aware. It goes from 2.5 to 640 Ws in accurate 1/10 step increments.

How do I work around that issue when using battery power with the bi-voltage?