Buying Alien Bees, what wattage should I opt for?

Honestly, in all the time I've been shooting, no one has ever questioned the strobes I was using, except other photographers. As you know, photographers are like dogs at the dog park...we have to go around sniffing everyone elses behind to see what they've got. I wouldn't mind having higher-end gear, but I like that the AB stuff takes a beating and keeps working - if I break one, it's still less than a speed light to replace or repair, and Buff service is commendable. Folks often sell their AB's at relatively close to new prices, so if you get to a point where new gear can start paying for itself, or you somehow outgrow them, you will be able to recove a significant portion of your investment. Had the Einstiens been available when I bought mine (and all my units still work wonderfully) then I'd have gone that way, due to the 9 stop range. It would be a great all-purpose head for indoor and out. The AB's tend to weigh a bit less as well, compared to many other monoblocks, which matters when you are using boom arms, etc.

dmward wrote in post #12293909
The Effective Wattsecond thing was an attempt by Buff to illustrate that his lights delivered as much light to the subject as another strobe with more raw power. That gets into reflector efficiency and a pile of other stuff.

Apparently, the real measurement is related to lumens and no one offers that information.
At any rate, the Einstein follows the industry convention of publishing its Ws rating.

Since you're still researching spend some time looking at remote control capabilities.
The Cyber Commander offers some very nice features with the Einsteins, and PCB has incorporated a lot of the capability into the CSR+ for the analog AB lights.

I know Elinchrom has remote control capabilities, not sure what they support. I also think it depends on which lighting system you have.

I'd really like to get PocketWizards as they seem to be the best investment you can make when it comes to wireless flash triggers. I'm sure the CyberSyncs are great, too, I've just wanted PW's for a while now.

I'm considering the B1600 as it has the same power rating as the Einstein for about 100$ less, or should I suck it up and spend the extra $100 or so and get the einstein?

Philco wrote in post #12294240
Honestly, in all the time I've been shooting, no one has ever questioned the strobes I was using, except other photographers. As you know, photographers are like dogs at the dog park...we have to go around sniffing everyone elses behind to see what they've got. I wouldn't mind having higher-end gear, but I like that the AB stuff takes a beating and keeps working - if I break one, it's still less than a speed light to replace or repair, and Buff service is commendable. Folks often sell their AB's at relatively close to new prices, so if you get to a point where new gear can start paying for itself, or you somehow outgrow them, you will be able to recove a significant portion of your investment. Had the Einstiens been available when I bought mine (and all my units still work wonderfully) then I'd have gone that way, due to the 9 stop range. It would be a great all-purpose head for indoor and out. The AB's tend to weigh a bit less as well, compared to many other monoblocks, which matters when you are using boom arms, etc.

I totally get what you mean. I'm a gear nut when it comes to guitar equipment so why should photography be any different? haha. I'm glad to hear service on them isn't too expensive and that you could resell them later on for a good price. I take great care of my equipment so if that time comes it would be in great shape, I'm sure.

Einstein is definitely worth the difference in price.
Pocket Wizard ControlTL is good technology.
For Buff lights the Cyber Sync stuff, especially the Cyber Commander is head and shoulders above PW.

The light trigger only Pocket Wizard stuff is getting long in the tooth technology-wise.

Pocket Wizard's biggest problem is the frequency range they use. It is so low that it is susceptible to interference from the RF noise generated by monolights and speedlites.

The Cyber Sync and other triggers use the 2 gHz freq. It is high enough to be immune to those problems. And its license free.

dmward wrote in post #12299544
Einstein is definitely worth the difference in price.
Pocket Wizard ControlTL is good technology.
For Buff lights the Cyber Sync stuff, especially the Cyber Commander is head and shoulders above PW.

The light trigger only Pocket Wizard stuff is getting long in the tooth technology-wise.

Pocket Wizard's biggest problem is the frequency range they use. It is so low that it is susceptible to interference from the RF noise generated by monolights and speedlites.

The Cyber Sync and other triggers use the 2 gHz freq. It is high enough to be immune to those problems. And its license free.

Interesting. I guess I've just been really impressed by the new Mini and Flex systems from PW and with an integrated receiver offered from paul buff/PW for the Einstein only makes it more alluring

I have both.
The ControlTL is good for TTL, and the PowerMC2 permits incorporating the Einstein into the mix. Just as the AC9 permits incorporating an AB monolight with the phone jack connection.

The Cyber Commander is tightly integrated with the Einstein. It offers much more than the PW relative to the Einstein. And even the AB monolights via a CSR+.

StayLucky wrote in post #12299755
Interesting. I guess I've just been really impressed by the new Mini and Flex systems from PW and with an integrated receiver offered from paul buff/PW for the Einstein only makes it more alluring

PW & Paul C Buff haven't teamed up, as far as I know. The PCB system is in-house, but is really good for adjusting the lights remotely, which is something you can't do with PW as easily/as much. If you've got the time, read about the Cyber commander units and how they work with Einsteins. It makes a lot of sense to pick such a system. I had already purchased 6 PW Plus II's, which I don't necessarily regret, but you can get more with less now, I think.

anlenke wrote in post #12299890
PW & Paul C Buff haven't teamed up, as far as I know. The PCB system is in-house, but is really good for adjusting the lights remotely, which is something you can't do with PW as easily/as much. If you've got the time, read about the Cyber commander units and how they work with Einsteins. It makes a lot of sense to pick such a system. I had already purchased 6 PW Plus II's, which I don't necessarily regret, but you can get more with less now, I think.

Another reason I want to go with PW is because I still want to use a speedlite maybe two for kickers/fill light mainly because they are more portable and i like having that versatility/option to use what i want.

I didn't mean that Buff and PW teamed up, I jsut meant that Buff is selling the module from PW on the einstein page. My mistake.

I'll read up on the cybercommander and that whole system when I get a chance.

I hear that. I have Alien Bees and Einsteins, but I still use PW because of speedlights, as well as their compatibility with the RT module for Sekonic light meters and my Profotos, but that's a whole different chapter.

anlenke wrote in post #12299946
I hear that. I have Alien Bees and Einsteins, but I still use PW because of speedlights, as well as their compatibility with the RT module for Sekonic light meters and my Profotos, but that's a whole different chapter.

Exactly!

And once again...it's an aesthetic aspect as well. PW's have a screw lock on the hotshoe mounts...cybersyncs dont yet. I hate to come to that, but that's a deal breaker for me. I don't want to worry about my trigger coming lose. Had it happen a couple times with my Yongnuos and I swore I'll never use one without a lock again.

StayLucky wrote in post #12299955
Exactly!

And once again...it's an aesthetic aspect as well. PW's have a screw lock on the hotshoe mounts...cybersyncs dont yet. I hate to come to that, but that's a deal breaker for me. I don't want to worry about my trigger coming lose. Had it happen a couple times with my Yongnuos and I swore I'll never use one without a lock again.

There are perks to being the industry standard for so long...integration happens

Good luck man.

anlenke wrote in post #12299969
There are perks to being the industry standard for so long...integration happens

Good luck man.

Agreed.

Thanks so much for all your help!

anlenke wrote in post #12299946
I hear that. I have Alien Bees and Einsteins, but I still use PW because of speedlights, as well as their compatibility with the RT module for Sekonic light meters and my Profotos, but that's a whole different chapter.

Same here. have mini.flex and used to use Aline Bees CS. Plus II (with mini are simple and work and I also like integrated module in my L358. Don't get hung up on old tech, still like my 1dmk2 and may pick 1dsmk2 also to replace that old 5d.

BTW - When I used CS, I had no issues, the CST doesn't come off. I just wish it was more clean design like with on/off switch on TX and better switches/dials like PW products.

Does anyone know if PCB has corrected the overheating issues with Einsteins?

leeport wrote in post #12324014
Does anyone know if PCB has corrected the overheating issues with Einsteins?

I don't know if that was an Einstein V.1 thing, but with the V.2's I've never had an issue.