European alternative to Paul C Buff (cheap+portable)

Hi,

I'm living in the US right now and I'm considering picking up an Alienbee and Vagabond Mini because I've heard nothing but great stuff about 'em and I would really like a portable lighting kit.
I'll be heading back in a couple months to Europe and was wondering if it would be better to pick up a kit here than back in Yurp, where everything is generally more expensive.
Is there an alternative to the Vagabond Mini and AB400/AB800?

Thanks in advance

sorry i can't help specifically, i love my new b800 and VML though

but, do you by any chance know how to get to chad's gap?

How about Elinchrom lights? They are currently releasing new models (DRX ONE) and they are offering this "try before you buy" option. For the battery pack, why not consider Tronix Explorers (www.innovatronix.com)​?

if you go to europe, voltage probably a problems with AB,
unless you get Einsteins, VML will also be a problems

there are several nive strobes in europe,
you can visit Calumet, www.calumet.de,
I've been there and they have lots of nice products,
like Gemini, etc, I think the cost would be similar to AB products

I get promotionals Profoto D1 when I visit Calumet in Germany,
just try

Hi!

Paul C Buff gear is now for sale in Europe through a distributor in the UK - http://paulcbuff.eu.co​m/.
It sells both 110V and 230V versions of the strobes.
I know this because I'm looking for the same thing. Right now I'm considering either PCB or Elinchrom.

Cheers!

Take a look at Calumet Genesis lights, they make 300Ws battery powered lights.

http://www.calumetphot​o.nl …accuvoeding/cal​cf0510kit1

If not take a look at Innovatronix batteries and any of the strobes they are compatible with (the list is quite long).

soundsk wrote in post #15201442
Hi!

Paul C Buff gear is now for sale in Europe through a distributor in the UK - http://paulcbuff.eu.co​m/.
It sells both 110V and 230V versions of the strobes.
I know this because I'm looking for the same thing. Right now I'm considering either PCB or Elinchrom.

Cheers!

PCB in Europe is quite silly idea, because the price is ridiculously high when you compare to how much the same things cost in the US.

kokakaste2 wrote in post #15202352
PCB in Europe is quite silly idea, because the price is ridiculously high when you compare to how much the same things cost in the US.

That could be said about a lot of things. It the nature of the import rules, and the PCB business model.

Your suggested Genesis 300B is 405 Euros for a 300 Ws light that has a very poor power control system. Not at all consistent. it would take two of them to get the same Ws power available from an Einstein.

Even though I have Einsteins and like them, if I lived in Europe I would probably buy and use Elinchrom lights. Along with the inverter mentioned.

Thanks for all the input everyone!
I'll go dig through the info you guys posted.

Couldn't I use AB's and VML's with 220V-110V adapters though?

Sklar wrote in post #15201047
sorry i can't help specifically, i love my new b800 and VML though

but, do you by any chance know how to get to chad's gap?

Didn't you hear? Ski patrol blew it up after some retard tried a switch 9! He broke both his ankles, can you believe it?

dmward wrote in post #15202404
That could be said about a lot of things. It the nature of the import rules, and the PCB business model.

Your suggested Genesis 300B is 405 Euros for a 300 Ws light that has a very poor power control system. Not at all consistent. it would take two of them to get the same Ws power available from an Einstein.

Even though I have Einsteins and like them, if I lived in Europe I would probably buy and use Elinchrom lights. Along with the inverter mentioned.

I understand that. It is normal that things cost here more. The big selling point of AB in the US is the price, while in Europe that kinda doesn't work.

Einsteins sound really amazing, but the price is not cheap. But the OP asked for cheap and portable which means adding battery to already expensive strobe.

I figured I could get a VML+AB for around 500$/400€ and that's about as much as I want to spend

Also, I couldn't find the t.1 for the Genesis lights. I would like something fast so I can also use it for action sports. 1/1000 minimum.

The Tronix Explorer Mini is ok, but quite heavy (11.2 lbs) compared to the VML (3.5lbs) as well as 200€ more expensive.

Are there any disadvantages of using a 110V Alienbees kit with adapters in 220V/240V countries?

AB are not really an option outside of the US, unfortunately.

Discussed here:
http://www.flickr.com …discuss/7215763​1791004649

While the excellent Calumet genesis guns are not linear in the power control, they are at least consistent from one to the other. I have four to go with other Eli stuff, am very pleased with them indeed, and all are:

300b 200
1/1 60 60
1/2 45 45
1/4 30 30
1/8 22 21
1/16 14 13
1/24 10 10

The 300b and battery pack is to be recommended, but Calumet are changing and refreshing the genesis range at the minute.

There are really not any voltage controlled monolights that have sufficiently short t.1 to stop action.
That is in the purview of the Einstein. Unfortunately, voltage controlled monolights increase flash duration when the power is reduced. On the other hand, speedlites and Einstein the flash duration gets shorter as the power is reduced.

Trailboy wrote in post #15202515
AB are not really an option outside of the US, unfortunately.

Discussed here:
http://www.flickr.com …discuss/7215763​1791004649

While the excellent Calumet genesis guns are not linear in the power control, they are at least consistent from one to the other. I have four to go with other Eli stuff, am very pleased with them indeed, and all are:

300b 200
1/1 60 60
1/2 45 45
1/4 30 30
1/8 22 21
1/16 14 13
1/24 10 10

The 300b and battery pack is to be recommended, but Calumet are changing and refreshing the genesis range at the minute.

What do those numbers mean?
And as far as that topic goes: that's just saying it's not worth it to buy the importer versions. I'm strictly talking about using the US 110V version. I don't see a reason why it wouldn't work.

dmward wrote in post #15202654
There are really not any voltage controlled monolights that have sufficiently short t.1 to stop action.
That is in the purview of the Einstein. Unfortunately, voltage controlled monolights increase flash duration when the power is reduced. On the other hand, speedlites and Einstein the flash duration gets shorter as the power is reduced.

t.1 for the AB400 is 1/2000, the AB800 is 1/1000. That's sufficiently fast for most uses.

My answer was in response to dmwards criticism:

"Your suggested Genesis 300B is 405 Euros for a 300 Ws light that has a very poor power control system."

Yes, it isn't linear, but it is consistent. The numbers I quoted are for the power control on the genesis monolights. The formatting was cocked up by the forum formatting.

You can buy whatever you want, but in your circumstances I would opt for an einstein and pay the extra. Multi voltage, you said "I would like something fast so I can also use it for action sports", and the ABs are notoriously slow in flash duration, while the einstein is notoriously fast.

TijmenDal wrote in post #15202708
What do those numbers mean?
And as far as that topic goes: that's just saying it's not worth it to buy the importer versions. I'm strictly talking about using the US 110V version. I don't see a reason why it wouldn't work.

t.1 for the AB400 is 1/2000, the AB800 is 1/1000. That's sufficiently fast for most uses.

That's at full power. As you reduce power the times get longer.
Also, you'd be surprised about those durations being fast enough. That's good, better than others for the most part.

Here is a link to an ad Buff put out that shows the relative difference in t.1 speeds at max and min power. http://www.paulcbuff.c​om …ads/e640_specsm​anship.jpg