Ready for Studio Lighting

I have been pondering the purchase of some decent lighting. I was looking at an Alien Bee 1600 about a year ago but never made the commitment. I think I am ready now to buy one or maybe 2 lights. I shoot weddings and I was thinking of using the lights for the formal shots after a wedding ceremony. I'd like something that is easily portable and easy to hide (I've heard of people walking off with lighting gear and that would just tick me off).

I have about $400 to spend (maybe $500). I'd also like to have the option for a battery pack to do outdoor shots.

Am I on the right track with an Alien Bee 1600 or is there something better and maybe less expensive out there? Are the 1600's too powerful? Would I be OK with an 800?

I know nothing about battery packs either so a little help in that department would be appreciated as well.

Thanks!

Another note:

I have a PocketWizard TT5Flex and a PocketWizard TT1Mini and would like to use them with whatever I purchase.

What are the main limits you are experiencing with your 580EX II flashes?

What kind of modifiers are you planning on using? The B1600 might be too powerful for that situation, especially if you like to shoot at larger apertures / smaller DOF. In small, indoor areas, it can become almost unusable. Enough room and a softbox + grid would tame it pretty well though.

Einstein allows more control and consistency, and provides a much shorter flash duration if you ever envision a scenario down the line where you need to freeze movement, and also need more power than a speedlite can provide.

Another option would be the X1600's. I use two of these, and the benefit with those is the 1/4 power switch which allows it to drop it's output and function like a B400, and the jump back up to full power and act like a B1600. Much better build quality, though it is larger and heaver than the AB's.

B800 would be a solid alternative, but IMO, Esinstein is the way to go. If I could trade out my two X1600's for them I would.. Sadly it would cost me quite a bit to do so.

alintx wrote in post #15509281
What are the main limits you are experiencing with your 580EX II flashes?

I don't think they are powerful enough for outside shots using the umbrellas. Also, worrying about changing the batteries is a problem. I suppose I could start with fresh ones.

BrandonSi wrote in post #15509305
What kind of modifiers are you planning on using? The B1600 might be too powerful for that situation, especially if you like to shoot at larger apertures / smaller DOF. In small, indoor areas, it can become almost unusable. Enough room and a softbox + grid would tame it pretty well though.
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I'm not quite sure what kind of modifiers I would need. I have a Softbox (Dynaphos DP-3497) I'm not to sure of the size at the moment. Looks like an 18" x 36" box.

wedding photographer here. i started off with b800s for family formals. i've made the switch to a westcott orb with 2 580s in it with a ezybox with another 580 for fill. i only bring out my strobes if i really need to overpower the sun or light a room for the whole night. anything other than that, the speedlights are great.

I have 2 580 EX II's. I haven't checked the prices on them lately since the 600's came out but mine were in the $480 - $500 range each. Even if they dropped $100 that's still about $400 for a Speedlite. They are great lights but do I really need to spend that much money if I can buy something a little less expensive that I can use in conjunction with the Speedlites?

I haven't used them, but I have been looking at the Elinchrom D-lites. They have a learning mode that detects how many preflashes there are to fire optically on the speedlight output. I am not sure about a compatible power pack though. Any actual use input on the D-lites? They seem like they would work nice with speedlites.

400ws D-lites

CameraMan wrote in post #15509480
They are great lights but do I really need to spend that much money if I can buy something a little less expensive that I can use in conjunction with the Speedlites?

Don't try to mix Speedlites (using ETTL for power control) with any type of "studio" flash system.

If you use a single Speedlite in purely manual mode (without using any optical communication to it - only a cable or a radio link to the camera) then you can blend that with studio lights.

CameraMan wrote in post #15509480
I have 2 580 EX II's. I haven't checked the prices on them lately since the 600's came out but mine were in the $480 - $500 range each. Even if they dropped $100 that's still about $400 for a Speedlite. They are great lights but do I really need to spend that much money if I can buy something a little less expensive that I can use in conjunction with the Speedlites?

i use the yongnuo knock off's. 80 bucks and puts out the same GN as the 580. dont get me wrong, studio lights are great. but for quick mobile lighting? i'd much rather have an ORB with speedlights than an b800 with mini vagabond.

awad wrote in post #15510373
i use the yongnuo knock off's. 80 bucks and puts out the same GN as the 580. dont get me wrong, studio lights are great. but for quick mobile lighting? i'd much rather have an ORB with speedlights than an b800 with mini vagabond.

the b800 and vag are more mobile and easier to setup in my opinion

+ if you have a cyber commander and csrb+ it's even easier and more convenient

I have a Yongnuo for my Nikon. I haven't thought about getting one for the Canon along with another PW. I should look into that. Maybe some fresh rechargeable batteries as well.

here's the thing about lighting, it's all about preference. You find what works for you and go with it. Having studio strobes is never a bad idea. I have 6 B800s and I've never felt undergunned in the sun with them. I'd save some money and go with a B800 over a B1600. Are you planning to use umbrellas? I love PCB's big octa, (prior to the orb) I used it exclusively for family formals with a shoot through umbrella for fill.

the B800 + vagabond 2 would run you around $530 or so with tax which seems pretty close to your budget.

For me personally? The weight of the strobes is the downfall of them. A speedlight setup weighs a quarter of the amount of a strobe set up and the light is similar. But experiment for yourself and find what you're comfortable doing. But definitely get strobes at some point.

awad wrote in post #15512336
here's the thing about lighting, it's all about preference. You find what works for you and go with it. Having studio strobes is never a bad idea. I have 6 B800s and I've never felt undergunned in the sun with them. I'd save some money and go with a B800 over a B1600. Are you planning to use umbrellas? I love PCB's big octa, (prior to the orb) I used it exclusively for family formals with a shoot through umbrella for fill.

the B800 + vagabond 2 would run you around $530 or so with tax which seems pretty close to your budget.

For me personally? The weight of the strobes is the downfall of them. A speedlight setup weighs a quarter of the amount of a strobe set up and the light is similar. But experiment for yourself and find what you're comfortable doing. But definitely get strobes at some point.

Well said.

I have 4 Einsteins, before that 7 B800s. They are great for studio and I use them for family portraits outside as well. Usually with PLMs. I also have a collection of softboxes.

Also have 4 600EX-RTs and can gang them into a modifier for more light when I want it with HSS.

The key is that speedlites are small, which helps with staying agile. Einsteins are great lights, especially with Cyber Commander for control.

To ensure a complete kit, its really necessary, in my view, to have both.