which alienbee

Which one should I start with?
I am going to buy one shortly but I really dont know. I just want whatever is the most versatile.
800, 1600?

or the einstein unit?

How do you intend to use your light(s)? Nobody can answer your question properly until we know more about the application.

Keep in mind I'm a relative lighting newb...

The Einstein would be the most versatile, but also the most expensive. I started with one AB1600, but quickly realized my money would be better spent on one or two AB400 or 800s (or a set of both). Mostly I shoot in smaller interior spaces, and the 1600 is overkill. I usually use it on 1/4 power or less.

If you're using them indoors for portraits, etc the 400 is plenty. The Einsteins are the most versatile but also the most expensive. Without knowing how you intend to use them it's hard to say.

Einstein if the budget allows as it replicates the function of all of the other models (plus more). If you stick with the original alien bee line, AB 800 is a good compromise, its not that more than the 400 and worth the extra. The 1600 is nice, but its pretty damn powerful for lots of indoor applications so its better outdoors or if you are lighting a big dark space with modifiers.

Some things to consider about Alien Bees:

Higher powered lights are also more powerful at their lowest setting. This can mean that you have TOO MUCH light when working in a small space.

Higher powered lights have a longer flash duration. This makes it harder to stop action.

This is why the Einstein is nice. It has a very wide power range and has a very short flash duration at low power, but its expensive.

For indoor work in a small studio/living room, the AB400 is plenty of power. For working outdoors with large modifiers, you'll want more power. Possibly a lot more.

Have you though about starting out with a few speedlights?? If it where me, I would get a AB800 and a AB400 a nice two light setup as a main and fill

mkville wrote in post #16031271
Have you though about starting out with a few speedlights?? If it where me, I would get a AB800 and a AB400 a nice two light setup as a main and fill

From other posts I know that she's been there, done that. I love my little speedlite kit, but when I want big soft light the alien bees and the large modifiers come out.

You should have a look at the white lightning x1600, which will give you the b1600 power and go as low as the b400.

I have a 400 and an 800 with a lot of speedlights, I do mostly portrait work and events like weddings. The B800 is nice if I need to nuke a poorly lit reception hall with light or for some of my larger modifiers. To be honest, I use the B400 way more for location shoots and indoor stuff.

I get a lot more milage out of a couple of speedlights and the B400, the B800 only comes out for bigger events

I ended up with two 1600's and two 800's which work nicely in my situations. I have a pair of 580 EXII's when those are too powerful.
Don't forget to buy some modifiers. I have umbrellas, softboxes and beauty dishes. Out of all of them, I use the beauty dishes most often.

I certainly appreciate all the replies and it's given me a lot to think about which is exactly what I wanted.

What will I use it for?

Well, I want to do sports portraits, I like to do children too.
I dont think I need too much for either of those, but I'd also like to have enough to do a group shot of 2-3 people aiding outdoors light if I could

Someone told me I could slave my 2 flashes as rim light with 1 alien bee in front. That seems like a decent option, and some of you are right, i might be better to buy 2 instead of 1 big one.

I think first I'll get a beauty dish with it.
I have 2 sets of umbrellas now for my flashes.

AB400s or AB800s. AB800 more versatile as they have higher power for outdoors. To me AB1600 is mainly outdoor light. Oh, I have used Einsteins and wished they had little bit more power. I sold them as I wasn't using them much now back to AB400s and AB800s.

Well it sounds like an 800 then. Will an 800 do me well to light a group of 2-3 kids, or a mom and baby or something of this nature?

abbypanda wrote in post #16032606
Well it sounds like an 800 then. Will an 800 do me well to light a group of 2-3 kids, or a mom and baby or something of this nature?

sure just use a big light modifier or a modifier that has good wide spread like a shoot through umbrella