Aline Bee + Mini Vagabond for Weddings?

Any of you guys use an AB (or more) with the Vagabond Mini for wedding receptions or exits? I've been using my 2 580EXIIs, so I'd like to know any advantages/disadvantag​es of using an AB800 w/VM in place of one of those. Thanks!

Michelle Brooks Photography wrote in post #16652224
Any of you guys use an AB (or more) with the Vagabond Mini for wedding receptions or exits? I've been using my 2 580EXIIs, so I'd like to know any advantages/disadvantag​es of using an AB800 w/VM in place of one of those. Thanks!

I used to use an AB800 and Einstein and Vagabond Mini on each at receptions. Advantage would be not having to worry about power and recycle times. They can also be remotely controlled if you buy the Cyber Commander module. The only disadvantage I can think of is the size.

I switched over to bare bulb flashes (Cheetah Light CL-360 x 2) last year. Much more compact and for receptions, more than powerful enough.

I still have the Einstein and 1 Vagabond mini though, mainly for shooting outdoors in situations where I need more power.

Thanks, Nick. So the CC triggers are the only ones that will work with the ABs? I have Yongnu 622Cs. You have to have some kind of wireless trigger, right?

For receptions I have decided to keep using my 580's and I bought Youngnuo YN622c transceivers to trigger them. My problem was that i could not get enough distance out of the Pocketwizard radio transmitters ( Flex and Mini ) w/o misfires. A lot of misfires after 30 ft.

I find that at receptions, low light is the norm and speedlights have more than enough power. I have not gone with strobes a receptions because i dont want to deal with cords and drunk guests. Speedlights on a stand are a lot lighter and easy to move around and with the YN622c's, i can now control from back of camera and not have to go to the lights to control. So huge for me. But I have had nice big venues and have power and when i get this, I will hook up a strobe for reasons Nick listed.

Not sure what im gonna do about the cheetahs. They look like great lights. But Im using my strobes for formals and when im outside because i need the power to match ambient light. AB1600's are light and give me plenty of power when im outside.

I dont think there is 1 best lighting solution. So I suggest having a strobe set up that can match the ambient when outside and speedlights are very versatile. They should be standard operating equipment for wedding photogs. You really need both is my opinion.

Mike, that's exactly why I sold my PW PlusIIs - I was getting misfires often, very frustrating after paying so much for the PWs. I love the in camera controls with the YN622Cs!
Good points about the strobe set up. Thanks.

Michelle Brooks Photography wrote in post #16652264
Thanks, Nick. So the CC triggers are the only ones that will work with the ABs? I have Yongnu 622Cs. You have to have some kind of wireless trigger, right?

The CC allows you to remotely control power amongst other things with the AB lights and Einstein. You can also use any regular trigger, like the YN-622C if you don't need to remotely control the lights.

Michelle

I got these 622's in time for our last gig for 2012 in November. I tried them out and was pleasantly surprised. I got 60 Ft with no issues at all. I just need to control them better than i do. Its easy to click the wrong button and get these things out o synch. So I spent some time with them and I think ive got them all figured out. Great products.

Use them all the time... Never really short on power with the flashes, but the way faster recycle times and not having to around to swap batteries is huge...
Setup time with the bees is a bit longer than with flashes, as is take down... But once you get hang of it, it's pretty quick

I would go with the cheetah 360 over an ab set up. They are just too big and heavy to drag around. I have the cheetah 180 and love it.

I use AB800 + VML for location work at weddings, no small flash has the power I need. I have a dedicated lighting assistant, which is necessary IMHO. I use it at receptions sometimes, but more often use speedlites due to size concerns.

I bring an AB1600 and a vagabond mini so that I can compete with the sun on outdoor portraits if the opportunity presents itself. Since I have it, I plug it in and use it as one of two room lights during the reception, but two 580's would be sufficient. I use Phottix Stratos II's which had been great, but I've had some mis-fires using them with 5D3's.

I currently use Elinchrom BX500Ri and my Elinchrom Quadra which comes with me to all my formal shoots already. But I am seriously considering the Cheetah 360 speedlites. Practically the same power as my studio lights but super small and compact, and no plugs required.

pretty sure im going to stick with the AB1600's and vagabond mini's over the Cheetah 360's. Ive been doing a lot of research. There are significant andantages to the 180's and 360's over speedlights and portability is a huge advantage with these cheetahs.

1.The issue to me comes down to Power. A CL360 is less powerful than an ab800. I need to fire 2 speedlights to equal the power of 1 cl180.

2. Battery performance is about the same. Im reading reports of 400-450 pops at full power from a cl360 on their battery system v/s 400-450 with an AB800 on a vagabond mini

http://neilvn.com/foru​m/discussion/comment/5​877

3. Price. That still goes to the AB lights and vagabond

4. Modifiers. If you already own lots of stuff thats gonna work with AB lights. You are pretty set here

5. Power Power Power- 1 AB1600 gets you to 640WS v/s the 300WS of the cl360. So with two AB1600 you can shoot large groups in F/16 light and have no issues. the cl360, even with 3 might not be enough outside

The advantage of the AB system

1. costs

2. 110V and an extension cord. I am in few places where i can not get an extension cord to power the lights which makes a battery pack like the vagabond mini only needed for on location where no power is available. So I can get a lot more use from those strobes.

I think it really comes down to portability v/s power. The strobes get you more pop. But they are heavier to drag around, no doubt. For my needs, because i shoot mid day with ND filters, im leaning towards staying with what i have.

anyway, i have not completely ruled out these new cl360's. I get that you have to factor triggers into the price and that the cheetahs come with triggers. But most of us have PWs' already.

I just don't see the need for so much power at a wedding reception unless you want to nuke all the ambient.

If you want to show a bright blue sky with the sun behind people and them lit well, then I find a studio strobe necessary.