moving to monolights

i use speed lights now and i want to make the jump to monolights.

should i get a kit like this or start out with a single alienbee AB800 and softbox.

http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …KI_Two_Monoligh​t_Kit.html

besides power and recycle time and quality does a single light offer more than the ability of using two lights?

I have no idea about the impact lights. I took a look and they seem similar to the adorama flashpoint line. What you get with the alien bees is very solid construction, reliability, great service. A large user base. You get access to lots of modifiers from both the manufacturer and 3rd party makers. I know that in 10 years I'll be able to order replacement parts like flashtubes for my bees. With the off brand (or store brand in the case of impact) you have to make sure that its a universal mounting system so you can get the softboxes etc you want. Who knows if they will continue to support the lights once something new and better comes along. Not bashing BH here, its just a matter of economics.

Gonzo, thats a good point, how does that hold up with Flashpoint? Will I have any big issues with softboxes? Since it has an umbrella slot, what wouild be the issue? I wouldnt need a hotshoe adaptor eihter beciase it has the light stand hole so what would I be more concerned about?

Thanks!

gonzogolf wrote in post #16826579
I have no idea about the impact lights. I took a look and they seem similar to the adorama flashpoint line. What you get with the alien bees is very solid construction, reliability, great service. A large user base. You get access to lots of modifiers from both the manufacturer and 3rd party makers. I know that in 10 years I'll be able to order replacement parts like flashtubes for my bees. With the off brand (or store brand in the case of impact) you have to make sure that its a universal mounting system so you can get the softboxes etc you want. Who knows if they will continue to support the lights once something new and better comes along. Not bashing BH here, its just a matter of economics.

exactly the points im looking for thanks. hoping other chime in with experience with these lights.

digitalduck wrote in post #16826600
Gonzo, thats a good point, how does that hold up with Flashpoint? Will I have any big issues with softboxes? Since it has an umbrella slot, what wouild be the issue? I wouldnt need a hotshoe adaptor eihter beciase it has the light stand hole so what would I be more concerned about?

Thanks!

I'm guessing these lights are similar to the flashpoint. If not the same maker rebranded. So all that I said above holds true for both. I think the difference with the flashpoint is that Adorama has a whole range of flashpoint offerings, from the basic to some rather impressive units. I'm guessing at least for those offerings they are using some mount that they support. For softboxes a proprietary mount could be a real issue long term. If you can only buy from one maker, then they can hold you hostage. But you can use any of the umbrella mount accessories, just check to see if they use the standard 8mm umbrella mount, or the 7mm e*****ome one.

Duck, the reason I steered you toward the flashpoint in our earlier discussions was simply that was the least expensive point of entry for new monolights that gave me enough confidence to recommend. Alien Bees are fantastic, but the initial cost is a bit more, I think the AB800 is around $275.
I should say I dont have anything against the bargain strobes, especially given their costs versus speedlites in terms of power for the $$. I wouldnt want to go there long term, but if I had limited need or wanted to dip my toe into strobes I would think its a value.

Ill tackle these in reverse order

gonzogolf wrote in post #16826579
I have no idea about the impact lights. I took a look and they seem similar to the adorama flashpoint line. What you get with the alien bees is very solid construction, reliability, great service. A large user base. You get access to lots of modifiers from both the manufacturer and 3rd party makers. I know that in 10 years I'll be able to order replacement parts like flashtubes for my bees. With the off brand (or store brand in the case of impact) you have to make sure that its a universal mounting system so you can get the softboxes etc you want. Who knows if they will continue to support the lights once something new and better comes along. Not bashing BH here, its just a matter of economics.

This is an EXTREMELY good point. Not too recently, a very very....very large chain of camera stores went out of business... Good luck getting your calumet flash packs serviced... and their stuff was not cheap either.

But... the actual Bowens brand is not going anywhere.

mike_311 wrote in post #16826560
i use speed lights now and i want to make the jump to monolights.

should i get a kit like this or start out with a single alienbee AB800 and softbox.

http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …KI_Two_Monoligh​t_Kit.html

besides power and recycle time and quality does a single light offer more than the ability of using two lights?

Those moonlights are.... uhh.... crap. 100 watt/seconds.... your speedlite is only about 1 stop less powerful.


I would really caution you AGAINST buying these. You definitely want something that is


-durable
-reliable (not the same thing....)
-wide range of modifiers
-easily repaired...well into the future.

Alien bees are not a bad place to start, for a few more dollars you could get an Einstein640, which I have absolutely NO experience with, but I hear they are good.

If you were to spend just a little bit more once again...(think in the 700 dollar range...) you could pick up some used speedotron equipment, which will certainly outlast how ever much photographic juice you have left in your time on this earth.

Again, I would say to steer CLEAR of photogenic/flashpoint/​impact monolites. They just are not very....ehhh "good."

we have old speedotrons at my school I wish I could get. But I would be another vote for the Paul C. Buff stuff. I have used cheap lights before, it is a pain when you have to modify the modifier to get it to work on your moonlight.