Best light kits to use for portraits

What about color shift from Interfit Stellars?

I know Doc's anti-Bee bias,
(BTW: I finally did find an advert for AB's in an educational journal. So they do advertise - not just word of mouth)

But I think Alien Bees are great strobes for the price, although I do agree that Elinchrom's are better if you can afford them. I don't know enough about the Profoto's to comment one way or the other on them.

I am not seeing a significant variation in WB between shots, but will have to check for myself between changes in power levels. Since I tend to adjust them and leave them once they are good for a particular set I am not likely to see that problem on a normal basis the way I use the lights. But I can see how that could be a problem if only the ABs experience that problem to that extent. I would need to see unbiased comparisons.

I have 6 of them (2 each 400, 800 and 1600) and feel I am getting good results from the lights. The accessories are doing eveything I need them to do so far so that is not a problem for me either.


I don't know of very many people (if any) who have parted with their Bees after getting them so they must be working pretty good for them as well. I kind of think of Doc's bias as a Nikonian saying the 1.5x factor makes their cameras better then Canon's FF cameras because it only uses the good portion of the lenses. Which to me means if it works for them great, but I do my own research and have my own style and I need the whole lens and can live with the limitations.

I consider Doc a friend as I do eveyone on this site, but I disagree with his strong anti-Bee bias. On other topics no problem. Someday we are going to have to meet and try out each other's strobes in real world conditions.

Just my opinion,

That's a new one. I'm a nikonian?

I am biased against bees. That's true. Don't like them. Won't recommend them.

I would never ever consider you to be a lowly Nikonian.
You are obviously the higher life form of Canonite

I said I think your bias against AB's is "like" a Nikonian saying....



Doesn't make your opinion wrong, but doesn't make it necessarily right either, it works for you.

There are some really cheap flash units from the Far East which I couldn't recommend, but basically anything made in the US or Europe is going to do the job for you. I've used virtually every brand of professional strobes on the market except for Profoto, and they all put out light. Some put out slightly better quality light and do it more reliably, but like everything else in life the best is always more expensive. The best thing is to go to a good professional camera store and check them out. I prefer boxes for studio work but I have several umbrellas for quick-and-dirty location work.

I have just purchased a Smith Victor 3 light kit consisting of the 110i heads. With the digital iso setting, I did not see the need for more when I bought it. It comes with barn doors, 3 stands, and I added a snoot.

I also purchase a Sunpak 300ws head from Warehouse photographic and the 3 pack halo/softbox modifiers from Wescott. Those things are great.
I purchased a 31x47 softbox off ebay and wish I had not. I also bought some backgrounds from Ebay and they are okay, but compared to one I bought locally, they are night and day difference.
Spend your money once and get the most you can afford.

the FL130 kit from B&H goes for $384. Great bargain to get started, but if you can swing it, look at the FL280. Everything in one box, and 300ws heads.

Kirby

kepople wrote in post #1350587
I have just purchased a Smith Victor 3 light kit consisting of the 110i heads. With the digital iso setting, I did not see the need for more when I bought it. It comes with barn doors, 3 stands, and I added a snoot.

I also purchase a Sunpak 300ws head from Warehouse photographic and the 3 pack halo/softbox modifiers from Wescott. Those things are great.
I purchased a 31x47 softbox off ebay and wish I had not. I also bought some backgrounds from Ebay and they are okay, but compared to one I bought locally, they are night and day difference.
Spend your money once and get the most you can afford.

the FL130 kit from B&H goes for $384. Great bargain to get started, but if you can swing it, look at the FL280. Everything in one box, and 300ws heads.

Kirby

Interested to know how your lights are performing. Any issues with the Smith Vector kit or anything you would have done different??

I don't mind getting AB or WL, but the UPS shipping and brokage fee is ridiculous. I don't recommend them for anyone outside US.