Photogenic StudioMax III or Alien Bees 800

OK guys I am shopping for a some lights to put out in the Recreation Room. I will just be taking portraits of kids and family. In my price range (800-900) I have narrowed it down to the Photogenic StudioMAxIII AK320 or the Alien Bees 800.

I was thinking either the Alien Bees digi bee kit with two Alien A800's.

or

This Photogenic kit from BH
http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …_II_3_Light_Por​trait.html

With ALien Bees I get wireless tranmiters and two year warranty, but with Photogenic I get three monolights for same price with a one year warranty.

ANybody have any good advice?? Anybody had the experience of using both??
Thanks~

The Photogenics will give you more consistent color temperature and can also work with small, lightweight, and inexpensive AC batteries rather than having to lug a 20lb Vagabond battery around if you want to use your gear outside.

RichNY wrote in post #4793590
The Photogenics will give you more consistent color temperature ...

Is this documented somewhere? (i.e. Have you tested them or have you seen a test of them?)

Thanks,
Michael

Mike- Consistent color as compared to Alien Bees is such a major selling major selling feature for the Photogenic strobes that they've incorporated the term Constant Color into their product name. They have half the color range than Alien Bee strobes.
http://www.photogenicp​ro.com …M_ID=179&DEPART​MENT_ID=83

RichNY wrote in post #4794480
Mike- Consistent color as compared to Alien Bees is such a major selling major selling feature for the Photogenic strobes that they've incorporated the term Constant Color into their product name. They have half the color range than Alien Bee strobes.
http://www.photogenicp​ro.com …M_ID=179&DEPART​MENT_ID=83

They may very well do a much better job with color consistency but I would rather read an independent review than see the manufacturer's claims. I know you're not very enthusiastic about the Alienbees inconsistent color used at less than 1/8 power (I've read the other threads) but a quick search on the consistency of the Photogenic light did not turn up any real review.

I did find this comment from someone who uses them:

"A couple of caveats: The flash time is long - as much as 1/125 second, so you have to be careful of the sync speed. Secondly, they have a rather long recycle time - about 6 seconds with a Turbo battery. Finally, there is little or no power regulation and the color temperature changes as you reduce the power level (this is typical except in very high-end flash units)." That came from here: http://photo.net …a-fetch-msg?msg_id=00H0sp

Again, I'm not saying the Photogenic StudioMax III are not color-consistent throughout their power range nor am I saying they're not good lights, I'm just saying I haven't seen anything that verified they're consistency.

As was mentioned in another thread, color consistency when reducing the power output of a strobe has never been a strong point of any of the lower-priced studio strobes. Everything I've read indicates you have to buy a high end strobe for that kind of consistency. In addition, the color temperature a strobe will change as it ages.

Michael

Mikey- Since we KNOW for a fact that Alien Bees aren't color consistent beyond 4 stops would you dump your strobes and buy anything better if you saw proof that the Photogenic Studio Maxes are more consistent?

(Paul Buff's claim that they have a 6 stop range is pure consumer fraud- they NEVER work properly at those last two stops. If his advertising wasn't deceptive in this regard I think that the only negative comment we would see posted all over the Internet is that they just aren't consistent from pop to pop.)

I have a couple of the older StudioMaxII's 320's and I love them. Got them for a great deal on ebay. They come up from time to time. I am looking for another to fill out 3 lights at the moment.

RichNY wrote in post #4794995
Mikey- Since we KNOW for a fact that Alien Bees aren't color consistent beyond 4 stops would you dump your strobes and buy anything better if you saw proof that the Photogenic Studio Maxes are more consistent?

(Paul Buff's claim that they have a 6 stop range is pure consumer fraud- they NEVER work properly at those last two stops. If his advertising wasn't deceptive in this regard I think that the only negative comment we would see posted all over the Internet is that they just aren't consistent from pop to pop.)

I don't own Alienbees. I own White Lightning X-Series srobes, which are reportedly more consistent at lower power levels. (Paul even says that, although I haven't tested them myself.)

I'm not trying to defend Alienbees or Paul C. Buff. I understand there are some limitations to the Bees but I would like to see evidence that there is a comparably-priced strobe that exceeds the color consistency of the Alienbees before I would make a recommendation to someone to buy something else.

It's fine to warn people that Alienbees are inconsistent below 1/8th power but recommending another strobe that "will give you more consistent color temperature" when you haven't any direct knowledge of that consistency doesn't seem right.

I'm not trying to start another war here. All I want is accuracy in making claims about equipment. And, yes I would highly recommend the Photogenic StudioMax III strobes if I knew they were more consistent and didn't have other shortcomings. I can't say I would dump my White Lightnings because I don't know that they have that problem.

Michael

magicmikey wrote in post #4795060
I don't own Alienbees. I own White Lightning X-Series srobes, which are reportedly more consistent at lower power levels. (Paul even says that, although I haven't tested them myself.)

Mike- I've never tested or used WL but I'm glad to hear that they don't have the same design flaw as the Alien Bees. It is really a shame that they do since the White Lightnings came first and there must have been a blatant disregard for future Alien Bee customers to take something that worked and turned it into something that doesn't (at up to the 6 stops advertised)

Robert and I will be doing some extensive testing on Friday of several major brands of lights and will post the results.

I'm willing to let this issue rest for a few days until we can get the data uploaded.

Thanks Rich and Mikey! Always love to hear a good debate At this point I am still leaning towards the Photogenics since i can get three lights for the sane price.

However I do like the fact that everyone raves about AB customer service. And the fact that they offer a two year warranty.

On the otherhand I have heard a lot of positves on the Photogenics for the money as well. I would love to hear from someone who has the Studiomax
III though, anybody??

Rich I would love to see your results! Please post them.

oh and thanks ueb258.

Assuming Rich's test shows the StudioMax lights are more consistent, the other consideration will be the cost of accessories. I haven't checked the cost of Photogenic's accessories but I know a lot of other brand's accessories are significantly more expensive than those that Paul C. Buff sells. (Now, some of Buff's accessories are less expensive for a reason. Some are cheaply made.)

Ah,good thought Mikey, thanKS! I will look into that

When it comes to accessories I think that most will agree it is best to buy Impact light stands and Photoflex softboxes as opposed to PB products for the reason Mickey gave. That said the one really good value that I saw was the AB speedring which did the same job of slightly more expensive products from competitors.

It really is a moot point however since you can buy an AB softbox to be used with other strobes if you wanted to. When it comes to modifiers they are mostly brand interchangeable.

I have been going back and forth and researching lights for about 3 months now. I have read forums and reviews until my eyes are blury....In the end it comes down to this, the pro's I respect most (locally) shoot with Photogenics. And PB's attitude and some of the stuff I have read about him just doesn't set well with me. Customer service doesn't help if you need your lights to work NOW. The pros I know trust Photgenic and have for MANY years....

Actually, I was referring to the cost of standard reflectors, beauty dishes and honeycomb grids.