Alien Bee Ring Flash

Does anyone have a comment on Alien Bee Ring Flashes...I was thinking of making a purchase, based on the information they provide sounds like they are versitle and produce shadow free portraits?

Thanks

Yes

I am very happy with mine.

They provide a very specific look when used as a ring light. Used with the Moon units, they can substitute for an ab800 with an octabox. Otherwise, they're a bit limited - they're bulky, awkward and don't take most modifiers. Unless you specifically want a ringlight look, I'd recommend getting traditional strobes and a light meter before a ringlight.

Speaking as one that actually owns one...

My ring flash is great. You get about 4 different modifiers with it and for a small fee you can get a softbox attachment. I have it and it works stellar. Plus it even has an attachment that allows a shoot through or reflective umbrella.

It has a built in slave sensor. It has modelling lights. It turns into a softbox or umbrella strobe. It can be used handheld. If anything it is EXTREMELY versatile and can emit some serious light.

as said, they do give a very high glam look. They are cool, but very specialized. Do a bit of looking before you commit... if you are looking for a traditional portrait look, the ABR800 wont really give you what you want.

they are cool, but be sure you look at examples.

It is bulky, but manageable.

I love it mine as well. Pretty much for all the reasons cosworth mentioned.

cosworth wrote in post #5325970
Speaking as one that actually owns one...

My ring flash is great. You get about 4 different modifiers with it and for a small fee you can get a softbox attachment. I have it and it works stellar. Plus it even has an attachment that allows a shoot through or reflective umbrella.

It has a built in slave sensor. It has modelling lights. It turns into a softbox or umbrella strobe. It can be used handheld. If anything it is EXTREMELY versatile and can emit some serious light.

Not sure who the eyeroll is aimed at but if it was me (since I was the first person not to gush) I can tell you I spent about an hour this weekend adding a QR plate and clamp to the kludgy mounting system so that I can use my ballhead and L bracket with the ringlight.

I've used the ringflash for a number of different things and there are things you can do with a ringflash that would be difficult to do with a regular strobe. On the other hand, show me the medium or large softbox with grids that I can use on the ringlight? Show me the stripbox?

It's a nice product for what it is and it's price point but it's not the answer to every lighting situation and IMO, not a default recommendation for a beginner (not necesarily saying the OP is a beginner - he didn't provide any context for the question.)

sleibrand wrote in post #5326498
It's a nice product for what it is and it's price point but it's not the answer to every lighting situation

x2 what he said (I own one with the 56" moon and two fronts). It has some issues, but for the price, you learn to live with them.

I want one.. Its just further down on my list of things i want.

I had the chance to use an AB ring flash this weekend, I like the effects it gives you on shadows, but I was not able to get the "ring light catch lights" in the eyes unless I was literally right on top of the person I was shooting at like way to close to them . I actually found that if you want those type of catch lights it works better if you build yourself a DIY job and make it 2-3 foot in radius with CF lights to keep from cooking your subject, or giving them a wicked suntan if you use daylight balanced hot lights. I will try to post some examples tonight when I get finished post processing the images. (work getting in the way of me testing photography gear LOL )

this thread is nothing without samples..come on old dogs.. post some stuff up! heh

I love mine. yes it is bulky, but can be used in many ways like others have already stated. as for samples here is a recent one that i shot with mine. sorry bout not being a human model! (I know that's what everyone wants to see concerning this product) but like said... it can be used for just about anything. I have had it almost 2 years and have mainly used it for product and vehicle photography but I am just starting to use it for modeling. and I have to say using it handheld on the camera it can get really heavy!

This shot: Ring Flash mounted to tripod with camera. and 580EX thru umbrella camera left with white reflector right of product in my ghetto tabletop studio! it was difficult because the product is mirrored chrome. hard to tell in this picture though.

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honestly. i love my ringflash. i use it allllllot. most of the time i use it as a fill light and shoot through the ring. but it can be used off camera too without problems. besides not being able to put a standard softbox on it... its pretty much the same thing as an ab800. here are a bunch of samples using it in different scenarios.
1. not shooting through the ring.

here ya go

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