Why spend money on Profoto vs Alien Bees?

Okay, lets see if I don't get flamed off the board. I'm using cheapo Alien Bees and Photoflex strobes and softboxes, for my use they do a great job, especially with PW's.

Now question is why would I need to upgrade to Profoto's or Broncolor? Or any other high end strobe ?

Quite honestly, AB mods kinda, well, suck. They're cheap. On the softboxes, for example, you can have hot spots (they don't have internal baffles/diffusers).

The AB strobes are actually pretty decent. They can however, be very inconsistent between pops at lowered power settings. You usually compete with the sun in your shots, so I assume near full power? Might only show itself in more controlled studio shots also...

One of the reasons is that, if you are a pro and you travel a lot, you can rent them in almost every big city. So if you know how to handle them its a plus.

Some people like monolights, other likes the pack system.

Profoto has a lot of accesoires available for their lights, the zoom reflectors, the HUGE umbrellas, you name it.

I'm sure there are a lot other reasons that people buy them, but i would not suggest buying them if you dont spend at least 23hours a day with photography

SooK wrote in post #5620496
One of the reasons is that, if you are a pro and you travel a lot, you can rent them in almost every big city. So if you know how to handle them its a plus.

Some people like monolights, other likes the pack system.

Profoto has a lot of accesoires available for their lights, the zoom reflectors, the HUGE umbrellas, you name it.

I'm sure there are a lot other reasons that people buy them, but i would not suggest buying them if you dont spend at least 23hours a day with photography

Accessories, the majority of accessories you can buy after market or on ebay. Unless you shoot film, I really can't see the cost justification.

In many respects I see this more of a "branded" thing. I wear Versace you wear Gap.

Like I'm looking at the portable battery pack from Broncolor, $2000-3000 !! Vagabond II unit 299.00 WTF !?

Does this industry look down on the professionals who use Alien Bees vs high end strobe names? Apparently they do.

^ Well, to a point you get what you pay for. For day-in, day-out use the cheap stuff just doesn't hold up and/or give the best results. Of course there's brand markup, etc.

Double Negative wrote in post #5620701
^ Well, to a point you get what you pay for. For day-in, day-out use the cheap stuff just doesn't hold up and/or give the best results. Of course there's brand markup, etc.

So far no complaints on durability of AB or photoflex, throw them on the sand, chuck it in the trunk, etc, etc holds up pretty well so far

Why do you have a 70-200 2.8 IS instead of 75-300ish.

The 75-300 is 250 bucks... and the L IS is 1.5 grand.

What's the reason? Both make a picture...

Why do pros choose canon with nikon over pentax, sony and olympus?

It's pretty much the same with profoto/broncolor. The light is better and they don't break as often... the system is better as well.

M Powered wrote in post #5620722
So far no complaints on durability of AB or photoflex, throw them on the sand, chuck it in the trunk, etc, etc holds up pretty well so far

Try firing them on full power every time right after they recharge for 2 hours in a row.

But if you like the bees - keep em and save yourself ten grand by not shooting bron.

Yet, there's are reasons why those stupid LA fashion photographers spend the extra money on the lights. There's a difference... you just might not perceive it until you shoot with them.

If you want to try, profotos are easy to rent. Broncolors are a tad more difficult, but you can still do it.

Double Negative wrote in post #5620488
Quite honestly, AB mods kinda, well, suck. They're cheap. On the softboxes, for example, you can have hot spots (they don't have internal baffles/diffusers).

my large AB foldable softbox does have an internal diffuser. Which softbox are you referring to?

DocFrankenstein wrote in post #5620738
Why do you have a 70-200 2.8 IS instead of 75-300ish.

The 75-300 is 250 bucks... and the L IS is 1.5 grand.

What's the reason? Both make a picture...

Why do pros choose canon with nikon over pentax, sony and olympus?

It's pretty much the same with profoto/broncolor. The light is better and they don't break as often... the system is better as well.

All of my beach shoots are done at full power, and last on average 4-6 hours. No problems yet (knock on wood)

Just because you spend more money on something doesn't mean it will perform better... Take my camera for an example AF issues which was recently resolved with the current firm ware release, almost a year later.

PS your lens analogy is not a good one

DocFrankenstein wrote in post #5620755
Try firing them on full power every time right after they recharge for 2 hours in a row.

But if you like the bees - keep em and save yourself ten grand by not shooting bron.

Yet, there's are reasons why those stupid LA fashion photographers spend the extra money on the lights. There's a difference... you just might not perceive it until you shoot with them.

If you want to try, profotos are easy to rent. Broncolors are a tad more difficult, but you can still do it.

Yea, most spend thousands of dollars on lights just to change the entire image in post.

M Powered wrote in post #5620878
PS your lens analogy is not a good one

That's what you think until you shoot enough with profoto.

M Powered wrote in post #5620670
Accessories, the majority of accessories you can buy after market or on ebay. Unless you shoot film, I really can't see the cost justification.

In many respects I see this more of a "branded" thing. I wear Versace you wear Gap.

Like I'm looking at the portable battery pack from Broncolor, $2000-3000 !! Vagabond II unit 299.00 WTF !?

Does this industry look down on the professionals who use Alien Bees vs high end strobe names? Apparently they do.

This isn't a branded thing- it is a quality and durability thing. The difference between Profoto and AB is on the same level as comparing your 1D Mark III to a Rebel XTi- sure they both take pictures but there is a major difference between them.

Compare the way Profoto accessories mount to strobes for example. Reflectors and speed rings can be adjusted by clamp forward or towards the rear of the strobe. I believe every other mfg. requires modifiers to be at a fixed distance from the tip of the lamp.

It just takes one day of using the two systems to get an understanding of the differences; to those who have never shot with a high end strobe it is going to be as difficult to appreciate as the finer features of a 1 series camera to a DSLR newbie.

M Powered wrote in post #5620467
Okay, lets see if I don't get flamed off the board. I'm using cheapo Alien Bees and Photoflex strobes and softboxes, for my use they do a great job, especially with PW's.

Now question is why would I need to upgrade to Profoto's or Broncolor? Or any other high end strobe ?

Use them 4-6 hours a day 4-5 days a week for 25 years then call me and tell me how they held up. If you are not shooting on that schedule and they do the job then do you need to upgrade? That one you have to answer.

gryphonslair99 wrote in post #5621887
Use them 4-6 hours a day 4-5 days a week for 25 years then call me and tell me how they held up. If you are not shooting on that schedule and they do the job then do you need to upgrade? That one you have to answer.

So Profoto are like Mowen Faucets? Buy it for looks, buy it for life