Why spend money on Profoto vs Alien Bees?

slivr wrote in post #5627564
Not sure why so many turn their noses up at Alien Bees. I've seen a number of photographs taken with them that were exactly what the Photog' intended to capture, so that spells success in my book.

I don't think that's the point these posters were making! The OP asked why people would want to spend extra money on high-priced studio brands over AB. Well, if I have to spend extra time in Photoshop on every image, just to make them consistent with each other, then those thousands of dollars will be saved in less than a year just by the time saved! How much is YOUR time worth??

Then the OP posts heavily photoshopped images as proof that AB are equal to anything else, even Profoto, yet refuses to post original files! And we're supposed to take his word for it? Yeah, sure!!!

Excuse me, I'm off to sell my Elinchrom gear, I have to free up some money to buy Alien Bees.

No one says that you cannot make great pictures using AB, or even some of the cheap eBay outfits. And I don't have a problem with anyone shooting with any equipment they bloody well choose. I do have a problem with people being so narrow-minded that they cannot see that there is a REASON for other choices than the choices they made...

Rudi wrote in post #5628760
No one says that you cannot make great pictures using AB, or even some of the cheap eBay outfits. And I don't have a problem with anyone shooting with any equipment they bloody well choose. I do have a problem with people being so narrow-minded that they cannot see that there is a REASON for other choices than the choices they made...

Exactly.

Rudi wrote in post #5628760
I don't think that's the point these posters were making! The OP asked why people would want to spend extra money on high-priced studio brands over AB. Well, if I have to spend extra time in Photoshop on every image, just to make them consistent with each other, then those thousands of dollars will be saved in less than a year just by the time saved! How much is YOUR time worth??

Excuse me, I'm off to sell my Elinchrom gear, I have to free up some money to buy Alien Bees.

No one says that you cannot make great pictures using AB, or even some of the cheap eBay outfits. And I don't have a problem with anyone shooting with any equipment they bloody well choose. I do have a problem with people being so narrow-minded that they cannot see that there is a REASON for other choices than the choices they made...

You gotta be kidding. Your argument is like why people buy hybrids thinking they are going to save money on gas, yet ignore the fact that having a hybrid adds a substantial premium over non hybrid cars. The premium difference would take YEARS to recover, and in most cases it never catches up because hybrid cars requires more maintenance.

So I should buy Profoto over AB or any other lower end strobe manufactures because it will save me time in post work? LOL!! Would you like to see my photos using Profoto strobes??? That is, if you haven't already

Heavily photoshoped images? Those pictures are junk, from the get go, those shots are made to be brought into post for concept editing, so "as shot" will look very weird. If you want to see "as shot" images I have much better specimens that I would like to show; let me know

Feel free to post your "high end" strobe examples

M Powered wrote in post #5628878
If you want to see "as shot" images I have much better specimens that I would like to show; let me know

Please, let's see some! Several posters have been asking you for just that!

High End Gear will allow for the possibility of creating high quality images under a wider array of circumstances than would otherwise be possible and usually with less hassle. It's no substitute for the skill required to create a high quality image in the first place.

And if you've never used the Profoto ProB2, the Broncolor Verso Series or even the Elinchrom Ranger with their respective modifiers out on location, you wouldn't understand.

I suggest you give them a rent and see for yourself.

M Powered wrote in post #5628878
Those pictures are junk, from the get go, those shots are made to be brought into post for concept editing, so "as shot" will look very weird.

Why would you shoot junk to start off with?

Rudi wrote in post #5628888
Please, let's see some! Several posters have been asking you for just that!

Heres a few examples. (Exif is in the file, view before you ask please.)

First the boring one...

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HTTP response: 404 | MIME changed to 'text/html' | Byte size: ZERO

Jarrad wrote in post #5628979
High End Gear will allow for the possibility of creating high quality images under a wider array of circumstances than would otherwise be possible and usually with less hassle. It's no substitute for the skill required to create a high quality image in the first place.

And if you've never used the Profoto ProB2, the Broncolor Verso Series or even the Elinchrom Ranger with their respective modifiers out on location, you wouldn't understand.

I suggest you give them a rent and see for yourself.

I shot with them before in other studio's. Nothing I would vouch as if I owned them, but I can say I've shot with them, yes.

Rudi wrote in post #5629003
Why would you shoot junk to start off with?

The term Junk is subjective, many would consider baby portraits, weddings, landscape, bird photography or anything that is non glamor related to be classified as, "junk." Me.... it depends on the day, my mood changes

Nice! I actually like the one you labeled "boring", but there you go.

OK, looking at the EXIF, and seeing how you asked "Why Profoto over AB", I could ask "Why a Mark III and not a Rebel with the kit lens???" Seeing the apertures that these were shot at, there is no need to have top of the range L lenses to create these images...

I know that there's no point shooting wide open, that was not my point! My point was - why buy a Mark III when a Rebel would do the same job? After all, that is precisely what YOU asked, except it was to do with lights, not cameras and lenses...

Supermodels make F1 look like a Soccermom Minivan Rally. You need the quick AF for them chickies.

Rudi wrote in post #5629075
Nice! I actually like the one you labeled "boring", but there you go.

OK, looking at the EXIF, and seeing how you asked "Why Profoto over AB", I could ask "Why a Mark III and not a Rebel with the kit lens???" Seeing the apertures that these were shot at, there is no need to have top of the range L lenses to create these images...

I know that there's no point shooting wide open, that was not my point! My point was - why buy a Mark III when a Rebel would do the same job? After all, that is precisely what YOU asked, except it was to do with lights, not cameras and lenses...

I didn't buy a Mark III to post these pictures, or start this thread either, catch my drift?

If everyone thought like you did we all would own XTi's with consumer grade glass, because you REALLY don't NEED anything.

But to answer your question why a Mark III. Well, because its the only DSLR I own. Why top of the line L lenses? Because also, its all I own. Why am I posting this thread? Because I want to justify buying Profoto's

cdifoto wrote in post #5629117
Supermodels make F1 look like a Soccermom Minivan Rally. You need the quick AF for them chickies.

Yea, its great when a Model says, "wow, thats a really big camera."

M Powered wrote in post #5629127
Why am I posting this thread? Because I want to justify buying Profoto's

NOW we're getting somewhere!

OK, I'll help you out - your photos suck, you really need Profoto to make them better! (How's that?? ).

Rudi wrote in post #5629142
NOW we're getting somewhere!

OK, I'll help you out - your photos suck, you really need Profoto to make them better! (How's that?? ).

Lol! you got it!

Dragging 10-12k worth of gear to the beach isn't enough... mine as well make it 20k, oh god my insurance is going to go up