I closed my eyes and pushed submit....

I did it. I just purchased a set of B800s from Alien Bees. Somebody please tell me that I did the right thing!! Why is that I don't blink an eye (well not much anyway) when I spend over $1000 on a lens or +$1500 on a camera, yet I cringe when spending $750 for a set of Alien Bees?

Go figure! Anyway, I am way excited about getting these lights in and about learning how to use them. For me, this was a bigger step than buying my first DSLR!!

You'll really appreciate them. Excellent equipment for an excellent price.

noob question.
for home studio work, do people usually tend to buy more than one alienbees strobe?
or is it possibile to get things moving with one alienbees and 2 smaller flashes ?

was thinking of getting a b800 (or possibly 2). but dont want to spend more than i need.

Like a whole host of people that I have talked to over the last week told me, go to www.strobist.com and read how to do what you are thinking of. Start at Lighting 101 and go from there!

I personally think that you could get one strobe(monolight) with either an umbrella or softbox and be good to go with a flash on the other side and be just fine. you might have to work with how the strobe fires etc to get the fill that you want, however I think you could do that without too much of a problem. Most strobes will have the ability to fire when the "see" a flash as well, so that will help you too...

My whole thing was that I'm starting to do a lot of portrait work and I am needing more coverage and better light for those posed shots, so I bought the two 800s. I'm not sure what you are looking at doing, but that's the decision that I came to after literally two weeks of research and looking at different systems on the Net. Hope this helps!

The best accessory I have with my lights, is a light meter (Sekonic L308s).

Enjoy! I'm sure you'll have lots of fun with them!

I have 5, love them. Sekonic L308s here also,a must have.

GetOnMyLevel wrote in post #5823798
noob question.
for home studio work, do people usually tend to buy more than one alienbees strobe?
or is it possibile to get things moving with one alienbees and 2 smaller flashes ?

was thinking of getting a b800 (or possibly 2). but dont want to spend more than i need.

i started with one. i really want to add a second at this point. i've used the 800 in combination with a 580ex which worked OK for me. Once you learn to use 1 light, you will know when you'll need to add the 2nd.

If you start out buying 2, I'd start by using just 1 to start to learn a little about how the light affects you image. Then add the 2nd after you've got 1 down.


Congrats to the OP, you'll love these lights! Knowing you can shoot whenever you want because you can light it is great.

goatee wrote in post #5826336
The best accessory I have with my lights, is a light meter (Sekonic L308s).

Somewhere I'm sure, there must be a sticky about working with a light meter. I know that a lot of new photogs out there are going to have that as a question when they start working with strobes and flashes...

Hmm, well if there isn't, I'd be happy to do a quick one on using the L308s - it's a doddle really.

(shrugs) It would probably be a big help as I bet there are not a lot of shooters out here that are even thinking about a light meter and how it can help...I don't leave home without my 558!

hmm, will have to do so then

Congrats on ur purchase

To the OP, if you are feeling that bad please go a head and send them to me I will make sure they find a wanted Home.

Grats on the purchase.

LOL! If I don't like them Strayz, I'll be sure to send them right off to you!

sidx001 wrote in post #5826881
Somewhere I'm sure, there must be a sticky about working with a light meter. I know that a lot of new photogs out there are going to have that as a question when they start working with strobes and flashes...

Basic instructions for probably the most popular meter around today...Sekonic L-358:

http://ilovephotograph​y.com/L358.html