Alien Bees users check in!

Aldwyn wrote in post #7123852
I dig my bees... 2 x AB400s with the shoot through/reflective umbrellas. I have also have a CST and CSR being delivered tomorrow... (they are QUICK to ship!)

I have been very happy with them, as long as the user is doing what HE is supposed to be doing.

Damian, I dont think I have had my 400s lower then 1/4, so I cant answer to that question... but now it has got me curious. But at 1/4 I havnt noticed anything different.

im debating on a b400 or b800.. it will be my 1st and only studio strobe, I have a 580ex and a 430ex for fill, hair, background. Ive heard about using the b800 at low power results in poor quality so i dont want to get something 2 powerful and have to shoot at 1/16 or lower.. Also I dont want to be shooting at f11 or higher. Since I cant move the light back much due to space limitations..

whats your opinion?

thanks

SheenL wrote in post #9804704
im debating on a b400 or b800.. it will be my 1st and only studio strobe, I have a 580ex and a 430ex for fill, hair, background. Ive heard about using the b800 at low power results in poor quality so i dont want to get something 2 powerful and have to shoot at 1/16 or lower.. Also I dont want to be shooting at f11 or higher. Since I cant move the light back much due to space limitations..

whats your opinion?

thanks

You can probably get away with the ab400, but the ab800 will work for you as well. I think you are being shortsighted in feeling that you will only want/need one bee. You can use speedlites with the bees, but its an imperfect solution as you dont have modeling lights, or quick recycle times. Plus speedlites dont give you access to larger modifiers.

SheenL,
First of all. welcome !
Before we can make good reccos on whether the B400 or B800 is more suited, it would help if we knew what you are planning to shoot and what modifiers you are going to use. For example, it is not uncommon for me to use the B800 at full power when using the 30x60 softbox with both diff panels and grid in it. But then, I often like f/11 or so to get all of the DOF I need.
I chose to go with B800's....all of them so I would have easy to see proportionality in the model lamps/flash output.

If you're ever going to be shooting outside, then you should go with the 800 or 1600... The 800 seems like the best deal to me in terms of power and price... If I were you, I'd go with the 800 unless you're going to be doing strictly close-range studio work... Any particular reason why you're opposed to shooting above f/11? Haha

Thanks on the comments from last page guys, haha.

I had an abr800 on camera axis at 1/32, 2x B800's on left/right at 1/16th, and a 285hv boomed overhead at 1/16th. I wish my dog didn't chew up my grid for the 285 though, you can see it making a round shadow on the chest in that photo.

Hello
Here is my portrait setup with 64" sliver PLM and white front sock (not on yet)
I know the room looks chaos . full of scattered accessories

edgar-Junior wrote in post #9804292
Welcome abord my friend ......

Thanks Edgar--- call me dude!!!

stu46 wrote in post #9805837

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/stu46/443710343​3/

LOL! what a precious shot!

are the Parabolic Umbrella's ever NOT going to be on backorder? WTF?

....and herin lies the rub of having product manufactured in china. I just retired from a large corporation that has about 30% of it's product made in china. The one major problem we had with them was their turn-around was very poor. All the production we needed quickly, we had to bring back to be produced in our local facility. I suspect that Paul could get this stuff made more quickly ( "just in time" )....but it would not be at the price point it currently is.

constrict wrote in post #9807490
are the Parabolic Umbrella's ever NOT going to be on backorder? WTF?

I ordered 2 64" PLM's with Diffusers last Tuesday and received them on Friday.
Even though the site said "backorder". Not sure if they are filling older orders, building stock or trying to hold off until the version 2's are ready.
They did tell me the version 2 of the PLM was 4-6 weeks away.

version 2's?? I guess I'm waiting for those!

joosay wrote in post #9808806
version 2's?? I guess I'm waiting for those!

Well folks, I placed my order for the 86" PLMs about 2 weeks ago, I emailed them today asking about the V2s as I would rather have those.
This is what the response was

So the V2s will be shipped once they get the shipment in. The last time I called them which was late last week they stated last week of March but for sure by first week of April.

Hope that helps

Sweet! So what are improvements with the V2 anyway? I can't find it on their website.