Alienbees B400 or B800

Hey guys. I am planning on getting my 1st studio strobe. I already have a 580ex and 430ex that I plan on using for hair, fill, or backround. I know its good to have more power than not enough, but Ive read that using the B800s and low power results in not good light quality and that if the b800 are to powerful, I may be forced to shoot at small apertures, since I dont have much room to move the light back.

What are your thoughts.. thanks

Sheen

SheenL wrote in post #9804409
Hey guys. I am planning on getting my 1st studio strobe. I already have a 580ex and 430ex that I plan on using for hair, fill, or backround. I know its good to have more power than not enough, but Ive read that using the B800s and low power results in not good light quality and that if the b800 are to powerful, I may be forced to shoot at small apertures, since I dont have much room to move the light back.

What are your thoughts.. thanks

Sheen

You just contradicted yourself.

PCB strobes have been seen to have inconsistent color and output at 1/8 or lower.

It sounds like you will be using it indoors, and a smaller room at that?

I just went through a similar dilemma. I've been advised to get the "right" amount of power, instead of too much, when it comes to PCB strobes.

Sheen- The issue with the b800 is when using it at its lowest settings the light picks up a magenta tint. It you just don't want to shoot at small apertures you can add a simple circular neutral density filter on your lens.

If a B800 is in your budget and you also plan on cybersyncs, you might want to think about whether or not you'd be willing to spend an extra $100 (and wait a few weeks) to get an Einstein that has double the power of the B800 but can also drop to half the lowest power setting of the B400, all without any changes in color. (this is just one of many features it totes)

The B800 is $280, plus $90 for a CSRB+, or $370. The Einstein is going to sell for $440, plus $30 for a CSXCV, or $470. This of course assumes you're getting the "+" for compatibility with the CyberCommander. The B1600's sell for $360, plus $90 for a CSRB+ or $450, so you're only paying $20 more than a B1600 setup and getting a LOT more functionality.

The specs, of course, are all just preliminary at this point as they haven't shipped yet, but it seems from the testing that PCB has done that they're going to hold up to the claims.

I'm in the market for a couple strobes myself, and I just made the decision to hold out for two Einstein's. And for the record, no, I'm not a salesman for PCB, I've just been doing a lot of reading and am getting pretty excited about the Einstein's. I really hope they're everything they're supposed to be.

munzzzzzzz wrote in post #9806650
If a B800 is in your budget and you also plan on cybersyncs, you might want to think about whether or not you'd be willing to spend an extra $100 (and wait a few weeks) to get an Einstein that has double the power of the B800 but can also drop to half the lowest power setting of the B400, all without any changes in color. (this is just one of many features it totes)

The B800 is $280, plus $90 for a CSRB+, or $370. The Einstein is going to sell for $440, plus $30 for a CSXCV, or $470. This of course assumes you're getting the "+" for compatibility with the CyberCommander. The B1600's sell for $360, plus $90 for a CSRB+ or $450, so you're only paying $20 more than a B1600 setup and getting a LOT more functionality.

The specs, of course, are all just preliminary at this point as they haven't shipped yet, but it seems from the testing that PCB has done that they're going to hold up to the claims.

I'm in the market for a couple strobes myself, and I just made the decision to hold out for two Einstein's. And for the record, no, I'm not a salesman for PCB, I've just been doing a lot of reading and am getting pretty excited about the Einstein's. I really hope they're everything they're supposed to be.

RichNY wrote in post #9804817
Sheen- The issue with the b800 is when using it at its lowest settings the light picks up a magenta tint. It you just don't want to shoot at small apertures you can add a simple circular neutral density filter on your lens.

v35skyline wrote in post #9804523
You just contradicted yourself.

PCB strobes have been seen to have inconsistent color and output at 1/8 or lower.

It sounds like you will be using it indoors, and a smaller room at that?

I just went through a similar dilemma. I've been advised to get the "right" amount of power, instead of too much, when it comes to PCB strobes.

Thanks all, Ive decided to go with the 800. I've read that a custom white balance will nix the issue of the color cast if I experience it when in low power..

SheenL wrote in post #9811240
Thanks all, Ive decided to go with the 800. I've read that a custom white balance will nix the issue of the color cast if I experience it when in low power..

Pop to pop inconsistency is the problem. So even if you do WB, you not sure if that WB will hold for the next few shots. Personally if you need to shoot at those lower powers, AB400 is better option.

I was in the same dilemma last year and opted to go with 2 ab400's since I was shooting only indoor in a fairly tight space and it has served me well and still does. Now, I'm starting to plan some on location shoots, so an ab800 or 1600 is in the near future. I can always use the ab400's as background or hair lights.

I think the ab800 is a safe bet if you want to eventually do outdoor shoots.

How much space do you have?

I just "moved up" from my 580/430 flashes to AB's so will share my experience. I have two AB800's and one AB400. The AB800's in my small living room studio work very well. The WB has not really been an issue for me. Shooting at f/8 you will often be above the worry zone of 1/16 power. With that said, I shoot at 1/16 regularly and find it is pretty easy to adjust WB and get the shots I want. My AB400 does let me shoot at a higher power level, but when in a large octabox it starts getting "maxed out" anyway so I end up putting the 800's in instead. When I decided to go for shallower DOF- shooting at f/1.8- I got a ND filter for my lens and the 800's still are not too much power. If you are getting one, I would recommend the 800. It gives you more flexibility and allows for the occasonaly outdoor shot where you really need the extra power.

Stuart Leslie wrote in post #9817793
My AB400 does let me shoot at a higher power level, but when in a large octabox it starts getting "maxed out" anyway so I end up putting the 800's in instead.

I got both AB 400 and 800s. When using AB800 at 1/2 power in a 5' photoflex octodome with internal as well as outer diffuser I get f8 at 10 feet at ISO100. So for indoors AB400 is plenty powerful for most jobs. Cheap way to get more power indoors, bump up to ISO200 as you aren't fighting ambient like in outdoors.

bobbyz wrote in post #9818941
I got both AB 400 and 800s. When using AB800 at 1/2 power in a 5' photoflex octodome with internal as well as outer diffuser I get f8 at 10 feet at ISO100. So for indoors AB400 is plenty powerful for most jobs. Cheap way to get more power indoors, bump up to ISO200 as you aren't fighting ambient like in outdoors.

Agree, but I must admit one of the nice discoveries moving from canon flashes to AB's is the ability to shoot with the room lights full up. ISO 100 and f/8 at sync speed gives me a pure black with only ambient. Very easy to move about in a fully lit room with cords and stands all around.

Stuart Leslie wrote in post #9821201
Agree, but I must admit one of the nice discoveries moving from canon flashes to AB's is the ability to shoot with the room lights full up. ISO 100 and f/8 at sync speed gives me a pure black with only ambient. Very easy to move about in a fully lit room with cords and stands all around.

Same here. I also leave room lights on. Even with ISO 200 and f8, you won't see ambient making any difference. Like I said, AB400 gives f8 at 10' at full power, ISO100 with big modifier like me 5' octobox. But if I need to shoot say f2.8-f4, it gives better power and WB control than AB800.