b800 vs 580ex question

How you going to mount multiple flashes into say a softbox? AB800 is small and add VML and it is a nice portable setup. I do have both (no VML yet) and use them both (strobes and flashes).

bobbyz wrote in post #11720219
How you going to mount multiple flashes into say a softbox? AB800 is small and add VML and it is a nice portable setup. I do have both (no VML yet) and use them both (strobes and flashes).

i saw some cross brackets online where you can unite 4 strobes together as one unit. now, i don't know if that will work with the soft box but with umbrella it should be fine.

tolyD wrote in post #11720345
i saw some cross brackets online where you can unite 4 strobes together as one unit. now, i don't know if that will work with the soft box but with umbrella it should be fine.

For a softbox you would need a custom speedring mount for more than 1 flash. YOu might be able to DIY a second flash, but the openings are pretty tight and the brackets made for speedlites are not really made to hold the weight of a large softbox. I guess what we are suggesting is that while you might be able to do it, why would you really want to?

PacAce wrote in post #11720204
Don't forget to also factor in the price of the external battery packs which you are going to need for those strobes, unless you were planning to wait between shots for the flashes to recycle.

And remote triggers for each flash unless you can gang them all together to one trigger.

yeah thats true i have to figure all of that out. for now i want this setup at my home studio. Also my plans for the feature is to use this setup for engagement and weddings. maybe my plan is not so great and affordable. I have to do some more research, maybe i will have to reconsider my plan and go for the b800's instead.

gonzogolf wrote in post #11720399
For a softbox you would need a custom speedring mount for more than 1 flash. YOu might be able to DIY a second flash, but the openings are pretty tight and the brackets made for speedlites are not really made to hold the weight of a large softbox. I guess what we are suggesting is that while you might be able to do it, why would you really want to?

so i could have 1 big unit, 2 medium units or even 4 small once . for now i just want one big light source. i figured that this way it will be much cheaper for my pocket.

I had heard that a big hot-shoe gun was equivalent to about 70ws.

So I just tested it against one of my Elinchrom D-Lites, reverse firing both into a Lastolite Umbrella Box and zooming the head to fill it equally as best I could. Bearing in mind that not all ws are the same in terms of light, I reckon a 580EX is about 80ws. This seems to tally with most of the estimates above.

Big difference for me with studio strobes is fast recycling and the modelling light, rather than sheer power as I don't run them flat out for portraiture very often. And hot shoe guns don't like being caned as they inevitably would be once you get going - they overheat and pack up, sometimes permanently. Basically, studio strobes win every time if you have access to main power.

Don't forget about the difference in light you'll get from 4-6 speedlights vs an actual studio strobe.

the smaller hotshoe lights only point light out front, where as the bare bulb of any mono-block or pack and head setup tosses the light in all directions. When in a softbox or plm or anything like that you wouldn't be getting the same even spread using one vs the other.

O3DigitalBath wrote in post #11721702
Don't forget about the difference in light you'll get from 4-6 speedlights vs an actual studio strobe.

the smaller hotshoe lights only point light out front, where as the bare bulb of any mono-block or pack and head setup tosses the light in all directions. When in a softbox or plm or anything like that you wouldn't be getting the same even spread using one vs the other.

Actually when using in softbox or an umbrella hot shoe flash is not that bad as some folks make it out to be. You put flash at 28mm zoom setting and you can fill medium softbox nicely. Add double diffusion and you get nice light. Only issue is you to use wider apertures and that can be very nice thing depending on what you shooting.

bobbyz wrote in post #11721971
Actually when using in softbox or an umbrella hot shoe flash is not that bad as some folks make it out to be. You put flash at 28mm zoom setting and you can fill medium softbox nicely. Add double diffusion and you get nice light. Only issue is you to use wider apertures and that can be very nice thing depending on what you shooting.

and flashes with wide angle adaptors go to around 14mm.. I have never had issues filling umbrellas.. I don't own a soft box but I have not heard issues of that ether.

Hoppy1 wrote in post #11720540
I had heard that a big hot-shoe gun was equivalent to about 70ws.

So I just tested it against one of my Elinchrom D-Lites, reverse firing both into a Lastolite Umbrella Box and zooming the head to fill it equally as best I could. Bearing in mind that not all ws are the same in terms of light, I reckon a 580EX is about 80ws. This seems to tally with most of the estimates above.

Big difference for me with studio strobes is fast recycling and the modelling light, rather than sheer power as I don't run them flat out for portraiture very often. And hot shoe guns don't like being caned as they inevitably would be once you get going - they overheat and pack up, sometimes permanently. Basically, studio strobes win every time if you have access to main power.

thanks guys for all the input. The recycling time could be an issue and its something that slipped my mind.

Just get the b800. You won't regret it!

They will be cheaper in the long run. Replacing batteries in the 580 after every shoot gets expensive. A vaganond II will make them very portable.

silverstang23 wrote in post #11724643
Just get the b800. You won't regret it!

They will be cheaper in the long run. Replacing batteries in the 580 after every shoot gets expensive. A vaganond II will make them very portable.

maybe so, they seem to be very popular here. i think my plan was a little bit over my head

I think it all comes down to what you are wanting to do with them. I shoot a lot of seniors in random locations. So for me speedlights work great. We can run and gun a lot of locations in one session. At weddings speedlights are small and can be set up on anything or carried in a softbox with a handle. In full sun or at night I have had no problems. At full sun I use all into a umbrella or bare. At night I can use the speedlights for model light. If I have a hard time with focus I can use the 580 as an assist. I trigger all mine with pw flex tt5s. By far this is not a cheap way to go. I have just built little by little as needed. I shoot my 580 through a Lastolite box mainly. I have a tri-flash umbrella mount I use too. I also use a pw ac3 so i can shut certain flashes off when ever I want. If you are wanting to set up your lighting and work a location for a longer while. I personally would do the bees.

duranged_rt wrote in post #11725684
I think it all comes down to what you are wanting to do with them. I shoot a lot of seniors in random locations. So for me speedlights work great. We can run and gun a lot of locations in one session. At weddings speedlights are small and can be set up on anything or carried in a softbox with a handle. In full sun or at night I have had no problems. At full sun I use all into a umbrella or bare. At night I can use the speedlights for model light. If I have a hard time with focus I can use the 580 as an assist. I trigger all mine with pw flex tt5s. By far this is not a cheap way to go. I have just built little by little as needed. I shoot my 580 through a Lastolite box mainly. I have a tri-flash umbrella mount I use too. I also use a pw ac3 so i can shut certain flashes off when ever I want. If you are wanting to set up your lighting and work a location for a longer while. I personally would do the bees.

some good info, thanks for sharing

A bee with a VML can be a quite portable option. I use mainly hot shoe flashes but just ordered a VML to use with my bees as my vagabond II is quite heavy. AB400 is 2.5 lb and add 3.5 lb of VML you have a very nice setup for around 10lb (adding painter's pole, kacey's adapter and a modifier of your choice).