beginner purchasing strobes

Ok, so I'm going to breakdown and purchase strobes. I am just getting started. I have been using natural light until now. I have looked at the alien bees but am not sure what I really need to purchase. All suggestions greatly appreciated! Thanks

What are you taking pictures of? Studio work/location work?

Studio work

people/product?

if people, individuals? groups? fashion? glamour? seniors? corporate?

Budget?

Since you mentioned Alien Bees, I'm going to assume your on a relatively small budget.

Look seriously into a Calumet Genesis 200 2 light kit. Everything you need for a basic studio setup and it costs peanuts in comparison to some other kits out there. You get a better product(in my opinion) than the Paul C Buff products and none of the associated drama.

Bees or the calumet genesis are a good starting point.

Yeah small budget and indiviuals or 3-4 people

Not to high jack the thread but i'm in the same boat, also looking at alien bees. the calumet set up seems nice but if i wanted to keep considering alien bees, which set up would you guys recommend?

also going to get a 430ex ii.

subscribing as i'm also in the market.

Well if you never plan to take your strobes outside the the B400 will do you fine but without around 250 true Ws you can't over power the sun meaning you would half to wait hil darker days or late afternoons to get creative outside of the studio.

JordansDigitalDreams wrote in post #11821640
=Jordan'sDigitalDreams​;11821640]Well if you never plan to take your strobes outside the the B400 will do you fine but without around 250 true Ws you can't over power the sun meaning you would half to wait hil darker days or late afternoons to get creative outside of the studio.

That's not true, depending what you mean by "overpower the sun", you can take mid-day shots with a 580 and fill in shadows just fine.


I'm going to try this light out: http://www.adorama.com​/FP320MS2.html

You can buy a portable battery pack for $124. They also make larger lights if you want more power.

ShotByTom wrote in post #11821711
That's not true, depending what you mean by "overpower the sun", you can take mid-day shots with a 580 and fill in shadows just fine.


I'm going to try this light out: http://www.adorama.com​/FP320MS2.html

You can buy a portable battery pack for $124. They also make larger lights if you want more power.

Fill is not overpowering the sun.

Think about keeping sky's blue during midday sun while shooting. The object is to get your ambient exposure nailed, then drop it like a stop and a half and then have enough power in your strobes in order to properly expose for the subject.

So you meter for your ambient at like f16, 1/200, ISO 50 and then you need your strobes to be able to provide enough power to properly expose your subject.

Not happening with a 580.

Well I guess I should have stated that a little clearer, I mean if the sun is hiting somebody in the face and you want your flash to show you have to have some power behind it in order to not get a white & sun mix. Maybe that clears up what I was attempting to say..

CosmoKid wrote in post #11824097
Fill is not overpowering the sun.

Think about keeping sky's blue during midday sun while shooting. The object is to get your ambient exposure nailed, then drop it like a stop and a half and then have enough power in your strobes in order to properly expose for the subject.

So you meter for your ambient at like f16, 1/200, ISO 50 and then you need your strobes to be able to provide enough power to properly expose your subject.

Not happening with a 580.

I understand the concept, and have done it many times. There's more than one way to skin a cat! I have been using 580's since I got a 7D. Check out the thread in the people section about sun flare shots.

So, does anyone have any experience with the strobes I mentioned? http://www.adorama.com​/FP320MS2.html

They are cheaper than most, but adorama is a good company and I confidence in their products. I like that the portable flash is very affordable, and if you get a larger monolite, you can get a battery pack for that, and still be under the cost of the AB system.