alien bee's setup

Joined: 02 Jan 2007 Posts: 190

Wondering what people think of their AB's.

I'm still relatively new to photography, especially portraits but I am finding myself gravitating towards more portraits than I ever expected.

I originally thought I would like nature photography the best, but I really enjoy doing portraits. Reading about how all these great portraits are done, makes me want my own mini studio. I already have a music studio, so why not a photo studio too... :)

I would like a decent and competent setup, but without breaking the bank to do so. I'm not looking to set it up as a business, but more as a hobby that I could do the odd contracted shoot from time to time if I were requested to.

So, ideally, I've come up with a list for a small studio setup that seems to be pretty comprehensive, to me anyway.

here's what I'm looking at:
- 3 AB 400's
- 1 AB 800
- 2 heavy duty light stands
- 1 light duty stand
- 1 backlight stand
- umbrella
- large softbox
- gels
- honecomb grid set
- wireless remote system
- background stand

How does this sound? Anything that should be added?

Cheers,
Ryan

Posted: Tue Feb 20, 2007 10:24 am

Looks pretty comprehensive. I've been dreaming about AB's for a while too but haven't made the leap. For myself, I'd want one of the vagabond systems so that I had a power supply for on location-outdoor shooting if ever you were going to go beyond the doors of your studio. If money is a factor, I'd probably compromise one of the AB400's for a vagabond. YOu can do some pretty awesome lighting with a 3 light setup. I once received advice from one of the most well known members on this board, that I would be well advised to start with one light, master that and then move on to the second and third.

Anway good luck with your purchase! NO doubt it will be tons of fun learning.

Shuttermom17

Joined: 23 Mar 2006 Posts: 63

I started with one Alienbee B400 and love it. I have added a few more cheaper lights, but wish I could have bought a complete Alienbee set. Just to give you an idea of their quality, there are a few "Mall Photographers" that use them. I believe the "Picture People" is one of them.

I do have a couple of recommendations. I originally bought their light stand and it broke the first time I used it. The stuff they make is good quality but I don't think they make their own light stands. So I bought one that was better and cheaper (~$40) locally. I also bought a radio trigger similar to theirs from eBay (Gadget Infinity) for less than half the price. And it works quite well.

Besides that, you can't go wrong with Alienbees.

Joined: 13 Mar 2005 Posts: 68

These alienbee's are slave flashes, or constant light?

If they are flashguns how would I use them with a Rebel XT?

Thanks

Joined: 02 Jan 2007 Posts: 190

this is what I will be using them with.

My understanding is that I will set one to fire from a signal recieved from the camera, then the others will fire in a "slave" mode that detects a flash and fires simulataneously.

The two options to control the main flash would then be wired or wireless. I will probabaly go wireless to keep clutter down. A transmitter would be placed in the camera hotshoe which triggers the receiver on the flash. It fires and triggers the other flashes.

Joined: 18 Nov 2006 Posts: 288

ryguy76 wrote:

Wondering what people think of their AB's.

I'm still relatively new to photography, especially portraits but I am finding myself gravitating towards more portraits than I ever expected.

I originally thought I would like nature photography the best, but I really enjoy doing portraits. Reading about how all these great portraits are done, makes me want my own mini studio. I already have a music studio, so why not a photo studio too... :)

I would like a decent and competent setup, but without breaking the bank to do so. I'm not looking to set it up as a business, but more as a hobby that I could do the odd contracted shoot from time to time if I were requested to.

So, ideally, I've come up with a list for a small studio setup that seems to be pretty comprehensive, to me anyway.

here's what I'm looking at:
- 3 AB 400's
- 1 AB 800
- 2 heavy duty light stands
- 1 light duty stand
- 1 backlight stand
- umbrella
- large softbox
- gels
- honecomb grid set
- wireless remote system
- background stand

How does this sound? Anything that should be added?

Cheers,
Ryan

I have no familiarity with that brand but the equipment list certainly looks like it should do the job. I don't know how powerful the strobes are but, if they use watt seconds as model numbers then you have about 2000 w/s of flash power. That will certainly handle portraits. I generally use 750 w/s monolights but I find myself dialing them down for portrait work.

Joined: 02 Jan 2007 Posts: 190

they say they're rated for 400 "effective" watt-seconds, and 160 "true" watt-seconds. don't know which # is better to gauge against other makes & models.