Friday, January 22, 2010

AlienBees B800 Information & Testing



I'm considering purchasing some studio lights for portrait work. The AlienBees set-up is looking attractive. I'm thinking a B800 with an umbrella, and the 10 ft GP stand.

More on AlienBees.

Update: The more I research AlienBees, the more I like them. The price is extremely competitive. The owner of the company, Paul Buff, is a retired USMC avionics technician who revolutionized the studio lighting industry through customer service, customer focused marketing, durability, and price.

I'm already considering a brolly box Softlighter II to soften and diffuse the light, and possibly a backlight to separate the background. The initial expense will be something I will have to grin and bear.....

Paul Buff interview

10 comments:

  1. gamachinist7:01 PM

    I don't have anything useful to say, but that thing looks like a newer style small welding power supply!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Anonymous7:45 PM

    It's selfish, but I'm really glad you didn't stay pissed off at the idiots. Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Ive always thought these are well made. I have Profoto, but watt/sec per$ these are a bargain. And easy, being a monolight. I also have Lumedynes. Great for location, since they are battery packs, but no model light.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I have one. i like it. But wish I had the power pack for it.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Anonymous6:10 PM

    Have you considered this as your light modifier:
    http://www.alienbees.com/plm.html

    Designed by Paul as well and some pro apparently likes it. (http://www.robgalbraith.com/bins/multi_page.asp?cid=7-10046-10396)

    Cost is also very competitive.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Anonymous6:18 PM

    http://terrywhite.com/techblog/

    Terry is a great source for photo info. I meet him at a class and he appears to be a real decent person.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I wrote this long post on wireless and battery-powered strobes, and then realized that you're looking at an AC unit. D'oh!

    It think the case color nonsense is gimmicky, but the prices aren't actually that bad, especially considering what a new, shoe-mount flash costs.

    But a PC sync cable? No thanks! I'd trip over it the first day and smash the strobe head.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Anonymous12:32 PM

    I used to be a tron chaser for AlienBees & Paul's other company, White Lightning. I was there when we first put out the Bees. They're good units.
    Hell of a lot lighter than the old Ultras, too.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Anonymous4:16 PM

    The tradition lives on...Alien Bee's... USMC technician.
    I was on a first place rifle team at Pendleton...Our team name was Rabid Flamingos.What is it with jarheads and these crazy names? I dunno but I like it :)
    Brian

    ReplyDelete
  10. Anonymous6:40 PM

    My wife is a professional photographer and uses Alien Bees lights. She does wish she had gotten some "lower power" lights ... lower than the 800 because it tend to be too much for her stuff. Your mileage will vary of course.

    ReplyDelete

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