I have worked with profoto and broncolor setups on fashion sets, and I have worked with Alien Bees in school photography. Using the name brands that fashion photographers use will come in handy when you are renting a studio for your shoot, something breaks, and you need to replace it with a rental for the day. On the other hand, if you don't shoot with high end clients and don't use rental studios, then you don't need to worry about that. I don't know too much about the type of modifiers for Alien Bees, but you can get so much from a reflector, umbrella, and/or softbox that I am more than happy with the results when I shoot parties, family gatherings, indoors, etc. My favorite thing is not lugging around those heavy packs!
Strengths:
Inexpensive
Professional Results
Useful functions
Easy to pack and transport
No power packs - plugs right into the wall
Apparently great customer support, though I have never needed it
Weaknesses:
not "name brand"
won't find replacement parts in a rental studio
won't impress high end clients that work with many photographers
I started with 1 B400 about 4 years ago and built up from there.
Today I'm using 2 B800's 2 B400's and the AB800 Ringflash.
Also the barndoors, grids, gels, Octobox, heavy duty stands, boom arm w/counterweight, dish, wireless trigger and moon unit.
Pretty much the kitchen sink.
(knock on wood) - NEVER a problem.
Have not even had to replace a flashtube yet. Figure 50k flashes on the oldest unit by now. Wore out the shutter on my 20D but not these.
Great stuff . No regrets.
I keep hearing that you are limited in versatility, artistic expression or some such other dreck as opposed to other brands and it's possible that brand X which is 3 times as expensive could be better built. I don't know about all that.
I've never felt the need to look for anything else. I just love, love LOVE my bees.
I've had the usual plastic knobs crack and pop here and there but that could just be because I'm a monster and don't know my own strength.
And I'm too lazy to call AB who's service (MADE IN THE USA!) is legendary.
So. Bottom line my readers - if you are shopping for lights and have never owned any and don't know what to get .....
Get Alien Bees or White Lightnings. Period.
If you have been around the block 10 times and are already engaged, sworn and beholden to brand X - go buy them at 3x the cost.
BEE HAPPY.!
Strengths:
Rugged, Durable. Incredible value, service and support.
Made in the USA!
Weaknesses:
Until recently - their marketing. It's nice to see them running some good pro ads now.
Similar Products Used:
zip. Never had a need to go outside the bees family.
rarely do i post reviews, but when i saw that there was a chance to review this product, i couldn't resist.
these lights get the job done, and then some. sure i like using lights made in sweden or germany, but i don't like paying 5x or 6x more for the same results. the simple design of the alienbees is well thought out. simple things like honeycomb grids fitting into the stock reflectors are a stroke of genius. with other lighting systems, you're bled to have to buy a separate reflector and possibly a barn-door assembly at maybe $100+, just to house a reflector. i have the large octobox which i purchased for around $170. my friend is using the profoto system and spent about $700 for the same thing. the side by side comparison of results is mind blowing in that they are identical. don't forget aside from the $700 for the octo a profoto monohead setup will run about $1500.
if you've got tons of cash where you can budget $10,000+ for lights, by all means, do so. it's easy to get caught up in the "arms race" mentality of acquiring camera equipment. but if you are the type of photographer that stil believes that the image is still a collaboration between photographer, camera, and subject, alien bees might be for you.
Strengths:
lightweight, reasonably small, rugged and durable, alien bees offer simple, efficient design. they're inexpensive. the light modifiers employ smart design and are also inexpensive.
Weaknesses:
the alien bees could use a ready sounder and a small BUILT IN wireless radio remote with a SMALL radio transmitter.
Similar Products Used:
norman 2400 packs & heads, calumet travellite 750s, calumet elite 2400 kit, speedotron 2400 black line system, broncolor mobil pulso kits, arriflex tungsten, westcott lighting, white lightning.
Customer Service:
paul c. buff inc.'s people are on the ball. they give you real answers and do what they say, when they say they're going to do it. i don't know if paul c. buff is standing right behind these people to make sure they do their job, but he's on to something.
First class studio light, cheap, but very reliable, light, great attachment mount, smart location for umbrella on the top, 6 f stop (not 5) super customer service
Strengths:
super customer service, first class, great mount, all you need is 3,5" hole.
Weaknesses:
NON
Similar Products Used:
Broncolor mobil (garbage if you need to repair it), profoto, novatron, aurora, comet, elinchrom (awful baionet),
For the money the best little studio flash you can get. IMO
Strengths:
affordable, light ,durable, reliable.
Weaknesses:
cheap inaccurate slide control of power, poor made reflectors got damaged after a month( the modifiers are cheap enough to justify new replacements), tungsten 100w household bulb for modeling light(this may or may not be a bummer for some)
Similar Products Used:
hensel studio strobes,
Customer Service:
the service is awesome.prompt, very friendly and helpful. also, service charges are reasonable.
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