I'm interested in purchasing (2) studio lights for lighting large bridal parties in churches and large reception halls. So operating on AC power is a preference. But I see uses for outdoor work and would like to also be able to power then by a batter pack on outdoor photo sessions.

Has anyone used the Alien Bees for this type of purpose and what opinion do you have of the equipment? Also, has anyone used their portable power packs? I am somewhat concerned about the need for these units to use a grounding rod!

Lastly, does anyone have recommendations on a portable power pack that can be used with any AC light aand any recommendations on lighting units? As with everything photographic, price is an issue, so I'm trying to fill a need at a reasonable price.

StanSC

I have Elinchrom Ranger with 2 heads and that works fine with me. I like when it's reload fast -2 sec. It's a costly unit. It think it was about 2,500? with two heads.

Robert,

Thanks for your response to my question. I would loved to have the Ranger but my budget just won't allow for it.

Love your work BTW.

StanSC

Stan, take a look at Bowens - I will probably pick up a set tomorrow.

You can get a 2 x 500ws set complete with softbox, umbrella, stands and battery for 1089 GBP at Warehouseexpress.co.uk - that's about half price of the Elinchrom kit.

You can also mix and match as you like with strobes from 250 to 750ws, running up to two from a battery pack.

Now, as you will soon find out, that is just the beginning, add wireless triggers and a good light meter + a few light modifiers and the price starts to climb rapidly.

Regards
Michael

Michael,

I looked at the Bowens Espirit Gemini light kits with the battery pak and they appear to be exactly what I am looking for. They price seems acceptable, but still it all adds up to a lot of money. Thanks for the tip.

Do you know if Bowens has a service center available in USA should it be needed. I don't want to send units back across the "Big Pond" to get something fix or have warranty work done.

Thanks for your help.

StanSC

Hello Stan,

I have 1 Alien Bees 800 and 2 White Lightning Ultras. They are all made by Paul Buff, have similar if not identical features, and take the same accessories. The WL's are over 20 years old and work just fine. Build quality is better on the WL's (metal vs Plastic) and come with longer warranty period. Of course they cost more.

I prefer the WL's in the studio for their heavier weight and balance with large softboxes however I do take them on location. I do like the Bee's unit better for location because of it's light weight and compact size.

If you want an inexpensive 2 light set up that works well, has accessories readily available and good customer service at a reasonable price, I would consider the Alien Bees.

For recommendations on specific models I would probably consider getting 1 Alien Bees 800 and 1 Bees 1600 for some extra power when you need it.

The Vagabond Battery Pack has 2 versions, single and dual power inverter. I have the dual inverter model. Both use the same battery but the dual has two outlets for seperate lamps and has a faster recycling time. I believe you can use a powerstrip cord with the single inverter model if you want to run two lights on a cheaper budget. Keep in mind that batteries weigh about 16 lbs for the single and 18.5 for the dual. The above lighting setup with the dual inverter should run you about $1200.00 or so delivered to your door.

Customer service has been very good. The folks at Paul Buff are very friendly so if you are interested in Bees or WL's they are happy to answer all your questions. They do have some packages and you may be able to negotiate a discount when buying multiple items. There phone number is 1-800-443-5542.



By the way, Here is a link to another battery pack that has been on the market for a few years. It's made by a company called Tronix. They did a review using it to power elinchrome lamps.

http://www.robgalbraith.com/bins/content_page.asp?cid=7-7883-7908

Hope this helps.

Dan Maust