For Alien Bees Users....

[neubauer6]

I am considering buying my first "big" strobe and need some advice. Is the B800 enough to take decent photos outdoors in mid-day? I would like to buy the B1600 but I fear that I wouldn't be able to stop it down enough for my small indoor space (11'x18'). Any thoughts you can provide would be much appreciated!

[GreggObst]

Originally Posted by neubauer6

Is the B800 enough to take decent photos outdoors in mid-day?

Absolutely ! I shot this yesterday in bright sunlight using a B800 in a Paul C. Buff 86" PLM as the key light with another B800 as a fill light in a 60" Westcott convertible umbrella in the reflective umbrella configuration though I really could have just used a reflector to do the same thing. Was just playing around with different configurations yesterday.

Mom and Dad by the pond | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

Setup shot for Mom & Dad by the Pond | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

I wouldn't recommend the 86" PLM. They are cheap but mine has not held up well to setup/take down and they are an unwieldy S.O.B. in any kind of wind.

[Rentham]

It depends on what you want to do. If you're talking about completely overpowering midday sun and sky, then no an 800 isn't enough. A 1600 probably isn't even enough. That's the dominion of 1200 w/s lights that cost the big bucks.

As Gregg showed, you can definitely work in direct sun with an 800 and get favorable results. My first Alien Bee was a 1600. I prefer buying as much power as I can afford. You can usually find ways to reduce output like neutral density gels or shooting into a big modifiers. But the opposite isn't true. Once you're at full power, you're out options.

[neubauer6]

That's what I was thinking...I would rather buy too big and have to use ND gels than not have enough power to do everything I want. Thanks!

[Nakean]

I have shot outdoors with speedlites for about a year now without much issues. The key is working with the sun as apposed to against it. I ended up buying some 400ws units and so far have been very happy. No one here has discussed relative distance either. If you were in close with say, a Paul C Buff PLM and and b800 from 3 feet away, I'd be willing to bet you could squash the sun.
I'm sure I will step up to some lights that have a broader power range, but I don't think I would like to hassle much with nd filters on my glass or lights. My 2c. Everything on my site here has been done with speedlites, and much of it out in the sun!! Nakean Photography West Seattle Wedding and Portrait Photographer

[bhursey]

I have even used a AB400 to over power the mid day sun.. Main key is relative distance as mentioned above the soft box was only 3-4 feet away from the subject. Remember light falls of quickly..





But I got my AB400 with a huge softbox from my friend for only 100$ if I was going to buy one I would probably get an 800.. I don't have a bat pack and i work with the sun..

[Nakean]

Originally Posted by bhursey

But I got my AB400 with a huge softbox from my friend for only 100$ if I was going to buy one I would probably get an 800.. I don't have a bat pack and i work with the sun..

Yeah before I got my 400ws lights I tried some 200ws and they were only a hair more powerful than my 430exii speedlites and nikon sb28 speedlites!

[bhursey]

Originally Posted by Nakean

Yeah before I got my 400ws lights I tried some 200ws and they were only a hair more powerful than my 430exii speedlites and nikon sb28 speedlites!

It more powerfully than that. It is about .5-1 stop or more more powerful than my 580EXII.. My SB-24 actually meters right with my 580EXII at some zoom settings..

[Nakean]

Originally Posted by bhursey

It more powerfully than that. It is about .5-1 stop or more more powerful than my 580EXII.. My SB-24 actually meters right with my 580EXII at some zoom settings..

Do you have interfit exd200 kit? WattSeconds is a bit like watt's in stereo speakers. It's all a little subjective. An onkyo 200watt stereo might not have the same output than a yamaha rated at the exact same wattage.Therefore, unless you have my exact lights, or for that matter even if you did, I don't know that you can just tell me I'm wrong. I metered each light myself with several different modifiers. Sure this wasn't the most controlled experiment, but shooting outdoors is anything but controlled
You could, however say you ran tests with your lightsand you findings were.......

[bhursey]

Originally Posted by Nakean

Do you have interfit exd200 kit? WattSeconds is a bit like watt's in stereo speakers. It's all a little subjective. An onkyo 200watt stereo might not have the same output than a yamaha rated at the exact same wattage.Therefore, unless you have my exact lights, or for that matter even if you did, I don't know that you can just tell me I'm wrong. I metered each light myself with several different modifiers. Sure this wasn't the most controlled experiment, but shooting outdoors is anything but controlled
You could, however say you ran tests with your lightsand you findings were.......

The AB400 is true 160ws... Im just saying what a real world test resulted in. And AB400 is definitly more powerfull than my 580EXII and that is the most powerfull flash canon makes. And the 580EXII is about a stop more powerfull than the 430EXII. What type of lights do you have because this thread is for alien bees so its hard to compare other brands to them.