MicrostockGroup
Microstock Photography Forum - General => Photography Equipment => Lighting => Topic started by: PaulieWalnuts on February 14, 2008, 22:38
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I'm planning on buying some strobes and have narrowed it down to these:
AlienBees B800 kit - http://alienbees.com/beginner.html (http://alienbees.com/beginner.html)
Calumet Genesis 400 kit - http://www.calumetphoto.com/item/CF0514K/ (http://www.calumetphoto.com/item/CF0514K/)
I've heard great stuff about AlienBees but the new Calumets are supposedly rebadged Elinchroms. Anybody have experience with either/both and can comment on them?
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I have never heard of Calumet, and have no experience with AlienBees (as I don't live in the States), but I have the Elinchrom D-lite 4 set and I'd recommend them. They deliver all I want, with a very high degree of control.
My only gripe is that the softboxes are a bit of a struggle to set up, getting the supporting struts into their holes, and the fabric is a little bit weak. I've had to put reinforcing tape on some of the seams which started to tear.
Apart from that ... great!
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I bought the Bees B800 kit with a sync cord and hot shoe adapter about 4 months ago and it does everything it claims to do at a very reasonable price (very easy to assemble and use). I have had good results with one strobe both both object and model, and will to be buying a second kit in the near future for added illumination. I would definitely recommend the B800 kit.
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I received my Bees in January and although I have done nothing but basic experiments with them, compared to my Cameron setup I am over the moon. You also get a discount with accessories, the discount increases with the number of lights you purchase, so if you are considering stands, soft boxes, etc. it is a good time to make that purchase.
Paul Buff sells 65% of the lights sold in the US! The other 35% is split between all the other guys. That must say something about his lights.
I found this blog very informative if you have the time: http://www.soundadviceblog.com/?p=444 (http://www.soundadviceblog.com/?p=444)
Edited to add that it took me a year to make this purchase, and I read every forum etc. I could find. I haven't had a problem but everyone raves about the customer service they receive if they ever have trouble.
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I found this blog very informative if you have the time: [url]http://www.soundadviceblog.com/?p=444[/url] ([url]http://www.soundadviceblog.com/?p=444[/url])
This was very cool! Thanks for posting that.
I just found out that my mom won the grand prize for some sweepstakes. The prize includes all sorts of stuff, including a camera, a wide-format printer, all sorts of scrapbook stuff and best of all.... an Alien Bees Beginner Bee set up! My mom has no use for the lighting so it will be mine as soon as it arrives. Woo hoo!! ;D I was actually planning on purchasing some Bees in the next year so this was great timing and luck. :)
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Yea, that link was pretty wild. Definately some creative and interesting people.