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Which is better? Bees, prophoto, novatron...?

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I am new to studio photography. Have been using on camera flash for a long time. I am just starting a pet portrait business (might grow into people), that I will be taking mainly on location photos of dogs. I also enjoy (as a hobby) taking still llfe images.

Finally decided to get a flash system. So many models, brands price points. Heeeelllp.

Looked at the Prophoto 1200e kit at a local store. It looks and feels like very nicely build. A 3 light set will cost me around $1700. Alien bees on the other hand is much cheaper and come with a 60 days return policy, in case we decide they are nit the right system. Calling 2 or 3 mail order outlets got 2 or 3 diferent opinions. From Hensel to Photogenics. Also I will probably need some kind of a remote option if I am alone at the pet show.

Please advise on brands, models, any advice will help.

Thank you.
--
KMK
 
As far as the quality of light goes and the final image, there is no difference between brands. There are build difference and possibly longivity differences. There also are differences in the number and quality of the accessories offered.

I primarily use Photogenic but also own one Alienbees B400. Photogenic has a broader line of reflectors and they're constructed better than Paul Buff's (Alienbees). I personally can't imaging paying twice the price or more for say, Profoto (as an example), but you might.

If you're shooting portraits, I also don't see the need for the remotes but again that's up to you. I work alone in a smallish studio and remote control would be more trouble than it would be worth to me.

Other than that, it's just a matter of how much output you need. You don't need much for portraits. In Photogenice, get the 1250 line and for the Alienbees, either the B800 or B1600.

Paul
http://www.paulsportraits.com
Murat Kilci said:
I am new to studio photography. Have been using on camera flash for
a long time. I am just starting a pet portrait business (might
grow into people), that I will be taking mainly on location photos
of dogs. I also enjoy (as a hobby) taking still llfe images.
Finally decided to get a flash system. So many models, brands
price points. Heeeelllp.

Looked at the Prophoto 1200e kit at a local store. It looks and
feels like very nicely build. A 3 light set will cost me around
$1700. Alien bees on the other hand is much cheaper and come with
a 60 days return policy, in case we decide they are nit the right
system. Calling 2 or 3 mail order outlets got 2 or 3 diferent
opinions. From Hensel to Photogenics. Also I will probably need
some kind of a remote option if I am alone at the pet show.

Please advise on brands, models, any advice will help.

Thank you.
--
KMK
Click to expand...
 
You didn't say what kind of camera you were using. If you're shooting nwith a regular digicam you can often get by with the Alien Bees B400 as there is no need or ability to stop down to small apertures. With DLSRs or film you may need much more power to use small apertures to get sufficient depth of field. I work mostly with B400s with my Dimage 7 but added a B1600 so I could do more medium format work.

I started with a Novatron monolight but it didn't have a wide enough power range to make up for the narrow aperture range. I switched to Alien Bees to get more flexibility. I also just added the wired remote so I could control lights without having to jump around a cramped set. I'm shooting a wedding and portraits today so I'll let y ou know how it goes.
Murat Kilci said:
I am new to studio photography. Have been using on camera flash for
a long time. I am just starting a pet portrait business (might
grow into people), that I will be taking mainly on location photos
of dogs. I also enjoy (as a hobby) taking still llfe images.
Finally decided to get a flash system. So many models, brands
price points. Heeeelllp.

Looked at the Prophoto 1200e kit at a local store. It looks and
feels like very nicely build. A 3 light set will cost me around
$1700. Alien bees on the other hand is much cheaper and come with
a 60 days return policy, in case we decide they are nit the right
system. Calling 2 or 3 mail order outlets got 2 or 3 diferent
opinions. From Hensel to Photogenics. Also I will probably need
some kind of a remote option if I am alone at the pet show.

Please advise on brands, models, any advice will help.

Thank you.
--
KMK
Click to expand...
 
I recommend Alien Bees (good price/performance ratio), and use the money you save to purchase a PocketWizard Plus to trigger the strobes. This will come in handy on location, especially if there are other photographers in the same room.
Murat Kilci said:
I am new to studio photography. Have been using on camera flash for
a long time. I am just starting a pet portrait business (might
grow into people), that I will be taking mainly on location photos
of dogs. I also enjoy (as a hobby) taking still llfe images.
Finally decided to get a flash system. So many models, brands
price points. Heeeelllp.

Looked at the Prophoto 1200e kit at a local store. It looks and
feels like very nicely build. A 3 light set will cost me around
$1700. Alien bees on the other hand is much cheaper and come with
a 60 days return policy, in case we decide they are nit the right
system. Calling 2 or 3 mail order outlets got 2 or 3 diferent
opinions. From Hensel to Photogenics. Also I will probably need
some kind of a remote option if I am alone at the pet show.

Please advise on brands, models, any advice will help.

Thank you.
--
KMK
Click to expand...
--
John Chennavasin
http://www.fobpro.com/
 
Murat

I have good experince with the novatrons, the color temp holds. the only thing that would make them better for me is the re-cycle time. think about that when you're putting your system togther. how fast do you need the shots? 2 a second? 1 every 3 seconds? this will help you find what you need. and remember: you get what you pay for . . .

bm bradley
 
Just a followup as I had a chance to use the Alien Bees remote and the B1600 I added to my system. The remote is worth its weight in gold. I shot the formal portait both with a Dimage 7 and a Mamiya super press camera in 6x9cm format. I setup my shot with a B1600 in a large softbox, umbrella for fill with a B400 and hairlight with another B400. I was able to setup the lights without having to walk to each of them, a real hassle for the hairlight that was seven feet up on a boom. Once I setup the shot for f8 with the Dimage I shot digital then used the remote to increase each light by two stops. Quick check with the meter verified f16 then I shot the same light ratios with the Mamiya.

My makeshift studio was a two car garage with a clean, painted floor which I was grateful for. The 100mm lens on the Mamiya pushed me back so far that I had to open the door and place the tripod on the driveway. Fortunately with a leaf shutter film camera and digicam I was able to shoot at 1/500, eliminating the ambient light factor from the shot.



Novatrons are okay but I'm puttiung mine on ebay as soon as I repair the defective switch. Color is good but it alters color slightly as power range is changed too. It lacks the remote control and wide power range of the Bees which would have made this shoot difficult to impossible.
 
be the 2 light version, which sold through some place like B & H for about $1,000. I wonder if the store's just throwing in another light and bumping up the price. I don't think too many stores have the original 2 light kit left anymore. Could you provide the link to the 3 light kit?
 
sounds like a 2-light plus a third head at around $400. the 2-head 1200e was around $1295; the 600e kit's usually $995 with 2 heads
ksocool said:
be the 2 light version, which sold through some place like B & H
for about $1,000. I wonder if the store's just throwing in another
light and bumping up the price. I don't think too many stores have
the original 2 light kit left anymore. Could you provide the link
to the 3 light kit?
Click to expand...
--
Matt
 
John,

That is what I did. I figure for 1800.00 I can only get Style S 600
location kit, but with same amount of money I get Bees + Pocket Wizard
and L-358 with radio module. Great deal.
John Chennavasin said:
Murat Kilci said:
I am new to studio photography. Have been using on camera flash for
a long time. I am just starting a pet portrait business (might
grow into people), that I will be taking mainly on location photos
of dogs. I also enjoy (as a hobby) taking still llfe images.
Finally decided to get a flash system. So many models, brands
price points. Heeeelllp.

Looked at the Prophoto 1200e kit at a local store. It looks and
feels like very nicely build. A 3 light set will cost me around
$1700. Alien bees on the other hand is much cheaper and come with
a 60 days return policy, in case we decide they are nit the right
system. Calling 2 or 3 mail order outlets got 2 or 3 diferent
opinions. From Hensel to Photogenics. Also I will probably need
some kind of a remote option if I am alone at the pet show.

Please advise on brands, models, any advice will help.

Thank you.
--
KMK
Click to expand...
--
John Chennavasin
http://www.fobpro.com/
Click to expand...
 
If you want quality and reliability, go for the ProFoto. (If it is the brand made in sweden. Don't know if there are others named "ProPhoto" as you wrote). They are VERY nice, and gives consitent and great results! Just bought a set with a Pro5A and two heads for US$1.000 (used, but in perfect condition and new strobes).

Also, Elinchrome and MultiBlitz makes great stuff, though not as good as ProFoto in my opinion (have tried all three brands)
Best of luck,
Mathias
Murat Kilci said:
I am new to studio photography. Have been using on camera flash for
a long time. I am just starting a pet portrait business (might
grow into people), that I will be taking mainly on location photos
of dogs. I also enjoy (as a hobby) taking still llfe images.
Finally decided to get a flash system. So many models, brands
price points. Heeeelllp.

Looked at the Prophoto 1200e kit at a local store. It looks and
feels like very nicely build. A 3 light set will cost me around
$1700. Alien bees on the other hand is much cheaper and come with
a 60 days return policy, in case we decide they are nit the right
system. Calling 2 or 3 mail order outlets got 2 or 3 diferent
opinions. From Hensel to Photogenics. Also I will probably need
some kind of a remote option if I am alone at the pet show.

Please advise on brands, models, any advice will help.

Thank you.
--
KMK
Click to expand...
 
Thats not cramped!

Man you can throw a party in a studio that big.. :)

try it in a liviing room like My self, or even smaller Pauls office :)))



regards
padeye said:
Just a followup as I had a chance to use the Alien Bees remote and
the B1600 I added to my system. The remote is worth its weight in
gold. I shot the formal portait both with a Dimage 7 and a Mamiya
super press camera in 6x9cm format. I setup my shot with a B1600
in a large softbox, umbrella for fill with a B400 and hairlight
with another B400. I was able to setup the lights without having
to walk to each of them, a real hassle for the hairlight that was
seven feet up on a boom. Once I setup the shot for f8 with the
Dimage I shot digital then used the remote to increase each light
by two stops. Quick check with the meter verified f16 then I shot
the same light ratios with the Mamiya.

My makeshift studio was a two car garage with a clean, painted
floor which I was grateful for. The 100mm lens on the Mamiya
pushed me back so far that I had to open the door and place the
tripod on the driveway. Fortunately with a leaf shutter film
camera and digicam I was able to shoot at 1/500, eliminating the
ambient light factor from the shot.



Novatrons are okay but I'm puttiung mine on ebay as soon as I
repair the defective switch. Color is good but it alters color
slightly as power range is changed too. It lacks the remote
control and wide power range of the Bees which would have made this
shoot difficult to impossible.
Click to expand...
--
Oly E-20's? -- Aint no doubt about it!
http://mywebpages.comcast.net/mackey135/njdigitalservices.htm
http://www.pbase.com/mackey
http://www.photosig.com/userphotos.php?id=3459
 
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