Speedlite or strobes?

I know speedlites are strobes too but I'm just wondering is what is the power difference and light quality difference between speedlites and strobes like AlienBees?

Sorry for sounding noob!

ISeek said:

I know speedlites are strobes too but I'm just wondering is what is the power difference and light quality difference between speedlites and strobes like AlienBees?

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A Nikon SB-800 speedlight in the same umbrella will meter one full stop less than an Alienbees B400 (i.e, it acts like half power). Other speedlights may be slightly less power, but same ballpark. At full power and (for groups) ten feet from same reflected white umbrella fabric, SB-800 will meter f/5.6 and B400 will meter f/8 (at ISO 200).

The speedlight at high power will take a couple of seconds to recycle each time. The B400 at same level will be very much faster, almost instantaneous (but not quite instantaneous). Cannot use "motor drive" continuous frames, but all else is possible. B400 has a fan for cooling.

The speedlight has those pesky AA batteries to keep up with. Which could be a plus if there were no AC power available. Otherwise, not a plus.

Same light quality - which comes from the modifer, not from the light.

Except the speedlight has the focused fresnel lens on it, which is no issue at all for an umbrella, but seems a big issue in a softbox (just makes a bright spot on the front fabric panel). The studio lights use bare bulb in there, greater than 180 degree spread... the way things were designed.

WFulton said:

Except the speedlight has the focused fresnel lens on it, which is no issue at all for an umbrella, but seems a big issue in a softbox (just makes a bright spot on the front fabric panel). The studio lights use bare bulb in there, greater than 180 degree spread... the way things were designed.

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There are softboxes designed for use with speedlights where the speedlight is inside the softbox and aimed at the reflective rear of the softbox. This requires that you use RF triggering for consistent firing but it does produce a smooth light without a hot spot.

If you are going to do a lot of studio work then a set of studio strobes is the way to go because, as WFulton said, they have the fast recycling time that makes it easy to take a lot of shots in rapid succession.

If you are going to do a lot of location shooting, especially out-of-doors, then speedlights are the way to go. Studio lights like the AllienBees can also be used out-of-doors with batteries, but they are much less easy to transport.

Only you can evaluate what type of shooting will be what you want to concentrate on. Once you know that then the choice of what lights to go with will be clear.

Thanks for replying.

One more question...

Since strobes are better....what is a difference between a Alien bees strobes and another no-name strobe from ebay?

ISeek said:

Since strobes are better....what is a difference between a Alien bees strobes and another no-name strobe from ebay?

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Read the specs (if any are given). Probably the pits. Probably a very long recycle speed, probably a very slow duration speed, probably limited power range, and for most of the cheapest, the flash tubes say 8000 flashes, and are not even replacable - no mention of replacement flashtubes (Alienbees says their flashtubes are more like 250,000 and are easily replaceable for about $35). They will likely last forever, but you could always drop one. AB service will be availalble.

Consider the cheap "too good to be true" noname Ebay stuff to be throwaway toys. No service available, probably no phone number or address for warranty. Good luck.

Whereas Alienbees has 60 day Full Satisfaction Guaranted return, has a two year warranty, and has full service available in Nashville anytime after warranty. Also has an awesome reputation among a very great number of fans. Aliienbees service and support is a legend, there is none better, none in same class. A one time purchase, designed to work many years reliabily.

Alienbees is the inexpensive stuff, but it is excellent inexpensive stuff.

The Alien Bees are probably as good as any of the lower priced studio strobe systems. A lot of people in this forum use them. But ignor any AB specification that uses the term, "effective watt-seconds" or anything similar. That's misleading advertising as there is no such thing. When comparing two system, the only fair comparison is to compare the actual watt-second ratings of the capacitor (i.e., how much energy it can store). I use Speedotron and Norman strobes. I especially like the Norman system because of the wide variety of light modifiers you can buy for it. By the way, that's another advantage of a real studio strobe system compared to on-camera type strobes. The studio systems have many more light modifiers to choose from and everything is integrated as a system.
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http://www.fantasy-photo.com

Fantasy Photo said:

Fantasy Photo wrote:

The studio systems have many more light modifiers to choose from and everything is integrated as a system.

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Don't forget that studio systems have a great variety of powers available.

You might be satisfied with a 200Ws system with 24" to 40" softboxes or umbrellas if all you do is head shots.

As you go to 1/2 or full body photography your need for larger diffusers, and thus more powerful lights increases. 400Ws or 899Ws lights are nice choices for 40"-60"diffusers.

With large groups multiple strobes and diffusers and/or much larger diffusers are required. An 800Ws or 1600Ws strobe works well when you get to things like the 80" octobox.