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AlienBees VS. Broncolor Mobil

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Guillermo Flores

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I Currently own a broncolor mobil unit kit. I bought it for around $2,800. I use this unit for location photography and I'm very happy with it.

Recently a friend asked me to sell it to him, maybe I can sell it used for around $2,400.

I was checking what I could buy with that money at AlienBees and I was really surprised about their prices and specs.

I just don't get it... why is AlienBees much cheaper than broncolor and even have better specifications?

--
Podcast sobre fotografia digital en español:
http://www.memoflores.com/podcast/
 
Gotta be joking on this one.

No way would I ever trade down like that. I might upgrade and
uses the old Broncolor for backup, but never down. Once you own
something quality like that, it is hard to buy them again at that price.
Guillermo Flores said:
I Currently own a broncolor mobil unit kit. I bought it for around
$2,800. I use this unit for location photography and I'm very happy
with it.
Recently a friend asked me to sell it to him, maybe I can sell it
used for around $2,400.
I was checking what I could buy with that money at AlienBees and I
was really surprised about their prices and specs.
I just don't get it... why is AlienBees much cheaper than broncolor
and even have better specifications?

--
Podcast sobre fotografia digital en español:
http://www.memoflores.com/podcast/
Click to expand...
 
AperturePro said:
No way would I ever trade down like that. I might upgrade and
uses the old Broncolor for backup, but never down. Once you own
something quality like that, it is hard to buy them again at that
price.
Click to expand...
Haven't used Broncolor but have used White Lightning and recently Alien Bees extensively and for many years and I wouldn't consider any other brand of light. We have 4 Alien Bees mounted to the ceiling of our local hockey rink and shoot about 3000 shots in 30 degree temp during a 2 day tourney weekend completely without failure. For price/performance they simply can't bee beat.

Regards,
W Fenn
http://www.fennfoto.com
 
True, for price and performance AB are good, but Broncolor is the Rolls Royce of lighting. I 100% agree with Ap Pro on this one. I had the pleasure and privelege of using Broncolor at a studio I worked at for 7 years and there is no comparison. I also use White Lightning and am happy with it, but there is truly no comparison to Broncolor.
 
What is the motivation for selling a top of the line system? Why is your friend asking you to sell something you use?

I would suggest you inform your friend to look at the AB website (I own a B800 myself) rather than selling your rig and buying something else.

Peace,
Guillermo Flores said:
I Currently own a broncolor mobil unit kit. I bought it for around
$2,800. I use this unit for location photography and I'm very happy
with it.
Recently a friend asked me to sell it to him, maybe I can sell it
used for around $2,400.
I was checking what I could buy with that money at AlienBees and I
was really surprised about their prices and specs.
I just don't get it... why is AlienBees much cheaper than broncolor
and even have better specifications?

--
Podcast sobre fotografia digital en español:
http://www.memoflores.com/podcast/
Click to expand...
--
TonyK
 
pptphoto said:
True, for price and performance AB are good, but Broncolor is the
Rolls Royce of lighting. I 100% agree with Ap Pro on this one. I
had the pleasure and privelege of using Broncolor at a studio I
worked at for 7 years and there is no comparison. I also use White
Lightning and am happy with it, but there is truly no comparison to
Broncolor.
Click to expand...
Please qualify your comment, what is it that makes the broncolor better in this case. Is it the controls, the quality of the image and if so in what way and how. Not having ever used BC I have no idea personally, but all of these comments stating its superior without any qualifications seems incomplete.

Just my 2 cents worth.
--
Rob Outlaw Photography

http://www.roboutlawphotography.com
 
Consistancy of output, speed of recycling, maximum output to just name a few.

You can google the specs and check for yourself, if you are interested.

Apples and oranges really. They are both marketed accordingly. One is a pro lighting set up the other is an advanced amateur set up.--
http://www.kevinfocht.com
 
Is White Lightning better than Alien Bees?

I made a Specs comparition between the broncolor mobil travel kit and the white-lightning X3200 with the Vagabond V300

Broncolor White lightning
Output 1200 Ws 1320 Ws
Recycle Max 6 sec 4 sec (with V300)
Duration Max 1/230 1/900
Duration Min 1/680 1/3600
Power Range 4 f-stops 7 f-stops
Sync Voltage 12 Volts less than 6 volts
Number of Full
Power Flashes 100 200+
AC Option $1,087.95* Included
Aprox Price $2,800.00 $1,168.99

The AC option for the broncolor gives it a 300 Ws boost.

--
Podcast sobre fotografia digital en español:
http://www.memoflores.com/podcast/
 
Sorry for the specs format, here is a nicer one:

--------------------Broncolor -----------White lightning
Output-----------1200 Ws-------------1320 Ws
Recycle Max-----6 sec ----------------4 sec (with V300)
Duration Max ---1/230----------------1/900
Duration Min----1/680----------------1/3600
Power Range----4 f-stops-------------7 f-stops
Sync Voltage----12 Volts------------Less than 6 volts
Number of Full
Power Flashes ---100-----------------200+
AC Option-------$1,087.95* -------Included
Aprox Price-----$2,800.00----------$1,168.99

The AC option for the broncolor gives it a 300 Ws boost.

--
Podcast sobre fotografia digital en español:
http://www.memoflores.com/podcast/
 
kevin focht said:
Consistancy of output, speed of recycling, maximum output to just
name a few.
Click to expand...
kevin focht said:
Apples and oranges really. They are both marketed accordingly. One
is a pro lighting set up the other is an advanced amateur set up.--
Click to expand...
Looked at some of your work, pretty nice, totally different than what I do but still easy to appreciate.

I am not trying to be confrontational here but still not seeing anything based upon the specs that makes the broncolor that much better other than the marketing an in that regard I agree 100%. WL has got to have the worst ad campaign in the history of photography, almost embarrassing. However for over 20 years I have used White Lightning's and earned professional income with them. Consistancy of output; I have measured time and again, flash pop after pop and will get the same value after each recycle with the WL, it does not seem to matter whether its the first or 20th pop. Speed of recycling; never been an issue with the Ultra's that I own as they recycle as fast as I can use it under most conditions. Max output; the only time I have wished for more output is shooting intereriors of large rooms, but in the studio I seem to have all the power I need be it for table top or portraits.

Perhaps the Broncolors are made better as in the manual controls compared to WL or other gear for that matter, but at the end of the day do the Broncolors actually make a better photograph? I could be wrong, but my guess is with everything else being equal as in light modifiers, color temp of the flash tube, same exposure etc you could not see the difference in two images one with Broncolor vs any other light source, WL included, in the hands of skilled pro. One might argue that the Broncolors could be easier to manipulate, though this has not been an issue with me and WL's either. Not once has anyone ever come to my studio and said my lighting gear and results stink either. In over 20 years of use I have had only one Ultra unit fail, and that was just last year, and they have taken a beating too.

Anyway, there are many many pros making a living with WL's and other lesser gear and would be willing to wager there numbers are greater than those using Broncolors. What I want to know, do the Broncolor's make better photographs everything else being equal? Usually its the photographer but I am willing to accept proof otherwise. Will owning Broncolors get you more work? Will they get you higher paying clients? Will the end user exlaim "wow look at the lighting in this photo with the broncolors"? I have my doubts.

Once again not trying to be a SA here, just want to see or hear about some concrete evidence. Paying double, triple, or more for the price of admission to have an ever so slightly faster recyle times just does not warrant it IMO.
--
Rob Outlaw Photography

http://www.roboutlawphotography.com
 
Like others here, I use and am completely happy with my White Lightning Ultras (predecessor to AB, I think) as a travel kit.

If I owned a Broncolor system, I doubt I'd sell it simply to get the Paul C Buff kit. It IS like selling a Ferrari to buy a Mustang. But if I needed the cash I could generate by selling the Broncolors and reinvesting in the Alien Bees, I would do so with confidence. I've been using mine daily for nearly 20 years without any problems beyond replacing the occasional flashtube.

Recapitalizing is the only way it would make any sense to me, though.
--
jrbehm
http://homepage.mac.com/jrbehm/Scenic/
 
It is about control and fast setup. The studios that are running
thousands of dollars per hour on a shoot have a time factor more
than a solo pro working with a client where there is not time factor.

Elinchorm, Broncolor et al are controlled either by a dedicated station
or on the computer. A high end pro can have an assistant at the computer
and call out settings for each of many strobes. Small change can be made
very fast. I think you see that advantage there.

An assistant can set up the whole shoot and pre load different settings into
the computer..... bingo.... go to setting #3 please and all the lights are
pre set.

When you are in that stratosphere, what is a few thousand per light? A
shoot can run in the six figures with ease.

It is that they want exact numbers and consistant results along with
fast changes to the lighting.

Money and time are pretty "concrete evidence" of why pros will buy
the lights that have these remote controls. Either monolights or
heads are both controled from one central location.

Will owning Broncolors get you more work? Will they get
rob outlaw said:
you higher paying clients? Will the end user exlaim "wow look at
the lighting in this photo with the broncolors"? I have my doubts.

Once again not trying to be a SA here, just want to see or hear
about some concrete evidence. Paying double, triple, or more for
the price of admission to have an ever so slightly faster recyle
times just does not warrant it IMO.
--
Rob Outlaw Photography

http://www.roboutlawphotography.com
Click to expand...
 
AperturePro said:
Elinchorm, Broncolor et al are controlled either by a dedicated
station
or on the computer. A high end pro can have an assistant at the
computer
and call out settings for each of many strobes. Small change can be
made
very fast. I think you see that advantage there.
Click to expand...
While as far as I know it can't be done from a computer, You can use either the wired remote or the wireless remote that is available to control the AB lights from a particular point. I will admit though that the RR1 sets are not the best built, but they work. I have not tried the wired remote because the wires get in the way and I already have the RR1s.

Not the same, but depends on how much extra you want to pay to run your lights from a computer.
--
Save the Model, Save the Camera, The photographer can be repaired.
 
Tim Dolan said:
While as far as I know it can't be done from a computer,
Click to expand...
http://www.elinchrom.com/

RX Remote studio link for computer control.

This is not for every studio, but the time saving factor for volume work
makes it a huge money saver for larger studios.

If the question is "why" spend so much, then that is the answer. Having
many strobes all controled from your laptop will save time and give you
total control. You don't want a studio running tens of thousands of dollars
per hour stopping for light adjustments, you want it done is seconds, not
minutes.

That is why you pay the cost of strobes like Elinchorm etc.
 
Rob. Describe the difference between an Escort and a Ferarri. They both have an engine, they both have 4 wheels, they both get you down the road. But...

Now as far as AB and Broncolor. Ap Pro said it best. so, what he said, but also, Broncolor has a quality of light that is hard to describe. It has power, speed, and like someone else mentioned, the consistency at various power settings is right on, down to tenths of an f stop. EVERYTIME. The recycle times are always perfect also. Most cheaper lights on the market are relatively consistent at full power, but power them down and the output consistency can be all over the board.

I was fortunate to have worked at a studio that purchased over half million dollars of Broncolor. I got to help in the decision making of what to buy. We flew to NJ several times to meet with Bron USA people. What a fun experience! It was like Christmas only better. 6400 watt second power packs. Cuma Lights, and a ceiling full of remote control Bron mono lights bouncing off the ceiling. We had 10 power packs, all the ceiling lights, countless heads and modifiers. It was great. It really is the best, most well thought out system I could ever hope to work with. The other top brands are Elinchrom and Pro Photo.

Rob, all I can say is if you haven't tried them, it's hard to describe the difference. Will they bring more clients to the average photographer? Maybe, but probably not. But to a photographer approaching the pinnacle of success, it will make a difference. And like AP said, at high volume, high buck studios, every little difference makes a big difference. I hope that helps. Try them sometime if you get a chance, it's really the only way to understand.
 
Just for clarification,

I was refering to my understanding that you can not control the Alien Bees from a computer (without some electronic skill and unauthorised modifications).

I figured it was quite possible that the higher end stuff could be.

And just to ask the question, I presume the Elinchrom set does NOT have the ability to control AB strobes. If they do, please let me know.

--
Save the Model, Save the Camera, The photographer can be repaired.
 
I have a bunch of packs including 3 Pulso A2 and yes, for the same settings, they recharge at the same exact moment no matter the output (the bip alarm at least).

The mobil is to me on the low end of the entire line especially now that they have a second battery operated pack.
pptphoto said:
Rob. Describe the difference between an Escort and a Ferarri. They
both have an engine, they both have 4 wheels, they both get you
down the road. But...

Now as far as AB and Broncolor. Ap Pro said it best. so, what he
said, but also, Broncolor has a quality of light that is hard to
describe. It has power, speed, and like someone else mentioned,
the consistency at various power settings is right on, down to
tenths of an f stop. EVERYTIME. The recycle times are always
perfect also. Most cheaper lights on the market are relatively
consistent at full power, but power them down and the output
consistency can be all over the board.

I was fortunate to have worked at a studio that purchased over half
million dollars of Broncolor. I got to help in the decision making
of what to buy. We flew to NJ several times to meet with Bron USA
people. What a fun experience! It was like Christmas only better.
6400 watt second power packs. Cuma Lights, and a ceiling full of
remote control Bron mono lights bouncing off the ceiling. We had
10 power packs, all the ceiling lights, countless heads and
modifiers. It was great. It really is the best, most well thought
out system I could ever hope to work with. The other top brands
are Elinchrom and Pro Photo.

Rob, all I can say is if you haven't tried them, it's hard to
describe the difference. Will they bring more clients to the
average photographer? Maybe, but probably not. But to a
photographer approaching the pinnacle of success, it will make a
difference. And like AP said, at high volume, high buck studios,
every little difference makes a big difference. I hope that helps.
Try them sometime if you get a chance, it's really the only way to
understand.
Click to expand...
 
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