powering studio light on location

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Archive 2009 · powering studio light on location

sskoutas
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p.1 #1 · powering studio light on location

I just got into studio lighting in the past few months. I'm enjoying it a lot. I will soon have 4 AB800's. I also have 2 580EX's (one I and one II) that I can use in the field, but I'm wondering if I get a client on-site shoot, what the best power options are to be able to use all of the lighting on site.

Kindly consider and comment. Thank you.

Dec 31, 2009 at 02:39 AM

joebee
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p.1 #2 · powering studio light on location

sskoutas wrote:
I just got into studio lighting in the past few months. I'm enjoying it a lot. I will soon have 4 AB800's. I also have 2 580EX's (one I and one II) that I can use in the field, but I'm wondering if I get a client on-site shoot, what the best power options are to be able to use all of the lighting on site.

Kindly consider and comment. Thank you.
If you have power at the client's, bring extention cords and power strips. I've had problems with improperly wired outlets in some cases. I have 4 Interfit Stellar monolights. I think the ground was bad where I plugged one in. The light would cycle through flash/recharge. Plugging into another outlet solved the issue. Take extra cords/power strips in case you have bad plug.

You may want radio triggers of some type. The new Einstein and Cyber Commander look good. If I was buying more or replacing the Interfits I would be looking at this system. The Cyber Commander has gotten good reviews. The specs look good on the Einsteins. I'm the type to wait for user reviews/comments.before ordering.

I use the AC version of the ebay radio triggers. No issues other than replacing the battery on the transmitter. The Cyber Commander uses AAA batteries while the EBay triggers use a button cell. That's a plus from my perspective. I went with the AC receiver to avoid batteries. The less points of failure the better

Dec 31, 2009 at 05:09 AM

Two23
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p.1 #3 · powering studio light on location

AA batteries in the little flash, Vagabond pack to power all the others.

Kent in SD

Dec 31, 2009 at 05:13 AM

howardm4
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p.1 #4 · powering studio light on location

take a look at the ongoing Pelican Battery Pack thread if you want to homebrew, otherwise, Vagabond.

Dec 31, 2009 at 01:31 PM

sskoutas
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p.1 #5 · powering studio light on location

joebee... I'm thinking more along the lines of in the middle of a field or out in the woods... places where wall outlets are not an option.

Kent / Howard - I'll check out Vagabond. I'm expecting sticker shock, right?

Dec 31, 2009 at 02:31 PM

Two23
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p.1 #6 · powering studio light on location

sskoutas wrote:
Kent / Howard - I'll check out Vagabond. I'm expecting sticker shock, right?

Actually not. It's not ProFoto or something. Vagabond is less than the price of a consumer grade f5.6 zoom.

http://www.white-lightning.com/battery.html

Kent in SD

Dec 31, 2009 at 02:50 PM

sskoutas
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p.1 #7 · powering studio light on location

Cool! I was wondering where to buy it. I didn't realize that it was Paul C. Buff item. Thanks for the link.

Dec 31, 2009 at 04:19 PM

JBPhotog
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p.1 #8 · powering studio light on location

Or look at the Tronix Explorer XT, love mine with my 2400 w/s Speedo pack.

http://www.innovatronix.com/

Jan 01, 2010 at 12:31 AM

hondageek
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p.1 #9 · powering studio light on location

Honda EU2000 generator. You'll be able to shoot all day with it unlike the limited number of shots from the Vagabond. It's really quiet, small, light, and you'll use it for countless other things. It's on my list of "10 best things I've ever bought".

The Vagabond is handy, but the batteries only last about a year and cost around $60 to replace. Mine has a knack for dying without warning when on location.

Jan 03, 2010 at 02:45 PM

sskoutas
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p.1 #10 · powering studio light on location

hondageek, can you think of an item that the EU2000 is comparable to in terms of noise? I like the idea, but if the generator is distracting (even if it is quiet for a generator), that could be problematic.

Jan 09, 2010 at 02:35 AM

lafashionphoto
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p.1 #11 · powering studio light on location

I had the generator..was a real bitch to carry around...even though it was light for its size. The Vagabond has never failed me. I have a couple and I have never run out of juice ever! They are light...quiet...and perfect.

Jan 09, 2010 at 02:40 AM

howardm4
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p.1 #12 · powering studio light on location

the EU2000 is very quiet. put it at the end of a 25' extension cord and you wont know it's there.

Jan 09, 2010 at 03:17 AM

mumbles76
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p.1 #13 · powering studio light on location

Another satisfied Explorer XT user. Very nice unit.

Jan 09, 2010 at 04:23 AM

Gregg Heckler
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p.1 #14 · powering studio light on location

While the Vagabond or Explorer solution may best for most people I wanted to comment on the Honda. I recently borrowed my father-in-law's eu2000 and couldn't have been happier. I powered two Elinchrom RX-600's in a Park and it never missed a beat. Yes it does produce some noise but nothing that bothered anyone and I didn't have to worry about running out of gas.

Jan 09, 2010 at 04:27 AM


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