Outdoors the PCB 40X32 softbox with an AB800 and their lithium Vagabond battery .. but I'm about to order an Einstein, there is not enough power in the AB800 for all situations.
How do you deal with speedring softboxes when you are working at a wedding? We don't have a big enough vehicle to keep the thing put together. DO you just assemble it once you get to the location?
Honesty, most modifiers look pretty similar outside unless you are like 2-3 stops above ambient. An umbrella looks like a softbox which looks like an octabox and even a beauty dish used at a distance just looks like a 22" softbox. Maybe coverage is a factor for groups but other than that it comes down to efficiency, speed of setup and wind resistance for me.
I have a profoto acuteB2 600, 64" plm and 22" mola BD but I cannot ever see myself setting all that stuff up for a wedding when a speedlight and an umbrella will do it.
Einstein has control of light in exact 1/10 increments with the digital back panel where as the AB has a slider. Einsten's white balance is suppose to be more consistant and has control over 9 stops where as alienbee is only 6 stops. Those would be the main points I would purchase it for.
Two speedlights on a bracket and firing into an umbrella is what I use for a nice mobile setup during the wedding. Bare flash on another stand for back light.
For pre wedding bridal shoots I typically use mono lights, Vagabond power pack and softboxes or beauty dishes.
Last summer transitioned from using the AB1600 and the Vagabond Mini to the Elinchrom Quadra. For moving light and fast I don't think you can beat it, plus having power control from camera via the Skyport is just awesome. I tend to switch between umbrellas and the 39" deep octa which sets up very quickly for me.
i liked the value of the ALienBees but just didn't trust their build quality when you're moving quickly on a wedding day and tossing it in, and pulling it out of your trunk. Especially with the extras you probably have hanging off of it such as a PocketWizard.
I have Alienbees but use speedlights most of the time unless I really need some light but if I were to buy a light for portable situations the Einstein would win over the B1600 because there are times when you simply can not turn the B1600 down far enough. The Einstein goes a couple stops lower which is sometimes useful.
Dude, I own more light modifiers than I care to admit. I've got dozens, plus homemade ones. I think you just have to figure out what you like. I'd say that 80% of the time, if I'm using flash for a wedding (outside of formals and receptions lights), I'm probably using it without a modifier, to compensate for really harsh summer sunlight during an afternoon portrait shoot. In this case I'm using either ABs or an LP-160. I think you best bet is a Wescott Apollo medium soft box or the octa (you can use these with either a moonlight or hotshot flash), then get a couple cheap grids and a shoot-through umbrella. Shouldn't set you back more than $250.
joelconner wrote:
How do you deal with speedring softboxes when you are working at a wedding? We don't have a big enough vehicle to keep the thing put together. DO you just assemble it once you get to the location?
And...no clue what a vml is...
PCB has the softboxes that open up just like an umbrella .. compact & quick.
Joel the Einey has thumb-activated, quick-attach points right on the head. Dealing with Speedrings is negligible. The price difference is for the electronics features and the wider/lower/higher range. What Spencer mentioned is probably the easiest, and most solid setup you will find. The SB is a personal choice, but the octo will pretty much do anything. IMO, you cannot go wrong with the setup he suggested.
I was thinking about using this setup exactly... but do think it will be too cumbersome/heavy to move around for outdoor bride/groom portraits. I currently use a speedlight, with a 24x24 softbox ,mounted to monopod. It works pretty well but I would like more power!!
derbarrett wrote:
I was thinking about using this setup exactly... but do think it will be too cumbersome/heavy to move around for outdoor bride/groom portraits. I currently use a speedlight, with a 24x24 softbox ,mounted to monopod. It works pretty well but I would like more power!!
If it is, you need a gym membership... or assistant.
16x16 sf for my sb900 and shot thru umbrella for sb800 and a bare sb800 is what i use most, at the reception i set up a ab1600 with umbrella on a corner and the sb900 with a cto on the other corner.
