collierstudios wrote:
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....Show more →
Funny thing is I found the Quadra to be much more fragile than compared to Einsteins, and the quality of the Einsteins is WAY better for my needs.
Before I switched to Einsteins (which I think are the best lights out there), I had owned in this order:
-ABs, Elinchrom Ranger, Profoto AcuteB2 (plus a Profoto D4, Acute2 packs), then back to AcuteB2, then Elinchrom Quadra, now Einsteins
My Quadra head died on me twice. And for price comparison, I could have 2 Einsteins + 2 VML's for the price of one Quadra...and the weight is the same!
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!!
I mean this in the nicest way, definitely not trying to knock you or anyone here...but, I think too many photographers are worried more about bulk and weight of GOOD light and just get by with OK light. I use bare speedlites all the time, but it's surely not the optical light source for all situations.
Maybe it's just me, but I've never been bothered with carrying a c-stand + light + battery + octabox...thats the price of good light and I'll suck it up. As for speed of setup, it's much quicker for me to setup my Einstein setup than it is to get a speedlite+umbrella setup.
Oh, and this is what I carry by myself if I don't have an assistant working with me. It's not light, but it is what it is. Sling it over my shoulder and its really not that heavy...16lbs or so.
Umbrellas are sails, any small wind and its gone...and outdoors they are not very efficient.
How about the wedding party formal shots? Is it better to use an umbrella since it'll have a wider field of light? I figured I'd bring two speedlites with two umbrella, left and right of camera. But I just don't know how that'll turn out. I do have a White Lightning 800. Was contemplating buying another but it seems overkill for a wedding.
sboerup wrote:
Umbrellas are sails, any small wind and its gone...and outdoors they are not very efficient.
Yes and no. Umbrellas can and will take off on you but I've never had a problem either finding someone to hold my light stand if I don't have an assistant.
nguyencs wrote:
How about the wedding party formal shots? Is it better to use an umbrella since it'll have a wider field of light? I figured I'd bring two speedlites with two umbrella, left and right of camera. But I just don't know how that'll turn out. I do have a White Lightning 800. Was contemplating buying another but it seems overkill for a wedding.
It depends on the time of day. A lot of times I'll prefer open shade or north light since it's easier to get good even lighting across the whole group and family, but them it depends on the location and background.
Closed Shade - this was an open ramada that basically acted like 3 large softboxes wrapped all the way around it:
http://www.spencerboerup.com/FM/EJ-W-248-FM.jpg
But if I'm lighting a big group during the day, I'd much rather use a beauty dish, or the octa, they are far more efficient (soak up less light) and you have to bring the lights back far enough anyway. Then as long as you feather the light you can get pretty even coverage depending on size.
Beauty Dish
http://www.spencerboerup.com/FM/ATW-205.jpg
If its in the evening then i'll usually defer to a speedlite with a white shoot-thru umbrella since I usually have it out by that time and the big lights are put away by then.
jcolman wrote:
Yes and no. Umbrellas can and will take off on you but I've never had a problem either finding someone to hold my light stand if I don't have an assistant.
Outdoors they work just fine.
Nice shots! Another thing re: umbrellas. They're cheap and basically disposable. If/when they break, just have a duplicate or two and you're good to go.
benee wrote:
Nice shots! Another thing re: umbrellas. They're cheap and basically disposable. If/when they break, just have a duplicate or two and you're good to go.
Exactly. Plus they fold up nicely into my light bag.
benee wrote:
Nice shots! Another thing re: umbrellas. They're cheap and basically disposable. If/when they break, just have a duplicate or two and you're good to go.
Yes, I always have a few different umbrellas on hand, but the PCB softboxes are tanks, not going to break anytime soon...but I have other modifiers as backups for those too.
sboerup wrote:
Yes, I always have a few different umbrellas on hand, but the PCB softboxes are tanks, not going to break anytime soon...but I have other modifiers as backups for those too.
I do agree that given a choice between softboxes and umbrellas, softboxes are the preferred choice for me when it comes to quality of light. But that has more to do with the size of the modifier. I have a huge 4' x3' box that I love but it's a bit too cumbersome for wedding work.
