I want to buy strobes, I have very small room which I want to convert into a very simple studio.The room is 13"x 20" (~260sqft).
Wondering if AB400 units will be powerful enough ?
or I better get the 800 ?
Is there any cheaper strobes on the market ?
** (A kit which is more or less the same 2 strobes, umbrella (maybe a softbox))
The 400's are probably enough, but you will be better off in the long term with the 800's.
I have some other lights that are 1600's - 660w/s. I use them at 1/8 power for portraits most of the time. But if I add a big soft box, etc. it starts to soak up light. If I go on location and need to light a dance troop, suddenly the 660's are barely enough power!
Buy the 800's. The 400's are nice filler if you have a full set, but often not enough by themselves.
There are decent monolights around used for about $300 each if you watch and wait. Below that and they aren't going to be worth much for the long term.
Re-read the question. You can often pick up a pack and heads for less than monolights.
I have 3 Speedotron Brownline packs and 8 heads (going to sell them, but a friend gets first pick.) The 800 w/s packs sell used for about $200. The *good* heads - the M11's - sell used for $150 or so.
Get a pack for $200, 2 heads for $300, and some MW3 heads - good for background, hair - for $50 each. Buy a kit and you will likely get umbrellas, stands, softbox, etc.
I think one 800 is enough to begin with. I've been using one with an umbrella and a reflector for a while and I'm just now contemplating ordering more lights. If you shoot against black seamless you don't need a background light.
One thing to keep in mind if you mix bees (like one 800 and one 400) is that the modeling light ratios will be off unless you put a 150 W bulb in the 800 and a 75 W bulb in the 400. 75 W makes for a pitiful modeling light.
But here's the thing. I find that I have to keep the modeling light on full brightness anyway (not tracking) otherwise it's really too dim. Just be aware that if you are keen to use the proportional modeling light feature that mixing bees may not be the greatest idea.
