Strobes for Home Studio

[rlconklin]

Greetings all, I'm just getting started in the photography business and am in the process of setting up a home studio in my basement. I've been looking around at various ligthing setups and am looking for suggestions. I found one that seems like it might do the trick, it's a package from White Lighting with (3) 800 watt strobes, 48" octagonal softbox, umberella, and stands. It goes for about $1500 which is about my max budget. Is anyone familiar with White Lighting and the quality of their products? Also, does anyone have any suggestions on other units that would fit within my budget? I have a few backgrounds and some simple studio props to get me started, am I missing anything else? All help and suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

[Brooks]

Originally Posted by rlconklin

am I missing anything else? All help and suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

Have you thought about a flash meter?

[Douglas]

White lightning is the same company as alien bees (well, both owned by Paul Buff). Never heard anyone say anything bad about them.

[TimBlodgett]

Originally Posted by Brooks

Have you thought about a flash meter?

After using strobes in a college course I have to agree a flash meter makes life so much easier.

You can go without, its just easier with a flash meter.

[rlconklin]

Thanks for the comments on the flash meter. Actually I did have it on my list of stuff to get started but, unfortunately, I forgot to add it to my post. The one I'm looking at is the Sokonic L-358.

[Gonzogolf]

Great gear choices, including the light meter. If you max out your budget consider the alien bees. Same maker, but a little more bang for the buck. Also be careful not to overpower your small studio. Most studio strobes color shift when you use them at the very end of their power scale so dont buy more power than you need thinking more is always better.

[Songman45]

Nothing but good things to say about White Lightnings. They are built like tanks and are as reliable as dawn following dusk. The customer support is top notch and PCB has a reputation for taking great care of their customers and equipment.

I don't think the 800's are going to over-power your studio either.

Regards,
Steve

[Doug Lester]

I ran a commercial studio with White Lightning heads. they worked well. But like someone said. don't forget the flash meter. If I were doing it now I would probably go for the Alien Bee heads for use in a small studio.

[roncgizmo]

I know a lot of people seem to like the bees "but" I've been hearing some bad things about them lately. specifically about the color temp at various levels not being the same. From what I understand PCB knows about this as well. Has anyone here had to deal with that issue?

[Gonzogolf]

Originally Posted by roncgizmo

I know a lot of people seem to like the bees "but" I've been hearing some bad things about them lately. specifically about the color temp at various levels not being the same. From what I understand PCB knows about this as well. Has anyone here had to deal with that issue?

Pretty much all strobes has some color shift as you use them at the very lowest power setting. The bees may have a little bit more of that than some of the more expensive european brands but its really not an issue unless you are firing at the very bottom of the power scale. You can handle it with a custom white balance. Also its important to pick the right power strobe for your task. Dont buy an AB1600 for a small space studio where you will be working at the the lowest power setting when an AB400 would easily suffice.

[vadim]

Originally Posted by roncgizmo

I know a lot of people seem to like the bees "but" I've been hearing some bad things about them lately. specifically about the color temp at various levels not being the same. From what I understand PCB knows about this as well. Has anyone here had to deal with that issue?

I started with Alien Bees and then went through other lights. In the end I sold everything and returned back to Alien Bees.
There are many good choices around with digital controls, better specifications etc. But overall experience working with AB at least for me has been much better than with any other lights.

As for the color temperatures: My guess is that 99% of bashing comes from 'photographers' who do not take pictures but rather buy very expensive lights than test, test, retest, pixel peep and then test again their equipment I guess to find a justification that they did not waste their money.
The exceptions are very narrowly specialized photographers that take pictures of lipsticks, hair dyes etc where the color temperatures could be a problem ( they also wear 18% grey clothing ).

For regular work the color consistency of Alien Bees is more than adequate.
By the way some White Lighting lights have switchable capacitors that make the problem even less noticeable.

[roncgizmo]

Thanks for the AB info. I was looking into getting a 800 to add to my setup.
Dollar for dollar the AB's still look like a great value

[Nikonfreak]

Originally Posted by Songman45

Nothing but good things to say about White Lightnings. They are built like tanks and are as reliable as dawn following dusk. The customer support is top notch and PCB has a reputation for taking great care of their customers and equipment.

I don't think the 800's are going to over-power your studio either.

Regards,
Steve

Agreed. Those are respectable flash units. There are better and there are worse, but you get a lot of bang for the buck with the Alien Bees or White Lightning units. I'm using Alien Bees and I don't see any reason to change them out at this point. At $400-600 or so... It's no big deal to have some extras laying around

[tekdiver500ft]

I have a full set of WL X1600's, and they are amazing lights for the money. I repeat, for the money. There are better lights, and there are cheaper lights. There are NO better, cheaper lights.

I had one of my lights up on the HD stand with a grid on it, 13' in the air. The subject knocked it over, and it hit the ground. Remember that falling over is enough acceleration on your head (assuming 6' tall) to concuss you, and sometimes even to kill. The reflector and grid were toast, but the light just kept on working. Didn't even have to change a bulb.

I had another light that was making a little fan noise. I asked about it (my first one) being excessive on a forum. Paul Buff saw that, and had Customer Service send me out a new light with a pre-paid label for the old one. I didn't have to pre-pay for the new light, and I never once officially contacted Customer Service about the issue, I simply asked if it was normal for WL fans to be so loud on a forum. That is the level of customer service you can expect from PCB.

[Songman45]

Originally Posted by tekdiver500ft

That is the level of customer service you can expect from PCB.

And an American company too.

Steve

[Brooks]

Originally Posted by Songman45

And an American company too.

Steve

As is Speedotron and Dynalite.

[Songman45]

Originally Posted by Brooks

As is Speedotron and Dynalite.

Didn't recall the discussion including either Speedotron or Dynalite. I was responding to something said specifically related to BCB.

[Brooks]

Originally Posted by rlconklin

Greetings all, I'm just getting started in the photography business and am in the process of setting up a home studio in my basement. I've been looking around at various ligthing setups and am looking for suggestions. I found one that seems like it might do the trick, it's a package from White Lighting with (3) 800 watt strobes, 48" octagonal softbox, umberella, and stands. It goes for about $1500 which is about my max budget. Is anyone familiar with White Lighting and the quality of their products? Also, does anyone have any suggestions on other units that would fit within my budget? I have a few backgrounds and some simple studio props to get me started, am I missing anything else? All help and suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

Here's the original post. The OP was looking at various lighting setups, including a package of WLs . He also asked for any other suggestions.

My point was only that there are other brands in addition to WLs that are made in the USA. So the criteria of "Made in the USA" doesn't limit you to White Lightnings. There are other choices.

Of course the OP never mentioned an interest in or asked about the origin of manufacture of any lighting equipment so maybe that's not relevant at all. .