Einstain E640 vs AlienBees B1600

[hombredelmar]

Einstain E640 vs AlienBees B1600
I have noticed that one company makes both flash units and Einstain E640=500.00 dollars while AlienBees B1600 that is almost 3 times more powerfull and costs only 359.00.

You might want to check the specs again. Both units go up to 640 watt seconds.

And one is called a 640, while the older design is called a "1600". Again...the strategy of naming the original Buff lights "5,000" and "10,000". The Buff company has had a loooong history of deceptive naming practices, in an effort to make uneducated customers think its flashes were more-powerful than those of other companies.

From the White Lighting 10,000 and White Lighting 5,000 manual, found here:http://www.paulcbuff.com/manuals/wl5k10k.pdf

" The WL 10,000 delivers 250 true wattseconds of energy per flash, and the WL 5,000 delivers 130 true wattseconds of energy per flash."

In this day and age their deceiving practices have no chance to exist

 

[Derrel]

You have the main advantages listed, yes. Consistent color temperature, even at low power, and short duration, high-speed flash. In terms of quality of results, I think two things: flash duration is, for most people, relatively unimportant on MOST jobs, and 2-the results depend more on the USER'S SKILL at lighting than on the brand on the housing.

I would rather have FIVE low-cost Adorama Flashpoint 320M models than two, or three, Einstein 640 units. I want the ability to have FIVE lights if I need them. Your situation might be different.

The quality of result is more up to YOU than to the brand you have, but it can also be dependent upon having the needed "stuff".

There are plenty of lights on the market that will get the job done.

You seem to need to be told this point-blank: the skill of the guy doing the lighting placement and making the decisions is VASTLY more-critical than the name on the housing. Being able to exercise good control over the light output, using snoots, grids, reflectors, parabolics, umbrellas, soft boxes, barn doors, gels, scrims,diffusion disc, diffusion sheets or scrims or screens, flags, reflectors, stands, boom arms, etc.--that is what lighting is about.

You need more MODIFIERS and more light-shaping tools and more individual lights than you do ultimate power, or flash duration, or color temp regulation. The light units themselves are NOT the most-critical factor in the results you get. You cannot just buy your way to good lighting results.

 

[Mach0]

And one is called a 640, while the older design is called a "1600". Again...the strategy of naming the original Buff lights "5,000" and "10,000". The Buff company has had a loooong history of deceptive naming practices, in an effort to make uneducated customers think its flashes were more-powerful than those of other companies. From the White Lighting 10,000 and White Lighting 5,000 manual, found here:http://www.paulcbuff.com/manuals/wl5k10k.pdf " The WL 10,000 delivers 250 true wattseconds of energy per flash, and the WL 5,000 delivers 130 true wattseconds of energy per flash."

A lot of manufacturers do it. Photogenic, paul buff and I'm missing a few others too.
Icant name them all but I've seem it before

 

[table1349]

You might want to check the specs again. Both units go up to 640 watt seconds.

And one is called a 640, while the older design is called a "1600". Again...the strategy of naming the original Buff lights "5,000" and "10,000". The Buff company has had a loooong history of deceptive naming practices, in an effort to make uneducated customers think its flashes were more-powerful than those of other companies.

From the White Lighting 10,000 and White Lighting 5,000 manual, found here:http://www.paulcbuff.com/manuals/wl5k10k.pdf

" The WL 10,000 delivers 250 true wattseconds of energy per flash, and the WL 5,000 delivers 130 true wattseconds of energy per flash."

In this day and age their deceiving practices have no chance to exist

Really, read the reviews from this company: Express Cameras / expresscamera.com / Save Here Distribution Reviews - expresscamera.com Ratings at ResellerRatings There are hundreds like them listed here. If everything on the internet is true, then I'm dating a french model.

 

[Designer]

.. are the any other brands that are less expensive that would give me similar quality/result?

Have a look at Adorama's Flashpoint lights. I have no idea how they stack up against the Einsteins, but they are cheaper.

 

[hombredelmar]

You have the main advantages listed, yes. Consistent color temperature, even at low power, and short duration, high-speed flash. In terms of quality of results, I think two things: flash duration is, for most people, relatively unimportant on MOST jobs, and 2-the results depend more on the USER'S SKILL at lighting than on the brand on the housing.

I would rather have FIVE low-cost Adorama Flashpoint 320M models than two, or three, Einstein 640 units. I want the ability to have FIVE lights if I need them. Your situation might be different.

The quality of result is more up to YOU than to the brand you have, but it can also be dependent upon having the needed "stuff".

There are plenty of lights on the market that will get the job done.

You seem to need to be told this point-blank: the skill of the guy doing the lighting placement and making the decisions is VASTLY more-critical than the name on the housing. Being able to exercise good control over the light output, using snoots, grids, reflectors, parabolics, umbrellas, soft boxes, barn doors, gels, scrims,diffusion disc, diffusion sheets or scrims or screens, flags, reflectors, stands, boom arms, etc.--that is what lighting is about.

You need more MODIFIERS and more light-shaping tools and more individual lights than you do ultimate power, or flash duration, or color temp regulation. The light units themselves are NOT the most-critical factor in the results you get. You cannot just buy your way to good lighting results.

Got your point !!!

 

[table1349]

This would be a good start: Light Science and Magic

 

[hombredelmar]

.. are the any other brands that are less expensive that would give me similar quality/result?

Have a look at Adorama's Flashpoint lights. I have no idea how they stack up against the Einsteins, but they are cheaper.

Are they Power Pack Strobes?

 

[Designer]

.. are the any other brands that are less expensive that would give me similar quality/result?

Have a look at Adorama's Flashpoint lights. I have no idea how they stack up against the Einsteins, but they are cheaper.

Are they Power Pack Strobes?

"(DC power pack sold separately)."

 

[Derrel]

Adorama's Flashpoint flash units are "monolight" designs, with the flash capacitors and other associated circuitry located inside the housing that holds the flashtube and mounting bracket. Monolights are self-contained flash units.

The ability to use a separate, DC-current, rechargeable battery pack attachment is now a feature that more and more monolights have.

 

[table1349]

If you are wanting pack lights this is a good setup. Not in your price range though. They are not the same as monolights. Great in the studio, but a PIA for location shooting.

 

[Derrel]

HERE is a pack-and-head system from what I consider to be the top manufacturer in this specific category: light,small,powerful and RUGGED as HELL pack-and-head flash of professional grade and proven reputation:

Dynalite RK4-1222 Kit with Westcott 5-in-1 Reflector DNRK41222A

For another few hundred, get TWO power packs, and THREE flash heads, with the eventual capacity of six total flash units.

http://www.adorama.com/DNRK42302.html

 

[hombredelmar]

If you are wanting pack lights this is a good setup. Not in your price range though. They are not the same as monolights. Great in the studio, but a PIA for location shooting.

Thanks but I am not as professional as they are

 

[hombredelmar]

HERE is a pack-and-head system from what I consider to be the top manufacturer in this specific category: light,small,powerful and RUGGED as HELL pack-and-head flash of professional grade and proven reputation:

Dynalite RK4-1222 Kit with Westcott 5-in-1 Reflector DNRK41222A

For another few hundred, get TWO power packs, and THREE flash heads, with the eventual capacity of six total flash units.

Dynalite RK4-2302 Kit with Two 400W/s Road Power Pack RK4-2302

Great, I wll look into it!
You wanted to say for another 2k I can have more heads and a battery?!

 

[Derrel]

I meant for $2100 or so you get two, separate power packs and three MH 2015 Road Flash Heads, which are $342 each at B&H Photo right now.

Dynalite MH2015 Road Flash Head MH2015 B&H Photo Video

These weigh 1.9 pound each--VERY light for a studio flash head. When you look at the a la carte price of the 3-outlet, 400 Watt-second RoadMax power pack, with its three-head outlet capacity, it's $915, so I think the two kits are pretty good deals.

Dynalite MP400 400W/s RoadMax Power Pack MP400 B&H Photo Video

I myself however, think that LESS power, and "more lights" is often what is needed, so I would look at a slightly different power pack as the basis of my kit. The Dynalite MP400 Roadmax PM power pack--a slightly different one than in the above kits. It weighs 4.2 pounds, has 1.0 second recycle time, a BUILT-IN 32-channel Pocket Wizard Receiver, IR slave, and optical slave, 6-stop power range, and this is the critical; difference, it has FOUR head outlets. This pack is split into two channels, each with full/half/quarter power switches, for seven basic power settings, plus 2/10 stop click-stop adjustment.

To "me", that is the idea setup for location jobs. A SMALL, light, rugged, SIMPLE , 400 Watt-second, two-channel, symmetrical/asymmetrical, click-stop regulated pack from the best name in this kind of lighting. With today's cameras, 400 Watt-seconds of flash is very useful for many jobs. I own three 400 Watt-second packs myself.

The thing about the MP400: it has FULL/HALF/QUARTER power options, on two different separate switches. THAT is awesome, and a most useful option. The MP400 is probably the finest 400 W-s pack made currently.