Questions About Strobes

[Duphrane]

I want to buy an outdoor strobe but I don't know what I am looking for. Anyone have any good buzz words I need to look for?

I have the money to buy an opus location lightkit but I would rather part it out cheaper on the internet and don't know exactly what I am looking for. I know I would rather have a series with a modeling light with strobe power that works in daylight but can still be used indoors.

I read somewhere on this website that alienbees had a line that was around what I was looking for, I just don't know the specifications on the lights I need to be observing.

 

[Village Idiot]

What is your budget? A B1600 would be best if you're shooting outside with modifiers. That's $360 plus an addition $300ish for a battery. That's not including lightstands and modifiers.

 

[KmH]

Yep, shooting outside with modifiers you need some serious power. Note that $360 is a lot less than what a Nikon SB-900 hot shoe flash costs ($500), and the SB-900 has just a fraction of the light power the B1600 would have.

 

[Duphrane]

I was looking at the opus OPL-L310WS and it is already cheaper then what you're mentioning on the whole; I don't have problems finding the tech, my question is what am I looking for technically when I look at lights? How do I know what works outside and what doesn't. That is the information that I'm requesting... I am trying to be informed before I spend $1,500 on a lighting kit.

 

[KmH]

How do I know what works outside and what doesn't.

Do more research?

What do you intend to shoot outside?

 

[Village Idiot]

I was looking at the opus OPL-L310WS and it is already cheaper then what you're mentioning on the whole; I don't have problems finding the tech, my question is what am I looking for technically when I look at lights? How do I know what works outside and what doesn't. That is the information that I'm requesting... I am trying to be informed before I spend $1,500 on a lighting kit.

That strobe is only 300w/s where to B1600 is 640w/s, iirc. It's around that number anyways. I previously had a B800 which is 320w/s and sometimes it would struggle if I put a beauty dish or softbox on it. The batter listed under it only allows for 360 full power shots. I believe the Vagabond II will should something like 1200 shots at 300-400w/s. I'm not sure the exact number, but I know it's very similar to the Innovatorix Tronix Explorer XT series of batteries as far as the power goes.

I don't know how expensive that kit is, but with a battery like the Vagabond or the Tronix, you can hook multiple lights up to it and get good shooting times. I'm using a 1200w/s pack on my battery.

Also, depending on your budget, because you still haven't stated it, you may be better with something besides even the B1600. What modifiers are you planning on using and are you shooting under mid day sun and expecting to light more than one person at a time?

Oh, and the batteries are not made to be used with a modeling light. Even if you decide to turn them on and kill your batteries anyways, they still may not be bright enough to provide any real use to you depending on where you're shooting.

Now, for me to answer your question that you're so adament about. Any light that can be connected to a battery or has a nearby powersource can be used outside. So, if you go and buy a 300w/s light and you're pissed off because it's not powerful enough, you can see that there's more to it that "will it work outside".

 

[ghache]

I was looking at the opus OPL-L310WS and it is already cheaper then what you're mentioning on the whole; I don't have problems finding the tech, my question is what am I looking for technically when I look at lights? How do I know what works outside and what doesn't. That is the information that I'm requesting... I am trying to be informed before I spend $1,500 on a lighting kit.

How much is that opus light and battery pack?

i am using 3 opus k250 in studio right now and i am running them at 2/3 to full power most of the time (depending on the modifier) to shoot at F8-F11 and i dont think it would be enought power to overpower the sun with a nd.9 fillter.

 

[Village Idiot]

I was looking at the opus OPL-L310WS and it is already cheaper then what you're mentioning on the whole; I don't have problems finding the tech, my question is what am I looking for technically when I look at lights? How do I know what works outside and what doesn't. That is the information that I'm requesting... I am trying to be informed before I spend $1,500 on a lighting kit.

How much what that opus light and battery pack?

i am using 3 opus k250 in studio right now and i am running them at 2/3 to full power most of the time (depending on the modifier) to shoot at F8-F11 and i dont think it would be enought power to overpower the sun with a nd.9 fillter.

I'm having just enough power with one head on a 1200w/s speedo pack with modifiers and a 6 stop ND so I can shoot at wider apertures.

 

[ghache]

I was looking at the opus OPL-L310WS and it is already cheaper then what you're mentioning on the whole; I don't have problems finding the tech, my question is what am I looking for technically when I look at lights? How do I know what works outside and what doesn't. That is the information that I'm requesting... I am trying to be informed before I spend $1,500 on a lighting kit.

How much what that opus light and battery pack?

i am using 3 opus k250 in studio right now and i am running them at 2/3 to full power most of the time (depending on the modifier) to shoot at F8-F11 and i dont think it would be enought power to overpower the sun with a nd.9 fillter.

I'm having just enough power with one head on a 1200w/s speedo pack with modifiers and a 6 stop ND so I can shoot at wider apertures.

kk. a friend of mine just bought a paul.b Einstein 640 and a vagabon mini. ill have to try that and see how well it performs.

 

[Duphrane]

I have a little over five grand to completely upgrade my kit. I was planning on getting a 5D and some strobes. I currently use a continuous light kit with softboxes in my home studio but I want to get a more refreshing look than just natural light outside and reflectors don't always cut it. So I figured I could do a sweep and get some strobes that would work in both locations, you know? The guys at my local photography shop said that opus model was solid. |

Edit: So you're saying that 300w isn't enough for general purpose? I am only planning on lighting one or two people at a time outside or inside, for that matter.

 

[ghache]

I have a little over five grand to completely upgrade my kit. I was planning on getting a 5D and some strobes. I currently use a continuous light kit with softboxes in my home studio but I want to get a more refreshing look than just natural light outside and reflectors don't always cut it. So I figured I could do a sweep and get some strobes that would work in both locations, you know? The guys at my local photography shop said that opus model was solid

They are not the best but they are really good flash for the money. They did everything i needed to do so far indoor .I bought them used for dirt cheap so i dont really care but outdoor depending on what you wanna do you might wanna buy something with more power.

 

[Village Idiot]

How much is it and how much is the battery?

Bees are solid, Elincrhom lights are solid, Photoflex is solid, and there are a ton of other brands that I would say is solid. The problem is, without taking your shooting condition into consideration or what modifiers you'll be using, you may end up purchasing a light that totally won't work. If you're planning on shooting with a bare strobe or in shade or closer towards dusk or dawn, then it won't necessarily be a problem. If you're planning on shooting in full out daylight with something like a softbox on your light and you're not planning on having the light within 3' of your subject, then it may not be enough power. It will give you more than enough light indoors, but depending on your shooting conditions, it might not cut it outside.

How happy are you going to be if you find out it can't be used for much more than a fill light while outside?

 

[ghache]

How much is it and how much is the battery?

Bees are solid, Elincrhom lights are solid, Photoflex is solid, and there are a ton of other brands that I would say is solid. The problem is, without taking your shooting condition into consideration or what modifiers you'll be using, you may end up purchasing a light that totally won't work. If you're planning on shooting with a bare strobe or in shade or closer towards dusk or dawn, then it won't necessarily be a problem. If you're planning on shooting in full out daylight with something like a softbox on your light and you're not planning on having the light within 3' of your subject, then it may not be enough power. It will give you more than enough light indoors, but depending on your shooting conditions, it might not cut it outside.

How happy are you going to be if you find out it can't be used for much more than a fill light while outside?

Well, i am thinking, i am able to do ALOT of shooting oudoor with my vivitar 285hv. i am just wondering what is the power difference with these opus and a vivitar.

EDIT: from what i just found on the web, they are rated at around 60-75 ws. so i could see these units working in probably 80% of the shooting i do.

 

[Duphrane]

Brand new the opus lights are $300-350 a head and the battery is near that.

 

[Duphrane]

How much is it and how much is the battery?

Bees are solid, Elincrhom lights are solid, Photoflex is solid, and there are a ton of other brands that I would say is solid. The problem is, without taking your shooting condition into consideration or what modifiers you'll be using, you may end up purchasing a light that totally won't work. If you're planning on shooting with a bare strobe or in shade or closer towards dusk or dawn, then it won't necessarily be a problem. If you're planning on shooting in full out daylight with something like a softbox on your light and you're not planning on having the light within 3' of your subject, then it may not be enough power. It will give you more than enough light indoors, but depending on your shooting conditions, it might not cut it outside.

How happy are you going to be if you find out it can't be used for much more than a fill light while outside?

Ok so what I need is at least 450w and ability to do 12v?