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differences? Anonymous
Hay /p/

I'm looking at the Calumet Travelite:
http://www.calumetphoto.com/item/CE1440?a=CA01&t=GB01&CAWELAID=152213723
I'm also looking at the Alien Bees Digibee:
http://alienbees.com/digi.html

The differences that I could find are that the Alien Bees have 400x2 effective watt seconds, and the Calumet strobes have 375x2 effective watt seconds. The Alien Bees are also 300 dollars cheaper, is there something I'm missing?

Other options for a similar portable two light set-up?
>> Anonymous
the calumet will be more durable because they're metal and the ab are plastic, but ab has good warranty and stuff

and they probably have about the same power, the ab b400 are 160 w, the calumet is probably like 200 w or something, maybe less
>> Anonymous
What about the controls and reliability between them? The customization and system that goes with them?
>> Anonymous
>>292135
AB400s have 400 Effective Watt Seconds and 160 True Watt Seconds.

The Travelites have 375 Effective Watt Seconds and unknown True Watt Seconds.

Most strobe companies won't publish the True Watt Seconds, but it doesn't matter anyway because ultimately the only thing that a light meter can read is effective watt seconds. True Watt Seconds is something that only a gear snob is concerned with.
>> Anonymous
>>292147

yeah, thanks for just retyping what i just said and being a faggot about it

fact of the matter is, it's nowhere near 375 w and it does matter because that's the real amount of light being output. you have no idea what you're talking about
>> Anonymous
>>292151
srsly, if it mattered, that is the number that the strobe companies would brag about in order to sell their lights. As it is, most strobe companies don't bother with that number because it doesn't matter
>> Anonymous
they never brag about it because they will get shamed by the true power of a 2400 ws pack and head system

that's why they made up the bigger number. why wouldn't power output matter, you want the most light possible
>> Anonymous
I can't speak for alien bees other than what I have heard, but I have used the 750w calumets, they work well.

Some things I would try to research between the two:
The reliability of the slave sensor
Recharge time
Durability
How well they hold up with extended, high power use (overheating?)
Ease of use
Reliability
Features
Availability of accessories (softbox, beauty dish, etc.)
Cost of upkeep

I'm probably missing a few things. A more minor thing is that the Calumets look more professional. This can be an issue depending on the type of work you do and who your clients are.
>> Jeremo !iKGMr61IHM
>>292157

Waaaat? Every reputable strobe company (Bowens, Profoto etc etc) list the True Watt seconds of their heads/mono blocks.

Why the hell are you talking out of your arse?

TO OP:

What are you indeeding on using the setup for? Mainly indoors and studio-esque surroundings? Then either setup is fine, it's nice and cheap. But if you want to take the setup outdoors you're going to need at least double the power... and to overpower the sun 600w/s would be needed sometimes.

Just be wary of the Alien Bees, they're absolutely RUBBISH with white balance if shot below 1/2 power. For some odd reason the ABs i've shot with will change their colour especially if shot below 1/4 power.
>> Jeremo !iKGMr61IHM
>>292160
Awesome advice.
>> Anonymous
>>292160
>Calumets look more professional. This can be an issue depending on the type of work you do and who your clients are.

Name one client you've had that inspected the "professional appearance" of your lights before hiring you. That's the biggest load I've ever heard.

Other than that your post is fine, I suspect that both the Bees and Calumets will produce very similar results.
>> Anonymous
>>292173

That's why you shoot in RAW to tweak the WB later?
>> Anonymous
     File :-(, x)
i got the pink ones for the lulz and regret it ever since
>> Anonymous
Just get two flashes and umbrellas and stands.
>> Jeremo !iKGMr61IHM
>>292187
*facepalm.jpg*

Okay mate, tell me how you correct WB when you've got multiple light sources giving you different temps.

Remember the OP is talking about a kit (more than one light) here.

Also, not everyone shoots raw.
>> Anonymous
>>292187
facepalm.jpg

I don't even use strobes and I know the balance of the flash is important.
>> Anonymous
>>292190and regret it ever since

I lol'd. I suppose that partly goes with the earlier comment on considering how professional it looks too.
>> Jeremo !iKGMr61IHM
>>292186
>>Name one client you've had that inspected the "professional appearance" of your lights before hiring you

... yeah but the clients will see your gear and if you look unprofessional (or more correctly, the client goes 'shit, i could do what he does') it can cost you business down the track.

Remember the average client has the 'What camera do you use?' mentality thinking if they buy the same gear they'll produce the same shots.
>> Anonymous
>>292201

Baloney, the most technical question 99.9% of clients ask is" what brand of camera you use", and they don't care, they just want to appear like they're involved/interested in what you're doing, when really they couldn't care less as long as you deliver good results and then get out of their hair.

The bottom line is that as long as you act and dress professionally, nobody is going to give a flying fuck about your gear. Shooting with a black AB800 instead of a black Calumet is going to lose you precisely zero work.
>> Anonymous
>>292259

Why do you lie?
>> Jeremo !iKGMr61IHM
>>292259
Baloney?...

What the fuck are we in, the 1930s? haha.

I agree with the professional conduct and dress, i also agree that the final product is... well... final. But like what you said with professional dress it's the same with gear, it should and needs to look professional.

Now before we misunderstand each other, i'm not saying the ABs are 'unprofessional' looking. Any gear you have even the DIY softboxes and the like should LOOK professional.

Clients ask you to do a job because they presume it's something they can't do. But if you're going out there with gear that's lower rung than that of your casual shooter, i believe it sends the wrong message.

I'm just making a general point here.
>> Jeremo !iKGMr61IHM
>>292259
hmmm
>>the most technical question 99.9% of clients ask is" what brand of camera you use",

I take issue with that statement, I don't think you should generalise that clients are stupid and if your clients are only capable of asking questions like that you've either never worked with real people or work with real dumb people.

There are plenty of people out there who know the basic on photographic gear and ask question beyond a novice level, i've had people ask me about raw vs jpeg, lighting questions, dof question and lens choices and general stuff.

hmmm i guess in general i don't disagree with the gear don't matter that much. But to say they don't matter at all...