Thread: Lighting Test Shoplight vs alien bees vs 580EX vs others

Quote: Originally Posted by pathfinder One thing I learned is that the LumiPro 120 does not pack the punch that the 580, 580 IIS do.. That tells me the LumiPro 120 is less powerful than a Vivitar 285 HV as well, as my 285HVs seem as powerful as my 580s easily. it's tough to really tell if two lights are equal by remembering situations where the lights have been used. Swap both on the same light stand, set the zooms the Same and expose...

Quote: Originally Posted by JohnBiggs Ohh how the numbers have been spinning around. I have just realized that you would need 64 home depot 250watt lights to match the light level of just the lumipro. I'm not sure you would want that much heat or to burn 16000watts. That would make one hell of a ringlight

Quote: Originally Posted by JohnBiggs Ohh how hard it can be to find an outlet in the front of a church. Or what if the couple wants to step outside as well. Speedlights are just so much easier. Sure you can buy the heavy battery for the Alienbees but then you have added expense (Another $299) added weight (19lbs), slower recycling and you have to turn off the modelling lamps. After that if all you are doing is powering AB400's then what...

Doh, I just reread John's setup and he set up the 580 flashes at 28mm zoom. Never mind the diatribe I previously posted, 'cause John covered it. Good job John and greatly appreciated.

Thanks John for taking the time and effort to test this. It gives me a ballpark WS figure for the 580EX(xx) compared to my White Lightnings.

Hopefully this will dispel at least some of the mis-information about those "TADPOLE" hotshoe strobes not having any power....when in fact they have as much power as some actual studio strobes and are much more controllable with the cameras on board computers..... MANY THANX TO JOHN FOR THE TIME AND WORK PUT INTO THIS COMPARATIVE TEST

Thanks for all the comparative work you did. You just saved me a ton of money. I use speedlights and have been getting good results but kept wondering if I could do better with "big" lights. Thanks again.

What an eye opener, I never would have guessed. Great work. Thanks for sharing your results.

Quote: Originally Posted by kdog Great stuff, John! Really good information to know. Has to be my Thread of the year pick, category: interesting! !!!

Thanks so much for this thread and the postings so far. I am about to setup a "studio" in my basement and trying to contain costs. I have been looking hard at the Alien Bees and trying to decide how to go. I will be taking family shots (4 and 5 people at once) plus individuals and couples with various backdrops (yet to be designed). I have a Canon 50D and a speedlite 430 EX II. Could I use both an AB800 or 800/400 combo and the 430...