What kind of portable lighting do you guys and gals use?

[Kustomkarma]

I have been using an array of inexpensive softboxes, stands, etc. to carry out my lighting duties for the past few months. I generally shoot with ambient light and use an off camera flashgun mounted on a stand with a radio trigger as a fill. I am finding that the flash can't recycle fast enough to keep up with my shooting style (not to mention all the batteries I go through) so I'm ready to to step up to some kind of battery powered or plug in style strobes that I can take out in the field. What do ya'll usually use to meet your lighting needs? If a couple of photogs could post up their equipment lists that would be super helpful. I'm not sure which brands are good or exactly what I should buy.

[DanO]

I'm with you as I am in the same boat, I am looking at the Paul C Bluff Einstiens and may purchase a couple...

[Retro Lovely Magazine {★}]

Saw "Einstiens" and had to chime in.  I've been a buff user for a long time.  White Lightning, Bees, you name it.  They are great for the money and their customer service is unbeaten.  I just moved my entire rig into Einsteins after I tried the first one.  So I am up to 4 now with a want of another but I think they might just build in some of their new tech into the more rugged housings in which case, sign me up.  Bought one  mainly to see if their Cyber Commander system was more foolproof here than adapted to their 30 year old control system.  Tried it there and it was a bit... well not rock solid. BUT so far for me the Cyber Commander with the Einsteins (all designed together) is a huge leap for me in control.  That's why I bought them and they were worth it for that alone.  What I did NOT count on was the other 2 breakthroughs for them...  the stopping power of the new circuits... so flash durations are effectively "cut" like a speedlight does... no more main hit of light and a gradual trailing off which can cause some motion stopping issues... not a big deal for pinup shooters but say you're doing youth sports... BIG plus.  For me the surprise was the constant color mode...  nearly all, but the multi-thousand dollar exotic-as-all-get-out euro lights have a characteristic that the color temp will change based on output level... so you just set up 2-3 lights one on half power another at a quarter and a hair light at 1/8th or something....  identical lights, those different outputs give you different color temps.  I never considered this.   My first outing with all Einsteins in constant color mode, and my camera set to that temp with my white balance adjustment was unreal to me. It's all but eliminated me messing with color when I prep my  files now.

 

On portable power I also did grab one of their Vagabond Minis and here too, I see multiples in my future.  great size, impressive performance great value for what you get.

 

Might sound excessive but I want one per light so on a shoot... ZERO cables to trip over or get tangled as you move your light positions.

[Kustomkarma]

Haha, now I feel really out of date. That being said, I'm still excited that my Norman 202 and old school heads came in this week. I'm going to use those and a little Quantum battery with my Lumopro 160 flash to make it happen.

 

Retro Lovely Magazine {★} said:

Saw "Einstiens" and had to chime in.  I've been a buff user for a long time.  White Lightning, Bees, you name it.  They are great for the money and their customer service is unbeaten.  I just moved my entire rig into Einsteins after I tried the first one.  So I am up to 4 now with a want of another but I think they might just build in some of their new tech into the more rugged housings in which case, sign me up.  Bought one  mainly to see if their Cyber Commander system was more foolproof here than adapted to their 30 year old control system.  Tried it there and it was a bit... well not rock solid. BUT so far for me the Cyber Commander with the Einsteins (all designed together) is a huge leap for me in control.  That's why I bought them and they were worth it for that alone.  What I did NOT count on was the other 2 breakthroughs for them...  the stopping power of the new circuits... so flash durations are effectively "cut" like a speedlight does... no more main hit of light and a gradual trailing off which can cause some motion stopping issues... not a big deal for pinup shooters but say you're doing youth sports... BIG plus.  For me the surprise was the constant color mode...  nearly all, but the multi-thousand dollar exotic-as-all-get-out euro lights have a characteristic that the color temp will change based on output level... so you just set up 2-3 lights one on half power another at a quarter and a hair light at 1/8th or something....  identical lights, those different outputs give you different color temps.  I never considered this.   My first outing with all Einsteins in constant color mode, and my camera set to that temp with my white balance adjustment was unreal to me. It's all but eliminated me messing with color when I prep my  files now.

 

On portable power I also did grab one of their Vagabond Minis and here too, I see multiples in my future.  great size, impressive performance great value for what you get.

 

Might sound excessive but I want one per light so on a shoot... ZERO cables to trip over or get tangled as you move your light positions.

[Retro Lovely Magazine {★}]

Some of my fav shooters use those Normans and make them sing...

 

[Rob Neill Imagery]

my kit contains....   3 profoto D1 air's (500), 2 white lightning 1800's , sunpack 120j , sb 800's (2) , and 2 sb 600's.  1 86" PLM  ( great modifier to have ... ) , 2x3 creative light softbox with grids, 2@ 1x4 softboxes w/ grids,  50"  and 28" westcott apollo softboxes.. these are awesome !   I also have the 2nd gen of Paul c buff's vagabond power pack and just got a mini ( way cool... ) 

  Alien bees are good for location stuff especially with the new mini battery pack .... so lite and powerful too .... I recommend it.  

  Profoto's are way better than most lights but they do cost a bunch....  but if you are creative and know what your doing  speedlights can do amazing things... look at Joe Mc Nally   good luck with whatever you buy... 

[Photography by Christian Aragon]

I have gotten a metric ton of use out of my SB800's and Pocket Wizards. Weddings, modeling, portraits, the whole 9 yards. I keep thinking about investing in the Einstein and maybe some other AB's products, but I just haven't been able to bring myself to do it.

[Sthomas68]

Hi there...I don't know if this will help but the studio I rent from uses the Paul Buff line. I understand they have battery powered strobes that can travel/set up well. I'm looking to get a set myself at some point when funds allow. And they are color coded too which could be helpful for designating studio/road use. I haven't shot anything yet on location, so looking forward to that experience HAHA. 

[G&D Studios]

I have 4 800 Watt Alien Bees and 1 of their very large Ring Flashes (which are good for Maxim style shots),  this is my primary pinup shot lighting, but if I want a warmer tone (like around Xmas tree) I bring out the 2 Calumet constant lights.  When I go mobile I use dual Canon 580 strobes controlled  by my Canon 7D

[AbFab]

Alienbees. Hands-down. Best deal 

[JohnO]

I'm still using standard flashes.  SB600, SB800, Sigma all on CLS or cheap wireless triggers.    I work in a lot of fast changing environments, so hauling around big strobes, strong stands, power cables, extension cords, etc is impracticable.

For the recycle time, I just keep swapping batteries.   I've switched to the current generation of NiMH batteries.  Keep their charge, fast recycle time and up to a thousand (per their specs) recharges.   I just retired my first set of NiMH after 18 months of use.  

Enloop seem to me to the best, with Duracell right behind.  I get 150-200 fast recycle flashes per charge, ~300 before recycle time becomes unacceptable.

Depending on what you need in terms of light, running 1/2 to 1/4 power can really reduce the recycle time and let you do 2-4 back to back flashes with no recycle time.

[RL]

In studio I prefer Sinar Bron or Norman On the road I use a small Novatron. When I'm away for power I like to use shades 7 reflectors. A single stobe with a power pack usually take care of any artifical lighting. Dean Collins has some great books on lighting technics. I was lucky enogh to work with him when he was alive.

[RL]

Kustomkarma said:

Haha, now I feel really out of date. That being said, I'm still excited that my Norman 202 and old school heads came in this week. I'm going to use those and a little Quantum battery with my Lumopro 160 flash to make it happen.

 

Retro Lovely Magazine {★} said:

Saw "Einstiens" and had to chime in.  I've been a buff user for a long time.  White Lightning, Bees, you name it.  They are great for the money and their customer service is unbeaten.  I just moved my entire rig into Einsteins after I tried the first one.  So I am up to 4 now with a want of another but I think they might just build in some of their new tech into the more rugged housings in which case, sign me up.  Bought one  mainly to see if their Cyber Commander system was more foolproof here than adapted to their 30 year old control system.  Tried it there and it was a bit... well not rock solid. BUT so far for me the Cyber Commander with the Einsteins (all designed together) is a huge leap for me in control.  That's why I bought them and they were worth it for that alone.  What I did NOT count on was the other 2 breakthroughs for them...  the stopping power of the new circuits... so flash durations are effectively "cut" like a speedlight does... no more main hit of light and a gradual trailing off which can cause some motion stopping issues... not a big deal for pinup shooters but say you're doing youth sports... BIG plus.  For me the surprise was the constant color mode...  nearly all, but the multi-thousand dollar exotic-as-all-get-out euro lights have a characteristic that the color temp will change based on output level... so you just set up 2-3 lights one on half power another at a quarter and a hair light at 1/8th or something....  identical lights, those different outputs give you different color temps.  I never considered this.   My first outing with all Einsteins in constant color mode, and my camera set to that temp with my white balance adjustment was unreal to me. It's all but eliminated me messing with color when I prep my  files now.

 

On portable power I also did grab one of their Vagabond Minis and here too, I see multiples in my future.  great size, impressive performance great value for what you get.

 

Might sound excessive but I want one per light so on a shoot... ZERO cables to trip over or get tangled as you move your light positions.

 

Norman's will never be out of date.