I use a pair of Studio Pro Excalibur 3200s: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/129711-REG/SP_Studio_Systems_SP3200_Excalibur_3200_320.html They have been trouble free for more than ten years. They came with umbrellas. I added a softball a while back. In my basement studio, which has an 8 foot white ceiling, I rarely use them at more than about 1/4 power, so they recycle almost immediately. Don’t know how they rate against other strobes, but I have no complaints.
> On Dec 11, 2014, at 9:43 AM, Larry Colen <l...@red4est.com> wrote: > > Keh had a couple of white lightning x1600 strobes for about $300 each. > > On December 7, 2014 7:23:00 PM PST, Christine Nielsen <ch...@inielsen.net> > wrote: >> Thanks, Bruce, Bruce & Paul! >> >> I was aware of the battery pack... and that might be just the ticket if >> I were out shooting weddings & such, but I was looking for a solution >> for more of a studio space... Easier to just plug in there than mess >> around with batteries, etc. >> >> And wouldn't I like some monolights for Christmas this year...? I have >> a friend with some Alien Bees that I have admired... Bruce W, which PCB >> line are you going with, do you think? Any particular reason you >> choose those vs d-lites? >> >> I think I had the 360 & 540 set at 1/2 power for this shoot... Probably >> could have adjusted iso for 1/4 & done a better job keeping up with >> squirmy toddlers. Not being able to shoot continuously when using >> flash really changes the game when shooting little kids... >> >> Thanks again, guys, I appreciate your thoughts! >> >> -c >> >> >> On Dec 7, 2014, at 7:01 PM, Bruce Walker <bruce.wal...@gmail.com> >> wrote: >> >> Great kids portrait, Christine! >> >> As Paul mentioned, no AC adapter for the Pentax flashes. >> >> I think the TR battery pack is very much overpriced, and you'd be much >> better off with monolights. The Elinchrom D-Lites are well-priced in >> kits. You are in the USA, are you not? Then the Paul C Buff series are >> available to you and are really good value. If you need portable from >> time to time the Vagabond will power them (or D-Lites) in the field. >> The monolights also give you a modeling light and audible indication >> of recycling ready. >> >> What I do to get useful recycle times with flashes is set the flash at >> 1/2 or 1/4 power and up the ISO a stop or two to compensate. ISO 200 >> or 400 should work fine. With fresh batteries, at 1/2 power the AF540 >> recycles at just around a second; at 1/4 power it's almost >> instantaneous. By the way, using two or more flashes in tandem will >> get you back your light power. Used at 1/4 power you get speed too. >> >> If you are getting recycle times slower than that then you may have >> one or more weak cells in your set. Some battery chargers test for >> weak cells. I use a little jig with a flashlight lamp to apply a load >> and then I measure the voltage drop at the battery. A good cell will >> only droop a little, while a weak cell will drop as much as a volt. >> >> But I'm getting really tired of the whole song and dance around >> flashes and batteries so I'm gifting myself some Paul Buff monolights >> this Christmas. >> >> >>> On Sun, Dec 7, 2014 at 5:59 PM, Christine Nielsen >> <ch...@inielsen.net> wrote: >>> Hello & Happy Holidaze to one & all.... >>> >>> I'm sorry it's been a while since I've been around... life has gotten >>> busy and photographic inspiration has been scarce, it seems. So it >>> goes. Hope all is well with you? >>> >>> I think I already know the answer to my question (no), but here goes: >>> does anyone know is there an AC adapter set-up available for the >>> pentax 540 (or 360) flash? My vivitar has one... the pentax flashes >>> don't appear equipped for this. Maybe there's a work-around? >>> >>> I had a crew at my place yesterday for a quick Christmas card >>> shoot... I often just go with natural light in there, but it was a >>> rainy, overcast morning... and this bunch isn't much for sitting >>> still... So, more light was in order, and it would have been great to >>> have faster recycle times... >>> >>> Though, I wonder what the terminal velocity is for recycle times...? >>> Would having AC power be any faster than running flashes at 1/64 or >>> 1/32...? >>> >>> And, just to give you an idea of what I was up against, a peso... ;) >>> http://www.christinenielsen.com/sharing/h1763AF#h1763af >>> >>> Thanks for your thoughts, >>> -c >>> >>> -- >>> PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List >>> PDML@pdml.net >>> http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net >>> to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above >> and follow the directions. > > -- > Sent from my Android phone with K-9 Mail. Please excuse my brevity. > > -- > PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List > PDML@pdml.net > http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net > to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow > the directions. -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions.
