If Santa needs more persuading, have him watch this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rs9rTHC-twI
The Cyber Commander not only is the best strobe remote I've seen (besides Profoto), but it has a built-in flash meter. Brilliant! And with the right accessory add on it can control Alien Bees and White Lightnings too. That's pretty handy if you need the raw horsepower of the WL's, which are available with more power than the Einsteins can deliver (640 watt-seconds). Also means you can buy the much less expensive Alien Bees or White Lightnings for background illumination and other less critical duties to augment your stable of Einsteins. On Tue, Dec 9, 2014 at 9:27 PM, Christine Nielsen <ch...@inielsen.net> wrote: > Thanks, Bruce. I've cc'd Santa on this thread... here's hoping! > > ;) > -c > > On Mon, Dec 8, 2014 at 9:11 AM, Bruce Walker <bruce.wal...@gmail.com> wrote: >> Christine, if you compare the Alien Bees with the D-Lites there's not >> too much difference, except the AB's are less expensive. >> >> But I'm going for the Einsteins. The most important reason for me is >> the very large power range: 9 f-stops. This is like getting two or >> more strobe units in one. Shooting different styles (high key; low >> key) in a small studio you have to be careful not to have overly >> powerful strobes. Many photographers have a selection of sizes, eg 400 >> w-s and 200 w-s, because most strobes only cover 5 stops of light >> output. That's the case for the Elinchroms, and the Alien Bees are >> only one stop better. Your Pentax flashes cover 7 stops, full to >> 1/64th power, which makes them very flexible. >> >> With the 9 stop range of the Einsteins you can have a powerful key >> light on the subject and just a lick of light from a second unit on >> the backdrop. It covers from 640 watt-seconds (great for overpowering >> the sun outdoors) down to 2.5 w-s. >> >> Other reasons: the CyberSync radio xceiver can be installed >> internally, and it's cheap ($30); small size and weight; Paul C Buff >> reputation for service and support; excellent value for the money >> (factory direct sales); good selection of reasonably priced modifiers >> from PCB. >> >> >> On Sun, Dec 7, 2014 at 10:23 PM, 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. >>> >>> >>> >>> -- >>> -bmw >>> >>> -- >>> 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. >> >> >> >> -- >> -bmw >> >> -- >> 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. > > > > -- > http://christinenielsen.com > http://www.facebook.com/ChristineNielsenPhotography > > -- > 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. -- -bmw -- 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.
