AlienBees B800 Information & Testing

[Digitalmanne]

my first alienbee was the 400.... it gets used for a hair light only... it was to weak. I have 4 of the 800 units. They are good enough because I have 2-X1600's and an X3200 white lightning units. (just the right size) If I buy another, it will be the Alienbee 1600. 9 years using PCB strobes and cant say enough good things about them. Only 3 repairs so far, and customer service is outstanding! All units are high use....

[canon5D007]

I've noticed on the Einstein E640, there is a port for a wireless unit. I might have missed it in your video, but is there another port on top for the wireless unit, or would it just plug into the the back as you showed?

[alextothehbro]

So when you leave the tracking on and the light is running constantly at full power, when you take a picture, is the flash brighter than what it was just sitting there at full power?

[MrMengaTV]

Great Review 

[multibigpop]

I dunno. I wouldn't use one with a color case unless it's black or white, since a non-neutral will reflect its color while shooting umbrella in reverse.

[nmotiontravelguide]

Very freaking good descriptive review. I haven't finished watching it yet, but I'm excited to see rapid fire. Over always wanted a yellow or green one.

[flutterbydragonfly]

Thanks for the video! I just ordered a three light kit and can't wait for it to arrive! Love this orange color!

[LightningJoe2001]

I just bought The flame Orange Alien Bee #6 of 2,000. I've been hunting a while waiting for one to come up for sale and was lucky to find such a low number new unused and win the bid! Thanks for sharing your video it's very useful :)

[Silivrenwolf]

Thanks so much for posting this. Super helpful!!

[SuperSeyoe]

Very informative video. Thank you! I will be picking one of these up soon.

[seanybigz2514]

dose it beep when its ready to fire again ???

[menoziinrevoltado]

BUYING ONE THIS WEEKEND.

HAPPINESS HERE.

WOOHOO.

[menoziinrevoltado]

Seriously, I don't want to sound rude but why people care so much about the color?

[wrmiller74]

FYI: The cycle button for the model lamp isn't to indicate if you want the light to turn one or off between shots. The model lamp always turns off and back on when the actual flash bulb flashes. The cycle button indicates if you want the unit to only turn the medel lamp back on when the unit is actually ready to shoot again. It's a visual aid that tells you that the unit is ready to fire again. I hope this helps. Sort of the same feature the green light on the back provides...

[cryrolfe]

Thanks sooo much for the info! I am getting a portrait studio setup soon. Love the orange!

[nodoxy]

Okay so I'm trying to calculate my chances of acquiring a limited ed Orange unit. 2000units are out there somewhere and there must be a photog who wished they had purchased the pink or something. :-)

[nodoxy]

I am so jealous of you. I want the orange so bad. That's the only thing that kept me from making a purchase immediately. Your description is so very helpful. thanks.

[morrod]

@nodoxy I wouldn't hold back a purchase on one of these lights based on the colour. These lights are amazing tools and I rarely shoot without them now. I have a white one and my next purchase will be green!!! Glad you enjoyed the video and happy shooting!

[Gimages123]

Wow! I want one NOW! I live in the UK and can not find an Alien Bees seller.

[haerilee]

@Gimages123 They don't have a dealer. You need to buy it directly from their website.

[linielueville2]

omg. I"M DROOOOLING!

[gkagejr]

awesome video morrod! Thanks I'm going to order the kit! Alien Bees should put you on their payroll. 

[MichaelSchoelen]

very informative.  Thank you.

[Vanhook100]

Thank you for the awesome detail!! i will take a pink one..thanks!!

[markster06]

very nice!

[Smooth8000]

Super thanks.

I about to buy AB800.

You answered many of questions.

Well done!

[tommytms855]

Damm you just made me buy B1600 .. thanks for your details dude ..

[morrod]

My pleasure. Happy shooting!

[LoveHatePlanet]

i was interested in getting two b800's and when i connect with the pc plug on my d200 to one of the b800's, how will i be able to trigger the other strobe? will i have to connect to that as well with another sync cord?

[leos31]

It will fire via slave mode pending that the 'master' units output is strong enough to reach the slave unit.

[ubringmejoi]

Thanks for the video! I'm about to purchase the Beginner Bee package and was wondering should I purchase The CyberSync™ 2.4 GHz Radio Remote Control System as well? or do you think I will be good without it.

[morrod]

The system is much more reliable with the CyberSync trigger & receiver units. All strobes can be fired in slave mode via pop-up flash, but it's quite inconsistent according to my testing. The CST & CSR(B)+ units make life so much easier.

Just always ensure your CST has a fresh CR2450 Lithium cell battery. Even when it gets down to half-life, it starts to lose the ability to communicate. I replace mine once every 3 months. ($3.99 each is not a big deal).

[wondnaereh]

Alien Bees Vagabond II? Can you please tell me if the Vagabond II can power the White Lightning X-Series X1600 Flash Unit as well as the The AlienBees B1600. Also I have a Photoflex Medium 5' Octodome and I would like to know if I can fit that on either of the heads I mentioned here? Will the Vagabond power my Photoflex 650w/s head? I need to know, please help someone, anyone?I want to be able to shoot on location and outpower the sun for effect. Help please, anyonoe???

[erayboul]

@wondnaereh I don't currently have any of the equipment that you mention although I do own two B800 and one B400, and I have a White Lightning X3200 on order. The web page for the Vagabond II specifically says that it will power all Alien Bees, Einsteins, White Lightnings, and Zeus units. For your Octodome, you will need the Photoflex SC-B9002BR speedring. I would imagine that your Photoflex head could be powered from the Vagabond as its power is about the same as the B1600.

[lexys26]

does anybody know what I would need if I wanted to use this with my sony a 350?

[morrod]

Thanks for checking out my channel.

For your asnwer on what you would need to use this product with your Sony A350, please check out my other video. It's the exact answer you need. It's the AlienBees wireless trigger & receiver.

[LeoInterHyenaem]

I haste to compliment you on the quality of the introduction to the unit! Excellent! You'd do very well to review the Elinchrom Ranger Quadra AS and its ProFoto counterpart.

[morrod]

I'd love to own some Profoto product, but it's just out of my price range. I would like to one day rent them, so maybe when I get that opportunity, I'll do a quick vid on them as well.

Thanks for watching.

[cwfessler]

Very informative. Big thanks!

[H1resdesigns]

Great review!! Keep em comin! Which alienbee would you recommend for outdoor shooting?

[morrod]

For me personally, I hardly ever use the B800 at full power when I'm inside, so it still has plenty of juice to outdo the sun outdoors, but I guess it's all relative to the distance you are working with.

I would say the B800 would be your minimum choice and just ditch the B400 as an option. Maybe pickup the 11" LTR (Long Throw Reflector) which can channel light anywhere from 50' to over 125' (according to Paul C. Buff).

[dR00Ck]

I want one....

[robertstevegray]

Awesome video; that alone was enough to sell me on this flash. Less expensive and I'm guessing much more reliable for portrait work than my current Canon Speedlite 580 EX II.

[morrod]

Canon Speedlights are great, but there is no way a Canon Speedlight, r any speedlight for that matter, will match the power output of a studio strobe.

Definitely a nice tool to have, especially once modified with a softbox or, as I use, the HOBD (High Output Beauty Dish).

[youtderek]

thanks!

[timmyguy13]

do you know if these can be powered by a generator?

[morrod]

Yes they can.

My friend uses a Motomaster Eliminator from Canadian Tire.

Nothing like the Vagabond II though.

[trevor905]

Great video, very informative.

[morrod]

Thank you. I appreciate the positive feedback.

[ivette2182]

Awesome video.. so very helpful. I just ordered 2 AB800's... which should be arriving soon. I'm a newbie with lighting and your description helps out a lot. Keep them coming!!

[truongdawg]

hey . soo i just order a b800 and the vegabound 2!!!! omg 600 bucks out of my pocket. i hope this set does me gooc im using this set for portaits. what type of softbox do you think i need. i saw a deal of a alienbee softbox but my friend told me to get this softbox PHOTEK'S SOFTLIGHTER II you should make a review on soft box and umbrellas. if you have use both of them .

[JillWalker1]

Thanks so much for this video. It was very informative and well presented. I'm a newbie in lighting units and this has helped me alot!!

[morrod]

It's my pleasure. I didn't think so many people would be helped by this video. I did it for my own personal amusement, but seeing as how it's a hit, I'll be doing more in the months to come of all my other products from background stands, light modifiers, equipment, accessories and gear.

[FrostyTheBeerMan]

Hi again morrod,

Thanks very much for writing back to me, I really DO look forward to the rest of your review ! Really great work you have provided us. Thank you

[truongdawg]

hey. thanks for the video.

i been looking in too strobes to get a little studio in my house.

but i didn't know which one to get.

is the b800 better than the b400?

and which other brands are out there are good?

would you recommend this strobe to

other people?

]people?

[morrod]

truongdawg,

B800 is more powerful than the B400. not better though because if for whatever reason you need very, very low power output, the B800 is going to be double the power of the B400s lowest power output. However, generally that is not the case and in my situation the B800 is better. B1600 would be even better, but I couldn't afford it.

Other great brands and Elinchrom, Profoto, & Chimera. All more expensive in comparison to AlienBees products & accessories.

[PhotoGenikz]

Very informative ! Thank You

[FrostyTheBeerMan]

The best video I've seen on the Alien Bee. I'm just sad you didn't show the front end of the unit, - showing the modeling lamp, and the actual flash, and perhaps removing the flash, but maybe you can do this in another video.

Very well done, and very informative, I really appreciated that you did not skip any detail, and assumed all viewers were new to this flash, as I am. Well done.

[morrod]

Yeah, I unfortunately have a 10:00 on my video uploads. Not sure how to bypass this. I will do another short video and add the link in the description of this video shortly for you and everybody else.

Thanks for viewing and commenting.

[warispeace21]

Useful info on the controls. Thanks!

[Jacobtylerr]

Can't wait to get mine!!

[punkrockereibi]

Great video!! It helped me a lot to make my decision thanks!!

[hunnybuns1988]

I am really excited to see the CyberSync video too!

[hunnybuns1988]

Wow, this video is super informative.

Thanks for posting.

Looking forward to more from you!

[NAEEM718]

great video. can't wait to see the cybersync one

[morrod]

Thanks. I'm anxious to get them and do a video as well. I can't stand being synced with the cables and I don't want to take the chance of short circuiting my camera through the cable if anything were to ever happen to my strobe.

[morrod]

Please look forward to my CyberSync information video in the next month or so. Need to save just a little, but super excited to get them already!