Hello all, Ive been looking into alienbees recently and id like some more basic info. Things like how they are trigged and the power sources and all that stuff. Thanks everyone!

They plug in or run off a vagabond battery. They can be triggered via synch cable or pretty much any wireless system with the right connectors.

They also come in pretty colors!

If you want them to be portable, A proper portable power source will run $300 and up.

Originally Posted by a.hoglen

They plug in or run off a vagabond battery. They can be triggered via synch cable or pretty much any wireless system with the right connectors.

They also come in pretty colors!

Plug in meaning into the wall socket? and would they run off my cheapy ebay syncs?

Originally Posted by thomps6s

If you want them to be portable, A proper portable power source will run $300 and up.

oof...

Originally Posted by NickSchietromo

Plug in meaning into the wall socket? and would they run off my cheapy ebay syncs?

Correct


oof...
Exactly!

If you are using speedlights now, you really have no need to upgrade until you hit their limit IMHO.

The reason I was looking into them was for bmx. I use a 430ex flash(for now) and it doesn't really do much during the day. Now I was thinking of getting an AB or should I just get like a sb-900?(I shoot nikon and I just use that canon for off camera flash)

If you do get them... a generator will do the trick or long extension cords. Harbor freight is your friend for the cords. Look for the 20% off coupons.

(Oh and if I were going to get some strobes I'm pretty sure I'd get 1 AB800 and 2 AB400's)

BMX? Are you riding a bike to the shoot.. this is all very reminiscent of Tyler's quest to use off camera flash.. If you're not driving a car, you're probably going to find alienbees too be a bit cumbersome. They certainly provide better output are cost effective; however, if you're lugging by foot I don't think you'll enjoy the alienbees. You'll already be lugging a lightstand, now you'll be lugging a lightstand, a flash unit that is about the size of 2-3 battery powered strobes, and a vagabond which is the size of some smaller camera bags and weighs 20 lbs.

If you need it, you need it.. you make it work.. if you don't? Don't bother. I have both, for light duty and heavy duty applications.. there are advantages and disadvantages to both as with everything, and often I use them in parallel.. but I don't rid a bike or plan to bring that heavy gear any place that requires walking miles.

Can you move your strobes closer to the subjects? (mount on the top of the obsticals with clamps, etc) Cheapest way to increase the amount of power that gets to the subject.

Originally Posted by Blazin

BMX? Are you riding a bike to the shoot.. this is all very reminiscent of Tyler's quest to use off camera flash.. If you're not driving a car, you're probably going to find alienbees too be a bit cumbersome. They certainly provide better output are cost effective; however, if you're lugging by foot I don't think you'll enjoy the alienbees. You'll already be lugging a lightstand, now you'll be lugging a lightstand, a flash unit that is about the size of 2-3 battery powered strobes, and a vagabond which is the size of some smaller camera bags and weighs 20 lbs.

If you need it, you need it.. you make it work.. if you don't? Don't bother. I have both, for light duty and heavy duty applications.. there are advantages and disadvantages to both as with everything, and often I use them in parallel.. but I don't rid a bike or plan to bring that heavy gear any place that requires walking miles.

I do have a car & drive, but I think im just going to stick to a sb 600 with the 430ex wirless

Originally Posted by PhatheadWRX

Can you move your strobes closer to the subjects? (mount on the top of the obsticals with clamps, etc) Cheapest way to increase the amount of power that gets to the subject.

yes&no, you never really know exactly where the rider will end up...