Paul C. Buff, Inc. Technical Forum

Hello All,

I'm ready to buy some studio lights. The type of photography I do is product/studio and portraits. I'm not sure if I should buy Alien Bee's, White Lightning or the new Einstein lights? I'm looking for 640 watt models on all of them. Just not sure which one to buy since all three different models are made by Paul Buff.

I appreciate all your input, and I apologize if this is a duplicate topic.


Thanks,

Jack Scicluna
Jack Scicluna Photography, LLC

Having used all the AB and the Einstein, I would have to say the Einstein for sure. If you are going 640W, then you would be getting the AB1600 which is just too much for most studio/portrait work, and it does not adjust down to as low an output as is possible with the Einstein (which covers the range that you would have to get all three versions of the AB to duplicate). And then it goes a bit lower still, I believe (2.5 w-s). And it does it in accurate tenth stop increments, color accurate and stable across the range.

I used the ABs for years in a rental studio, liked em, but when it came time to buy my own lights, I bought Einsteins and LOVE them.

BDP -

Thanks for the input.

+1 for Einsteins. It is really a matter of personal preference of course. For example, I just prefer monolights over pack and head systems.

On top of BDP's wise advice I would add that the E-640 and Cyber Commander were made for each other and work really well together. You can save multiple lighting set-ups which is handy for both product and portrait work. Add the E-640's constant color features and it is one heck of a light.

Yes, Einstein goes one stop lower than the B400 and just as high as the B1600. However, excluding the lowest stop (that cannot be attained by any of our lights) you would not need all three lights to cover the 640-5Ws range. This could be done with the B1600 and B400, as these would completely encompass the B800's power range. Additionally, the X1600 has a 1/4 power switch that lets you choose between the power range of a B1600 or B400, all in one light.

That said, if you can affford an Einstein, then that would be the choice I would recommend as well.

Ooooh, basic arithmetics eluded me. Fatally embarrassed.

So, corrected: one Einstein more than covers the range that one would get by purchasing two ABs (1600, 400), and does it better (IMHO).

And yes, the CyberCommander mentioned above is another added value to the Einstein choice. Even if you don't get it initially, it is there.

So my recommendation is basically the kit that I purchased: Einsteins plus CSXCV receivers, a CST trigger, and a CC for handheld remote adjustment of the Einsteins.

While we're on the recommendations: I LOVE the PLMs as much as I do my Einsteins.

Wow, thanks for the great feedback. I'll let you guys know what I decide to do.