Paul C. Buff, Inc. Technical Forum

I am starting to get people to call me for portrait sessions, family and baby sessions and a couple of girls that want some shots for their modeling portfolio. I will also be shooting some furniture, chairs and sofas at work.

I've been doing my homework and I decided to start with Paul C. Buff Gear.
I am planning to get 3 lights kit with one 5in1 reflector to use as an extra source of light (bounced). I will also get an 47" Octabox with grid, a 20 and a 40 Grid for moonlight 7' reflectors, the Vagabond mini PSU, and a set of Cyber Commander and Receivers for the lights.

Where I am having trouble is in picking the 3 lights, I know I want to use 1 for background, 1 for hairlight/accent light/rimlight and 1 for key light and maybe use the reflector for fill.

Another scenario would be using two lights to blow the background for a hightkey shot and use the other light for key and reflector as fill.

Yet another scenario maybe a black background with 1 hairlight, 1 keylight and 1 light as fill.

So I can see how 3 light would bring me some versatility on my studio and outdoors .
I want to get 1 Einstein for my keylight, and I was thinking on getting 2 b400's for the backgrounds and hair/rim/accent lights.

B800's will be too much power for my small garage studio, that's why I was thinking 1 Einstein and 2 b400's would be a good match.
And when I go outdoors I could bring the Einstein as key and maybe 1 b400 or reflector for fill.

Does that sound like a good plan?

In the beginning I was planning to get all 3 Einstein's but, aren't Einstein's kind of overkill to function as background/hair/rim/accent lights? I know they are great outdoors for the power compared to the b400's but having one Einstein ad the keylight and a b400 for fill, should be good enough for outdoors wouldn't it?

Pricewise, there is not that big of a difference... maybe about $400 difference between getting the whole kit with 3 Einstein's vs the 1 Einstein with 2 b400's kit. (after PCB discounts and shipping).

Thoughts?

Thank you.

Hi, miguellara

If it's in your budget, I would make all three of your lights Einsteins and add the CyberCommander and CSVCX cards to fire them. Here is why:

Einsteins: Yes, they are more powerful that B400's, but it's nice to have that extra power at times and you can also dial them DOWN to 2.5 wps.

CyberCommander: I could go on and on about its versatility, but the main thing for you is total remote control of Einsteins combined with the ability to meter them individually and collectively.

No matter what you choose, don't forget to budget in Vagabond batteries for your on-location work, and I would say one for each monolight. You are getting into some weight here, and speedlight users will tell you it's all too heavy. It's more than possible, and I could post a photo of how I move gear on location.

I switched from Bowens monos a little over a year ago now to Einsteins/Cybercommander, and I can't tell you how much easier it's made sessions.

Craíg

http://www.craigwasselphotoart.com

Hi Craig,

Tks for your response.

I set my self to a $2,000 budget to start practicing and learn the system and if all goes well, I could keep adding to it.
I ended up with the following shopping list.


$224.95 1 B400 Black Studio Flash
$499.95 2 Einstein E640 Studio Flash Unit
$239.95 1 Vagabond Mini Lithium 120VAC
$179.95 1 Cyber Commander
$89.95 1 CyberSync Receiver Plus (AC)
$29.95 2 CyberSync Transceiver Module
$169.95 1 Foldable Large Octabox (47in.) with attached speedring
$54.95 1 Large Foldable Octabox Grid (for the FOB47)
$14.95 1 7-inch Standard Reflector
$19.95 1 20� Grid for the 7AB/R
$10.95 2 40� Grid for the 7AB/R

I wanted to get all einsteins but that would have left me without budget for the vagabond and I really wanted to have it for mobility. I can always replace the b400 later if I see the need of it.

This still gives me total control of the 3 lights with the cyber commander and I will use the b400 only for Background/rim/hair light duties when I need it and the two Einsteins for the important stuff in the front(and sometimes as support for stuff in the back), and I still managed to get the Vagabond Mini, so I can practice outdoors as well... all within budget: $1,990 including shipping.... :-).

That should keep me busy for a while and I can add more to the system if I have the need of it.

P.S. Craig, I would love to see that picture to see how you handle your gear for mobility and on-location shots.
Tks

How I haul gear on location:

Here are a few photo I took after my last session today showing what I take and I how move it:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/92211832@N04/sets/72157636737389606/

A minivan or the like would be needed to use this particular wagon (it does not fold down), and this approach is not for everyone. This one has a bed that is 48" long and 24" wide; they do also make smaller ones. Before I bought mine several years ago I measured everything out - from the size of bags to the size of my van's bed.

The bag on the front left holds two Einsteins, two PCB MVL batteries, two speedlights, and an assortment of grip items like smaller modifiers, grids, and triggers.

Behind that bag is my body/lens backpack.

The bag on the right is a 48" lightstand bag, which hold larger modifiers as well as 3 to 4 lightstands.

A step ladder and reflectors fit upright nicely down the middle of the wagon between those bags.

What are those on the ground to the right? Ten pound disc weights in reflector bags for appearance sake. They clip on to my light stands via carabiners on breezy days.

I can get into the top of each bag and to almost anything in the wagon without taking any bag out of the wagon. Because of the tires, the wagon rolls easily - even over rougher ground. Even if you are not in great shape, you could pull it up a hill with some effort. I've never weighed or added it up, but I am guessing that as seen the total weight is around 200 pounds.

Do I always take this much? No, I can and do break down into a smaller kit when I need or want to. I never groan at the thought of taking more, though, because this wagon means it's not physically taxing.