| Author | Thread |
|
|
12/29/2008 09:03:08 AM · #1 |
| Is anyone using this with non-alien bee strobes? While the site says its designed for AB's, i've read on other sites that you can use calumet/bowens travelites with it. Whats your experience with the system? |
|
|
|
12/29/2008 10:20:20 AM · #2 |
I use it with Interfit Stellar units.
I spoke with Paul about this back when I was thinking of a vagabond and what he says the issue is that when the strobes fire and start to recharge the voltage takes a nose dive and not all strobes will last when you do that a lot. I hear it in mine as the cooling fans slow down.
I've been using one on occasion for well over a year and have had no problems. I had one strobe blow on my this past month or so but I can't blame the Vagabond - I took it from a cold (15 degrees) car and set it up on location, plugged it in and it popped a capacitor immediately. I think it was acting up the week before at a different shoot - the cap was getting weak. Since it was plugged into 120v both times I can't say the vagabond had anything to do with it, but that thoght is of course in the back of my mind - did I weaken the strobe somehow by using it with teh vagabond? No way to know.
All my accessores fit bowens lights so I can't see moving to ABs anytime soon, but it's been in the back of my mind to get a couple for travel to avoid the issue altogether, but when I bought my last two lights (i have 7 now, 6 that work) I could get a two light deal for $550 where the ABs were nearly $300 more.
Cost of repair would be $140 plus parts and any additional labor ($90 to estimate plus shipping both ways and lights are not light...) I can get a new light for less than $300...so i shelved the bad one for now. If a second ever blows I'll send both in at one time.
|
|
|
|
12/29/2008 10:42:48 AM · #3 |
I have 3 750w Travelites now, and to get the calumet battery pack, its like $500 for the full system. Im debating just going and using the gas powered generator I have now instead, although its untested. I do read about a lot of people using one of those with great success. I just wanna be albe to run 2 or 3 lights easily for location shots, but i don't want to max out my credit card again haha.
Oh PS - getting this credit card was the greatest thing Ive ever done, its pretty much exclusively for my camera gear, and has such a low rate (7.99 fixed, but right now I have 3.99promo rate on it, which I luckily got my new d300 in on that promo rate), that I don't mind carrying a few thousands on it and dealing with the drop in a bucket interest that accrues. |
|
|
|
12/29/2008 03:44:20 PM · #4 |
I spent the first 18 months using a 0 interest card - can't beat that. I almost moved teh remaining balance over to a new, low interest introductory thing but figured to pay it off by the end of '08. Then I decided to build a studio in my detached garage. Oh well, so much for paying it off!
I did pretty good- only put the flooring, some misc little stuff and the furniture on the card, maybe 2 grand. I've been good about not buying a 5D2. So far anyway.
Now I need samples for the new space. My cash is being spent on a 5D and 16-35. Except for a fisheye I have no plans to by another lens this, well, in '09. Just the 5D2. No computers either. No lights either.
It's a like a New Year's Resolution.
|
|
|
|
12/29/2008 04:25:40 PM · #5 |
I just can't justify a fisheye, even though with the amount of band photography I do, it would probably get its use, but I did get one of those screw on fish eye adaptors for like $30, and its awesome, although I got a new lens, and can't use it anymore (unless I find a 46 to 52mm and then I can put it on my fixed 50mm)
Check out www.flickr.com/photos/ajsullivan to see some stuff with that.
I am thinking about getting a fixed 105mm f/2.8, but don't really wanna spend the money on that right now. I really want to figure out how to get my light kit on location easily. |
|
|
|
12/29/2008 06:51:26 PM · #6 |
I haven't had fishy results with canon't 15 fishey on a crop body, but with a FF coming I can make good use of it. Sure, only 3 or 4 shots a wedding, but sometimes those are the keepers.
I have tubes, no macro lens. I don't even use them so I see no value in a 100 macro. I'd like to have one, sure, but that $400 is better used elsewhere at this time.
I'm running out of things I can 'fix' with newer/better gear. :P
|
|
|
|
12/30/2008 06:07:03 AM · #7 |
Originally posted by ajdelaware:
Is anyone using this with non-alien bee strobes? While the site says its designed for AB's, i've read on other sites that you can use calumet/bowens travelites with it. Whats your experience with the system? |
Vagabond is an inverter / battery setup, just like the Tronix Explorer or DIY setups. There are differences, but in general this is a good list to check whether or not your lights would be compatible -
//www.innovatronix.com/compatib.asp
|
|
|
|
12/30/2008 08:50:55 AM · #8 |
| Hmm, that makes me wonder if it would just be smarter to get the innovatronix kit instead, seeing how its confirmed for my lights. |
|
|
|
12/30/2008 08:55:19 AM · #9 |
i have had two copies of it, the first one i overloaded DO NOT PLUG A FOG MACHINE INTO ONE! but ive pluged 3 strobes into one before and had no problems, just make sure modeling lamps are turned off
|
|
|
|
12/30/2008 08:59:09 AM · #10 |
| Also, with that pack, can I plug in a power strip and use multiple lights? I have 3 750w lights, that I rarely use on half power, let alone full, I wonder if it could handle the load of that, or at least 2 of them. |
|
|
|
12/30/2008 09:00:04 AM · #11 |
| Fetor - is that the Vagabond or the Innovatronix deal? |
|
|
|
12/30/2008 09:41:50 PM · #12 |
|
|
|
12/30/2008 11:39:11 PM · #13 |
Originally posted by ajdelaware:
Also, with that pack, can I plug in a power strip and use multiple lights? I have 3 750w lights, that I rarely use on half power, let alone full, I wonder if it could handle the load of that, or at least 2 of them. |
Most definitely. I constantly use my Vagabond II with 4 x AB800's. That thing lasts forever on a charge (even in cold weather). Check their website for the manual... there's a cool chart that tells how many flashes you'll expect using up to 4 lights (with varying power loads). |
|
Home -
Challenges -
Community -
League -
Photos -
Cameras -
Lenses -
Learn -
Help -
Terms of Use -
Privacy -
Top ^
DPChallenge, and website content and design, Copyright © 2001-2026 Challenging Technologies, LLC.
All digital photo copyrights belong to the photographers and may not be used without permission.
Current Server Time: 05/06/2026 03:10:35 PM EDT.
