Comparison: Paul C Buff DigiBee 800, Alienbees B800 and Einstein!
Вставка
- Опубліковано 30 лип 2016
- I ordered my first Paul C. Buff DigiBee DB800 this week and in this video I'll show you how it compares size and feature wise against it's siblings the AlienBees B800 and the flagship Einstein strobe.
Enjoy - Розваги
This was an excellent, well presented, thorough review and answered all the questions I had about these units. Great work, and thanks for putting this up!
Your comparisons are outstanding. Thanks for producing these. Love my Einsteins!
Thanks! I love them too! Have a feeling these little Digis are going to become awesome short-work companions as well!
Thank you for a very thorough, comprehensive, and easy to understand comparison. It has helped me make a decision.
Wow brother! I didn't know you were a photographer! All this time, I enjoyed your knife/outdoor videos and I was doing some youtube searches on the digibee (not photographer, but an enthusiast who likes to shoot street and portraits, and some pro bono stuff for my church) and your video popped up! Great video! Love the comparison with the other models, I'm actually pretty impressed how compact the Einstein is despite the output! Thanks and keep up the great work!
Wow, thanks for the great feedback! Yes, photography and journalism are pretty much my daily life. I tinker with outdoor gear and knives because I love them as a "get away". The DigiBee is a stink'n awesome little unit so far, but you're right, the Einstein is a lot of strobe for the size and money really. They are two tools for two different needs IMO. Most of us can easily get by with the AB or DB heads, but for the extra features, the E series is superb. I'm looking forward to traveling with the DB though. I dropped it in the shoulder bag I had my AB in from Africa and MAN, there's a noticeable space difference. For me, that will be a HUGE help. I'm hoping to add 1-2 more units in the coming months. Thanks for checking the video out. Anytime something I shoot is helpful, it keeps me wanting to do them. Speaking of church work, I have to finish editing some pics I took at our Gridiron men's event featuring Chris Spielman, Kerry Goode and Jason Campbell last night. Cheers!
Really in depth review and knowledge Ryan! Especially with metering the modeling lights👍🏽 you need more videos!
Hahaha, thanks! If I come up with any other ideas that, at least to me, might seem helpful, I will certainly do this. I'm going to be trying out some new gear over the summer as I travel and may add more content. I'm working 75+ hour weeks which makes doing ANYTHING is difficult, but I also don't want to spit out the same stuff we already see on UA-cam unless it really seems worth it. Thanks a lot of the comment and I'm glad you found the metering portion useful...I did too! Cheers
I've been researching the Digibee and your video was super helpful. I think the Digi is definitely the best value for my needs.
Awesome. I hope you love it like I do. In fact. The last 3 shoots I did were some cataloge style stuff and I just used the LED, no strobe. Nice to have that option without the heat modeling lights normally create. Cheerts
'Been using the Ultra 600 for almost 30 yrs, bought it used in the 1990's, still working like a champ!!! I'm older than dirt now, and am trying to go more digital/LED combo, so the DigiBee 800 looks like it'll suit my needs for now, plus I trust Buff equipment. At nearly 80 yrs., I need less weight to handle, and am trying to come out of the cave with more modern equipment (just left film for digital 6 yrs. ago LOL!). Thanks for this video, which I just now watched on 10/13/21!
Sorry I missed this comment! I’ve been on vacation. Wow, 80! Congrats on the hustle! I hope I’m still shooting at that age! I left film about 15 years ago, but then returned to it 😂 I hope whatever you decide on makes life easier for you. Cheers!
Excellent video.You helped me decide on buying the digibee 800. Thanks
Thank you for showing the modeling light comparison!. I have the AB400 and am looking at the DB400 to double as a strobe and constant video light. I have 1x1 LED panels for video, but the DB400 would allow me to use the same modifiers that I use for photography. Less gear, less clutter, etc.
You're welcome!
Yes, exactly. That's why it's great for me too - no need to remodify a new bank. I've used it for catalog shots recently and it was excellent. As has been said and I've done, you can screw a CFL or LED bulb into the socket on your existing AB, but it won't be as bright - at least in my experience with finding them at the time of this post - and it wont give you the lower profile. I'm happy with the new unit as both a strobe and a constant light. Just remember the full-time fan will be loud for in-camera mics if you're doing video work with it. There's no way to shut it off either. Cheers!
Thanks for your review. You do a great job comparing the different units. I own 3 AB1600s. I just order a DB800 in blue. I bought it primarily to do outdoor portrait work and to be able to use it as a hot light. I'm looking forward to using mine soon. Hopefully, it will be suitable for my uses.
I wish you all the best. The LED is exceptionally good. I'm currently doing a 4-light studio setup for athlete head shots and the Einstein's on full bore modeling do create some heat. I just don't have four DB800s...yet :) I really like the blue. I hope you find it as useful as I have, just in my brief time with it. Cheers
GREAT job explaining this! Thank you! Very informative!
Thanks!
Awesome video! Thanks for that detailed review!
I have one Einstein that I have not touched in a year. Mainly because i have been using my bare bulb flashes which are easier to carry on location. I have been wanting to do a continuous three light setup for a while and these seem to be able to do what I want.
Would you sell the Einstein and use the money to help with the purchase of 3 digibee 800s or keep the Einstein?
Great video, I just ordered the digibee400 with the 64 inch plm. Praying it's enough for me as I am just now getting into lighting!
how is it going with that set up silvia?
Extremely thorough comparison. Very well described thank you!
Thanks bro!
Very informative, thank you.
Awesome video, dude! Great job..
Hi Ryan, Great job. Did not know you were a movie star. A pleasant surprise.Dan CCCC
Good information. Nice job, and thanks.
Solid Review. :) I ordered mine the other day for the same purpose.
Thanks for the feedback, and I hope you love it!
Great comparison! Probably going with DB800 for my next light.
It's excellent for the price
Good video, question. Which light would stop water splash photos best? Thanks
I don't shoot water drops personally, but the Einstein has the shortest flash duration of the bunch in Action mode. Cheers
Had AB's in my cart... think I'm going DB's now. Thanks for the great comparison. I'm not quite Broncolor or Profoto level yet... nor am I a newcomer to strobes but mine are about 30 years old and I picked them up secondhand. It's time to step into this decade lol.
... a modeling light will be a wonderful and well-loved addition
Ha, well, welcome to the "future". Great lights and incredible for the price. I hope you enjoy whatever you finally decide on! Take care.
Nice work! Very helpful.
Thanks!
thanks for the info - with the cyber commander (wireless trigger), is the einstein able to be set in ttl mode?
Honestly, I don't think it does TTL. I've always shot manually with strobe to be honest. Jump over to PCB's site to verify that though.
Can you share the names of the tripods you are using. Great informative video btw - was about to pull the trigger on the B800 but considering the digibee now.
Thanks! I'm actually using light stands in this video. The two black versions on either end are Manfrotto stackable 12' air stands (MFR # 1004BAC-3 I believe is the new version). The center stand is just a HD C-stand. Cheers
Do you have any of your photos from Africa on the internet? Using your Buff strobes?
The new DigiBees are very cool! Trying to figure out if the 5Ws at minimum on the Digibee 800 is low enough compared to the 2.5Ws on the smaller 400 unit.
There have only been a very few times were I can recall needing the lowest power setting on my AlienBees, so luckily for me, this wan't a factor as much as it is for some users like yourselfis a For me, who shoots quite a bit in sunlight, esp. when doing outdoor portraits abroad, I can use the extra power. I think once you decide what's best for you, you'll be happy with the DigiBee. If it's the 400, your savings alone will more than buy a Transceiver for it which is a bonus. Good luck!
really nice video still in 2021
Thank you for the extensive review. I was wondering, is the db800 still a good option in 2020 when compared to something like a godox ecosystem? I'm looking for my first strobe for product photography.
Good question. I think it is going to come down to individual needs, modifiers, and cost. For international travel where I take photos of orphans and medical staff, I've since added four Flashpoint StreakLight 360s (Adorama's branding of the Godox AD360). They are powerful, small, and relatively light and fulfill my needs when traveling with limited space. I can get four heads, four battery packs, stand clips (for the battery pack), cables, transmitters and receivers in a Pelican 1525 Air case. It's heavy when loaded, but it does the trick.
However, I do also have to carry four light stand/head adapters to allow them to work with traditional Bowens modifiers and there is NO modeling light which can be limiting and voids any use for video completely. The DB800 fits directly on the light stands, has a built-in modifier clamp, provides excellent modeling/video light, is reliable and from a company that provides great service. However, it takes up more space, requires a larger, heavier battery when traveling, etc. Also, consider if you need high-speed sync. So, it's a balance of convenience, features and cost.
Many of the newer, more robust offerings from Godox are superb from what I've seen and heard. They might be heavier but have built-in batteries. They might be more powerful but cost more. Personally, I love the DBs, for the price and performance. However, depending on your needs, you might find a better feature set for the price form Godox, etc. If you are just getting into "studio" strobes both platforms are worth a look. Consider modifier mounts (are they proprietary or more universal like Bowens?), power, reliability, transmitter/receivers and the like. I think you'll be happy with either camp if you make an informed decision based on what will fit your needs.
Cheers
@@OneDegreeLife Thank you very much for taking the time to give a full, comprehensive answer to my question. For my use, I won't be needing HSS so I'll probably be going with the DBs. Godox do have a few tempting offers, but there are quite a few reviews complaining about reliability, miss fires and burn fuses. On the other hand Alienbee strobes seem to be very reliable, and work for years without a single problem.
@@anasrida3454 No problem. I'm glad you discovered some of these things in your research. While I've not had any major issues with my "Godox" equipment, when a product is branded across Flashpoint, Godox, Cheetah, Bolt (?) etc., it does seem like they are more prone to issues. From personal experience, the customer service with AB is superb and their products have always been excellent in my use. Best of luck!
You said you travel international however the DigiBee is only works with 110 Volts power input? How do you deal with that, Vegabond mini?
Indeed! I was very fortunate in this regard. The place I worked in Malawi was built to accommodate with western outlets and power ratings through an industrial inverter they installed at the facility. Recharging batteries, laptops, phones, etc. was very convenient. So, my primary concern when carrying gear was the packed size, weight, and durability. Obviously, if your not using the modeling light, you’ll get more life out of the battery and there’s always the option to carry multiple backups. On smaller items like this, using a charge converter would also work.
Great review! How much does the color temperature on the back of the Einstein vary as the power is adjusted?
Sorry, this comment slipped through the cracks. Um, on Color mode, where temperature is kind of given priority, I don't see it change away from 5600K regardless of power output rating. I think it's supposed to stay within 50K which is virtually unnoticeable. But the readout stays 5600. On Action mode it varies quite a bit from 6400 or so at lowest power, all the way to 5600 at top output. I've not looked at the actual output on a meter to see, but the "indicated" level changes quite a bit. I use Color mode 95% of the time. I only switch to Action when doing promo work requiring frozen movement that needs to not look posed and still. I just match my K setting to what I see at the power level and if needed, I shoot a color card. Hope this helps
Thanks.
great review. thanks
Now the Digi bee modeling lamp, is that the fan i hear running? Is it too loud for video like I'm hearing?
At the end of the video, yes. Keep in mind that at that point, the internal camera mics are recording the sound and the back of the light is only like 1.5-2 feet from the camera. If you have good lavs or a focused shotgun mic, you'll probably be fine; or if you're filming in a location with some ambient sound anyway.
This was just a good "if-needed" double feature for when I travel, but I never used it for video - only strobe and it was great. In time, I did reduce the size even more by moving to some Flashpoint 360s for travel and that's about the best size-to-output I got for international travel where I was managing all the gear myself.
Honestly, in 2022, if you're wanting a powerful and affordable video light the offerings from Aperture and Godox have gotten pretty good. They are much brighter. I have used the Aperture Amaran 200 and 100 and they work great, but they don't strobe, obviously. The fan on the 200 is louder than the 100, but nothing I can't work around in my setups and, if needed, a few filters in post.
Sorry I can't be more helpful on this, but the internal camera mic is one that pics up everything at almost equal volume. If it's an important, paid assignment, maybe don't go with this, but for run-n-gun work, esp. when a constant light could be a helpful second feature in a small light head, the DigiBee is a good option in my book.
Hope this helps.
@@OneDegreeLife this was plenty helpful. Thanks
this was shaping up to be a top UA-cam channel what happen we miss your expertise on subjects
Hello, Dan. Thanks for the comment. I was really enjoying making videos that I would want to see, when I had the experiences with gear. Unfortunately, life took a major turn and I've moved, changed jobs and more and simply haven't had the time or resources to do videos recently. If I hope that changes in the future, but for now, it's on hold. Cheers
Which one has better more powerful “modeling light” the alien bee or digibee ?
Art Lopez that would depend on the modeling light you put in the AB. If you found a really powerful LED or the like it could be pretty bright.
hey man really appreciate this video
Thank you for letting me know!
where did you get your stands? are they rolling ones?
The two black ones are Manfrotto Alu Masters and you can get casters for them. The middle is an Avenger and it has casters. It’s older, not sure if they still make that one.
Very helpful. Thanks
Thanks for letting me know. Cheers!
Good Video man.. Very strict .. love it
Awesome. Glad you found it helpful!
Excellent presentation, I'm all in. Mahalo
Hey! Mahalo! Back to Hawaii to cover softball in March of 2018. Can't come soon enough!
Great info, brotha!
Thanks for the feedback! cheers!
I have both original AB800's and DB800's. The fact is that the DigiBees
have proven to be less reliable and I avoid using them and in fact I had
to buy 2 other AB800's. Both DigiBees have been replaced by Buff but I
still avoid them. One just started firing on its own and the other just
took a longer time to recycle. The LED light is nice but it turns out
that there is a thermal problem where the digibee can shut down due to
heat buildup from the LED. Also the triggering of the DigiBee is flaky
as I doesn't always trigger or requires longer recycle time that the AB
models. This is my experience. I have 4 AB800 and 2DB800 and I avoid
using the DB's unless I have too.
Good to know. I wasn't aware these issues had occurred with the line. The DB served me while while I had it, but eventually sold it and actually replaced all of my strobes with Streaklight 360s. Basically the same output as the AB800 sans modeling light in a MUCH smaller footprint with battery power. Again, my needs were shoots while travelling internationally with very limited space. I go four heads, packs, cables, transmitter, receivers and gels in a Pelican 1500 series air case.
Thanks for adding this information. Perhaps others will find it useful.
Cheers
Very good. Unlike some of the total morons doing UA-cam on PCB products, you have done a great job with actual facts and reasoned opinions.
There are fools ranting and raving about these products without providing a single fact. Your work is miles ahead and very useful.
Thank you.
Thanks so much for the feedback! Keeps me motivated to shoot others when things come my way I think are worth sharing. Very much appreciated!
Can I use both the Einstein and the digibees 400 on set ?
As long as the power differences don’t matter to you, sure.
@@OneDegreeLife I’m currently using a Einstein as my main key light but now I’m looking to add fill light to shadows, the DB400 should do just fine right? And also should I be concerned about the color temperature inconsistency between the units?
@@thedanwriter1 color temperature never stood out to me as unbalanced, esp once modifiers are introduced. A lot of times the light, at least in my setups, had blended (key/fill). And where it’s slightly more separated (hair/rim) there haven’t been issues for me. I’m not sure I can see differences in lower K. 5000 and 6000, maybe, but the output matching all my Bees and Einsteins when needed never posed a concern. Others could certainly disagree. It’s even less of an issue when geling then, of course, which I did when matching ambient at sunset or when doing promo work.
As far as fill, I don’t think it’ll be a concern unless you really dial up the power in the Einstein. Everyone shoots differently, but if you’re trying to overpower ambient or you’re shootings at a very small aperture that requires a great deal of power, key/fill should work well. It’s also a matter of how you work with your lights. Some shooters like a MASSIVE fill light (7 ft) to blanket the base and then dial up the key where needed. I always had a smaller modifier for fill vs the key, so unless I was needing the fill to match a lot of key power OR the source was large or far away, I would think you should be fine. Again, but everyone shoots like everyone else. TBH, unless I’m fighting the sun, I never really need to dial the power super high on my Einsteins anyway. So, the Bees might be disproportionate in percentage of power use required. But more of a lower watt and less of a higher watt blend well. I’ve not paired a 400 and Einstein that I can recall, but my experience leads me to think it could work just fine, as long as your power needs aren’t on the high end. In addition, shooting the 400 through a snoot, honeycomb grid, or unfocused source - like a strip box with grid and no baffles (background, hair light, rim light), you should see an even better comparison of power.
I wish I could be more helpful. Of course, each situation can make light different and the WYSIWUG feature of the modeling lights might be slightly off given the ratio of output to power, but I usually tweak based on preliminary shots anyway.
I really hope this helps!
Separate comment from below:
On the umbrella rail, slot, channel, whatever it may be called. I have silver soldered a sleeve over that portion of the the shaft the extends beyond the digibee.
Not the most elegant and cost about $20US per 4 units, but makes the them as solid as joisting rods.
It takes no extra packing space and prevents me from packing an extra umbrella.
Very cool. Thanks for sharing your solution! Only a "problem" on the larger PLMs, but others my certainly find this helpful as well. Cheers
Very useful comparison, thanks.
However, instead of praising the rubber flap, you should be complaining that the receiver is not built into the head. There are a ton of competing products which have an integrated receiver and hence do not require assembly and disassembly of a an extra receiver for transport.
Also, not offering HSS and/or TTL is anachronistic these days. Personally, I don't care for TTL but a powerful strobe like that one would want to use for HSS applications.
The Digibees seem very cool units in many ways but the lack of an integrated radio receiver and the absence of an HSS option date them, AFAIC.
That's a fair point. I'm not as familiar with heads that are in this price range that feature them, but I'm sure there are some. Given the lineup that PCB offers and these cost-effective receivers, this is the best implementation yet for the company IMO. In addition, making the DB line internal (should PCB decide to go that route) wouldn't be as advantageous perhaps form a marketing perspective. If the co. should chose to do that, I'd guess we'd see it in the Einstein update or in a newer, higher end line (?). But you're right, in an ideal world, they'd be internal and ready to go.
The benefit of that, which is often overlooked, is that you can build the system you want with the Einstein - you're not paying for features you may not want, but can later add them if you do. There are still a lot of photographers who shoot with a sync cord because they actually prefer that method - why should they pay for an integrated wireless system that is included in the price of other units? And what if you don't like the built-in wireless system (like a lot of Profoto users for example) - you're either stuck with it, or you have to purchase a 3rd party system (thereby essentially paying for 2 wireless systems, one of which is now defunct). If you do decide to go wireless with the Einstein (or DigiBee) it's only 30 bucks for the transceiver, and from there you have multiple choices and price ranges of how you would like to trigger it.
Hey bud, come back. Hope you are well.
Great information. I was glad to hear that you can use the vagabond battery to run the led light for video!
Wish they had a DigiBee 1600, but that may eat too much into their Einstein sales. Already have two AB800, and a DB1600 would've been great. Also wish it was possible to retrofit the LED on the older Alien Bees. The downside is that it appears the modeling lamps on the DigiBees are not user replacable.
You can easily put an LED bulb on the older bees. It's a standard bulb socket and just about any bulb fits. I changed mine to CFL bulbs (for use with the Vagabond Mini) a long time ago and then recently changed those to LED's. They aren't as bright as the 400W equivalent bulb included in the DB's, but they work fine if you really just need a modeling light...
No, it's not user replaceable, but LEDs typically have very long lives luckily. I agree, a DB 1600 would be excellent, but yes, cut a bit more deeply into their existing offerings. You never know though, you might see one down the line. That said, they did stick with a single Ring light (AB not Zeus) and one Einstein offering - at least for now.
Like Sean said below, you can get a conventional fluorescent or LED bulb for the Bees you have.
Great points. I did the same with CFLs but to get more watts I had to get a MONSTER bulb and it put too much weight on the socket. Ha. Now that the LED bulbs are more common, this is a GREAT option for sure for those who are mainly leaning to this part of the setup. I have a CREE 150 equiv I've used in my 800s and it's done well, but never tired it with the Vagabond, so that's good to know. I just had it programed in my mind to turn the modeling light off when going on location. Habit from years of doing it.
If the LED on the new DB wasn't as bright and it didn't have the smaller footprint and the transceiver port, I'd have stuck with my ABs. Those three are huge helps for my current needs so it was worth the "update".
Thanks a lot for contributing to the discussion. I know other users will find it helpful. Cheers
Sean Phillips witch brand led light you use. I see some dimmable led light looks huge.
top video
👌👍👍👏👏👏👏
Does Einstein have HSS?
Sorry for the delay. The last few weeks have been nuts. Not directly, no. The flash duration in Action mode is helpful for stopping things here and there, but it wont assist in situations where you want to run a higher shutter speed as with bright ambient, etc. I usually just filter up.There might be a third party gadget that helps with this, but I'm not currently aware of it. Cheers
Thanks
werd up man! I got my pair of Digibees :)
Complete instructions on how to use Digibees:
ua-cam.com/video/qpIPIpY6dUg/v-deo.html
Yes, love my Einsteins too, I've got 4 of em !!!! LUV that BUFF STUFF :)
Sweet stuff! I just jumped over. I'm also a Fuji user now for personal/travel gear. Love it. Hope to get the X-T2 in the coming months! Cheers!
I'm giving away a Digibee in a contest from a video i just posted :)
someone gonna get a FREE digibee :P
fist bump man
DigiBee DB800, it broke 3 days after I got it and got repaired, broken again the same day, repaired again, broke again, ,,, 4 times before putting it in the garbage. But, my 3 old Alienbees never broke in 15 years and hundred of thousand of flashes. MY Einstein is ok too. Digibees are toys.
Robert, thanks for this information! I am currently researching a 3 light kit, and was strongly considering the Digibees...now not so sure, especially if this is "typical" rather than a one off.
where did u go? miss knife reviews
Me too. My boss bailed last fall and I had to run our department solo which meant countless 60-100 hour weeks. I've finally got a new guy on board, but he's still training. I'm - fingers crossed - hoping to get back out into nature sometime this fall or as it blends to winter in the US. I need it, even if I don't get a chance to shoot vids! Hope to see you again then
it would be great to see you brother! good luck and hopefully see you soon!
Not very helpful to photographers new to studio strobes, so much terminology (cyber commander, sync port, transceiver, pocket wizard, T1 rating, huh?). I think the most important things are light quality, power, build quality, and PRICE!
To be fair, power (affiliated with T1, by the way), some build components and price are all discussed in the video. It's just a unit comparison as I saw it. That's it. The scope of this video was not to instruct end users on how to use the equipment and what all of the accessories are. Given the comparison of units within a single company, it was assumed that viewers would likely be either versed in such language or do the required research. Again, it's a comparison, not a review of the unit in use really because at the time, lots of people were demoing it. I was simply stating the pros/cons as I saw them for those trying to decide between them. There are loads of great videos on UA-cam and I'm confident that you and other potential users will gather a wealth of great information on this or any other strobe out there by getting a consensus. At least that's what I do. Cheers
Main difference is Digibee and new Einsteins are made in China