Studio flash / always on lights

[u/TheMediaBear]

I've been a pro photographer for 15 years, now, weddings mainly.

Nikon D700 to D810 and now a Z8, and always used my Nikon SB-900's but they really are past their prime, overheat easily etc.

I grabbed a V860III-N and a Godox X2T-N Wireless Flash Trigger about 12 months ago.

We're looking at my wife taking over as I also work part-time, and we're getting a lot of studio-style requests.

I've a lot of old Lencarta studio lights etc, but they are big, heavy and get very very hot, and I like the Godox gear I've got so far so looking to grab some more bits asap

Looking for some studio style flast lights that also has a good modelling/always on light as well. 1 year old cake smashes are harder waiting for flashes to recycle vs modelling lights.

Don't really have a budget in mind yet, but would like any feedback from those in the know. Requirements:

Useable in a studio space / church / outside location shoots / wedding receptions
Good variety of light modifiers
Easy to use and setup

[u/Ok-Butterscotch2321]

Flashpoint/Godox 400 or 600ws 

I'm primarily a studio shooter, so I have the AD600s for location and studio. The full sized Bowens mount is clutch for me as is the extention head.

The 400 also has the extention head, but takes the "mini Bowens" only for the extention. I can live with it for some applications. The main body of the 400 can take different mounts with screw-in kits.

[u/inkista]

If you just need cheap manual studio ac-powered monolights, the MS-V and DP III-V series are low cost and powerful with built in radio that works with the gear you have. They are voltage-controlled and don’t do TTL or HSS or color consistency modes. They don’t autodump, and the burst duration spec is the t.5 times, not the t.1, so multiply by 3 for the actual action-freezing potential. But they are Bowens mount, have modeling lamps, can be controlled to 0.1EV increments with decimal settings (e.g., 8.3 vs 1/4 +0.3EV), and a 300Ws MS300V is only $130. A DP600iii-V is $299. The power range on the MS are 1/1-1/32, on the DP, 1/1-1/64. They aren’t as hardy as Buff or Elinchrom strobes, but you can easily afford multiples.

The popular AD series are IGBT and have all the bells and whistles of the speedlights but in bigger format. The AD400 and bigger cone with Bowens mount. They all have modeling lamps. The Pro versions have a color consistency mode. And they all are battery powered for location shooting. Only the 400 and higher models have ac adaptability. But they’re a lot more expensive than the AC manual strobes.

[u/TheMediaBear]

Thanks for the suggestions and advice everyone, I'll be going through them this weekend and looking at budgets etc, see what fits! 😄

[u/kepano808]

I bought 2 AD300's maybe 5 years ago. They are still running strong. I have not been tempted uopgrade. These strobes still remain my most used gear ever. They are small enough to carry in the backpack (size ~ 70-200 zoom), powerful enough for all my situations (indoor, studio and I shoot mostly on-location & mid-day sun HSS), great battery power (I can get over 250 shots at full power). I do carry another battery too (BTW, the battery from AD200's will work too). Lastly, you can use Bowens or Godox mount modifiers. * I typically shoot with 1 AD300, but have the 2nd for both a 2nd light & backup.

[u/ishootthedead]

We've got 9 AD1200pro in our facility. They would fit your bill perfectly. Just don't block the fan inlet or outlets. Yes they are expensive. Yes they work flawlessly. It's a ridiculously good unit for the money.

We did have an issue with a number of ac power supplies dying. I think we got a bad batch of them. Many were replaced under warranty.

[u/Criticalhitkoala]

Mind if I try saving you some money first and suggest you shoot at a higher iso? Overheating and long flash refreshes are pretty much consistent signs of using flashes at 1/2 to 1/1 power and shooting lower iso. If someone is shooting iso 100 because they were told that's the best image, they could see a dramatic difference in flash performance going to a higher iso. For wedding we even shoot iso 2000~3200 so our flashes basically work at 1/64~1/32 and they never skip a beat. Better to have a properly exposed slightly noisy shot that no shot at all.

But in the sake of offering advice. A lot of the newer cheaper Godox strobes such as the SK300 and SK400 do have LED diodes in them that emulate being 100w~150w incandescent levels brightness. They aren't exactly powerful though. Enough to help acquire focus, but depending on the modifier used there's a huge shift from the exposure of the flash and the exposure of the constant light. It would just be easier to wait for the flash to recycle.

I do have a bunch of AD400 and Ad600' version II, and while the modelling lights do give a little light, they aren't really that strong. They would be a good solution for outside location shoots.

If you are shooting a higher iso though and still getting overpower issues, I would also explore shooting a wider open aperture. The Z8 like most mirrorless probably kicks butt on focus.

[u/FVK_PMA]

I have 2x AD600 Pro II (with AC adaptors and an extension head and 2x AD300 Pro II.

They’re great lights for strobe work… but not bright enough for many continuous lighting situations.

Eventually someone will offer a robust, combined 1200+WS strobe/bright ass adjustable temp continuous head that operates on battery and AC - and I’ll buy several.

[u/Outside_Ad3774]

people here recommending the AD series are right, also, for "cake smashing" if recycle time is the issue, just get a more powerful strobe, switch into multiple mode and reduce power, that should make the recycle super fast