BHamp00 Loc: Las Vegas

Speed lights and strobes can be used simultaneously from the same RF transmitter if you choose a product line that supports this operation. Strobes are generally more powerful than Speed Lights and adapt better to Light Modifiers which are so important to portrait photography.

You can burn up a lot of $$$ buying this and that as you progressively learn more about lighting and the features of various strobes as I have done so you may want to listen closely. My advice, at this window in time, is to go with a couple of the Flashpoint XPLOR 600's (TTL or non TTL choice) and/or maybe EVOLV 200's along with their respective R2 transmitters. They have built in batteries and are stand alone wireless products (big thing). The XPLOR 600's have a Bowen mount for light modifiers and there are adapter clamps for the EVOV 200's that enable use of Bowen mount light modifiers in addition to their own mount and related products. Most light modifier manufactures provide products with Bowen mounts. If you have a desire for speed lights that differ from the EVOV 200's there are many to choose from that can be controlled by the same R2 transmitters. Gotox is the manufacturer of the Flashpoint products I've mentioned, however, the Flashpoint units are often bundled with more accessories. I'm not a pro but rather an advanced armature that reads way too much and always wants to keep up with technology. My favorites strobes are my Profoto B1 and B2 units but they are very expensive along with their Profoto light modifiers and accessories. I truly believe the best bang for the $$$ are the Flashpoint products I've mentioned.

I'm sure others will have different opinions and will be as emotionally charged as me, however, spend some time watching You Tube videos.

bpulv Loc: Buena Park, CA

Bill,

As I recall, in the 60's when electronic flash came on the scene, they were miscalled strobe lights. In fact a strobe light is an electronic flash that can continuously flash multiple times per second. In industry, a strobe light can have its flash interval adjusted so that it can appear to freeze the motion of moving parts so they can be examined while in motion. For example, by matching the flash rate to the one RPM rate of an airplane propeller, the propeller will appear to stop even though it is turning at high speed. They can also be calibrated so that you can measure the RPM rate of a motor. Strobe lights were also adapted for stage effects (very popular with hippy entertainment in the 60's) and had some photographic applications such as multiple exposure effects.

I believe that the first units for general photography were called electronic flash and the first application was to replace expensive and bulky expendable flash bulbs. I think that the name confusion started when Graphic came out with their Strobflash units which dominated the professional market for a while. I still have my Strobflash IV in the garage. It was a good unit, but the batteries were very expensive (about $200 a pair today) and they lasted only three months under the best conditions.

Happy New Year

bpulv Loc: Buena Park, CA

Bill,

As I recall, in the 60's when electronic flash came on the scene, they were miscalled strobe lights. In fact a strobe light is an electronic flash that can continuously flash multiple times per second. In industry, a strobe light can have its flash interval adjusted so that it can appear to freeze the motion of moving parts so they can be examined while in motion. For example, by matching the flash rate to the one RPM rate of an airplane propeller, the propeller will appear to stop even though it is turning at high speed. They can also be calibrated so that you can measure the RPM rate of a motor. Strobe lights were also adapted for stage effects (very popular with hippy entertainment in the 60's) and had some photographic applications such as multiple exposure effects.

I believe that the first units for general photography were called electronic flash and the first application was to replace expensive and bulky expendable flash bulbs. I think that the name confusion started when Graphic came out with their first electronic flash units and marketed them under the name Strobflash. The Strobflash units required a heavy battery box that was slung around one's shoulder and connected to the flash head that was usually mounted on the top of a camera's flashbulb battery grip. They dominated the professional market for a quite a while until professional units with built in batteries came on the market. I still have my Strobflash IV in the garage. It was a good unit, but the batteries were very expensive (about $200 a pair today) and they lasted only three months under the best conditions.

Happy New Year

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

Well, not so fast.
I've purposely created motion by dragging my shutter but using speedlights to stop some motion, not continuous light.
Sometimes I want motion but can't recall that I've ever wanted noise.
I do sometimes use film to creat grain, but not noise!
SS

Haydon

I'm with you on that. I've used both systems and monolights/strobes will freeze action because the short duration of the lights essentially becomes the shutter speed. Nothing beats low ISO for dynamic range and clean images. Sure you can shoot at high ISO but it comes with sacrifices.

Continuous lights helps in newborn shootings which tend to be unobtrusive and help keep the babies warm. Continuous allows "seeing the light" where strobes without modelling lights take some positioning.

CWW Loc: North Jersey

Thank you!, your reply is most appreciated.

CWW Loc: North Jersey

Thanks for your reply.

CWW Loc: North Jersey

Thank you! Much appreciated!

CWW Loc: North Jersey

Thank You!

CWW Loc: North Jersey

Thank you! Much appreciated

CWW Loc: North Jersey

Thanks, appreciated

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

Hey, I agree with you about the original meaning being a repeating electronic flash. I love Harold Edgerton’s work. But as with so many terms, “strobe” became a common slang term for studio flash, especially the fast recyclers.

I just call them all “flash.” I once had three of those “hippie entertainment repeating strobes” (and chaser lights and a fog machine) that I used in multi-image shows at corporate sales meetings. They would never work for photography unless it was macro... too weak!

I have a 1970 Honeywell 65D with 510-volt battery pack sitting in my closet. It was from the same era as the Strobflash IV. It’s really hard to find the #497 flash battery now! (Not that I would ever buy another one...)

There was also a 65C model that had four on-board sub-C size NiCd batteries in it, and then a ton of 600, 700, 800, and 900 models in the same potato masher form factor. Those NiCds really were quite anemic! They also tended to work for about 20 charges and then develop a terrible memory effect. I preferred the units with a big battery.

pendennis

While I didn't own a 65D with the 510v battery, I did own the 700, 710, 770, 800, 810, and 880 models. And amen to the anemic batteries! I kept a number of sub-C cells in spare trays just for long shoots. My dad was an electrician by early trade, and he built me a small device which would drain the batteries down to zero, and that helped a bit with the memory issue. Later on, I bought a couple of Quantum Turbo batteries to use for power along with a Q-Flash and a great Armatar 200. Eventually, one of my friends bought all my Strobonars and their parts. He's a collector.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

I had a 700 and an 880 at various times.