I use two AB800's indoors for wedding family groups up to 80 people getting f5.6-8 @ iso 100 and using transparent brollies (i.e. you lose half the light). I also found the power to be on par with Bowens 500 units, take that how you will.
Here is a typical large family group from a wedding, f7.1 iso 100 and two transparent brollies (big ones). Please forgive the distortion it wasn't that big a room!
Ben
Thanks and with the photo you posted it looks like the 800's supply enough light.
What size brolly are you using?
After a week of searching I think I am am going to go with the White Lightning X1600's.
They have real good specs for the money and the build quality is great. The other factor I liked is that when you knock the power down to 1/4 it has the same light output as their 400 model but has a faster, 1/6000, flash duration.
The umbrellas I looked at were the photo flex shoot through 45" they sell for $22 each which is cheap. I need to find a nice set of 60" too.
So my total for 2- X1600's, the wired remote and 4 brollies should be around $1300. To me thats cheap. $2500 is not.
I can run this set and not worry about it and leave my soft boxes and other stuff in the studio.
Then in a few months I can add the wireless system and portable battery power.
The other reason I am looking to go this way is to add the new wireless system they are about to announce. If it works even close to what they are saying then its going to be hot.
Why? Because I have used pocket wizards in the past and hate them. For what they cost they are not that good.
I am hopeful that something better will available soon.
Thanks for all the advise all.
Steven