Product Review: Alien Bees ABR800 Ringflash

Quality and Ease of Use

As the ABR800 ships with bulbs and lamps in place, preparing the ringflash for service in handheld mode is as simple as attaching the provided camera mount to the main unit and the handle to your camera and platform. The camera mount attaches to the post located on the bottom of the main unit. Once the platform is in place, the handle is attached by placing the handle bolt through the handle and platform slot, then turning the bolt into your camera's tripod mount. Finally, attach the provided sync cord to your camera and the ABR800, connect the power cable and fire away! Setup is fast and simple.

The ABR800 main unit casing is manufactured from high impact plastic. The bulb cover, reflector, camera platform and handle are also lexan plastic. This contributes to the unit's light weight. All connectors seem quite durable, tight fitting and manufactured to high standards. In general the ABR800 has a solid feel to it, albeit somewhat less substantial than it's standard monolight cousins, as expected for a product designed with strict weight restrictions.