AlienBees 800 Flash Unit

The AlienBees 800 Flash Unit (B800) is a powerful, self-contained studio flash designed by Paul C. Buff, delivering the power, versatility, and simplicity photographers need to tackle everything from portraits and headshots to larger groups, products, and demanding studio setups. It’s a longtime favorite among enthusiasts and professionals alike for its strong price-to-performance ratio.

At 320 watt-seconds of true flash power, the B800 offers a stepless 6-stop power variability range, adjustable from full power down to 1/32 (10 Ws) via a slide fader on the back control panel, capable of adjusting in whole f-stop increments and everywhere in between; when lowered from a higher setting, the unit automatically dumps excess power for accurate output. Flash duration (t.5) ranges from approximately 1/1100 second at full power to 1/550 second at minimum power, with a fast 1-second recycle time at full power. The standard 150W Edison-based halogen quartz modeling lamp also functions as a recycle indicator, turning off during recycling and back on when the unit is ready to shoot again, with precision voltage-regulated circuits supplying consistent, true “what-you-see-is-what-you-get” modeling light accuracy.

The unit includes a built-in optical slave tripper for wireless firing in addition to its standard 15-foot sync cord for hardwired connection to a camera’s PC sync terminal. Front-panel indicators include a green “FLASH OK” LED confirming the unit is recycled and ready, along with a red “FLASH DUMP” LED and a red test-flash button. The B800 ships with a daylight-balanced, UV-coated 14mm flashtube, a 150W modeling lamp, a 7-inch reflector, a power cord, and the 15-foot sync cord, along with compatibility across Paul C. Buff’s extensive line of light modifiers.

Build quality centers on a high-impact polycarbonate housing with an internal cooling fan for heavy-duty, all-day studio use, measuring approximately 7.875 x 5.75 x 8.5 in. and weighing approximately 2.9 lb. A 5/8″ stand mount and an umbrella shaft (accepting shafts up to 9mm/3/8″) run along the top of the unit, and sync/trigger voltage is rated at less than 6V for safe compatibility with modern digital cameras.

Key Features
– 320Ws self-contained studio flash monolight
– Stepless 6-stop power range (full power to 1/32)
– Flash duration (t.5) of approximately 1/1100 to 1/550 sec
– Approximately 1-second recycle time at full power
– 150W Edison-based halogen quartz modeling lamp (doubles as recycle indicator)
– Built-in optical slave trigger
– Includes 15-foot sync cord (PC terminal)
– Green “FLASH OK” and red “FLASH DUMP” LED indicators
– Red test-flash button
– 14mm daylight-balanced, UV-coated flashtube
– Includes 7-inch reflector, power cord, and sync cord
– Internal cooling fan for heavy-duty use
– 5/8″ stand mount; umbrella shaft (accepts up to 9mm/3/8″ shafts)
– High-impact polycarbonate housing
– Sync/trigger voltage of less than 6V
– Approximate weight: 2.9 lb
– Compatible with Paul C. Buff’s full line of light modifiers