Entry Level Studio Systems

[alyakhov]

I am shopping for low-mid end studio lights and need your help making the right choice. I shoot mainly portraits/children with a Digital SLR and I don’t want to spend much more than 600-700 for a kit of two lights. I am currently considering:
1. SP Studio Systems Excalibur 3200
2. Alien Bees B800
3. Adorama Flashpoint II model 620

Alien Bees seems pretty fast to charge and to flash, and SP seems to have a pretty consistent color temperature. Adorama is fan cooled, but SP is not…
What is the relative importance of these qualities?
Please advise.

[MJS]

I love my Alien Bee's, but then again I don't use them every day for a living. They are used a bit by my High School students and are still working. They are fan cooled and relatively indestructible. They also have a full range of accessories that are reasonable. I can't speak as to the quality of the others.

Good luck.