Paul C. Buff

Overview

Paul C. Buff, Inc. manufactures studio lighting equipment including monolights and accessories for photographers. The company targets both beginners and professionals with products emphasizing affordability, reliability, and versatility. It maintains a direct sales model from its U.S. facility, focusing on innovations in flash technology since entering the market in 1980.¹²⁴

History

Paul C. Buff founded the company in 1980 after a career in audio equipment, shifting to studio photoflash to offer affordable alternatives to speedlites. In 1981, it introduced the White Lightning 130 monolight, followed by the X-Series in the 1990s and AlienBees in 2001 for the digital photography market. Paul C. Buff passed away in 2015, after which his wife Deborah led the introduction of TTL/HSS battery-powered lights. The company continues operations from Nashville.²³⁷

Product Lines

Manufacturing

Products including AlienBees and X-Series units are produced in-house at the company's facility in Berry Hill, Nashville, Tennessee. The site also serves as offices, warehouse, and shipping operations.²

Notable Products

• White Lightning 130 - Early fully featured studio monolight introduced in 1981.
• AlienBees - Compact, affordable monolights launched in 2001 for digital-era photographers.
• Einstein E640 - Popular advanced monolight used by amateurs and professionals.
• Vagabond - Portable battery power systems for location shooting.

Reputation

The brand is recognized among photographers for affordable, reliable studio lighting and innovations like early monolights and portable power. Professionals and enthusiasts value its direct sales, customer service, and U.S. manufacturing. Some note limitations in modern TTL features compared to competitors, though recent updates address high-speed sync needs.¹²⁷