2 x Elinchrom D-Lite 4.. Enough light?

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aef

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I need to get some lighting and I've been recommended elinchrom D-Lite 4 (400 watt second). Can anyone tell me if for a blown white look will these be enough to light a background and subject? Or will I need another head? Two back and one key?

Many thanks.

Link in case I missed some info http://www.theflashcentre.com/elinchrom-d-lite-4-it-two-head-kit-i5065.html

I'm going to rent them before I buy them but I'd like to know how many I'd need first up.
 
It depends on your subject as to how much background will need blowing out. You can certainly blow the background enough for a couple and child with one of my Lencarta ElitePro 300w lights. On that basis the Elinchrom should have more than enough power.
 
66cm does not seem very large for a softbox, I would be tempted to upgrade one of those at least to something larger if this is an option. Otherwise it looks like a really nice set.
 
If you are shooting one or two people you can just about get away with two heads, one will be enough to blow the BG and one on the subject (with a reflecter too). With the BG you might find that there is a fall off across the frame but it is easy enough to fix in PP. A single light on the subject can give flat, unflattering light but if you bring it in at an angle and bounce some back as fill you should be ok. I started off with two heads but have added two more so I can have two on the BG and two on the subject, it does make it much easier.
 
Thanks for the help.

I'll probably get the two and upgrade as soon as I can. I don't see myself doing much blown white, just good to know I can if need be. Hopefully I'll have options on the softbox. Thanks !
 
Do the Elinchrom lights use the standard Bowens S fit fitting?

If so FITP (Flash in the pan) is selling some softboxes one of which might well keep you going for the moment.
 
cowasaki said:
Do the Elinchrom lights use the standard Bowens S fit fitting?

If so FITP (Flash in the pan) is selling some softboxes one of which might well keep you going for the moment.
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No, they only take Elinchrom - and Elinchrom accessories are expensive.
 
Unfortunately I don't think they do. I'm going down tomorrow to have a look and pick up rental set so I'll know for definite tomorrow. Apparently there is a conversion you can do to s-fit, so I'll look into that and check the ones you're talking about out.. Just had a look on google and couldn't seem to find it, do you have a link to flash in the pan? Thanks for the help!

Beat me to it! :)
 
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aef said:
Unfortunately I don't think they do. I'm going down tomorrow to have a look and pick up rental set so I'll know for definite tomorrow. Apparently there is a conversion you can do to s-fit, so I'll look into that and check the ones you're talking about out.. Just had a look on google and couldn't seem to find it, do you have a link to flash in the pan? Thanks for the help!

Beat me to it! :)
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If you are starting from scratch have you considered another brand that DOES use standard light modifiers ? Personally I have bought Lencarta ElitePro lights with one of the advantages being that you can use Bowens S fit equipment. It might be worth looking at them too or some of the other kits from the likes of Bowens etc. Just a thought.
 
I did look into it, a little. But Elinchrom come highly recommended and I kind of like being able to buy local to me (10 mins away) in case anything went wrong kind of thing. I'll consider it again and check out the competition more thoroughly. Thanks.

Just been looking at them and their accessories are incredibly expensive. Some others make them with the correct fitting, but not sure of the quality. :S Hmm.
 
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aef said:
I did look into it, a little. But Elinchrom come highly recommended and I kind of like being able to buy local to me (10 mins away) in case anything went wrong kind of thing. I'll consider it again and check out the competition more thoroughly. Thanks.
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I'm certainly not saying don't get them at all. If money were no object then the lights I would have are some Elinchrom lights, the ones where you can turn the lights on and off and adjust their levels etc by remote control :)
 
No don't worry about it, I appreciate the advice. I'm probably going to stick with elinchrom I thought about the BXRi with the remote control but figured it a bit overkill. I'll see how I get on with the d-lite tomorrow anyway :D

Thanks again for your help.
 
Hi aef,

I had the older set of these and now also have the newer set. They are superb lights, easy to use and I can see no problem with what you are trying to achieve.

I sold one of the light from my old set so now have three lights but have not had chance to give them a go yet.

Must add that whilst I have this set up I am no expert.

Regards

Chris
 
I use Elinchrom D-Lites, as do a few others on here. Excellent lights, pick of the bunch if you ask me, if not maybe the cheapest. Mine are only 200ws and plenty powerful enough for home portraits and small jobs. You actually need relatively little power to white out a background, but you do need two lights to get it evenly lit.

Elinchrom have their own light fitting, but quite a few other brands make Elinchrom fit, including Lencarta. Not sure why Garry didn't mention that above :thinking: Lencarata 120cm folding Octa is very nice and good value :thumbs:
 
you can buy plenty of offbrand mods that are fine (but no elinchrom!) on ebay and the like :)
 
Elinchrom d-lite 4's are a nice set of lights, I would go for them over the lencarta everytime, as has been said you can buy 3rd party accessories cheap that are of good quality, when and if you decide to add more lights its nice and esy and cheap to add another light to the setup.

Plus i believe if you hire your kit from the flash centre they give you half of it back if you decide to buy from them.
 
itsdavedotnet said:
you can buy plenty of offbrand mods that are fine (but no elinchrom!) on ebay and the like :)
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I know a few people who have bought these cheap lights off eBay and regretted it! There are some serious rubbish sets on there.

As always, buy cheap and you will have to buy again.

Regards

Chris
 
G2EWS said:
I know a few people who have bought these cheap lights off eBay and regretted it! There are some serious rubbish sets on there.

As always, buy cheap and you will have to buy again.

Regards

Chris
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I think we were talking about cheaper light modifiers rather than the lights themselves :)
 
cowasaki said:
I think we were talking about cheaper light modifiers rather than the lights themselves :)
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Ah I see! Sorry, misread it. Bloody malt whisky does it all the time :lol:

Regards

Chris
 
Thanks for all the help. With accessories if its a case of buying super high quality but expensive stuff thats gonna last and give better results I'll probably just go for it.

I've just got my rent set this morning and I'm loving them so far! Very impressed with the build quality of the lights, cases and accessories, the flash centre service is also excellent.

Heres a quick couple of shots I took of my lamp for lack of a better subject. I'll try some blown white tomorrow.
img26391.jpg


img263i.jpg


Thanks again for all the help.
 
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Finding blown white difficult with one light. I can blow it so nothing shows up, like creases or whatever, but it's not consistent light across. Another head would be perfect.

Loving the lights though.

Two pics.

img27z.jpg

img2759v.jpg
 
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aef said:
Finding blown white difficult with one light. I can blow it so nothing shows up, like creases or whatever, but it's not consistent light across. Another head would be perfect.
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D-lites are cracking little things. They certainly wont hold you back. Compatible Modifiers are plenty and as cheap as any bowens fit stuff. Original Bowens equipment modifiers are expensive as well.

Full body with an even 255 background is impossible with one light on the background due to the inverse square law.

Get two background lights and you are laughing.
 
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In my experience D-lites knock the spots off lencarta as they produce a much nice temperature.

there are modifiers with adaptive speedrings for elinchrom from many manufacturers.......don't believe the carp about expense, you get what you pay for with lights.

IMO of course.
 
Sorry to drag this back up but just wanted to say I got a great massive (like it wont fit in through a door massive) octagonal softbox for under £100 and I've got a medium sized beauty dish and 3 grids with a smaller wide angle reflector thing which will take gels and an umbrella all for under 150. So not terrible. Still just got the two lights but you get used to it and though another light would make it a lot easier I think I'll wait a while - reflectors and white wooden room divider type thing get me by.

Recommend the lights, I love everything about them. So easy to work with.\

All my links seem to die :S I'll put up some shots using the lights in a sec.



Little test with Canon G12
 
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