Anyone used Bowens Monolite's 200E ?

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MnM

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Just picked up a pair on Ebay. Thought I'd give them a go rather than go for some cheap foreign ones. Can't afford to splash out on anything expensive at the moment. Also I use Nikon flashes in the main, but wanted some studio lights for the occasions I do work indoors.

They look fairly straight forward and are described as "workhorses" so don't expect to many issues with them, will be interesting to see what they produce. They also look solid and have a nice retro look to them that I like.

Just wondering if anyone has used them and any tips and tricks from hands on experience - or anything to look out for.

Thanks
 
paulminus273 said:
Trigger voltage iir is about 200v not good for dslr’s
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Well, not good for SOME DSLR's if the connection is via a hotshoe, but PC sockets are much more tolerant and there's no problem when using a radio trigger...

200E...
Well, very old, from memory it has just two capacitors, full and half power and once capacitor switches out when reduced to half power - modern flash units have fine power adjustment and 4 to 5 times as much adjustment, but there are workarounds.

Again from memory, I think that the modelling lamp was one of the old 275w Photoflood bulbs, not sure that you can still get them.

And the accessory fitting was the old Bowens 'L' bayonet, you may struggle to find light modifiers for it.

But it was a well made, reliable unit in its day.
 
Thanks for the replies guys

Voltage is a good point, thanks, will be using some triggers so not connecting direct -although I might have in the future so worth bearing that in mind

Will have a scout on Ebay for some L types, thanks for that reference, guess that's the only place likely to have them

I've not paid a lot so not expecting them to be a permanent fixture, ideally want a battery pack solution in the future - but that's a bit of saving up to do.
 
Garry Edwards said:
Well, not good for SOME DSLR's if the connection is via a hotshoe, but PC sockets are much more tolerant and there's no problem when using a radio trigger...

200E...
Well, very old, from memory it has just two capacitors, full and half power and once capacitor switches out when reduced to half power - modern flash units have fine power adjustment and 4 to 5 times as much adjustment, but there are workarounds.

Again from memory, I think that the modelling lamp was one of the old 275w Photoflood bulbs, not sure that you can still get them.

And the accessory fitting was the old Bowens 'L' bayonet, you may struggle to find light modifiers for it.

But it was a well made, reliable unit in its day.
Click to expand...

400E is 275w es photoflood but I think the 200E is 150w es fitting
 
MnM said:
It turns out to be 275 es. However I'm more concerned about the flash if that goes :gag:
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Well, hopefully you paid so little for them that you can just throw them away and treat yourself to some new Lencarta ones:)

But there are probably still some people around who can fix them, it's really just a question of whether it will be cost effective.
 
I to have gone with cheap old lights (couteneys) I got 4 for less than 1 good lencarta . will I be replacing them hell yes, but it is for me a good learning tool ,I bodge light modifiers, work around the fact I only have full and half power and learn a lot about what I do need.
One head at a time as funds become available I will replace each head with lencarta heads, why lencarta heads, unless I knew that I would using them full time 5or6 days a week for a lot of years the more expensive makes just do not make economic sense.
I should get back most of what I have spent reselling the old ones on ebay as I replace them.
Ps Bowens flash tubes are on ebay for over £30 each
 
You can by an "S" to "L" type adaptor making modifiers cheaper to find than searching for the old ones.

I had a pair of the 400's for years before swapping to the newer Gemini 500's, sold them on ebay too!
 
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