Bowens equipment

admirable

admirable

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Why is it that Bowens equipment is rarely mention on TP, are they old fashioned or too expensive or what?
 
There's no such thing as too expensive in studio lighting!

This is an assumption but I think Bowens were a victim of their own success as they seem to have been bypassed by their competition in almost every regard with newer products. That's not to say I think they're bad, they make good products but looking specifically at their monoblocs they don't excel in any specific area that would make me want to recommend them over the competition.

Take for example radio triggering, they literally just introduced it on their budget models (200/400) but they managed to balls that up by increasing the price just for the inclusion of the receiver and they still don't do power adjustment. Now that's not the end of the world but it is something I take for granted from literally every other brand and if I want to use it on any of the higher end models I have to pay £70 for their Pulsar card which still doesn't do power adjustment (I think).

Ask yourself the question, why would you recommend Bowens? I'm not seeing a reason to choose them over the competition.
 
It's the way these things go when a 'market leader' fails to look in the rear view mirror. Their build quality has gone down to match the market, but the feature set is now behind.

Look also at Pocketwizard, who fell too. lastolite are heading that way too, there's probably only the hilite that gets recommendations nowadays.
 
There's no such thing as too expensive in studio lighting!
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Of course there is, if you see two identical and one is twice the price of the other it stand to reason the more expensive one is too expensive.

[QUOTE]Take for example radio triggering, they literally just introduced it on their budget models (200/400)[/QUOTE]Built in triggers are not all good news, they tie the photographer into a closed system where the manufacturers can charge over the odds on the trigger transmitter.

I think all the traditional manufacturers of photo gear have got to in Phill's words 'look in the rear view mirror' because the Chinese made kit is getting better and better. Even now they are taking sales away from the traditional budget studio light brand Interfit, another brand who thought they had a segment of the market to themselves.
 
redsnappa said:
Of course there is, if you see two identical and one is twice the price of the other it stand to reason the more expensive one is too expensive.
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The comment was meant as tongue in cheek, seemingly there is no price limit when you have companies like Bron, Profoto and Briese but yes sure in a completely hypothetical not relevant to the real world situation where you have two identical products at different price points you buy the cheaper one.

redsnappa said:
Built in triggers are not all good news, they tie the photographer into a closed system where the manufacturers can charge over the odds on the trigger transmitter.
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When is this ever a concern? If you can't justify the cost of the first party trigger then you can just buy a generic one for a tenner but it's not much of an alternative when the first party option is normally more compact and offers additional controls. In the grand scheme I don't consider radio control a big deal but it's an illustration of how Bowens are clearly lacking as their solution is late, expensive and inferior to their competitors.
 
The comment was meant as tongue in cheek
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If it was you would have said so at the time of posting. you made the error of spouting out a often said clichéd phrase without thinking if it is true or not.
 
admirable said:
Why is it that Bowens equipment is rarely mention on TP, are they old fashioned or too expensive or what?
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Could be because most people have certain brand affinity on here.
 
redsnappa said:
If it was you would have said so at the time of posting. you made the error of spouting out a often said clichéd phrase without thinking if it is true or not.
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You appear to have a chip on your shoulder or you seriously think I'm trying to imply that cost isn't a factor.

Please go re-read my first post where I explain the added cost of the Bowens equipment is a disadvantage (the head with inbuilt receiver being more expensive and the added cost of the Pulsar card) or you can continue this weird attack.

Plus how the heck is price not mattering a cliche? I've not seen anyone ever make that claim.
 
Could be because most people have certain brand affinity on here.
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You are correct, Bowens were once fashionable a while ago now Ellinchrom and Lencarta seem to be favourable for those photographers who spend too much time watching what others are using.
 
By radio trigger do you mean wireless trigger? I was using a bowens 3 head kit with wireless trigger 7-8 years ago just fine.
 
I don't have any Bowens studio equipment, my perception is that the Company produces the equivalent of the old Volvo Estate, expensive, well built, staid, not especially innovative or exciting. All the innovation seems to be coming from companies like Yongnuo which has products I do own, Yongnuo especially seems to be developing new products at a staggering rate that are indeed, better with every generation and it too has studio flash heads in the pipeline. I would agree that a number of the photography sector large companies are not keeping up with progress and the need to innovate a little more to survive the onslaught. My perceptions are of course, influenced by the fact that I am not a full time user of such equipment and what I do use has relatively light use.
 
Byker28i said:
By radio trigger do you mean wireless trigger? I was using a bowens 3 head kit with wireless trigger 7-8 years ago just fine.
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some brands have built in triggers, together with the ability to control power from the camera. Bowen are lacking that. There are no issues plugging a trigger in

HarveyM said:
I don't have any Bowens studio equipment, my perception is that the Company produces the equivalent of the old Volvo Estate, expensive, well built, staid, not especially innovative or exciting. All the innovation seems to be coming from companies like Yongnuo which has products I do own, Yongnuo especially seems to be developing new products at a staggering rate that are indeed, better with every generation and it too has studio flash heads in the pipeline. I would agree that a number of the photography sector large companies are not keeping up with progress and the need to innovate a little more to survive the onslaught. My perceptions are of course, influenced by the fact that I am not a full time user of such equipment and what I do use has relatively light use.
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I'd agree with that, however also like a volvo my Bowens just keep going and going
 
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Bowens are great work horse and can take a bashing. Rare they go wrong... used them and Elinchrome for last 20 years..................... not fussed about gizmos... you can add them... Just need lights that will do the job.

Had them bounce.... travel day after day none stop. only ever changed 3 flash tubes in that time..... Now that I've gone and said that.....................
 
Phil V said:
It's the way these things go when a 'market leader' fails to look in the rear view mirror. Their build quality has gone down to match the market, but the feature set is now behind.

Look also at Pocketwizard, who fell too. lastolite are heading that way too, there's probably only the hilite that gets recommendations nowadays.
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Who are hilite? Do you have a link please Phil for future reference. Theyre noir coming up in google :thumbs:
 
The Hilite is part of the Lastolite range, it's effectively a giant portable softbox used as a lit background or large light source, lit with 2 studio flashes.
 
I have 3 Bowens studio pro lights, used them for about 4 years or so and they haven't missed a beat. Built like brick outhouses, [they are heavy!] As above I just use whatever triggers I have. My only slight niggle with using external triggers is that they just, well, dangle there. There is nowhere to attach them, must stick some velcro on!
I also have two Paul Buff 'Einstein' studio lights, beautiful and super fast but I really would not like to treat them like the Bowens.....
 
I still have a 3 set 500 watt Bowens plus the gubbins that goes with them along with a Wein SSR Transmitter atop of my camera's hotshoe that sets off the flash(es).
The Bowens have an in-built receiver so no need for the one that marries up with the Wein.
The Wein SSR Transmitter is infa-red so no wires, does that make it wifi? :naughty:
 
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