Bowens Gemini 500r Travel Pak

Phil Bennett

Phil Bennett

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Guys

This may sound a daft question, but, can you use these lights outdoors and is it safe to do so?

Regards

Phil
 
Yes, and safe for you its intended to do.

Travel Pak is a portable power source for mono blocks
 
Yes, as long as it isn't raining. They don't use an inverter so only low voltage.

Edit:
Don't expect quick recycle times though, but they are good for a couple of hundred flashes per charge. Remember there are two battery sizes also.
 
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Well Phil I was having a chat to a sales rep about my Elinchrom rangers I picked over the travel pak and use my Bowens. He said they he had lots of returns and problems with them.
 
Ralphmyster said:
Well Phil I was having a chat to a sales rep about my Elinchrom rangers I picked over the travel pak and use my Bowens. He said they he had lots of returns and problems with them.
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Hi Graham

Sorry, Im struggleing to understand what you mean in your reply. Did you pick the Elinchrom Rangers over the Bowens travel Pak? because of the issues the rep implied.

Or have I missed the point all together?

Regards

Phil
 
an Elenchrom rep talking about a competitors product. :thinking:

:D

I spent a fair while looking at the battery pak option for my new R's, didn't come across any shocking statistics for it tbh
 
digitalfailure said:
an Elenchrom rep talking about a competitors product. :thinking:

:D

I spent a fair while looking at the battery pak option for my new R's, didn't come across any shocking statistics for it tbh
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Brian

Did you buy the battery pak for the R's, if so, are you happy with the product?

Regards

Phil
 
No Phil sorry

Decided to continue using speedlites outdoors as they'd make me cry less if one blew over in the wind :eek:
 
No issues yet with my Travel pak :), wouldn't use it in the rain but that's just sensible :) recycle times aren't bad no worse then other systems I've used you can also slow the recycle time down to improve battery if you don't mind the extra second or so :).
 
kiteninja said:
No issues yet with my Travel pak :), wouldn't use it in the rain but that's just sensible :) recycle times aren't bad no worse then other systems I've used you can also slow the recycle time down to improve battery if you don't mind the extra second or so :).
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Cheers Morgan Lee

Phil
 
digitalfailure said:
No Phil sorry

Decided to continue using speedlites outdoors as they'd make me cry less if one blew over in the wind :eek:
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:lol: I know what you mean - even though the price of an SB900 is about the same as a Bowens 500 head...

Think of it as 'bounce-flash' technique taken to extreme...
 
I'm canon user ;)

Also, when it comes to speedlites I find the nissin di866 far better value than the canon 580 as it's much less £ for the same feature set.

I also don't mind carrying 3 speedlites and stands across fields to get a location shot.... 3 bowens and a battery pak is a much heavier solution :eek:

:)
 
Hi
I bought the rangers a while ago, I went to Calumet yesterday to pick up snoot for my bowens pros,while talking to the rep at there Bowens stand there was travel packs on the stand, I told him I went for the rangers over the bowens because of the recycle times. he said "good choice we have had lots of returns with the travel packs not the larger ones the small one". they do not deal in Elinchrom only Bowens or own brand.
so he was not giving a sales pitch.
 
Ralphmyster said:
Hi
I bought the rangers a while ago, I went to Calumet yesterday to pick up snoot for my bowens pros,while talking to the rep at there Bowens stand there was travel packs on the stand, I told him I went for the rangers over the bowens because of the recycle times. he said "good choice we have had lots of returns with the travel packs not the larger ones the small one". they do not deal in Elinchrom only Bowens or own brand.
so he was not giving a sales pitch.
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Hi Graham

Thanks for that, now I understand, thanks again.

I was talking online to the Warehouse Express guys and they only do the Travel Pak kit 500R with the small battery and would not swap it out for a larger one and I would pay the difference.

The reason for my question in the OP, was because he said that he would not use Studio Lights outdoors, which got me thinking, these are Studio lights with a battery, was there some reason he said that?

I will take your views into consideration when making my choice.

Regards

Phil
 
Phil Bennett said:
Hi Graham

Thanks for that, now I understand, thanks again.

I was talking online to the Warehouse Express guys and they only do the Travel Pak kit 500R with the small battery and would not swap it out for a larger one and I would pay the difference.

The reason for my question in the OP, was because he said that he would not use Studio Lights outdoors, which got me thinking, these are Studio lights with a battery, was there some reason he said that?

I will take your views into consideration when making my choice.

Regards

Phil
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I got my pak for dalephotographic :) they where very helpful when choosing the right set up.
 
I am expecting the 400/400 kit with larger Travelpak to arrive this Tuesday.

I phoned several companies to see if they would swap the smaller pack for the larger one. Dale Photographic were the only company who agreed to do it. Excellent service, and brilliant price. I spoke to Stephen Ridsdale who was extremely helpful and answered emails very quickly. The kit is all coming straight from Bowens.

Warehouse Express said that they cannot swap the larger pack for the smaller one in a kit. The lady I spoke to stated that no other company will do it. She was right, every other company (except Dale Photographic) I phoned said that I can buy the 400/400 kit and Large Travelpak separately, but not as a kit.
 
Andrew H said:
I am expecting the 400/400 kit with larger Travelpak to arrive this Tuesday.

I phoned several companies to see if they would swap the smaller pack for the larger one. Dale Photographic were the only company who agreed to do it. Excellent service, and brilliant price. I spoke to Stephen Ridsdale who was extremely helpful and answered emails very quickly. The kit is all coming straight from Bowens.

Warehouse Express said that they cannot swap the larger pack for the smaller one in a kit. The lady I spoke to stated that no other company will do it. She was right, every other company (except Dale Photographic) I phoned said that I can buy the 400/400 kit and Large Travelpak separately, but not as a kit.
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Thanks Andrew for the reply

Thats two thumbs up for Dale Photographic

Phil
 
Im not sure about the new style but im sure you used to be able to get a kind of extra battery by bowens which fitted on the top or bottom doubling the capacity of the pak.
 
r-play said:
Im not sure about the new style but im sure you used to be able to get a kind of extra battery by bowens which fitted on the top or bottom doubling the capacity of the pak.
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Yes you can, which is what Warehouse Express offered me at first - a back up large capacity battery as well as the pack with smaller battery. This was not an option for me for several reasons - cost, size and weight. So I decided to find a company who would swap the pack with the smaller capacity battery for one with the larger battery.

I should be receiving the kit tomorrow so will report back confirming the service of Dale Photographic.
 
I use my Travelpak with one 1000pro and have had no problems yet. I do have the larger battery pack though.

It lasts ages although I have never found the need to shoot above half power, even when vs the sun. Consequently, I've never really noticed the relatively long recycle times. If you're going to be shooting at full power a lot, then there are faster systems out there that would probably be more appropriate.
 
Andrew H said:
You're welcome. I'll post in here when I've received it on (hopefully) Tuesday just for a more backed up thumbs up!

Andrew
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Just though I'd post to say that I received it today.

There was a minor error in the computer system at the distributors so it had actually not been sent out as of yesterday 12pm. However both Stephen Ridsdale of Dale Photographic and the distributors chased it all up throughout the day and sent it out via FedEx next day delivery.

Excellent service on both parts, highly recommended both for service and price. :thumbs:
 
Andrew H said:
Just though I'd post to say that I received it today.

There was a minor error in the computer system at the distributors so it had actually not been sent out as of yesterday 12pm. However both Stephen Ridsdale of Dale Photographic and the distributors chased it all up throughout the day and sent it out via FedEx next day delivery.

Excellent service on both parts, highly recommended both for service and price. :thumbs:
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The distributor is normally Bowens direct :) and they are the friendliest bunch of people, ordered a 500Pro today from Dale inc another 8m Travelpak cable :) will be with me tomorrow before 12.

(opted out of getting a ringflash got the 500P instead)
 
Andrew H said:
Yes you can, which is what Warehouse Express offered me at first - a back up large capacity battery as well as the pack with smaller battery. This was not an option for me for several reasons - cost, size and weight. So I decided to find a company who would swap the pack with the smaller capacity battery for one with the larger battery.

I should be receiving the kit tomorrow so will report back confirming the service of Dale Photographic.
Click to expand...

Nice one, i did a search but couldn't really find any info on it.
 
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