Comparison of portable power options

Selbosh

Selbosh

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I've put together a webpage comparing all the portable power solutions for location lighting I could think of:

Portable power guide

Hopefully people will find this of use.

If you can think of an item I've missed, or there is a feature you'd like to see compared (e.g. flash duration), I'll see about adding it in.
 
Would like to see some idea of price rather than having to go all over the place to find them.

Handy info though:)
 
I initially took out price because it varies so much depending on which country you live in and which retailer you pick. I may put in a rough MSRP/average price for UK/US.

At the moment, as a general rule, "Budget" is sub-£1000 and "How much?!" is £2000+.
 
Looks very helpful :thumbs:
 
A table for side by side comparisons would be a neater solution.

Ta, though.
 
a thought on an only semi related topic occured to me, with a Tronix Xplorer I could run a head off it or my die sub at an event I like that plan :p
 
You forgot Quantum Qflash and turbo batteries, perfect when I can't carry my bowens:)
 
Kris said:
A table for side by side comparisons would be a neater solution.
Click to expand...

The table you seek is here. I've added a link to the page. It only has pack-and-heads on it since adding the monolights to the same sheet made things confusing. I could make a separate sheet for them.

Vaguely approximate rough prices have been added in.

I will add Profoto and Quantum when I get the chance.
 
Very useful, but a small correction - The Lencarta Safari recharge time (full power) is 3.5 secs, stretching to 4 secs at the end of the battery charge, not 5.5 secs
 
neat. I'm gonna get a tronix pack asap, perfect solution for me really...

the flash centre (uk based) sell them too, albeit marked up.
 
import is about £285 total all in according to a friend who ordered one about a month ago. The way to go ;)
 
HoppyUK, direct from the tronix website.

explorer xt 349
shipping 49
optional bag 40
total 434 USD

exchange rates change, but it's in the region of 285ish...will speak to my friend and see what customs etc were due, he said it wasn't much.
 
I know someone who only paid £30 for importing one.
 
itsdavedotnet said:
HoppyUK, direct from the tronix website.

explorer xt 349
shipping 49
optional bag 40
total 434 USD

exchange rates change, but it's in the region of 285ish...will speak to my friend and see what customs etc were due, he said it wasn't much.
Click to expand...

Right, found it now - using wrong spelling!

http://www.innovatronix.com/explorerXT.asp

Now why shouldn't I just use one of those and plug in my regular Elinchrom studio lights, rather than buy a complete new battery powered outfit of lights with their own special battery generator?
 
Hoppy, it'll be a slightly larger, heavier setup, and you're running mains about outside (so use RCD plugs or similar)...but other than that, there's no real difference really, Tim Hogan uses them and couldn't find them altering colour temp or anything... put it this way, I'm buying an explorer xt or two over the next few months ;)
 
itsdavedotnet said:
Hoppy, it'll be a slightly larger, heavier setup, and you're running mains about outside (so use RCD plugs or similar)...but other than that, there's no real difference really, Tim Hogan uses them and couldn't find them altering colour temp or anything... put it this way, I'm buying an explorer xt or two over the next few months ;)
Click to expand...

Thanks for that.

I kind of thought they had hopeless recyle times or something but the video disproves that. Impressive. I guess it's just the mains-outside safety issue then.

And given that lights on stands are hardly portable anyway, this side of Elinchrom Quadras, a bit more bulk doesn't seem that much of an issue.

Cheers :)
 
HoppyUK said:
Thanks for that.

I kind of thought they had hopeless recyle times or something but the video disproves that. Impressive. I guess it's just the mains-outside safety issue then.

And given that lights on stands are hardly portable anyway, this side of Elinchrom Quadras, a bit more bulk doesn't seem that much of an issue.

Cheers :)
Click to expand...

yep, mine will live in the bottom of my peli 1650 anyway, so it's not really an issue lol...

the bowens travelpack system is neat...but each one can power just 2 lights, and only for 100 pops or so, has pretty slow recycle times, and it's the price of two tronix packs... hmmmm let me think >_>
 
Might as well get the Explorer XT SE for the same price. I think its more compatible with vari voltage guns.
 
Selbosh said:
I've put together a webpage comparing all the portable power solutions for location lighting I could think of:

If you can think of an item I've missed, or there is a feature you'd like to see compared (e.g. flash duration), I'll see about adding it in.
Click to expand...

I think you've done great job. Having spent some months looking at the different systems, I know what a Minefield it was. My only point would be that you've possibly over simplified it. For my outdoor requirements it was surprising how many looked good on power to recycle times etc, but as soon as you looked at any sort of water proofing :shrug:
I'd have thought,using any thing electrical outdoors, in the rain, that has any sort of dials or switches is likely to fail, (though I'm no electrician) :)
 
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