Confused Buyer! Lencarta or Bowens

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y2jas

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Hi all I am new to the boards, and I am looking at investing in a set of studio strobes for my garage. I started with a choice between Elinchrom and Bowens, but due to the pricing of the Elinchrom modifiers, I decided the Bowens 400/400 kit with Calumet triggers would be better as it has a robust build and S mount modifiers.

But then when I started to figure out the total cost of the modifiers included it almost comes close to the £2000 mark,

That involves two set of the Bowens 400/400 kits and all the toys inbetween

I have then seen the Lencarta 300 watt Elite Pro kit and the price point is very low, and the modifiers come at a much lower price point. Allowing me to buy four lights and modifiers at a much more affordable price point.

I have a few questions, if I could respectfully ask representatives or anyone affiliated with Lencarta to avoid posting, I would just like to hear the opinions of other users like myself.

Are there any Lencarta owners, who have had their kit for a year or more? If yes

- Which model do you have?
- Have you had any issues?
- How was the aftersales support ?

Also regarding the Lencarta modifiers,

-Are they durable ?
-Do they project any colour shifts onto the subject ?
-Doe provide an even illumination across the softbox for example, or Octabox ?

Finally any other info which you believe which would be relevant and would you recommend?

Thank you for reading and responding in advance :)
 
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Not sure where you are based but there was a 20% discount on a Bowens 400RX kit at a local Calumet open day last week.
 
a couple of questions first,

four heads seems alot as a starting point? and also where are you getting your prices from?
A bowens 400/400 kit with umbrella/softbox costs just shy of £600 from bowens direct, so thats an awful lot of modifiers for your change from £2k. Don't forget also that s-fit, is s-fit, is s-fit, so any s-fit modifier from any maker will still fit. As will as bowens itself, lencarta, besel and numerous others make great s-fit modifiers.

I've used lencarta heads for a number of years, and have just swapped everything to bowens. The reason I did this wasn't an issue with lencarta, but the availability of the excellent travel pak from bowens. To add portability to my lencarta set up would of cost around £1k and it cost about the same to move everything to bowens so I did.

To answer your specific questions,

Lencarta - a mix of EP 600 and EP 300 heads
The only issue was when a school kid knocked one over - hardly lencartas fault
He can be a little slow to respond, but generally good

Bowens - a mix of gemini 500c and 400c heads
No issues
No issues

I also use a range of modifiers from lencarta, besel and bowens all of which I'm happy with

Generally the bowens kit seems a little more versatile and a little better built. Its less clunky and feels less plasticy. I also get the impression the fittings are better quality and will hold heavier modifiers more securely and the lights will last longer. But thats my impression and I can't give anything other then opinion to support this.

I guess ultimately it depends on your use and budget
 
boyfalldown said:
a couple of questions first,

four heads seems alot as a starting point? and also where are you getting your prices from?
A bowens 400/400 kit with umbrella/softbox costs just shy of £600 from bowens direct, so thats an awful lot of modifiers for your change from £2k. Don't forget also that s-fit, is s-fit, is s-fit, so any s-fit modifier from any maker will still fit. As will as bowens itself, lencarta, besel and numerous others make great s-fit modifiers.

I've used lencarta heads for a number of years, and have just swapped everything to bowens. The reason I did this wasn't an issue with lencarta, but the availability of the excellent travel pak from bowens. To add portability to my lencarta set up would of cost around £1k and it cost about the same to move everything to bowens so I did.

To answer your specific questions,

Lencarta - a mix of EP 600 and EP 300 heads
The only issue was when a school kid knocked one over - hardly lencartas fault
He can be a little slow to respond, but generally good

Bowens - a mix of gemini 500c and 400c heads
No issues
No issues

I also use a range of modifiers from lencarta, besel and bowens all of which I'm happy with

Generally the bowens kit seems a little more versatile and a little better built. Its less clunky and feels less plasticy. I also get the impression the fittings are better quality and will hold heavier modifiers more securely and the lights will last longer. But thats my impression and I can't give anything other then opinion to support this.

I guess ultimately it depends on your use and budget
Click to expand...

I was planning on buying two heads to begin with, but the idea is to expand up to four lights. I am just costing it in advance.

Is it a wise approach to start with the two lighting kit and try to maximise your setups and skills using this method before moving onto four lights ?

In regards to the modifiers I was looking at the Lumiair modifiers, so the prices can really escalate.

Out of three which is your favourite, Bowens, Lencarta or Bessel Modifiers, do they present diff colour temps or uneven coverage or is the difference negligible ? Which Bowens modifiers did you go for?

Sorry for all the questions just want to ensure I make informed choices :)

Thank you for your help :)
 
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y2jas said:
I was planning on buying two heads to begin with, but the idea is to expand up to four lights. I am just costing it in advance.

Is it a wise approach to start with the two lighting kit and try to maximise your setups and skills using this method before moving onto four lights ?

In regards to the modifiers I was looking at the Lumiair modifiers, so the prices can really escalate.

Out of three which is your favourite, Bowens, Lencarta or Bessel Modifiers, do they present diff colour temps or uneven coverage or is the difference negligible ? Which Bowens modifiers did you go for?

Sorry for all the questions just want to ensure I make informed choices :)

Thank you for your help :)
Click to expand...

The difference in colour temps between the three is negligible. I don't think any of the three struggle with un even spread either.

Bowens I have a mix of softboxes, umbrellas and reflectors. But they aren't my go to choice by any means, thats always a mix of lencarta and bessel. Mainly because when I need something I know my budget will go further with those two. I think the lumiair modifiers are great, but you'll get a hell of a lot more for your money, especially as it sounds like you're just starting out, via bessel or lencarta. You just won't notice the difference at the moment.
 
- Which model do you have?
I have a pair of elite Pro 300 - never missed a beat.
- Have you had any issues? - the only one I had was with a jammed background stand, which I fixed with a combination of technical skill and violence


- How was the aftersales support ? - Good - Gary even answered one question at 11.30pm!
 
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At the cheaper end, Lencarta. For more money, Elinchrom. At the top end, Profoto is impressive. Those are the stand-out brands IMHO, and I think I've tested most of them.

There are plenty of third party manufacturers for EL modifiers. Interfit EX is the same fitting, Bessel, or some of the very nice Lencarta Profold softboxes come with interchangeable mounts. I have a couple of those on Elinchrom and very nice they are too.
 
Thanks for all your responses,

I spoke to a sales advisor from Wex on online chat and they advised the elinchrom d-lite 4 studio lights. The reasons being softboxes come as part of the package and umbrellas can be be bought at a more affordable price. So overall better value for money. Still confused, but they all seem like good options.

I am just concerned about reports of the D-LITE 4 build being very flimsy.

In regards to modifiers the Wex guy mentioned strobeam modifiers

http://www.wexphotographic.com/search/?q=strobeam

and Wex Pro modifiers ( softlite reflectors)

http://www.wexphotographic.com/search/?q=wex pro softlite
http://www.wexphotographic.com/search/?q=wex pro parabolic

I will look into bessel and Lencarta and Interfit modifers, if there any specific modifiers in any of the brands mentioned which you highly recommend that would be great :)
 
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I wouldn't describe D-Lites as flimsy at all. I've had mine for many years now, but I don't throw them around. The case is plastic, as it is with a lot of Elinchrom gear and others. Nothing wrong with that IMHO, lighter and perhaps cheaper, Elinchroms are certainly very well made. If a light falls over, the last thing I'd be worrying about is the casing.

You can get most studio lights in kits with various combinations of softboxes and brollies etc. All I would say is umbrellas are cheap, work well, and very fast to use. Everyone should have a few - white, silver and shoot-though give very different effects. And with softboxes, I have a personal hatred of the cheaper ones that are a right pain to put up and down. Elinchrom Rotalux are very nice, and so too are the simple push-up Lencarta Profolders.

When you look into it, you'll find a lot of these modifiers from different brands appears very similar, almost as if it's all come out of the same factory ;) FWIW, the two Lencarta softboxes I have are the 70x100 Profold, which is a wonderfully versatile size that I know a few folks on here use as their default general purpose light. And an 85 octa Profold that is my favourite portrait light. The grids and masks you can get for them, at sensible money, are a nice touch.

Have you thought about flash durations? Most of the entry-level stuff is quite sluggish, but only a problem if you have kids jumping about or similar.
 
y2jas said:
Thanks for all your responses,

I spoke to a sales advisor from Wex on online chat and they advised the elinchrom d-lite 4 studio lights. The reasons being softboxes come as part of the package and umbrellas can be be bought at a more affordable price. So overall better value for money. Still confused, but they all seem like good options.

I am just concerned about reports of the D-LITE 4 build being very flimsy.

In regards to modifiers the Wex guy mentioned strobeam modifiers

http://www.wexphotographic.com/search/?q=strobeam

and Wex Pro modifiers ( softlite reflectors)

http://www.wexphotographic.com/search/?q=wex pro softlite
http://www.wexphotographic.com/search/?q=wex pro parabolic

I will look into bessel and Lencarta and Interfit modifers, if there any specific modifiers in any of the brands mentioned which you highly recommend that would be great :)
Click to expand...
I'm not going to comment on your substantive questions because I'm involved with Lencarta, but it's pretty obvious that retailers tend to know far more about the products that they stock than those that they don't, and that they would soon run into problems if they pushed potential customers away...
 
There is also a new version of the D-Lites about to be launched at roughly the same price as current. I do not know if that is the current discounted retailers price or the current RRP but I was going to wait and see when considering the D-Lites the other week.
You can see the RX versions and specs on Elinchrom website.
 
HoppyUK said:
I wouldn't describe D-Lites as flimsy at all. I've had mine for many years now, but I don't throw them around. The case is plastic, as it is with a lot of Elinchrom gear and others. Nothing wrong with that IMHO, lighter and perhaps cheaper, Elinchroms are certainly very well made. If a light falls over, the last thing I'd be worrying about is the casing.

You can get most studio lights in kits with various combinations of softboxes and brollies etc. All I would say is umbrellas are cheap, work well, and very fast to use. Everyone should have a few - white, silver and shoot-though give very different effects. And with softboxes, I have a personal hatred of the cheaper ones that are a right pain to put up and down. Elinchrom Rotalux are very nice, and so too are the simple push-up Lencarta Profolders.

When you look into it, you'll find a lot of these modifiers from different brands appears very similar, almost as if it's all come out of the same factory ;) FWIW, the two Lencarta softboxes I have are the 70x100 Profold, which is a wonderfully versatile size that I know a few folks on here use as their default general purpose light. And an 85 octa Profold that is my favourite portrait light. The grids and masks you can get for them, at sensible money, are a nice touch.

Have you thought about flash durations? Most of the entry-level stuff is quite sluggish, but only a problem if you have kids jumping about or similar.
Click to expand...

Thanks once again for your response, I believe other peoples experiences are worth their weight in gold, because they have used the equipment and had a feel for it.

I feel like my head is on a sea saw and is rolling from Bowens to Lencarta to Bowens and back again :shrug:

In regards to flash duration, both 400 watt models for Bowens or Elinchrom do not have particularly fast flash durations. I believe that comes in at the pro level heads, so I can use my speedlites to freeze action for now I guess ( correct me if I am wrong)

The only thing which worries me about flash duration is powering down the studio flash unit. I believe the theory is at max power the studio strobe is at its fastest duration, but as you power down by 5 stops the flash duration is at longest flash duration, I just want to be safe that the longest flash duration is faster than the sync speed of 1/250th of a second, to prevent banding in my images

I assume you had to buy some kind of S mount adapter for Elinchrom to use the Lencarta modifiers.

So have you had any problems with overheating or technical issues with the Elinchrom ? Very impressive if you have got a couple of years of use out of them. That certainly gives me confidence in the product. How have you found the mounting system on the elinchroms?

Have you used Bowens ?, something about their build seems to inspire confidence in me.

Lastly I really like the fresnal modifier for Bowens, I can't seem to find anything similar in the Elinchrom range.
 
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testbloke said:
There is also a new version of the D-Lites about to be launched at roughly the same price as current. I do not know if that is the current discounted retailers price or the current RRP but I was going to wait and see when considering the D-Lites the other week.
You can see the RX versions and specs on Elinchrom website.
Click to expand...

I did speak to a salesmen at the flash centre and he did say that the old d-lites could be lowered in price potentially.
 
You're worrying too much. You won't go far wrong with any of the major brands and there's much more to be had out of different modifiers, and particularly your skill in using them, than there is between brands of head.

Unless you need something specific, like a lot of power, or a short duration, or a particular feature like remote control or a battery option or whatever, they're all much of a muchness in the basic business of flashing. If you're going to worry about whether S-fit is easier to use than Elinchrom, you'll drive yourself crazy.

Just buy a basic kit, not too much of it, and use it. Then add extra stuff as and when you know exactly where you are.
 
HoppyUK said:
You're worrying too much. You won't go far wrong with any of the major brands and there's much more to be had out of different modifiers, and particularly your skill in using them, than there is between brands of head.

Unless you need something specific, like a lot of power, or a short duration, or a particular feature like remote control or a battery option or whatever, they're all much of a muchness in the basic business of flashing. If you're going to worry about whether S-fit is easier to use than Elinchrom, you'll drive yourself crazy.

Just buy a basic kit, not too much of it, and use it. Then add extra stuff as and when you know exactly where you are.
Click to expand...

I think your right, I just need to decide, and then get on with perfecting the art of lighting :)

Thanks for your calming words. I might have to look around the forum it could be a great resource for learning :)
 
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