Elinchrom Quadras

Ian Boichat

Ian Boichat

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I have searched around but hopefully someone can give some advice. Currently use Bowens in the studio (very happy with them) but want to start using lights on location (must be all this sunny weather...) like the look of the quadras but was wondering how well they would work as additional studio lights playing along with the Bowens, as far as triggering etc (currently using the Bowens pulsar) or would I be better off just getting the battery pack and taking my geminis out (they're not quite as portable!)
 
The advantage of the quadra over your bowens with travelpak are the weight and space saving.

The little quadras really are fantastic...I see no reason why they won't work seamlessly as additional lights in the studio.
 
Thanks for the feedback. Feels a bit odd mixing systems but for portability they do look like the best solution. When I'm using them with the others can they be flash triggered or will the radio systems talk to each other, that was my other concern.
 
The other advantage of the Quadra is the fast recycling, which you won't get with the Bowens battery pack. The disadvantages are cost and limited battery life.

You'll get the same advantages but at lower cost and with the benefit of S-fit, which means that you can use your existing Bowens light shapers/accessories, with the new Lencarta Safari Li-on, coming soon. It's currently on the Lencarta website as the Discovery, but there are going to be some changes to both the kit and the name, as soon as some details have been finalised.

So, if you're in a rush you might want to get the Quadra - it's a good product - but if you can wait a couple of weeks you might want to look at the Safari Li-on before deciding
 
most battery packs have limited power control for connecting a second flash. ie 1st flash head 70% power , 2nd 30% power... so you cant independently control the power for each head, instead limited to the ratio setting of the pack.

In the case of lencarta discovery 'If 2 flash heads are fitted, up to 400Ws of power is delivered to socket A and the other 200Ws is delivered to socket B' resulting in a 1:2 ratio
 
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im thinking of getting quadra's, well 1 pack at the mo LOL, cant afford anymore than that, fingers crossed they will slowly replace my monoblocs in the studio, in the field i use speedlights, but sometimes there just not powerful enough and i prefer to have a modeling lamp too, believe the bowens, when attached to battery pack doesnt give this option, dont know about the lencarta, however im about to have a look on there website :bonk:
 
Thanks Tristan, that makes some kind of sense. Now I understand why the reviewer on warehouse express was talking about getting another battery pack so they could independently control each light too but then it starts getting really expensive!
 
Does get expensive to have a nice proper portable studio kit, i always think ratio is an option to use if you really have to, but its certainly not first choice.

If you look at behind the scenes of professional photographers, they normally have a few packs with 1 light on each.. even top end big packs that are 2400ws, they only connect one light.
 
blinkerz said:
Does get expensive to have a nice proper portable studio kit, i always think ratio is an option to use if you really have to, but its certainly not first choice.

If you look at behind the scenes of professional photographers, they normally have a few packs with 1 light on each.. even top end big packs that are 2400ws, they only connect one light.
Click to expand...

Yes, that's right, and exactly what I do myself. It's just easier.
The problem with any generator pack (mains or battery) is that to get true asymetric power really means having two generators built into the same box, which affects both cost and bulk. So most manufacturers take the more economical option of having a fixed distribution ratio to each channel, in the case of the new Lencarta Safari Li-on it's 2:1, which means a max of 600 Ws if 1 head is connected to socket A, and a max of 400 & 200 Ws if heads are connected to both, which gives a wide range of adjustment and keeps most people happy.
 
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I've got the Quadra's and love them. Great bit of kit and really useful to take on location. You can fit the battery pack into a rucksack and carry it on your back if you wanted to.

I would agree about buying another pack if you can, it's what I eventually would like to do. For the time being I use a 580 and the other head in the B socket if I need to.
 
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