Long list of wants, not sure where to go?

ding76uk

ding76uk

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Carl
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I am looking for my first full flash set up. I was tempted by the Alien Bees, but obviously now they do not ship here.

Requirement list is:

Decent power
Mains and Battery Pack powered (battery pack not to cost the earth)
Short flash duration
Easy enough to carry around for outdoor shoots.

Anyone have any ideas on this?

I know the Elinchrom Quadras would be ideal but looking at around £600 max budget really.

Any suggestions, or do I need to just save my pennies for the quardras?

Thanks in advance
 
Garry, out of interest, with the Safari can you plug the heads straight into the mains, or do they always have to go through the battery generator? Can you charge the battery generator off the mains while shooting simultaneously?

Cheers.
 
HoppyUK said:
Garry, out of interest, with the Safari can you plug the heads straight into the mains, or do they always have to go through the battery generator? Can you charge the battery generator off the mains while shooting simultaneously?

Cheers.
Click to expand...
No, heads have to be plugged into the generator, they can't be plugged into the mains.
The charge switch and the on off switch on the generator are the same, so switching the generator on also switches the charger off and vice versa, to protect the system - but the charger can be left connected when mains power is available, so that when the model goes off to get changed or whatever, switching the unit off starts to charge it.
 
Lencarta said:
No, heads have to be plugged into the generator, they can't be plugged into the mains.
The charge switch and the on off switch on the generator are the same, so switching the generator on also switches the charger off and vice versa, to protect the system - but the charger can be left connected when mains power is available, so that when the model goes off to get changed or whatever, switching the unit off starts to charge it.
Click to expand...

Cheers Garry. Seems quite workable. Couple more questions just for interest really.

I think this is how most generator systems work isn't it? Do you know why they have to work this way? Though I think there is an imported battery generator system that will drive regular mains studio lights.

In your view, if you want to use a flash system both in the studio and on location, do you think it is practical to get something like the Safari for both appications? Apart from the extra cost of the generators, are there any other drawbacks? Feeble modelling lights, slower recycle, that sort of thing? Maybe in general, not necessarily Lencarta if that makes any difference.

Thanks again :)
 
Richard, all generator kits work this way because the heads really only contain a flash tube and a modelling lamp, everything else is in the generator pack.

You're right, battery powered flashes have the drawbacks of feeble modelling lamps and slower recycling, the results they produce are of course identical to mains powered flash but ideally people should have both. There are battery packs - basically car batteries with inverters - that will power mains flashes but they are expensive for what they are and they provide a very small number of flashes.
 
Lencarta said:
Richard, all generator kits work this way because the heads really only contain a flash tube and a modelling lamp, everything else is in the generator pack.

You're right, battery powered flashes have the drawbacks of feeble modelling lamps and slower recycling, the results they produce are of course identical to mains powered flash but ideally people should have both. There are battery packs - basically car batteries with inverters - that will power mains flashes but they are expensive for what they are and they provide a very small number of flashes.
Click to expand...

Should have guessed there was a catch ;) Thanks for the info :thumbs:
 
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