Looking for 3 light indoor/outdoor system

[Scott Freestyle]

My background is videography and recently Ive been experimenting with portrait photography using a variety of *continuous lights.

I have decided that I want to venture in to flash photography, for several reasons, the most important of which is the abundance of light modifiers... Also I like location shooting so overpowering the sun is another reason.

I want to build a system that will be used for both studio work and for location shooting. I want two lights for location.. So I'm thinking Safari Li On or Quadra Rangers.. But I also want a studio flash that I can use as my main light so the Li On or Quadras can be fill and background light.

I want the system to communicate in the most seamless and intuitive way possible..this is very important!!

I have a budget of £1500 - 2000

Obviously, the cheaper the better, but if the features on the more expensive system are worth it, I'm in... Please spec me what you think would be most suited to my needs..

Thanks guys..


PS: I don't need any modifiers, I have a separate budget for those.

 

[Garry Edwards]

If you're shooting outdoors in bright light and you want to control the light, rather than just add to it, then power becomes very important. Fast recycling and good battery life are very important too, both indoors and out.

Either the Lencarta Safari or the Elinchrom Quadra will work seamlessly with studio lights, there's nothing in it, when used indoors, except for the differences in battery life and recycling time. In this situation, you would either fit a radio receiver to each light or you would fit it to just the portable system, and let the studio flashes act as slaves.

When buying lighting (or anything else come to that) what you need to look at isn't features, it's actual, real benefits.

Just in case you think I'm biased, I am - but as the Safari Li-on is once again out of stock and there is an ever-lengthening waiting list for it, I'm just adding to my problems if I create even more new customers for it

 

[markmullen]

If you go for Quadra Ranger they will work perfectly with any of the Skyport enabled Elinchrom mains units, from the entry level dlites upwards to the high end flashes. I use Quadra Rangers and love them, one little briefcase has two heads, two batteries, charger, pack, cables and hotshoe transmitter, it is light, durable and very flexible. At work we use them on location car photoshoots for the Porsche magazines, I use my set for all sorts including interiors, portraits etc.