New Bowens Lighting

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n1blo

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David
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Hey, last week I purchased the Bowens Gemini 200 x2, but I'm having issues with both heads firing, it seems like the photocell won't pick up the strobe... It works on occasion, but ideally I'd like it to fire 100% of the time.

So I'm looking at radio triggers which should be a little bit more reliable, PocketWizards would be ideal, but they are pretty expensive so right now I'm looking for a budget option.

Would these do the trick? cheers :)
 
If the slaves aren't working there's a fault, send them back if you can?

I've never used the triggers you've linked. I have previously used pocket wizards, and now use elinchrom skyports. They have both worked faultlessly.

Regards

Danny
 
I'm thinking I may take them back. Thing is they work for about 50% of shots, looking through shots I've taken a lot of them are half light. For lights costing nearly £500 you'd think they would perform better than that!
 
the optical slaves should work fine...


for radio triggers, go on ebay and search for 'rf602'. buy the one with your camera in the title, and an extra reciever (usually linked within the listing)
 
n1blo said:
Hey, last week I purchased the Bowens Gemini 200 x2, but I'm having issues with both heads firing, it seems like the photocell won't pick up the strobe... It works on occasion, but ideally I'd like it to fire 100% of the time.
Click to expand...

If your main light is on very low power or some distance from the 2nd light, there may not be enough light emitted for the other slave to pick it up.
 
chip said:
If your main light is on very low power or some distance from the 2nd light, there may not be enough light emitted for the other slave to pick it up.
Click to expand...
There's a bit more to it than that, slave sensors work on the difference in energy between the ambient light and the flash. Obviously if the power setting is very low or if the distance between lights is too great then there may not be enough difference to trigger the sensor, but if the ambient light is too bright it will cause problems too - so sunlight streaming through a window onto the sensor, or the light from the modelling lamp on another head can cause a problem too - worth checking before you send the lights back.

And where is the sensor on those heads anyway? The sensible place to put a slave sensor is always on the top, where it will 'see' the light from almost any direction, but I have a feeling that it's somewhere else on these lights...
 
Thanks very much for your responses guys, much appreciated.

The light sensor is pretty much on the top of the head, the unit is iirc hexagonal and it is on one of the top sides.

Even with a medium power standing right next to each other they still don't trigger 100% of the time.. Faulty unit would you say?

Fair point about the sunlight though, didn't realise that was how they were triggered, I did have them sitting next to the patio doors, but here in Scotland we never get extreme weather, it was pretty muggy! I might go through to the shop tomorrow to return them, I wanted a set of Lencarta Elite Pro 300W but I had to opt for these due to time constraints, I've regreted the decision since! :(
 
n1blo said:
Thanks very much for your responses guys, much appreciated.

The light sensor is pretty much on the top of the head, the unit is iirc hexagonal and it is on one of the top sides.

Even with a medium power standing right next to each other they still don't trigger 100% of the time.. Faulty unit would you say?

Fair point about the sunlight though, didn't realise that was how they were triggered, I did have them sitting next to the patio doors, but here in Scotland we never get extreme weather, it was pretty muggy! I might go through to the shop tomorrow to return them, I wanted a set of Lencarta Elite Pro 300W but I had to opt for these due to time constraints, I've regreted the decision since! :(
Click to expand...
Ah yes, the hexagonal bit on the left looking from the back? Which means that it doesn't see light coming from the right. It could be a fault but to be honest a sensor is such a simple bit of kit that it's unlikely.

If you do decide to return them the Lencarta ElitePro are in stock...
 
Just get some wireless triggers and keep your bowens, you'll want some eventually anyway they're much more reliable
 
Gotta say... for the optical slaves on BOTH of two bowens heads to be broken... sounds significantly more like user error than product failure to me tbh...
 
Slave on my Gemini is at the back pretty much the exact same location as on my Lencartas, make sure,

A:The Cell switch is on.
B:There is nothing interfeering with the sensor (sun, bright light, piece of protective tape)
C:The flash is ready to use and not charging.

Then send back for testing but if they are broke just get a new set although you would save a bit of dosh going lencarta.

Another trigger to look for is the Calumet Atlas just search atlas on there site and you get it straight away, mine arrived today :) had a full shoot today and they worked fine, nice & solid.
 
the hexagonal thing on the back is a sync cable port!
Gemini-R-rear-3.jpg


the photocell is the red window on the top

Esprit_gemini_200.jpg


are you using an on camera flash to fire two studio heads?
 
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itsdavedotnet said:
Gotta say... for the optical slaves on BOTH of two bowens heads to be broken... sounds significantly more like user error than product failure to me tbh...
Click to expand...

kiteninja said:
Slave on my Gemini is at the back pretty much the exact same location as on my Lencartas, make sure,

Then send back for testing but if they are broke just get a new set although you would save a bit of dosh going lencarta.

Another trigger to look for is the Calumet Atlas just search atlas on there site and you get it straight away, mine arrived today :) had a full shoot today and they worked fine, nice & solid.
Click to expand...

Thanks I will have a look at the Calumet Atlas, as I still need something to trigger my Speedlites.

I took them back to the shop, set them up and the guys in store had the same problem, sorry I didn't mention it was one unit that misbehaved more-so that the other. I got a full refund and ordered a set of Elite Pro 300w, background support and 6/3m Grey muslin backdrop this morning, spoke with Gary, who was very helpful! should hopefully be here tomorrow :)

Thanks for all your help guys.
 
Adeyb said:
the hexagonal thing on the back is a sync cable port!
Gemini-R-rear-3.jpg


the photocell is the red window on the top

Esprit_gemini_200.jpg


are you using an on camera flash to fire two studio heads?
Click to expand...

I tried using both the sync cable inserted into one head, and a speedlight to trigger both heads, both had similar results. One of the photocells was definitely broken... Now I could have used the sync lead into that unit and it would have negated the fault, but I'm not shelling out £500 for something that is technically knackered! :bonk:
 
n1blo said:
Thanks I will have a look at the Calumet Atlas, as I still need something to trigger my Speedlites.

I took them back to the shop, set them up and the guys in store had the same problem, sorry I didn't mention it was one unit that misbehaved more-so that the other. I got a full refund and ordered a set of Elite Pro 300w, background support and 6/3m Grey muslin backdrop this morning, spoke with Gary, who was very helpful! should hopefully be here tomorrow :)

Thanks for all your help guys.
Click to expand...

Shoot 2 with the Atlas units :) they definitely work fine well worth the money and 1/2 the price of the PWs, got a bit of velcro on the back of one plugged into 1 flash head and the other obviously on cam :).

I've got bowens but would be interested to find someone that has tried the Atlas with the PW card as they share the same frequency and channels i believe but not sure about splashing out £130 for a try.
 
Mahoneyd187 said:
If the slaves aren't working there's a fault, send them back if you can?

I've never used the triggers you've linked. I have previously used pocket wizards, and now use elinchrom skyports. They have both worked faultlessly.
Click to expand...

Firstly, sensors only pick up if they can see, if you have 2 soft-boxes on both pointing forward and very little in the way to reflect the flash back the IR sensor (look for a little bit of see through red plastic) wont pick up.

can also happen when the flash is set low, or with snoots, gobo's, grids, in a room painted black or if the lights are a fair old space apart.

put simply, dont automatically assume its a problem!

radio triggers are the way forward but the cheeper you go the more likely you are to get problems in the long run so buy a brand thats better known.

also, I prefer the ones that share the mains power with the light,,, just tidy and saves trouble with batterys.
 
n1blo said:
I tried using both the sync cable inserted into one head, and a speedlight to trigger both heads, both had similar results. One of the photocells was definitely broken... Now I could have used the sync lead into that unit and it would have negated the fault, but I'm not shelling out £500 for something that is technically knackered! :bonk:
Click to expand...

Have you tried using the sync cable to fire one and the 'cell' to fire the other, try it, if it doesn't work, plug the cable into the other and make sure the 'cell, button is on on that' I have a load of bowens heads and even though I used bowens pulsar radio triggers, the 'cells' remain on just as a backup.

I've never had a problem with a faulty cell on any of my bowens heads
 
Another thought, when you have used a sync cable have you set your camera to make the socket on your camera work?
 
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