NEW: ECO Ring Flash for Quadra

It looks really interesting, as the price is about 300 pounds only (when other ring flashes are about twice if not more expensive). Would be good to see it when its available and start saving money. ^^
 
kokakaste2 said:
It looks really interesting, as the price is about 300 pounds only (when other ring flashes are about twice if not more expensive). Would be good to see it when its available and start saving money. ^^
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Just remember to add the additional £850 for the battery pack.
 
Well, it's an exact opy of the Lencarta Safari ringflash - so if it really does sell for £300 then it will *only* be an extra £50 for the Elinchrom plug...
 
treeman said:
Yeah but once you've tasted cream, who wants milk ;)
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Not entirely sure what that's supposed to mean.....

I haven't handled an Ely ring flash but it looks remarkably similar to the Safari one (um, really as you'd expect - there aren't too many ways to strap a light round a lens at this kind of price point).

I've used Quadras on a number of occasions and I've used Safari on rather more. I prefer the Safari. And not just because it leaves more money in your pocket.

But if you like Quadras, have the battery pack already and want a ring flash then I'll agree this is your best option.
 
JonathanRyan said:
I've used Quadras on a number of occasions and I've used Safari on rather more. I prefer the Safari. And not just because it leaves more money in your pocket.
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I fully understand, for the money, the Safari is good, but I'd be fascinated to hear what are your other reason for preferring the Safari over the Quadra were.

I appreciate you don't shoot sports, so the faster flash duration of the Quadra may not benefit you. Nor the superfast recycle time. (how can you cope with 3.5 sec recycle time on full power :shrug:) You've also got an assistant to alter your light power for you, so the remote power control of the Quadra may not benefit you, or the fact it's a lighter to carry, again, you've got an assistant for that. I could go on.....

Maybe I should sell the Quadras and hire an assistant instead.....:)
 
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treeman said:
I fully understand, for the money, the Safari is good, but I'd be fascinated to hear what are your other reason for preferring the Safari over the Quadra were.

I appreciate you don't shoot sports, so the faster flash duration of the Quadra may not benefit you. Nor the superfast recycle time. (how can you cope with 3.5 sec recycle time on full power :shrug:) You've also got an assistant to alter your light power for you, so the remote power control of the Quadra may not benefit you, or the fact it's a lighter to carry, again, you've got an assistant for that. I could go on.....

Maybe I should sell the Quadras and hire an assistant instead.....:)
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Flash duration is governed by a few things, but the one thing that has the most effect is the physical length of the flash tube. The longer it is, the longer the surge has to travel and the longer it takes to do it.

A few of the very high end ringflashes are in effect 2 flash tubes in a single circle (2 x positive poles going to a single negative pole) which halves the flash duration, but this is a very expensive process and makes the flash tube twice as likely to fail.

The Safari ringflash doesn't have this technology so the flash duration on the ringflash is fairly long (although the flash duration on the 'ordinary' Safari flash head is short) and as the one with Elinchrom written on it is exactly the same I can't see how the flash duration can be any shorter.
 
Sorry Garry, I should have been clearer.
I was refering to Jonathan's statement that he preferred the Safari to Quadra, and as the Elincrom ring flash is not available yet, he must have been referring to using both systems with the normal flash heads. That is what I was comparing anyway :)
Without any brand bashing, I would genuinely be interested to hear what he preferred about about the Safari, you never know I may be persuaded! :)
 
treeman said:
Sorry Garry, I should have been clearer.
I was refering to Jonathan's statement that he preferred the Safari to Quadra, and as the Elincrom ring flash is not available yet, he must have been referring to using both systems with the normal flash heads. That is what I was comparing anyway :)
Without any brand bashing, I would genuinely be interested to hear what he preferred about about the Safari, you never know I may be persuaded! :)
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Ah, sorry - I misunderstood
 
Wonder if it is the same size as the Hensel one so it would take the Hensel modifiers ..... as the current Elinchrom one does
 
treeman said:
Sorry Garry, I should have been clearer.
I was refering to Jonathan's statement that he preferred the Safari to Quadra, and as the Elincrom ring flash is not available yet, he must have been referring to using both systems with the normal flash heads. That is what I was comparing anyway :)
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What, you think I don't get pre release kit to play with? Well, not in this case ;) Yes I was comparing the Safari system to the Quadra which until a few days ago lacked an affordable ring flash (though it's been expected for a while).

Here are some of my reasons - but remember this is just opinion. Your views may vary:

1. Safari has more power. Half a stop is always useful when on location - I've used it with a Hasselblad in very strong sun and 1/800 at 600 w/s was just barely enough. Also, let's compare apples with apples - if you run a Quadra at 400 w/s and a Safari at 2/3 power (400 w/s) recycle is going to be about the same (Ely quote 2.2s at full power, Lencarta 3.5 at full power or maybe 2.3s at 400 w/s).

2. Battery life. Running at full power, Ely claim 150 IF you use slow recycle - 110 in fast. Lencarta quote 1,150 - more if you run it at the Quadra's max power. Simple fact is that everyone I know who has a Quadra carries at least one spare battery at all times. Safari users don't. Not only is that an extra 1.6 kilos and an extra £123.38 - it's an extra hassle. On a 2 day location shoot, having one battery for your flash instead of 2 can mean the difference between a peaceful night's sleep and getting up at 2 to swap batteries over. Even with 2 batteries you still have around 25% of the capacity of a Safari. To get the same life would cost you an extra £1K and 15 kilos. Which is a lot.

3. Modifiers. I understand why they did it, but I think the Quadra mounting system was a mistake. To hang a regular Elinchrom softbox on a Quadra will cost you 70 quid (per head) and give you another bit of plastic to break. Google these up - LOTS of users claim they have to shim them to support heavy boxes. Safari has a proper S-mount. I've put a 70cm beauty dish on one without either spending more or worrying about droop :)

Remote power control would be nice - but TBH the Elinchrom one isn't great. There's no feedback so you click a button 7 times and hope that (a) you adjusted the right pack and (b) it heard all the instructions to adjust 2/3 stop. Check out remote power adjustment done right - http://www.viewfinderphotography.co...rmance-of-the-XB-PRIME-remote-controller.html (I believe they will have a location based one "soon"...). I've tested that at way beyond reasonable distances and to know that flash 3 that was on f8 is now f11 is perfect.

Quadras weigh a little less than Safari kit. (4 vs 6kg for pack, battery and one head) but add in a spare battery and it's marginal. Chuck all the kit you need for a location shoot in a Peli and honestly I bet you wouldn't know which was which. Plus if I need to go super light I'll put up with the niggles of this.
 
Thanks Jonathan for such a detailed reply. I must confess that I don't have a problem with any of the issues that you see, but that's more down to shooting style than anything else.
I do have spare batteries, but rarely shoot more than a couple of hundred frames and not at full power anyway. I need it light as I often shoulder it, occasionally more power would be nice, but then I do have the Ranger RX for that.
You're probably right about the larger modifiers, I tend use it with beauty dish and that's fine for me. I did think the remote facility was a bit of a gimmick but I find myself using it loads, I've not had an issue with it not responding to an up or down press, so not having the feedback isn't a problem for me.

I think the Safari is good value for the money, but obviously there are also other features on the Quadra that aren't on the Safari. Although you've always been able to fit Elinchroms RQ ringflash to the Quadra, it amazes me they've taken so long to supply a budget version :bonk:
At the end of the day, I suppose it's a case of deciding if you need those extra features of the Quadra, which in my case I did, plus I've already got shed loads of Elinchrom modifiers! :)
 
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