New Lencarta Budget range - SmartFlash 200

[Garry Edwards]

I've been promising this for a couple of weeks or so, sorry for the delay.

Like the title says, it's Lencarta's entry level range of mains powered flashes and is very similar to the Lencarta ElitePro range but smaller, lighter, slightly less power and with less features - and cheaper.

Although it's Entry level by Lencarta standards the build quality, colour temperature etc etc is still well above the normal standard of entry level flashes. I've tested it thoroughly and am very happy with it.

Comparing different products on a website can be difficult, so you'll find a link to a comparison chart at the bottom of each page, comparing the various features of the SmartFlash 200, ElitePro 300, ElitePro 600 and the Safari range.

Clicky linky thingy

 

[mmcp42]

looks like a decent piece of kit

I already have 2 Elite Pro 300
If I got a pair SmartFlash 200 which would you suggest for "flooding" a white background - and which for lighting the subject?

or would I be better getting 2 more Elite Pro 300 so all four are the same?

 

[Garry Edwards]

Mike,

It would make sense to use your existing 300's on the background - unless you're using hard lighting tools (which 'eat' a lot of light) on the subject. But there isn't much in it really. As you'll know from your own experience, in most situations the 300 heads will have a lot of 'spare' power - with the 200 heads you'll just have a bit less spare

 

[Garry Edwards]

Had a phone call from the boss yesterday, and all of the Lencarta SmartFlash 200 prices have now been REDUCED.

 

[goslayer]

Hi,

just been looking at these and like the look of the SmartFlash 3-head Umbrella/Softbox Kit with background and SmartFlash 3-head Softbox Kit with background.

2 questions:

what advantages would I get with have 3 head kit over a 2 head kit
what set-up would be best for taking portrait pictures of my family between the softbox and umbrella/softbox set-up?

thanks
Greg

 

[Garry Edwards]

Greg,

More lights give more versatility and more scope for creativity. For example, if you were using 1 light as key light and one light for fill, a 3rd light could be used to light the hair.
Or, if you want to produce shots with a white background you will need at least 1 light on the background (2 if you're shooting a family group) so extra lighting is a definite advantage. Not that you should necessarily use all the lights you happen to have, it's just that it's good to have extra lights sometimes.

Softbox -v- umbrellas is a difficult question. In a large space, both are capable of producing very similar results but in a small space, where a lot of light will bounce from the ceiling and walls, much less will bounce from a softbox than from an umbrella, so a softbox will give you much greater lighting control. The reason for this is that although unwanted light will still bounce from a softbox, at least all of the light is going forwards. With umbrellas, and especially shoot through umbrellas, it goes in all directions. Please see this article

 

[goslayer]

Hi Garry,

thanks for getting back to me,

I will have a read through the artical, although I think it will be softbox's for me as the room I will be using is not that big.

Cheers
Greg