I like the safari, but with a few reservations.I'll start by saying that I use Lencarta EP heads in my studio and I think for the money, they act and feel like a much more expensive head, both in build quality and to use.For the money they're excellent.
I added a Safari Classic to my set-up May time, and on the whole its a great portable head. As Jonathan says for the price point there isn't much on the market. My reservations come in when comparing it to the EP's. They feel like they were more money, but the safari doesn't (if that makes sense). I just don't think the build quality is as high and that disappointed me. Theres a few other things I would wish for it. These include things like the ability to turn power down below 1/8 (I know I can normally move it back before anyone says anything) and an optical slave cell.Its good for more pops then I ever go through in day. Recycle time isn't to shabby either.
The only reservation I really have is the build quality, and TBH I'm not sure I'd be worried about that if I hadn't laid my hands on the EPs first. For the price point its great
I accept that. The battery door on the Classic lets it down a bit I think, although in real terms the build quality is fine, with a metal chassis - only the top panel is plastic. I'm still using the very first one to come out, and it's survived everything I can throw at it, including being bumped around in the back of my 4x4 when I've taken it to location shoots without access roads
The new Safari Li-on is completely different, I can't see anyone having any reservations about the build quality (or features) of that one. The adjustment range is theoretically doubled, going from 3 stops to 4, but in fact it's much wider because of the 2:1 power split, meaning that it can be turned down from 600Ws, 400Ws or 200Ws to 1/16th power, meaning a total adjustment of over 6 stops, same as the Quadra but with 50% more power.
Right now Jonathan Ryan is trialling the new Li-on, next month another TP member will be trialling the same unit and yet another TP member, who is a technical writer, is about to get one - so I think that you should be able to get some user reviews on it soon. Meanwhile, if it's any help I did
some testing of my own, which is all about the performance figures, not about the usage - although there is
this blog entry of it in use by someone else. I appreciate that figures are pretty boring and that user reviews have more credibility than anything that I may write - which is why Lencarta is getting it reviewed by respected photographers and the best magazines.
Neither of the Safari models have an optical slave cell - frankly I don't see the point as these units are primarily designed for outdoor use, and optical slaves are pretty useless in daylight. Radio triggers are the way to go.
, so far so good it seems, 
, quadras aren't that greatly built either!
