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Anyone on here used them, opinions etc etc...
Thanks!
Thanks!
Profoto studio flash and battery packs
- Thread starter antonroland
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Not used them personally but I know a tog who does, mainly because she works for my local Calumet shop and can use the demo stock!
Hideously expensive, check the prices of any modifiers before parting with cash but absolutely top quality gear.
Hideously expensive, check the prices of any modifiers before parting with cash but absolutely top quality gear.
OP
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Thanx AliB
Is there really that much difference between Profoto, Elinchrom, Hensel, Bowens and wahtever others?
I have doing a lot of rethink on my photography and as much as I love the strobist approach, I am not convinced that 6 flashguns with modifiers are easier or cheaper than a decent flash head and batterypack...
Am I missing anything here??
Cheers
Is there really that much difference between Profoto, Elinchrom, Hensel, Bowens and wahtever others?
I have doing a lot of rethink on my photography and as much as I love the strobist approach, I am not convinced that 6 flashguns with modifiers are easier or cheaper than a decent flash head and batterypack...
Am I missing anything here??
Cheers
Profoto and Broncolor are probaby the best there is at that kind of application. Focusable heads on the profotos and the bron fresnel lens is a delight. Both are, however hideously expensive with current Uk prices £1700-£3000 for a pretty basic setup.
Then comes Elinchrom and Bowens, I've used some of the Bowens stuff and it's pretty sturdy and has the advantage of having oodles of different modifiers available, even 2nd hand. They have the S type fitting which is the most common. About £1000-£1500 for something 1/2 decent
Then you have things like the little Interfit single light that is £300. Takes the Bowens S type modifiers which is a huge plus.
Other one to look at is Lencarta, I have absolutely no experience of them so you'd have to look at those yourself
Hensel, I've not come across here in the UK as yet.
Others to look at are Quantum and there is a Bowens equivalent which sit between a full blown studio flash and a gun. And then there are Alien Bees from the US which look great and have a huge following but we don't seem to get them much over here.
Hope that helps.
Then comes Elinchrom and Bowens, I've used some of the Bowens stuff and it's pretty sturdy and has the advantage of having oodles of different modifiers available, even 2nd hand. They have the S type fitting which is the most common. About £1000-£1500 for something 1/2 decent
Then you have things like the little Interfit single light that is £300. Takes the Bowens S type modifiers which is a huge plus.
Other one to look at is Lencarta, I have absolutely no experience of them so you'd have to look at those yourself
Hensel, I've not come across here in the UK as yet.
Others to look at are Quantum and there is a Bowens equivalent which sit between a full blown studio flash and a gun. And then there are Alien Bees from the US which look great and have a huge following but we don't seem to get them much over here.
Hope that helps.
OP
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It does help a hge lot yes, thanks.
I was a bit hesitant about the Profoto system but now that you say they are in the Bron price class that does put a different spin on things.
60% to 80% of the serious local togs seem to use Elinchrom and the balance seem to be using mostly Hensel.
Want to use some rental units to get a feel for them before I buy and the local outfit only do profoto systems with battery packs...
Oh well, rental is cheaper than buying I suppose.
I was a bit hesitant about the Profoto system but now that you say they are in the Bron price class that does put a different spin on things.
60% to 80% of the serious local togs seem to use Elinchrom and the balance seem to be using mostly Hensel.
Want to use some rental units to get a feel for them before I buy and the local outfit only do profoto systems with battery packs...
Oh well, rental is cheaper than buying I suppose.
OP
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Had the shock of my life!!
I found a local agent for profoto studio lights and stuff...they are nearly double the price of the Elinchrom kit...
Will rent for a while to come still...
I found a local agent for profoto studio lights and stuff...they are nearly double the price of the Elinchrom kit...
Will rent for a while to come still...
OP
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and I plan to keep my kidneys for a while longer
A wholesome approach that, especially as you were born with two...
barneyrubble
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Have you looked at Alien Bees? Excellent value for money. I think they are now CE certified with a european distributor too (unlike when I bought them)
Havent gone wrong one. Made my own battery pack to power them too. Very easy to do.
Havent gone wrong one. Made my own battery pack to power them too. Very easy to do.
Profoto flash and packs are very good, I recommend them a lot.
Very easy to use, set up, make adjustments, easy to attach/detach modifiers etc.
Packs are quite heavy though, I was surprised, but you can easily carry pack in one hand, stand/flash head in other, camera bag on back.
I wish I had a set up with a pack and portable heads, I want to use my lighting equipment on outdoor location but my lights are mains powered! Wondering it theres a battery powered mains pack...
Very easy to use, set up, make adjustments, easy to attach/detach modifiers etc.
Packs are quite heavy though, I was surprised, but you can easily carry pack in one hand, stand/flash head in other, camera bag on back.
I wish I had a set up with a pack and portable heads, I want to use my lighting equipment on outdoor location but my lights are mains powered! Wondering it theres a battery powered mains pack...
OP
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Hello guys and thanks for your responses too. I don't seem to have received e-mail notification of you responses and happened to visit here by chance...the hamster in TPF towers must have come off the wheel in a small way...
Barney, I have had a look at the alienbees 1600 and it looks like great kit but some local guys have had hassles with them where the capacitors started leaking oil or something in that line...it looked like the 240-260 volt units didn't cope well but then I must add immediately that our local power grids are very prone to spikes and dips so I definitely would not blame the bees only...
Barney, I have had a look at the alienbees 1600 and it looks like great kit but some local guys have had hassles with them where the capacitors started leaking oil or something in that line...it looked like the 240-260 volt units didn't cope well but then I must add immediately that our local power grids are very prone to spikes and dips so I definitely would not blame the bees only...
blaze_away
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I have used pro foto gear and it is indeed superb, the best in the worl in my opinion. Why do I say that ?
Build Quality:
Everything works perfectly forever. (I Bowens stuff too and they dont)
Toughness:
They are built to last and do and will. (I've never had to have any Pro-foto gear repaired. (Other stuff has broken)
Consistency:
Every flash will be consistent with the last one (Try shooting a dozen shots with each make and then look closely at the exposures you get and you'll see noticeable variation but not with Pro Foto)
etc etc
My point is, yes you can get from here to Lands End in a Mondeo, you can also get there in a Bentley, you end up in the same place but the journey is quite different and so is the cost. If your 'business' demands you need the best then you have to have it, if it doesn't then you don't.
Build Quality:
Everything works perfectly forever. (I Bowens stuff too and they dont)
Toughness:
They are built to last and do and will. (I've never had to have any Pro-foto gear repaired. (Other stuff has broken)
Consistency:
Every flash will be consistent with the last one (Try shooting a dozen shots with each make and then look closely at the exposures you get and you'll see noticeable variation but not with Pro Foto)
etc etc
My point is, yes you can get from here to Lands End in a Mondeo, you can also get there in a Bentley, you end up in the same place but the journey is quite different and so is the cost. If your 'business' demands you need the best then you have to have it, if it doesn't then you don't.