Safari / Quadra quandry

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Taxilian

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Hi all,

I'm in the market for a pack & head system, primarily for use out and about as well as occasional indoor use. I didn't want anything too big to carry around, I've got enough gear as it is, so I narrowed it down to either a twin head Safari or Quadra rig.

Power is not much of an issue for what I have planned, 400Ws upwards works for me with some compromises - and I reckon I could even manage with only 4 stop control offered by the Safari.

Due to cost, the extra oomph and number of modifiers I was leaning towards the Safari, however I've noticed a few people are selling up after only a few months so was wondering why this was? Early upgrades or have people been having problems with them?

This is not intended to troll, before I part with a not inconsiderable amount of cash I thought it made sense to check with people who have used them - the limitations you find may not be an issue for me.

Any pointers would be greatly appreciated...cheers folks.

Justin.
 
I have the Safari and I am pleased with it. Bowens S-fit and the modern battery (Quadra has sealed lead acid) make a light package and the four stops of adjustment is stepless.

The ringflash may also be of interest and you can run a ring and a head at the same time..

The heads of the quadra are small and light though... Not tried one myself...
 
Never used Safari so I cannot comment on how good it is. But I have Quadra, it is really nice pack and works extremely well.
Only things I would complain about is bit too much plastic (but it saves costs/weight) and that quadra head needs adapter to use eli mount modifiers (each adapter is like 70 quid). Also Elinchrom modifiers are more expensive than others.

Also if you buy the two head kit and plan to use both heads on same pack calculate in already an extension cable as the 2.5m cables in the kit is too short.
In the end Eli works out to be a lot more expensive.
 
There is a couple of portable kits in the FS section fi that helps you?
 
Thanks for the feedback folks.

There is a couple of portable kits in the FS section fi that helps you?
Click to expand...

Actually this is what was worrying me, a few folks appeared to be offloading the kits quite soon after getting them.
 
What can I say? When any product sells in huge numbers there are always going to be a few popping up second hand.

But as a percentage of sales, the number is tiny.
 
Not sure how long I've had my kit couple months (6weeks) maybe slightly more but I got some good use out of it & the guy thats bought it off me should get the same, I only sold the kit because I did a Dev day with a Pro tog and with a bit of guidence and support I moved away from the Ringflash, I was going to get the Safari heads but also wanted a Head that I could plug in and use as normal and the only solution that I could saw and liked was Bowens.

For all intesnive purposes what your describing is exactly what the Safari is good at, its Cheap, light weight, S-fit(more cheap modifiers then you can shake an ebay stick at), they pack alot of power, slightly less when you have 2 heads off one generater but for the price of the battery pack you could get 2 I guess.

The only real issue i had with the safari is that you can't plug it in and use like a studio light always restricted to the batter not that its a restriction as such.

At some point next year when more finacially stable I hope to add the ringflash back into my studio :).

In no way am I affiliated with lencarta just like there stuff :) & like to add credit where credit is due

Taxilian said:
Thanks for the feedback folks.



Actually this is what was worrying me, a few folks appeared to be offloading the kits quite soon after getting them.
Click to expand...
 
Garry Edwards said:
What can I say? When any product sells in huge numbers there are always going to be a few popping up second hand.
Click to expand...

Certainly a fair point Garry, the lack of responses saying anything bad is a good sign in itself ;)

kiteninja said:
The only real issue i had with the safari is that you can't plug it in and use like a studio light always restricted to the batter not that its a restriction as such
Click to expand...

Cheers Morgan, since 90% of it's use is planned outside the lack of mains is a given for me anyway.

I'm tempted with getting a ring flash/head setup initially, then add a second pack and head in a few months time. Has anyone used one of these ring flashes off camera or as on axis fill?
 
Taxilian said:
Certainly a fair point Garry, the lack of responses saying anything bad is a good sign in itself ;)



Cheers Morgan, since 90% of it's use is planned outside the lack of mains is a given for me anyway.

I'm tempted with getting a ring flash/head setup initially, then add a second pack and head in a few months time. Has anyone used one of these ring flashes off camera or as on axis fill?
Click to expand...

Yep.
 
Off cam

Which Created this straight from cam.
5206253353_0f53baef2c_z.jpg
 
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