Stick with my Lencarta portable kit or go to studio strobes?

moomike

moomike

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Bit of an odd question I know but I am unsure what to do.

I currently own the very capable Lencarta Safari Li-on flash kit with the (bloomin difficult to get hold of) Mach, hi speed triggers (HSS for Nikon cameras) I currently do a lot of on location stuff but I am moving to much more studio based lighting and wondered whether people thought it would be ok for me to stick with my on location, portable lighting for more of a permanent studio style setup or whether I should look into trading for plug in strobes instead? The Safari kit has an additional battery & an AC adapter so it can be plugged in, I'm just not sure how this would affect the batteries & whether it would make sense for me to switch.

If anyone has any advice or suggestions, I would really appreciate it.

Mike :thumbs:
 
Just so you know, the charger isn't a 'mains adapter', the batteries aren't designed to work like that.

Pick up a couple of cheap Bowens fit heads, much more sensible option IMHO.
 
Phil V said:
Just so you know, the charger isn't a 'mains adapter', the batteries aren't designed to work like that.
Click to expand...
But it can still be used whilst the charger is connected and the batteries are charging.

Bob
 
Charging the battery whilst using it puts the charger under a bit of stress but chargers are cheap enough and are always in stock.
The real issue though is whether it's the right tool for the job, and it isn't, even though it's perfectly usable in the studio.
In an ideal world, it's always best to use the best tool for the job, and in the studio you'd be much better off with a mains powered kit, simply because they recharge so much faster, and cost far less.
If you want to sell it, you'll get a very good price for your Safari kit, I've seen some sell for more than they cost new:)
 
Phil V said:
Just so you know, the charger isn't a 'mains adapter', the batteries aren't designed to work like that.

Pick up a couple of cheap Bowens fit heads, much more sensible option IMHO.
Click to expand...

Cheers for the reply Phil, that's what I thought but was told by someone that uses them on a regular basis that it was possible to use them like that. Like a trickle charge (y)

Canon Bob said:
But it can still be used whilst the charger is connected and the batteries are charging.

Bob
Click to expand...

That's what I was told Bob, cheers for the reply (y)

Garry Edwards said:
Charging the battery whilst using it puts the charger under a bit of stress but chargers are cheap enough and are always in stock.
The real issue though is whether it's the right tool for the job, and it isn't, even though it's perfectly usable in the studio.
In an ideal world, it's always best to use the best tool for the job, and in the studio you'd be much better off with a mains powered kit, simply because they recharge so much faster, and cost far less.
If you want to sell it, you'll get a very good price for your Safari kit, I've seen some sell for more than they cost new:)
Click to expand...

Thanks Garry, I'll start doing some research on prices, appreciate you taking time to comment (y)
 
Tend to agree with the best tools for the job comments. Faster recycle times with a mains studio head and much brighter modelling lamp (Safari-2 is quite a bit brighter than the Safari Li-on) would sway it for me, and they're not too expensive. Maybe buy a couple of mains heads, and use the Safari as an extra light as and when.
 
HoppyUK said:
Tend to agree with the best tools for the job comments. Faster recycle times with a mains studio head and much brighter modelling lamp (Safari-2 is quite a bit brighter than the Safari Li-on) would sway it for me, and they're not too expensive. Maybe buy a couple of mains heads, and use the Safari as an extra light as and when.
Click to expand...
This.

I have some cheap mains heads, and I've been known to end up with:

2 mains heads
Safari2
AD360
1 speedlight

For a tricky still life setup.
 
I may just invest in some & keep the Safari kit too. Cheers again for the advice, appreciate it (y)
 
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