Strobe Studio lighting with 5000j Pack ?

C

Carl Sanders

Suspended / Banned
Messages
4
Name
Carl
Edit My Images
No
Hi there, was wondering if anyone could advise on these older packs and Fish Fry and if anyone is still using them. Any problems encountered in use or maintenance and if there is any reasons now for not taking them on. The use if for Still Life studio work, thanks,
 
Not sure what the question is - when you say 'Strobe' do you mean Strobex?
 
Garry Edwards said:
Not sure what the question is - when you say 'Strobe' do you mean Strobex?
Click to expand...

Hi there, the lighting is called 'Strobe' and uses a 5000j studio pack which allows connection to strip lights and fish Fry (Window). Most advertising Still life studios had them in London, where they were made. They gave a unique soft light for still Life. They have since discontinued but photographers still have them, it would be interested to find what other brands are used in replacement. Thanks
 
Hmmn...
Sounds like Strobex who from memory went out of business about 9 years ago. I believe that they were orginally called Strobe, but that was a long time previously, possibly in the 70's

A massive unit, looks like the flight deck of a 747, weighs about 2cwt?
If so I have used them, they were extremely well made, worked on very high voltage, limited output adjustment with a good range (for their day) of light modifiers. I don't know whether it's still possible to get them repaired.
The modern equivalent of similar quality would be by Bron, although Elinchrom may still do a 6000J unit (used to have one of those too).

If you're thinking of buying the old Strobe(x) then I personally wouldn't pay too much for it.
 
Be advised the trigger voltage may well fry your camera if you connect directly to it, I'd advise radio trigering like pocket wizzards or something.
 
I've used them a lot. Size of a small fridge on wheels. They produced the first softboxes, called Fish Fryers for reasons that always escaped me. Weighed a ton with heavy perspex diffusers, slung off a small gantry. Heads were fed by cables the thickness of your arm. Rubber soled shoes are advisable. Even better, get your assistant to make the settings for you. Yes, popular with still life advertising in the 70s and 80s. Awesome things that impressed clients no end, especially when they went off with quite a thud.

They had a lot of power for the day, which you needed for those big, inefficient Fish Fryers and f/64 at 50ASA on a 10x8in large format camera. But bear in mind that 5000J is an electrical rating that doesn't translate directly to light output, and it certainly did not in those days. I recall using multiple flash quite a few times to get really high f/numbers.

They were mega expensive and de rigueur back in the day. I suspect they are now the kind of things that you have to pay someone to dispose of for you. I wouldn't even think about it.
 
HoppyUK said:
I've used them a lot. Size of a small fridge on wheels. They produced the first softboxes, called Fish Fryers for reasons that always escaped me. Weighed a ton with heavy perspex diffusers, slung off a small gantry. Heads were fed by cables the thickness of your arm. Rubber soled shoes are advisable. Even better, get your assistant to make the settings for you. Yes, popular with still life advertising in the 70s and 80s. Awesome things that impressed clients no end, especially when they went off with quite a thud.

They had a lot of power for the day, which you needed for those big, inefficient Fish Fryers and f/64 at 50ASA on a 10x8in large format camera. But bear in mind that 5000J is an electrical rating that doesn't translate directly to light output, and it certainly did not in those days. I recall using multiple flash quite a few times to get really high f/numbers.

They were mega expensive and de rigueur back in the day. I suspect they are now the kind of things that you have to pay someone to dispose of for you. I wouldn't even think about it.
Click to expand...
Don't exaggerate, unless you've got very thin arms:lol:
I agree with the rest of it though, they were very consistent in terms of colour temp and output but the white painted interiors combined with the not very efficient circuitry didn't translate well in terms of actual power - 8 pops to get f/64 was pretty standard.
 
Garry Edwards said:
Don't exaggerate, unless you've got very thin arms:lol:
I agree with the rest of it though, they were very consistent in terms of colour temp and output but the white painted interiors combined with the not very efficient circuitry didn't translate well in terms of actual power - 8 pops to get f/64 was pretty standard.
Click to expand...

The cables were like snakes all over the studio. Boa constrictors. And they jumped a foot off the ground when the flash fired, wrestling you to the floor with blue sparks coming out of your ears.

Actually I have rather fond memories. They were powerful workhorses and, as far as I know pretty reliable. Unlike an early Elinchrom power pack which a young model once sat on and got a belt of something very unexpected :eek: We laughed for days. They were always flippin failing.
 
I love the things, I still use mine, I have the swimming pool about twice the size of the fish fryer, 6'x4' diffuser lovely light. Weighs an absolute ton but still impresses. I have a mate who is good with electronics that keeps the charger units serviced. I have 4 1kj units each connects to the 4 tubes within, or if I want less power I can spread the 4 by connecting to 1 unit or 2. I agree with one comment above I certainly would not advise using a sync cable to your digital camera it will fry it, I use a radio remote. I have much more modern bowens units but I just love the quality of light from this.
 
Decdublin said:
I love the things, I still use mine, I have the swimming pool about twice the size of the fish fryer, 6'x4' diffuser lovely light. Weighs an absolute ton but still impresses. I have a mate who is good with electronics that keeps the charger units serviced. I have 4 1kj units each connects to the 4 tubes within, or if I want less power I can spread the 4 by connecting to 1 unit or 2. I agree with one comment above I certainly would not advise using a sync cable to your digital camera it will fry it, I use a radio remote. I have much more modern bowens units but I just love the quality of light from this.
Click to expand...

I love the stuff too, been using it since 1981, its built for life and has rarely
failed me. I also use Bron (location gear Strobe aint !) and sometimes just to trigger the Strobe's slaves to save the digi back and dslr circuitry. I have loads of it here, probably the most outside London, if any one is interested in bits please call me.
Would be good to know some one to service / repair the kit and is willing to travel, on the rare occasions it goes wrong.
 
Since this thread has done a Lazarus...
They produced the first softboxes, called Fish Fryers for reasons that always escaped me.
Click to expand...
I think that that's because the sheet metal 'softboxes' looked like the sheet metal fume extractors that fish fryers had back in those days...

The 5000j unit was called the 'City' I think, there was also a smaller 2400j unit, can't remember what that one was called but I remember that it was on wheels - it needed to be.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top