Visatec Solo 800 / 1600. Any good?

HappySnappy1977

HappySnappy1977

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Dean
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Hi,

I have just bought 2 x 800d and 2 x 1600d along with some softboxes etc and just wondered if anyone had any of these and could give any feedback as to if they're any good!

Apparently they are made by Broncolor and they seem to have a good following but a little feedback (good or bad!) from "those in the know" would be great and much appreciated.

Thanks in advance,

Dean
 
Visatec is Broncolor's "Skoda" made on contract in China, using Chinese factory's own toolings and Bron-specified components. It has a very unique bayonet accessory-fitting which is neither Broncolor nor anything else. The quality is good, i.e. good output and colour consistency, but the spec is rather limiting. Last time I checked power only goes down to 1/8th with slowish (1/600th second) flash duration.

New price for these heads are between US$450-$1450 EACH at B&H. I think Bron is putting a very high premium on the name. How much did you pay for them? If the price was good then it's a good buy.
 
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£400 with stands, loads of softboxes, umbrellas and such. Rubbish add on eBay and noticed at the last minute with 5 minutes to go so didn't have much time to research!!

They're going to be used for portraits and maybe some product photography only.

Good buy?
 
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HappySnappy1977 said:
£400 with stands, loads of softboxes, umbrellas and such. Rubbish add on eBay and noticed at the last minute with 5 minutes to go so didn't have much time to research!!

They're going to be used for portraits and maybe some product photography only.

Good buy?
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If Visatec named their heads according to common practice, they should be 800Ws and 1600Ws heads. With just 3-stops of power adjustment you MIGHT find those heads too powerful though. If that's the case, ND gels may be your friend.
 
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The 800b and 1600b (not D like I thought) is combined power so 400w and 800w. Each comes with a 150w modelling light too so this might also be subtracted?
 
Not sure what combined power means...

But modelling light has nothing to do with flash power. Think modelling light as a torch stuck in front of the flash head, it gives you an idea of what the flash might look like. It's power is so small compared to the flash it won't have any significance on the final image.
 
Sorry, combined as in the 800s are 2 x 400s and the 1600s are 2 x 800s. The modelling light is 150w.

Sorry for the basic replies. I'm typing this on my iPhone as I'm working an event tonight (which hopefully will pay for these bad boys!!)

Your advice is much appreciated though especially as considering your name you are certainly "in the know!!"

Cheers

Dean
 
Looking at enlarged photos in that listing, one of them says SOLO 1600B. So I'm pretty sure they are not 2x 800s. You are getting four heads, 2x 800s and 2x 1600s.

Still have to say, consider their new prices you've landed yourselve a bargain. In practice you might find the performance lacking somewhat compared to secondhand Bowens/Elinchrom/Lencarta kits in similar price range.
 
Lencarta said:
In that case then they haven't named their heads according to common practice. I remember Courtnay used to do a Solar 1000 which was actually a 100Ws unit.
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Yes they did, but they also did a 8000 model that was actually 450Ws or thereabouts...
 
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