What power Elinchrom BXRI kit should I buy (my use cases are described in the post)?

dubcat

dubcat

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Hi -

I am going to start a photography business. Initially I plan to be mobile and shoot in peoples homes. I hope to move on to renting a studio space in the future. Once my skills and business process are honed I would like to move on to events such as proms too.

I would like to buy my first set of studio lights. I hope to buy a kit that will grow with me and I settled on the Elinchrom BXRI. I am unsure as to whether I should get the 250/250, 250/500 or 500/500 kit to start with. My main concern is that the 500/500 may be too powerful even at lowest settings for my initial use case of shooting in peoples homes. FYI - I will probably buy a 3rd light sooner than later so that i can evenly light up a white backdrop or hi-light.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Many thanks,
dub.
 
When in doubt, 400ws is usually the standard answer. Watt-seconds go up in stops, so 200ws is half the power of 400ws, and 800ws is double. Put another way, that's only one click on the ISO dial.

TBH 200ws is usually plenty for portraits and is favourite at the budget end, often with a few other features trimmed off the spec. 400ws is not much more expensive and the extra power will come in handy one day - you can always turn them down, even use an ND filter if you want to use a really low f/numnber for creative stuff. These models tend to be fully pro-spec, or are at least available with full bells and whistles. At 800ws, they get bigger, heavier and more expensive and unless you know you need the power - for driving a very big softbox or larger interiors perhaps - you're probably paying for something you'll hardly ever need.

You mention events though. That's a million miles from home portaits. If you wanted to shoot a big group, at distance, with a high f/number for DoF and low ISO for quality, with big softboxes or maybe bouncing off the ceiling, you're going to need every joule you can muster.
 
Hi Hoppy - thanks fo taking the time to reply. Always great to see your answers mate.

My main concern is that you can not just turn bigger lights down as low as you want. So for example I know that the 500 won't go down as far as the 250. I was just wondering if the 500 can be turned down enough such that if i had two or three of them they would still be useable in a living room. Cost is not my concern as I would happily pay for the 500's. I just don't want to be stuck with lights that are too bright even at their lowest setting. Really need some advice on this part - preferably from someone with these lights or similar power ones.

Regarding events, I specifically only want to get in to the photobooth type market. I want to reuse the backdrop etc i will buy for studio and set up a mini-studio on location. I am not talking about proper roaming events photography - more of a subset of it. So, there will be no bouncing and everything should be quite controlled and repeatable once i have the recipe worked out.

Dub
 
You're welcome DC :)

It's sounding like you only need the 250s. Fair comment about turning them down low. I use D-Lite 200ws and have no trouble with power. As I said, the difference between 250 and 500ws is only one stop, and you've got tons more range with ISO and f/number to get what you want.

TBH, I'm usually around the middle to lower end of the power range for portraits, f/5.6 ISO400. Some people like to shoot higher f/numbers than that, and I tend to put the lights maybe a little closer (you can easily lose/gain a stop that way). Shorter flash duration of the 250 might be a small bonus.

Maybe get two 250s and see how you go, and then you'll know which way to jump with the third head.
 
It sounds like you don't need the 500's, but remember, as an option, if you've got too much power, you can use ND sheets on the lights or ND filter on your lens.
 
I would go with the 500. as has been mentioned, you can always us ND filters or drop your ISO to 50. you can effectively reduce the power, but its more difficult to add power you dont have.

Paul
 
fototraining said:
I would go with the 500. as has been mentioned, you can always us ND filters or drop your ISO to 50. you can effectively reduce the power, but its more difficult to add power you dont have.

Paul
Click to expand...

It's tricky isn't it. Part of my thinking is swayed by the fact that I use a 5D2 which goes down to ISO50 and I'm happy to use ISO800 if I really have to. So that's four stops just on the ISO dial. The OP's 50D only goes down to ISO100 I think, and maybe has a ceiling of ISO400 for critical work. Only two stops range.

I get by fine with just two little D-Lite 200ws, with Speedlites as and when I need more, but I've often thought about getting a third big head, maybe 800ws, and with a very fast flash duration, that would cover me for all eventuallities and give options for shooting outside in bright light. One day.
 
I was originally going for the d-lite's. I decided on the BRXI's because I thought that I would grow in to them - buy once buy right. However, I am starting to wonder if I might be better off saving some money and just buying the D-Lite's...
 
dubcat said:
I was originally going for the d-lite's. I decided on the BRXI's because I thought that I would grow in to them - buy once buy right. However, I am starting to wonder if I might be better off saving some money and just buying the D-Lite's...
Click to expand...

Well I've been very happy and would buy them again. That's not to say there aren't others that are just as good. I actually like the fact that they're small and light and made of plastic.

I've had them overheat once and cut out, but that was only with a softbox upsidedown and the modelling light on. That's asking for it but the current models all have cooling fans and mine don't, so academic really.

What is there to grow into? They flash. Every time, same power, same colour, accurate adjustment, fine control :thumbs: I don't know how rugged they are and I don't bash them around much, but one of the best professionals on here uses them very happily and lugs them around schools and stuff all the time. The ultimate protection is to have three heads, which you could probably get with the money saved, and then you've always got two to work with.

Some people say that Elinchrom reflectors/softboxes are expensive and that you can't get alternatives, but you can - plenty about. Their Rotalux stuff is very nice though.

The Flash Centre have a rent-and-buy scheme I think. Maybe worth a look :)
 
Very useful thread! I am in the process of deciding which heads to get and every time I think I have grasped the solution for me I read another thread and it slips away........
 
Duncan.F said:
Very useful thread! I am in the process of deciding which heads to get and every time I think I have grasped the solution for me I read another thread and it slips away........
Click to expand...
The problem with lighting in particular and photography in general is that if you ask any two photographers for their opinion you'll always get at least 3 different answers - and none of them are actually wrong:)

As far as lighting choices are concerned, you won't go wrong as long as you buy a reputable make, buy from someone who isn't about to go bust, get heads with about the right amount of power for your needs and choose a make that has a good range of good quality light shapers available at an affordable price.

After that, it's basically just down to personal preference.
 
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