SOLD: Photogenic PowerLight 1250DR

[The Loft Studios]

Hi All,
I have For Sale a Photogenic PowerLight 1250DR.
This is a 500ws Digital Studio Strobe. Cosmetically, item is in Excellent+ Condition. The Unit does have an intermittent flash issue.....
Comes with MonoLight, Power Cord, Flash Tube, 250w Modeling Light, Flash Tube Protector and 7" Parabolic Reflector.

Brand New: $575.oo
My Price: $250.oo ($280.oo with PayPal & Shipping)

Reason for Selling: Clearing out some items that I just don't use that much.....

[The Loft Studios]

Sale Pending.....

[dessertmaker]

Hi, looks like sale pending but had a question: is using a monolight much better than using a power pack and have you tried other brands than Photogenic like Adorama's Flashpoint series? Also, was the DR unit much better than the other version you are selling? Thank you for any input you have.
Regards, Mike

[bondarnes]

Originally Posted by dessertmaker

Hi, looks like sale pending but had a question: is using a monolight much better than using a power pack and have you tried other brands than Photogenic like Adorama's Flashpoint series? Also, was the DR unit much better than the other version you are selling? Thank you for any input you have.
Regards, Mike

While there is nothing wrong with a box & cable (power pack and flash head system), many of them, especially older models, are not as adjustable or as versatile. In my studio, I used mostly box & cable flashes and had learned over the years how to manipulate their output. I also used monolights in situations where I needed total control over the output. Both styles have their pros and cons. The Photogenic 1250 would be like a Canon 30D, not the latest model. The 1250DR (digital readout) could be compared to the 50D. The Adorama units would compare to digital Rebel.

[The Loft Studios]

Hi Mike,
The use of a Monolight -vs- a Power Pack System all comes down to what your needs are, how comfortable you are using one or the other and the type of power you'll be utilizing. I could point out the Pros and Cons of each system, but it would take too long. As far as the differences goes between the DR and non-DR Unit, "bascially" it comes down to the precision of getting your exposure right on point without too much frustration. Let me explain, If I set my lights up in a particular way and I get ready to do a meter reading and I get a reading of f/8, but I want to shoot at 7.1 (or even some other f/stop), I can just simply dial down my power in 1/10 f/stops and it's right on the money. But if I had a slider (such as the non-DR Unit) and I tried to dial it down to about 1/3 less power, I could easily miss it. Then after re-metering, I'll have to walk over to that light again, re-adjust it, then re-meter again. In other words, the slider is not "precise" like the digital units are. Now to most people, this is not important..... as long as they are close, then they are satisfied. Then there is the ability to "Wirelessly" control all of the features of the DR Unit without having to leave your camera position. And there are several other differences between the two, but those are the major two differences. If you have any other questions concerning the details of them or any other lighting system, feel free to PM me and I'll send you my contact number and we can talk, because like I said there's a lot of info that would just take too long to explain here.....

[dessertmaker]

Thank you for your input Don. I'm doing portrait work in a small garage studio (softbox main with barn door kickers) and currently using older Novatron packs and heads (stnd & -2 stop heads) but am needing to get lower power to shoot at f2.8 (headshots) and f4 or 5.6 for fulll body; so either going to get a Novatron digital pack that can be dialed down or go to monolights (possibly Photogenic) since they can be set lower. I'm afraid that if I go with the new power pack that I'll be able to get main low enough but I'll still have to hassle with different ND filters on the hair and kickers to get them to where I want them; could go with a Norman or Speedotron pack/heads that has asymetrical power but still seams a bit limiting versus monos that can be individaully adjusted. I like the Photogenic monos as they can be wirelessy adjusted which would be great for higher hairlights that are out of reach plus they have a large assortment of accessories versus lesser brands like Flashpoint, Visitec, etc but the better ones are a bit pricey for me. Also checking into Alien Bees and White Lighning, etc..

dessertmaker added 5 Minutes and 2 Seconds later...Double Post Merged Below

Hi Mark, thank you for some great points; sounds like the DR is definitely the way to go. Did you ever try any other brands than Photogenic and is that still the brand you are using? Thanks again.
Regards, Mike

[The Loft Studios]

I've Owned/Operated probably every brand of "Professional Brand" of Lighting there is and again, each has their merits for their uses.....
The only problem with shooting Monolights at such a low power like your interested in (say like, f/2.8) then it becomes very difficult for the other Monolight's optical slave to see the flash from your main light, therfore, a lot of times, your other Monolights may not fire, due to the power being so low..... I always shoot at at least f/5.6 or f/8, so I don't have have these issues. And I believe that you're in a studio environment anyway, you can't throw a white background anymore out of focus by using f/2.8 or f/16. Now with Power Pack Systems, you don't really have that issue, because all lights that are plugged into the Power Pack will fire off.

[dessertmaker]

Hey Mark, excellent point, I hadn't thought about the internal slave not firing but I think Photogenic makes a unit that has a wireless internal Pocket Wizard, which is what I'm using on my current Novatron pack so that might be an answer to that issue or add an extra receiver at each head if the DR model doesn't have internal Pocet Wizard. I don't normally shoot on a white background but use hand painted ones or muslins that I need to throw out of focus and am working in a very small tight space, thus the need to shoot f2.8 or f4; it's either that or use a lensbaby but not sure about doing that. Thanks again for your input.

[The Loft Studios]

Sold......