Thinking about snatching this up for my first lighting kit.

[dmora]

715$ student pricing.

Elinchrom | D-Lite IT 400Ws 2-Light To Go Set | EL 20815KIT

My only concern at the moment is the compatibility with PWs. I have 2 right now And i guess this kit does not come with a transmitter? So either i have to buy a skyport transmittter, or another PW or 2.

Would i bother using my Nikon SB-800 in conjunction with these as some fill or background or hair light maybe? Thus necessitating my extra PWs or Skyport.

[KenJulio]

I believe they can use pocketwizards. See post #10

http://www.texasphotoforum.com/forum...ml#post1101141

[engstrom]

Daniel, I just got that kit a couple weeks ago and yes, the kit does include a Skyport ECO transmitter. Does your SB-800 have a built-in optical slave? If so you could that to trigger the SB-800.

Overall I really like the Elinchroms. They are lightweight but have consistent output.

[dmora]

Originally Posted by ken74

I believe they can use pocketwizards. See post #10

http://www.texasphotoforum.com/forum...ml#post1101141

Yea i remember reading that thread... Im just wondering if i'm going to continune with Elinchrom in the future vs PWs.

[photonewb]

regardless of whether you grow with Elinchrom or not, pocket wizards have their place. You can still use them with these lights and you wouldn't lose any functionality of the lights.

the SB800 has a pc port on the side of it, so you should be able to use any wireless triggers that offer a pc port style plug.

[Tom]

If you look at the back of it, the little hole on the right of the red switch is where you can plug in your pocket wizard.

I used these last week for Bridals in Galveston. I will post some pics in may after the wedding, but the DLites were great. I trust my skyports more than my PWs.

[dmora]

Originally Posted by Thomas Campbell

If you look at the back of it, the little hole on the right of the red switch is where you can plug in your pocket wizard.

I used these last week for Bridals in Galveston. I will post some pics in may after the wedding, but the DLites were great. I trust my skyports more than my PWs.

My dilema would be if i wanted to get say, and alienbee 1600 in the future and i dumped PWs would i have a problem using elinchrom's skyports on non elinchrom lights.

[Tom]

Nope. Skyports work on other flashes. But if you had Elinchroms, why the hell would you want an Alienbee?


I took this picture last year. Skyport triggers.
If I remember right:
600 RX Key above left. 600 RX on the pipes left. 1200 RX outside to make the window light. Two Nikon SB-800s under the stairs for fill.
Canon 50D with the 16-35L.

[dmora]

Originally Posted by Thomas Campbell

Nope. Skyports work on other flashes. But if you had Elinchroms, why the hell would you want an Alienbee?


I took this picture last year. Skyport triggers.
If I remember right:
600 RX Key above left. 600 RX on the pipes left. 1200 RX outside to make the window light. Two Nikon SB-800s under the stairs for fill.
Canon 50D with the 16-35L.

arent RXs like $1000 a piece? And an AB1600 is only 400 +/-

[Tom]

That's true. I was just showing that you could use the skyports to trigger things other than the Elinchrom strobes (I have triggered the SB-800, SB-900 and 580EX II with it) and you can also trigger the different kinds of strobes together.

Another cool feature is that you have groups. Put your key and fills on different groups and trigger them separately while you are adjusting ratios, then together. I believe my Skyports have three groups.

[dmora]

Originally Posted by Thomas Campbell

That's true. I was just showing that you could use the skyports to trigger things other than the Elinchrom strobes (I have triggered the SB-800, SB-900 and 580EX II with it) and you can also trigger the different kinds of strobes together.

Another cool feature is that you have groups. Put your key and fills on different groups and trigger them separately while you are adjusting ratios, then together. I believe my Skyports have three groups.

Sounds good.
Which one should i be looking for to fire off my SB800 and a future light?
skyport

These?
Elinchrom | EL-Skyport Universal Receiver | EL 19352 | B&H Photo

[Tom]

You want the Elinchrom Universal Skyports.

[tukaniray]

A bit off topic ... but how far do the Elinchrom Universal Skyports reach?

I ask because I am also looking at the bit more expensive Pocket Wizards.

Plus I read, Thomas, that you trust the skyports more than the PWs ... why may I ask?

-Ray-

[Tom]

I get a lot more failures to fire with my pocket wizards than I get with my Skyports. I think my Skyports are more reliable. Today was a big pain in the ass with my PWs. My PWs failed to fire today more than they fired. That's a real pain in the ass when you are trying to do a portrait and you have to keep counting down.

I also like that they are smaller and the battery in them is rechargeable.

I don't do a lot of photography from a distance, but I have fired them from about 100' away through walls in the show. But in practice, I don't tend to get too far away from my lights when I am shooting.

Elinchrom claims they have a ~400' range outside and a 150' range inside.

[tukaniray]

thanks ... I will keep that in mind and might even jump at some. Since they are also cheaper on the wallet.

-Ray-