Elinchrom Quadra <- My Favorite Product @ Imaging

[Abel]

Elinchrom Quadra setup...

List is like $2300 for the kit, main pack, 2 batteries, 2 heads (fast flash duration heads), skyport commander, case

looked very cool in person. very small managable size.

[swjim]

I'd love to have that kit, I'm just not shooting enough these days to justify it. <sigh>

[iamjediknight]

You can get it as a one light kit for about 1300 but it only has one battery and no skyport transmitter.

[Wil_Bloodworth]

If you travel around doing a lot of headshots... it's perfect.

- Wil

[SergeiR]

Originally Posted by Wil_Bloodworth

If you travel around doing a lot of headshots... it's perfect.

- Wil

If you travel its very nice. Period.
Headshots or not.

Unfortunately its 400W only. But its very light and compact.

[iamjediknight]

Originally Posted by SergeiR

If you travel its very nice. Period.
Headshots or not.

Unfortunately its 400W only. But its very light and compact.

400W is alot of power unless you are trying to over power the sun in the texas heat. Some take an Alien Bee 800 out with the vegabond and thats only 320

[SergeiR]

Originally Posted by iamjediknight

400W is alot of power unless you are trying to over power the sun in the texas heat. Some take an Alien Bee 800 out with the vegabond and thats only 320

Point is - 400 assymetrical watts are not a lot. No matter how you slice it. And for folks with regular dSLRs, regular lenses and high ISO cameras - it is a struggle sometime.

And please do not compare them to ABs. EL equipment is way way better.

PS: you can in fact overpower TX sun with them, if you do happen to know what to do and how.

[Daniel W.]

Originally Posted by SergeiR

Point is - 400 assymetrical watts are not a lot. No matter how you slice it. And for folks with regular dSLRs, regular lenses and high ISO cameras - it is a struggle sometime.

And please do not compare them to ABs. EL equipment is way way better.

PS: you can in fact overpower TX sun with them, if you do happen to know what to do and how.

I told a gal she looked assymetrical once but she just slapped me in the face.

That being said, not sure what you mean by high-ISO camera. My camera does high ISO levels, but it does low ones too. 400w/s is plenty. If I can overpower the sun with a Vivitar 285 and some skillful metering, I doubt the Elinchrome will make me a better photographer.

Elinchrome may be better, but it comes at a premium (price). While I have seen a more consistent color with Elinchrome units (not just these but a number of the lower end d-somethings too) vs. an AB800, that's in an environment that includes pure white tones, pure grey data, so on and so forth. AB does have the ability to say that a number of the products are made in the U.S. and service is usually pretty good. They're also cheaper, and will just as likely get the job done too.

[Tom]

Elinchrome may be better, but it comes at a premium (price).

Actually, Elinchrom D-Lite 4s are cheaper and better than AlienBees B800 (which is 1/2rd stop weaker)

[SergeiR]

Originally Posted by Daniel W.

I told a gal she looked assymetrical once but she just slapped me in the face.

So you have no idea what this was about, but felt like jumping into discussion.

Its assymetrical b/c 400W could be split between two heads from same pack asymmetrically. 2:3 + 1:3 - classical lighting ratio for portraiture. Unlike other manufacturers where it could be 1:2 + 1:2. For different price, though.

Originally Posted by Daniel W.

That being said, not sure what you mean by high-ISO camera. My camera does high ISO levels, but it does low ones too.

It means most people cant go lower than 100. Which is not exactly low ISO.
And some got to start from 200 (Nikons, Olys - best "native" iso for noise/dynamic range results). Which is already high.

Originally Posted by Daniel W.

400w/s is plenty. If I can overpower the sun with a Vivitar 285 and some skillful metering, I doubt the Elinchrome will make me a better photographer.

Sorry, but you can not overpower sun with Vivitar 285/283. 35W. Simple matter of reality.

You can get subject into shadows and light them, no doubt about it. You may get in some umbrella and get shot done.

But if you do not realize limitations of portable low sync speed strobe vs higher powered higher sync (A-head on Quadras in SPEED-RX mode) - then.. Well...

Photographer-wise you may not become any better with any amount equipment that you bought. But life will be easier with good gear. You can try to paint Monna Liza with wee crumbling crayon, but it is sure as hell done easier and nicer with good pain and decen brushes.

Originally Posted by Daniel W.

Elinchrome may be better, but it comes at a premium (price). While I have seen a more consistent color with Elinchrome units (not just these but a number of the lower end d-somethings too) vs. an AB800, that's in an environment that includes pure white tones, pure grey data, so on and so forth.

Correct. Again - this is about amount of effort while shooting and while post processing vs price. If ABs working for you - good on you. Or vivitars. Or whatever works. But there is no comparition between them. B/c they are different classes of products.

Originally Posted by Daniel W.

AB does have the ability to say that a number of the products are made in the U.S. and service is usually pretty good. They're also cheaper, and will just as likely get the job done too.

Hugo got wheels and BMW got wheels. They both can get you somewhere.
One doesnt make you better driver than another. One is hellishly cheaper than another. Should we compare them too?

Entry level is entry level. Its like arguing that pro-camera is not any better than amateur-level camera. They both can do job. And there are more amateur level cameras sold every day than pro's. It doesnt make pro- camera less desireable or worse.

[Abel]

Originally Posted by Thomas Campbell

(which is 1/2rd stop weaker)

[Abel]

I just bought the one light kit... Should be here tomorrow *crosses fingers*. I figured that will do me for now and in time, if I need a second light then I could always purchase another one light kit and run two 400w/s systems independently.

Got the 39" Rotalux Deep Octabox as well.

Can't wait to try it out.

[groovyone]

Dibs!

[Sonny]

Originally Posted by groovyone

Dibs!

You're too late. I called dibs long ago and TC called dibs on the next set.

[Abel]

lol awesome...

tracking numbers confirmed! should all get here tomorrow... yeah.. i hate waiting. lol