p.1 #1 · Rookie questions about power packs and light modifiers
Folks, I have some very basic questions that I can't seem to find an authoritative answer on Google.
Background:
I am in the process of setting up a simple studio. My budget was originally $1000 and before I knew it, it became closer to $2000 but let's stick with that. I want to get 2 lights only for now. I did a lot of research and got 2 Elinchrom Style 1200 RX units for $500 each. For some reason these heads are very cheap used and the reviews are positive.
I then bought an Elinchrom Octabank 54" (just because I want to try an octabank). Now couple heavy-duty light stands later and a boom arm I plan on doing some DIY ceiling mount, I am down to finding portable power. For the life of me, I can't figure out why are power-packs proprietary?
For example, why can't Vagabond power Elinchrom 1200RX? Doesn't the strobe just plug into the socket? I even watched some Youtube online and it shows Vagabond can power one Style 600RX but not two because they are fighting for power. I also don't understand this concept of fighting for power because I thought it would just slow down the recycling time, no? I look at Elinchrom's Ranger RX but that seems to power only specific strobe heads only which also puzzles me as to why.
One thing that does put me off with the choice for used Elinchrom heads is that the light modifiers are expensive. If I need to get more lights my cost will grow exponentially. Now everyone raves about Paul C Buff, and I priced out a shopping cart with 2 Einsteins and some light modifiers plus a Vagabond and I will sit within $2000 budget. Is it worth while to get everything Paul C Buff instead?
Lastly, I have 5 PocketWizards FlexTT5s. Other than being able to control my speed lights, can anyone tell me the disadvantage for using Pocket Wizards versus Skyport? Consistency with firing? Reliability? The cost of me to buy couple PowerST4s is less than buying a Skyport set of 1 Tx and 2 Rxx. Anyone finds any disadvantages with PocketWizards?
p.1 #2 · Rookie questions about power packs and light modifiers
Looks like the Innovatronix might be relevant to your interests as far as power packs go. By that, I mean, at least their compatibility charts show that they work fine with your monolights.
p.1 #3 · Rookie questions about power packs and light modifiers
glee719 wrote:
For example, why can't Vagabond power Elinchrom 1200RX? Doesn't the strobe just plug into the socket? I even watched some Youtube online and it shows Vagabond can power one Style 600RX but not two because they are fighting for power. I also don't understand this concept of fighting for power because I thought it would just slow down the recycling time, no?
I look at Elinchrom's Ranger RX but that seems to power only specific strobe heads only which also puzzles me as to why.
First, you are talking about battery 120V power supplies, as the Vagabonds or Innovatronix. They just put out AC 120V from a DC (12 or more Volt) battery by means of an inverter, powering your monolights. Whereas the Elinchrom Ranger is a generator ("pack") , running on built-in DC battery power. Hence the need for flash heads.
Now, most monolights work with the mentioned battery supplies, except those having trouble with the rather low power flow of an inverter. This doesn't concern 'analogue' flashes but some of the 'digital' controlled. Their microprocessors make them shut off or restart.
p.1 #5 · Rookie questions about power packs and light modifiers
With electricity "power" is a function of voltage and amperage. Volt x Amps = Watts.
For example if you plug a hairdryer into a wall it typically draws 1600W Divide 1600 by 110 volts you get 14.5 amps. Now plug a toaster into the same 15A circuit in your house. What happens? The circuit breaker trips because the load is too great. If it the breaker didn't trip the 14AWG wiring on the circuit would heat up to the point of melting.
Battery inverters, like house circuits, have finite capacity. When exceeded the load will trip the fuse. Flash units have a very high initial peak load and the inverters use for them must be designed to handle it. Wires are like pipelines for electrons and can only force X number of them down a wire. When a device demands more power than the source or wiring can deliver the voltage can drop and create damage. Some UPS units have a warning beep to indicate overload. That's something you don't want to hear when powering sensitive electronics.
In your situation if the load of two lights exceeds the capacity of one inverter the only solution is to use a separate inverted for each light or buy a larger capacity inverter. FWIW, In discussions about the design of his Vagabond units Paul Buff has mentioned that was one of the challenges want separates his units from general purpose inverters like Saminex is handing the initial load the flash puts on the circuit. The fact Buff designs and creates the lights and power packs allows him to design them to work well together at minimal cost.
Back a few years ago in the same place you are with the same $2,000 budget I looked at the price of various brands and modifiers and by basing the studio around AB800s was able to but four lights, a variety of Photoflex SBs, and all the other needed accessories. A couple years ago a freak lighting strike fried all four lights and the wired remote connecting them. Buff repaired them in a week. The cost of the out of warranty repair? $208.
p.1 #6 · Rookie questions about power packs and light modifiers
This is very elaborate and I appreciate it. It sounds like you have a lot of faith with PCB... I may do the same down the road. I already ordered some Elinchrom stuff so I might as well try them out. Thanks!
p.1 #7 · Rookie questions about power packs and light modifiers
glee719 wrote:
This is very elaborate and I appreciate it. It sounds like you have a lot of faith with PCB...
I created my home studio back in 2004 when there weren't as many low priced studio lighting option as there are today so it was more a matter of Buff's AB gear being the best value out of the limited range that would fit my budget of a four-light set-up for under $2,000.
Buff (who started in the recording business building his own studio gear and engineering such rock and roll classics as "Wipeout" and most of Frank Zappa's albums) is an orange haired eccentric genius in his 70s with old fashioned values regarding customer service who designs and makes his own gear and sells it direct, cutting out the distributor and retailer and their profit margins. Diplomacy is not however his strong suit and he's alienated as many people with his arrogance and attitude, most who never would even consider buying his gear on principle because it's not "pro" quality.
But go to any shopping mall at Christmas and look at the flash being used to take the Santa photos and theres a 70% change it's a 20 year old Buff White Lightning. That's the market Buff initially targeted, low-end, bottom-line oriented franchise operated professional studios who weren't brand conscious. If you are a fashion shooting and don't show up with Bron or Profoto gear the customer will notice. That's not the case at the Mall.
Buff was smart enough to see how digital would change photography and lighting. Back in the days of film it was much more difficult to do lighting because there was no instant feedback to tell you if the ratio and exposure were correct. That's why hobbyists rarely strayed beyond using a single speedlight in the hot shoe and if they did set up a studio it was with hot lights the could see and meter with their camera. Even back in the early 2000s when started to think about setting up a studio. Discussions about lighting on the forums like this where focused on what the best type of hot lights were and whether manual speedlights where a better approach.
Buff saw a huge untapped potential market of the horizon and created his Alien Bee line to exploit it. It's the same White Lighting technology he had been selling to savvy pro studios for years, but packaged in wild day-glo colors with a name that even had the UPS guy wondering what the heck he was delivering. It doesn't have name recognition on a fashion shoot or top-pro-level performance and consistency, but practically speaking hobbyists don't need that they need reliable gear and hand holding to help them select it correctly and fix it cheaply if it breaks.
If Buff had a normal business model and normal customer service it probably wouldn't still be in business. Like most he sources some things from China, but he continues to innovate with things like a $500 ring flash, metered control of studio lighting, and a line of popular PLM modifiers. But what sets it apart is its customer service geared towards helping often clueless beginners.
For example one of my initial four lights didn't work properly. I called the support line, a human answered in the first ring and without question they send me a new replacement and a return label for the malfunctioning one. Later when I stupidly threw out the diffusion sock I ordered with my 22" dish with the packing materials, realizing my error when it was already on the way to the landfill, they took sympathy on me and sent me a new one for free.
So unless you have an ever expanding budget there might still be some merit to selling you high priced gear if you can unload it without taking too big a hit financially and starting over with gear you that allows you to get everything you want and need within your budget. Then you wouldn't have the need to ventilate about the choices that put you in the box you are now. It's not a gear problem it's a budget problem.
p.1 #8 · Rookie questions about power packs and light modifiers
"For some reason these heads are very cheap used and the reviews are positive."
The reason why they are cheap is because they are way too powerful for the average small studio like you are talking about. People buy these thinking they need all that power when they really need half or less of that in a small space or for the average portrait. For sports shooters are large sets that's a different story.
You might want to look at 2 RX-600's or 300's or maybe even two BX-Ri 500's. Much better choice and wonderful lights and modifiers.
p.1 #9 · Rookie questions about power packs and light modifiers
In response to the original OP and cgardner.
I more or less take away from the threads start that he is looking at 'studio'..'home' type setups and not looking to bath a football pitch in light from 100 feet away.. So where as I would see you possibly entertaining the RX series of lights, the post by Mr. Gardner is so completely spot on by way of comparisons.
The monoblock line of ANY of the "upper end" manufacturers is just that... A mono.
Where the rubber meets the road covers a few more areas of concern (for me). If I send my off warranty light out for an issue, I don't want a response from repair that's going to cause a fluctuation in the day's market. I need fast reliable low cost, get me back up and making cash response. The "upper end" is NOT THAT.
I've been through over $20,000.00 in lighting in the last 15 years. In that time, quite a few repairs. Some requiring a VISA number PRIOR to an estimate. After finding Buff's digital heads about 18 months ago, I'm not looking back.
Average price for an off warranty item out of Buff's place........ $60.00
That's IF and WHEN they go down. replaceable s such a tubes, batteries etc. All 50 to 70% less than the "upper end" guys.
I DON'T have to bathe a pitch with light, but when I DO, I can... with a slew of lighting from Buff. For everything else, I'm covered with his equipment and the peace of mind in knowing that using a feminine hygiene product to stuff into an orifice to stop bleeding will not be required anymore.
