Elinchrom Quadra arrived

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Archive 2009 · Elinchrom Quadra arrived

sboerup
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p.1 #1 · Elinchrom Quadra arrived

I just received my Elinchrom Quadra A kit (1 head only), with the softbox adapter. It is MUCH smaller than I anticipated it being. So far I'm very impressed with the ease of use, and the many options available to customize. Will be using it today on a senior shoot, can't wait. This thing is so freaking small its unbelievable.

If anyone is interested where I purchased it, Pictureline.com hooked me up big time. They are the only place that I have seen so far that has been able to get the extra adapter. Call and ask for Sharon, she'll hook you up.

As for the build quality, it's definitely not Ranger quality, but it is not poor or crappy. If you are not throwing it out your window or being careless, you should get many years of use out if. My only quibble is that it does not come with a protective cap for storing the head. I think I saw someone with a tupper-ware type thing that covered it nicely.

I'm glad I got the Quadra and not the Ranger RX. At about the same price, the Quadra is extremely small and portable. Smaller than Quantums.

Jul 15, 2009 at 05:52 PM

AnthonyRhoades
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p.1 #2 · Elinchrom Quadra arrived

Looking forward to hearing more about it from you when you've had a chance to use it more. Why did you go with only one head, is that all that you require for your work?

I'm out of the loop on the extra adapter... If I purchase through pictureline.com and mention you will I get the same hook-up?

Any photos of it beside something we can use for scale? The small intrigues. I used to love dynalites for that reason back in the day.

Jul 15, 2009 at 06:43 PM

Stephaniespix
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p.1 #3 · Elinchrom Quadra arrived

Congrats Spencer, post the images soon

Stephanie

Jul 15, 2009 at 07:07 PM

gillyohan
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p.1 #4 · Elinchrom Quadra arrived

I definitely want to see some samples from this from one of your shoots. and a write up comparing them to your experiences with the Ranger.

Jul 15, 2009 at 07:29 PM

roanjohnnyc
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p.1 #5 · Elinchrom Quadra arrived

Congrats!!! So they are trickling in the states. Great news!!

Jul 15, 2009 at 07:43 PM

el_hoppy
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p.1 #6 · Elinchrom Quadra arrived

sboerup wrote:
My only quibble is that it does not come with a protective cap for storing the head. I think I saw someone with a tupper-ware type thing that covered it nicely.

I guess that was me

Jul 15, 2009 at 08:09 PM

evertdoorn
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p.1 #7 · Elinchrom Quadra arrived

congrats! Looking forward to seeing those shots. EL is soon coming with protective caps I'm told (of course they should've had them from the start..)

Jul 16, 2009 at 06:22 AM

sboerup
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p.1 #8 · Elinchrom Quadra arrived

Shot with the pack today. Did a portrait shoot for 3 hours, battery held up very well! The pack/head combo is just awesome. Skyport controls back in my hands is very very nice. Lots of great customization features on the Quadra pack, like it a lot.

Quibbles: Must change to B port to get 8.2ws, A port for full 400ws. No protective cap. It doesn't feel manly enough because its so lightweight

Jul 16, 2009 at 07:47 AM

adamdewilde
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p.1 #9 · Elinchrom Quadra arrived

Oh question, can it take modifiers easily, or do you feel it's a strain on the head?
It also appears to not have a locking mechanism does it?
I was thinking like the Deep Throat or a photoflex 3ft ocata?

I hate the Elinchrom mount in general, but I'm thinking about getting 1 pack and 2 lights as they're a nice backpack option for outdoor shoots around busy cities like HK where I'd be walking down alleyways etc to do my shooting.

The weight is about 6lb with battery correct?

Jul 16, 2009 at 11:17 AM

adamdewilde
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p.1 #10 · Elinchrom Quadra arrived

One more question...

Can you plug the pack directly into the wall for unlimited shooting?
Or does it just charge the battery as you're shooting and draining it?

Thanks!

Jul 16, 2009 at 11:23 AM

el_hoppy
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p.1 #11 · Elinchrom Quadra arrived

To fit the standard EL modifiers you need to get the Quarda mount adapterm ( http://www.theflashcentre.com/elinchrom-quadra-to-el-mount-adapter-i3883.html)

There will be no strain as the adapter includes the lightstand mount and the Quadra just attaches to the back.

Jul 16, 2009 at 11:25 AM

el_hoppy
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p.1 #12 · Elinchrom Quadra arrived

The power adapter plugs into the battery so it charges it whilst you shoot.

Jul 16, 2009 at 11:26 AM

clausjepsen
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p.1 #13 · Elinchrom Quadra arrived

Yes they are very nice, only complaint is, that the syncspeed on my 5D2 is only 1/160 (on the 1Ds2 it might be 1/200).

Jul 16, 2009 at 11:45 AM

Deezie
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p.1 #14 · Elinchrom Quadra arrived

They remind me of the Dynalite heads, but better looking. Couldn't find it on the Pictureline site. Is this a special-order product?

Jul 16, 2009 at 01:43 PM

adamdewilde
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p.1 #15 · Elinchrom Quadra arrived

Clausjepsen - The sync speed issue is due to the camera and not the flash-pack. Unless there's something going on with Elinchrom that I don't know about.

el_hoppy - Oh I see, so this is a needed item, hmph is there just a basic speedring that'll hook to the quadra that'll allow mounting? As I have one of those speedring to lightstand adapters. I'm just curious because the adapter is pretty pricy for the fact that it's needed to use any modifiers. (Or are there modifiers that can be used specifically with the quadra that don't need this adapter?)

Sure you can charge while you shoot, but the charger doesn't turn the pack into a studio pack does it? I mean could you theoretically shoot all day as long as the charger is plugged in? Or does the charger not charge as fast as the battery drains? OR is there a separate charger you can get that powers the pack for in-studio usage? (not that I need it, I'm just curious about this).

Jul 16, 2009 at 04:40 PM

el_hoppy
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p.1 #16 · Elinchrom Quadra arrived

You can use umbrellas with the quadra as is, plus you can get an18cm reflector that fits the same 18cm honeycombs that is available for the Ranger. I recall seeing a softbox for the Quadra.

I have a feeling that the length of time you can shoot plugged in will be greatly determined by how many shots you take and what power.

Jul 16, 2009 at 04:58 PM

clausjepsen
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p.1 #17 · Elinchrom Quadra arrived

I got the 60x80 cm Rotalux softbox and that works fine.

Jul 16, 2009 at 05:13 PM

roanjohnnyc
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p.1 #18 · Elinchrom Quadra arrived

adamdewilde wrote:
Oh question, can it take modifiers easily, or do you feel it's a strain on the head?
It also appears to not have a locking mechanism does it?
I was thinking like the Deep Throat or a photoflex 3ft ocata?

I hate the Elinchrom mount in general, but I'm thinking about getting 1 pack and 2 lights as they're a nice backpack option for outdoor shoots around busy cities like HK where I'd be walking down alleyways etc to do my shooting.

The weight is about 6lb with battery correct?

It will take modifiers with the included adaptor. However, you might have to do a mod for the lock mechanism if you want to attach the deep octa as it creeps down if not tightened enough. This issue is discussed in the lighting forum on POTN.

This image is copyrighted by the owner

Jul 16, 2009 at 05:27 PM

Carmen Miranda
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p.1 #19 · Elinchrom Quadra arrived

adamdewilde wrote:
Sure you can charge while you shoot, but the charger doesn't turn the pack into a studio pack does it? I mean could you theoretically shoot all day as long as the charger is plugged in? Or does the charger not charge as fast as the battery drains? OR is there a separate charger you can get that powers the pack for in-studio usage? (not that I need it, I'm just curious about this).

What is the point of getting a Quadra if you are going to keep it plugged in while you use it? ? ? ? ? ?

You can charge a spare battery in less time than you can deplete one. My Quadra spares are charging full in about an hour. I went with the 2 light/2 battery kit and I'm glad I did. For one thing you can tether the standard cords for extra length, which you can't do with the Ranger.

I'm still testing my new Quadras, but I really like them so far. I'll reserve general comments till I've had a chance to use it more, but I do see one issue looming with the EL accessory mount. Undoudtedly some people are going to have greater expectations for what it will hold than they should. The Westcott, Chimera, Photoflex, etc. boxes I've owned in the past were typically much heavier than the Elinchrom boxes I currently use and many will not be practical on this fitting. In fact, I'm rather dubious about using my DO or BD due to increased weight and leverage. Still, the mount looks well made and I have hopes of reinforcing the tension mechanism with a modification in the future. In the meantime, I will probably get the Freelite adaptor and use my bigger boxes on that head instead. Every design has it's limitations, but all things considered this kit is a winner.

Good luck.

Jul 16, 2009 at 05:32 PM

s2000hku
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p.1 #20 · Elinchrom Quadra arrived

For those who are looking for the quadra adaptor to use for beauty dish and etc, B&H is the source to go for now. They order directly from bogen and drop shipped to my house. I ordered one on Monday and just got it today.

Jul 16, 2009 at 07:28 PM

roanjohnnyc
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p.1 #21 · Elinchrom Quadra arrived

s2000hku wrote:
For those who are looking for the quadra adaptor to use for beauty dish and etc, B&H is the source to go for now. They order directly from bogen and drop shipped to my house. I ordered one on Monday and just got it today.

WOW.......B&H still don't have the Quadra's in stock on their website. Was just at the store yesterday and the Elinchrom booth is missing all the Ranger Speed AS (except for 1 Ranger RX). Maybe they are making space for the Quadra.

Jul 16, 2009 at 08:47 PM

s2000hku
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p.1 #22 · Elinchrom Quadra arrived

Yea, the website shows "accepting order", but once I placed the order, it got changed to "drop ship". And 3 days later... UPS man shows up.

Jul 16, 2009 at 08:59 PM

sboerup
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p.1 #23 · Elinchrom Quadra arrived

I called Pictureline the day that Amazon posted their Quadra kits for pre-order. Pictureline ordered it for me, same pricing and everything.

I'm not too big on using 2 heads with this kit, 400ws is already a bare min for my shooting on some stuff, so further decreasing it for my location work wouldn't cut it very well.

The softbox adapter seems very well made, but, even when tightened, it seems to still creep down a bit. It could be stronger, but so far it looks great. I had a small softbox attached, I wouldn't hesitate putting the DO on it.

Like Carmen said, it'd be easier to charge a spare battery whilst shooting in studio with the other battery. It charges very quick.

clausjepsen, I'm getting 1/200 with skyports and 5D2 just fine . . .

Jul 17, 2009 at 06:08 AM

s2000hku
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p.1 #24 · Elinchrom Quadra arrived

roanjohnnyc - did you do the mod on the adaptor? I have a 36" deep throat and want to use the adaptor with it.

Jul 17, 2009 at 06:18 AM

clausjepsen
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p.1 #25 · Elinchrom Quadra arrived

quote] clausjepsen, I'm getting 1/200 with skyports and 5D2 just fine . . .

I have two S heads and I have also used them on 1/200, but on a lowkey portrait in the studio, I could see, that it was a bit darker in one of the sides.

Is there any difference from S and R heads or is it all up to the camera? (G9 can go much higher, because of the shutter construction - right?)

Jul 17, 2009 at 06:34 AM


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