Conner999 Offline Upload & Sell: On
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As an Eli user I bought the Quadra (dual A head kit). Great pack unit, almost too many controls (hate 101 nested menu trees) most of which you'll never use or use once, light, full remote control, dual heads (though with only 400WS you'll not often use two heads) etc. All the things someone wants in a small battery pack. That said, sold it in disgust at the build quality and expected replacement price of the flimsy heads (app. $500) and the build quality of the adapter.
Swivels on heads and the Q adapter need the famous Elinchrom 'Manfrotto Mod' (using bottom 1/2 of a filed 026 swivel and proper lock washers) as are all but useless to hold anything beyond a lightweight modifier. Did said mod to both my heads and the Q adapter. The umbrella tube on the heads is some engineer's idea of a bad joke (thin plastic tube attached to base of head on a thin plastic 'wing') and it's not of matter of IF it will break but WHEN. Most users mount the heads on a proper umbrella swivel to safely use it with same.
As for the the Q adapter, it lacks any umbrella socket (simply a pass-thru hole to the head) and sets the Q tube inside a 'well' relative to the base of BD, etc. Even modified, the adapter flexes like a bobble doll with (in my case) a Mola Demi BD on it. Lightest touch on the Demi had the whole unit bobbing up and down as it flexes at the base of the "L" plate that makes up the main body of the unit . Some folks on POTN have overcome that issue by attaching reinforcing brackets to the plate.
Now, you can use a normal Ranger head on a Quadra via the factory adapter to overcome these issues, but you will lose the modeling light. The Quadra is designed as a 'strobists' pack or adjunct pack to a full Ranger for use with lightweight modifiers in a 'shoot and scoot' mode. It's when folks try and stretch it beyond those design limits as say a 'Ranger Lite' when the issues arise as you're trying to get the tail to wag the dog. It's clearly intended by Eli NOT to steal Ranger sales.
If you go Eli - I'd STRONGLY recommend the well regarded and robust Ranger if you have ANY intent of using a pack with 'normal' mods on location or in studio at ANY point or if the unit will be your only light for a time. The cost difference isn't huge and, IMHO, the Ranger is a MUCH better value proposition within the Eli family (unless weight/size is THE criteria for your shooting intent, which for some folks can be). More power, a hell of a lot more robust, full power control (via Skyport), no having to do DIY mods to get the unit working for you, no BS with adapters, can bolt anything you want on it, etc., - at the simple cost of some weight.
When I made the switch to Profoto, I went with AcuteB for location work. Small, light, tough as hell, simple quick operation, awesome Profoto mount, swivel on light locks like a mutha and will hold any modifier you throw on it -- and swivels 360 deg horiz without having to touch the socket lock screw. Comparing AcuteB at comparable rated WS to my (now gone) BXRis using same mod (BD), the Profotos were, as mentioned, more efficient at taking converted WS potential into actual light - something reviewers and other users have noticed as well. The difference isn't huge, but WTH, I'll take it.
Quadra vs AcuteB? You give up some flash duration (until have a faster Profoto unit) and remote power control with AcuteB, but for me the others pluses were WELL worth the move.
The dealer you mention is either an idiot or looking to make some $$ from you (I know, shocking behavior from a dealer). The AcuteB2 AiRS (S for sync only) cannot be remotely power-controlled via Air. Trigger only. Period. You won't see full power control of the AcuteB_ until such time as the pack is digitized.
Older B (vs B2 ) units can be found at nice prices with heads included as they look to move out new old stock and are deals worth looking at as the new LioP batteries can be used in older units to save some weight later if desired.
Best of luck in your choice.
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