I ran a post a few weeks ago about "seeing the light" - being a "what to buy" post.
http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/700826/0?keyword=seeing,the,light#6309200

I've since visited Vistek in Toronto. They were very helpful and to start out I had narrowed my search down to a single 400BX kit with stand, bag etc + a stand and bracket to hold a reflector. I was also tempted to go with a single 600RX or even the 2 x 400BX kit.

Then I came home... searched a bit more and flirted with the idea of a Ranger kit... but that quickly added up to $3500 + with two lights and modifiers.

I've now landed at the BXRi ToGo 500/250 kit. Comes with built in skyport and a transmitter, 2 x 66 cm soft boxes. I may add a 100 or 135cm Rotalux Octa to this as I keep reading rave review about this. In Europe this kit sells for about the same as the 2 x 400BX kit.

As I'm new to this any input on getting two 500s vs a 500 and 250?
I thought getting a 250/500 as the 250 will go down further...more variety but will it be a huge disadvantage shooting say a larger group, soccer team?

Also just wanted to hear if anyone knows when to expect this in Canada / price, or any thoughts you guys may have on this kit.

The new Ranger Quandra AS also looks quite flexible but is not available till March 2009.

Just one thought - the RX600 will go down to 18Ws. The BX250Ri will only go down to 16Ws - not much of a difference. I would (and did) choose the RX strobes over the BX, whether the Ri or the older model - they are just more versatile! This is not to say that the BX strobes aren't good strobes, they are. It's just that the extra features make a difference, and are worth the extra money, IMO. Of course, it's a personal decision, and YMMV.

Thanks Rudi,

So the RX600s are close to the BXRi 250s as in "how low you can go"16 Ws vs. 18 Ws and close to the BXRi 500s in "how hi you can go" and the RX300 will go even lower, 9 Ws. RXs have 6 stop range vs. 5 on the BXRi. As for flash duration the BXRi is getting much closer to the RX units than the former BX line. With no experience of course I wonder if this seemingly small difference will have much effect on my end results?

It does appeal to me to have the skyport built right into the strobe (BXRi).

I have contacted Vistek to hear when the the BXRi line is ready in Canada and to enquiry about price but I haven't heard back.

It looks like the casing is about to change on RX line. I wonder if this means new arrivals arrivals will be more expensive? hmmm?

It feels a lot like the old 70-200 mm lens question. Should I get the 2.8 or 4.0... with or without IS or should I get with the 135L or 85 1.2L?

I think I better just get my feet wet here and get going on something.

Any other input of course is welcome.

Yup, the RX600 will pretty much replace (and even surpass) both the BX250Ri and the BX500Ri, all in one strobe. Of course, then you have to buy the Skyport RX receivers. There is no easy answer!

Just FYI, I have the new black (grey) casing on my RX600's, and that has just been updated. It's possible that they will start making a different casing for the RX series strobes in the near future, but I think it's unlikely. Even if they do, the casing is the last thing that would stop me from buying these strobes.

Besides the built in Skyport, the BX/Ri series also has a microprocessor controlled cooling fan. This means it will only activate the cooling fan when needed. Whereas the RX series have their cooling fans always running. However, the sound of the BX/Ri's cooling fan is louder when it runs than that of the RX's. IMO the sound of the cooling fans of both the RX and BX/Ri's are very annoying. Especially when you have a few of them running, it is like somebody is using a vacuum cleaner next to you. Unfortunately, because I really like the features of both the RX and BX/Ri series. I also love the Elinchrom modifiers like the Deep Octa and Octa. Service and rental are great too where I am coming from... If only they didn't make this irritating noise

I wonder if there are other brands of monoblocks that have the same performance as the Elinchrom's but make less noise

Thanks again Rudi....
I think they still have the transparent blue RX600s over here but I agree it's not really an issue with the color of the casing... I was mostly worried about the price if I procrastinated much longer and did end up deciding on the RX600s.

Thanks Daan B....
Great hearing from guys who already have had their hands on the new BXRi units.

mfoto wrote:
[...] just wanted to hear if anyone knows when to expect this in Canada / price,

I was at Vistek Toronto this morning for something else and my contact says "The 500 will be 800 something. Come back and talk in 3 weeks." That's just off the the of my head. Might not be even close to what the guy actually said...

or any thoughts you guys may have on this kit.

I'm mainly interested in adding one head to my system. Looks like the price difference between 500BXRi vs 600RX plus Skyport receiver would be something like $200. For that $200, one gets a little higher max output and a little lower min output. And flash duration would be a little faster. Also, the specs on the Elinchrom brochure says nothing about modeling light power for the BXRi. For RX, we know for sure it can be upgraded to 250W. (Not cheaply mind you, but I have an extra bulb already) So I'm leaning strongly towards the RX now. But if I were just starting a system and the price on the BXRi kits are good, they may be an attractive way to get started.

Andy

accwai wrote:
Also, the specs on the Elinchrom brochure says nothing about modeling light power for the BXRi.
Andy

The BX/Ri have 250W modelling lights.

mfoto wrote:
Thanks Daan B....
Great hearing from guys who already have had their hands on the new BXRi units.

Yeah, I checked the BX/Ri 250 and 500 strobes at the dealer over here just yesterday. Nice units (apart from the fan noise ). He also had the RX 300 and 600 strobes so I could compare them.

The BX/Ri sets with Skyport transmitter look like a good deal to me. 250w/s is enough for up-close digital work (larger apertures), the 500 should be enough for group portraits. If you are in doubt, there are also the 500/500 BX/Ri sets available.

Great input Daan... thanks

Yes it was my thinking to use the 250 for low light/shallow DOF as I would like to use my 85L at lower apertures but then use both lights for group shots. I am correct assuming that the 250 only will take me down one more stop though... as in it would allow me to shoot at say f/2.8 instead of f/4.0 with the 500?

My studio won't be large and I thought I'd use the 500 as key light on a 135 Rotalux Octagonal and just use the kit provided 66x66cm softbox for fill on the 250.

Andy...
Thanks for the report from Vistek. It gives me a realistic timeline and approximate price.

... I guess much of the above would be the same for a RX600/RX300 setup

Do you guys prefer matching strobes 600/600 or mixing it up... say 600/300 or 500/250.. I guess it would just depending on what you are shooting?

I have been through this as well and like the BR Ri for one additional reason no one has mentioned: I v\can take them to Europe! The multivoltage featureis useful for some of us,perhaps outweighing some disadvantages.

okofoto wrote:
I have been through this as well and like the BR Ri for one additional reason no one has mentioned: I v\can take them to Europe! The multivoltage featureis useful for some of us,perhaps outweighing some disadvantages.

Hey thanks... you never know I may drag these over to Europe for a visit.

I sent Vistek another email but they are still silent... either busy or have no clue about the BXRi line yet.

Vistek recently posted prices for the BX 500Ri (C$850) and BX 250Ri (C$700).

No mention of the "To Go" kits yet, though.

I got to play with these in the shop today. Not bad! I'm not impressed that they're made in India, like the D-Lites, but I guess that is the way of the future...

I am about to find out what they are like. I ended up ordering the kit with two 500s yesterday. I should have it all here Tuesday next week. They just got these kits in on Thursday and are not selling individual heads till the end of the year. The kit was $1799. The only that had me going a bit was that stands were not included . I wanted these now so I went for it anyways. I will likely add a 135 cm Octa in the new year or a deep octa - I will wait till the new style arrives. And Rudi says I should put a light meter on my list for Christmas

I found this youtube clip a couple of weeks ago:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3LWfgUsvlgI

I'm currently shooting with a Ranger AS speed (2 heads and RF) and a style 600RX, plus I still have 3 Bowens heads.

Originally my plan was to get one more 600RX and then my EL kit fully replaces what I was used to with the Bowens (which I must sell). However I have liked the extra heads and I am now thinking of getting the 600RX as planned plus two more cheaper EL heads.

I was prepared for forego the skyports on the "extra" heads and get the cheaper FX, but now a couple of BX250Ri is sounding very appealing. I may even get them ahead of getting the 600RX. Just need to pull my finger out and sell my Bowens.

el_hoppy wrote:
I'm currently shooting with a Ranger AS speed (2 heads and RF) and a style 600RX, plus I still have 3 Bowens heads.

Originally my plan was to get one more 600RX and then my EL kit fully replaces what I was used to with the Bowens (which I must sell). However I have liked the extra heads and I am now thinking of getting the 600RX as planned plus two more cheaper EL heads.

I was prepared for forego the skyports on the "extra" heads and get the cheaper FX, but now a couple of BX250Ri is sounding very appealing. I may even get them ahead of getting the 600RX. Just need to pull my finger out and sell my Bowens.

Not a bad plan at all, el_hoppy! I have two RX600 heads and a Ranger with two heads. Also have two D-Lite4 heads, but am thinking of selling those now, keeping things simple.

Slightly (ahem) OT, but what heads do you have for your Ranger? One of each? Also, how do you find the ringflash?