Quick question re AcuteB -- can it be used while charging?

If you're truly bored and would like to drop some input, here's the back story to my query:
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Currently use a couple of Elinchrom monolights but am considering moving to a smaller, more flexible (e.g. portable battery-based) system. Given what I use now, a Ranger or Quadra would seem a natural choice. I rarely shoot more than one light - at least so far. However am seriously considering an AcuteB R kit - especially given promos on in Canada until end of year (free head with pack). Thought process:

1. Quadra while looking very impressive, small, w/remote power control and powerful enough for my needs has, in my mind, one drawback - the inability to use the full range of Eli/Eli-ready modifiers. My Mola demi, which I'm JUST starting to grasp would have to go - or I'd need to keep a monolight. Would also need the Quadra-Eli adapter to use any moderate-weight non-Quadra modifier and the drawback of it's placing the tube further back from say the base of a softbox. While I like the ease of setup of Eli modifiers, the mount irritates me a bit - and am looking to move to non-Eli softboxes due to lack of grids anyway.

2. Ranger - Alleviates prime drawback with Quadra, but from what I see is a larger, heavier unit with more power than I'd need - I know, famous last words.

3. Profoto - Seems like a Ranger-Quadra hybrid in some respects. Small, good power but not restricted on use of modifier. However, gives up some remote power control unless using Air (currently use Skyport). Also lacks the digital controls of the Eli units.

While have never used one (and no, no ability to rent within roughly 1200 miles), I REALLY like what I see in the design, flexibility (e.g. zoomability) and almost universally adaptable mount system - if there's a softbox/BD, etc, it's virtually assured you can mount Profoto to it w/o any hassle. The ability to use Profoto with Eli modifiers (say my 53" Octa) via an adapter is a plus. Also like the idea of the protected tube via the glass dome.

Still doing research, lots of time to make a decision (Dec 31), and while I leaning to Acute, all options remain open. Any thoughts from folks having used AcuteB, etc would be appreciated.

Yes, you can use it for lighting while it's plugged into the wall and the battery is charging.

I love profoto. Lack of digital controls it *not* a big deal, and remote control of monolights that are off the ground is one thing, but you really don't gain much convenience with a pack and head system because the pack is on the ground and always reachable while the head is up above in the modifier.

it's true you can use any modifier you want with the profoto system, and the mounting/zooming setup is brilliant.

One of the photographers I assist regularly has been using profoto for decades, and still has the same heads he started with 20 years ago. Same bulb, same cord, even some of the original packs are still chugging along.

yes, use it while plugged in.

I had 2 acuteB kits, sold them because I was not using them much anymore, but they were nice. A tad overpriced for the wattage and flash duration...but real real nice.

I bought one 600br thinking it would be nice addition to the 7B. Within a month, I bought 2 more kits, and now use them on 95% of shoots. They are extremely convenient, and I like the simple layout of the power adjustments. It's very simple to teach new assistants how to use them. The build-quality is fantastic, no surprise there. And being compatible with all my mods is a very big deal for me. I like elinchrom gear too, but back when I had a ranger, I kept having banks fall off the head. That got old really fast, not to mention dangerous. As with most battery units, the model light is pretty much useless, but when it is used, you want to be sure and switch it back off or will drain the battery quickly. Outside of that, they are by far my favorite lights.

Great input.. thanks much. Sounds like they live up to their 'rep'.

316shooter wrote:
As with most battery units, the model light is pretty much useless, but when it is used, you want to be sure and switch it back off or will drain the battery quickly. Outside of that, they are by far my favorite lights.
It should be mentioned that you can power the model light separately while you're in the reach of AC

ooh - like that feature. Nice. Have downloaded the manual, etc - but like many, it could use some work.

I am dumping my Rangers as soon as I can get 2 AcuteB packs!
anyone selling?

Conner,

Sounds like you have got things pretty well figured out, but you might also consider the Ranger RX, "non-Speed" version, which I think is a closer equivalent to the AcuteB. Slightly larger than the AcuteB but similar in weight with more capacity and power, also weather resistant and 1/10 stop digital RX control. It's 2 head capability not only provides more versatility but allows flash duration to be halved on the B channel with one head. Regarding flash duration, not only is the Ranger faster than the AcuteB, but it's shortest duration is at max power, which I believe is opposite to the AcuteB. You can even achieve shorter durations with the FreeLite A head. While the Speed version has "AC pack" recycle times and greater capacity than the Non-Speed Ranger, when compared to the AcuteB the Non-Speed should be as good if not better at 600ws. Extra power often (not always) translates to better performance, not just better output, given size and weight trade offs. Personally I went past Go and picked up the Speed for max performance and augmented with Quadras for lighter weight, but if I could only have one pack and my primary concern was size and weight I wouldn't hesitate looking at either Non-Speed Ranger or the AcuteB. Which way you go probably has more to do with the system you're invested in, as much as anything else. Like cameras these days, do you switch from Nikon to Canon (or VV) because of just one body? Some do. Don't think you can go wrong either way.

Good luck.

I second that. Whether or not you're going to use only one head, the regular Ranger or Speed makes much more sense given you already have the modifiers you like. Plus it's almost double the power and a 8.5 stop range. Or you could get an RX-600 and a Vagabond II battery pack.

Conner,

The AcuteB is great, but I think the bigger decision is getting into Profoto as a system, in whole or in part. As mentioned, the AcuteB isn't perfect, lacking weatherproofing, strong modeling light (either on AC or battery), or Air support.

Great input all. Again, no final decision made as yet, so will look more closely at the base Ranger RX (as well as the AS version) as an option. My Eli 'investment' (and thus my cost to swap) is currently modest - couple monos, small handful of their SBs, usual reflectors+grids and the Mola, etc.

The Eli SBs, save maybe the 53" Octa, I'm going to swap out for other units that can take grids. Having used the Demi with a grid, I've become a convert for having the option of a grid - despite the ease with which Eli SBs can be setup (their big strong point). The Mola would be a simple mount swap.

My lighting needs in terms of number of lights and modifiers is modest (more famous last words), but my light situation is at a something of a tipping point since my kit is currently modest and I was about to swap-out the SBs anyway.

I can stay with Eli, but if I change my mind in ___ months/year, the cost (and PITA factor) to swap goes up. Now, especially with some of the nice sales going on, seemed like a good time to explore options.

Don't get me wrong I LIKE the light quality of the Elis, the ease of Skyport, fast SB setup, etc., but I find the mount a bit irritating, the lack of SB grids a PITA and given the small space I have, the need for portability, speed of setup, etc - a small but punchy battery system that could be used off AC and NOT unduly restrict what modifiers I can use is looking like a good option vs monos.

There is a long list of goodies I'd LOVE to buy from any of the light vendors if I were in their system, but the list of what I'd NEED to buy is MUCH shorter.

A Vagabond style system is not an option - won't work with BXRis IIRC. While I'm not a fan of AB (personal thing), I also don't like having to buy gear like this from a single source. I want the option to secure gear from multiple retailers. While I normally buy from B&H, the ability due to shipping costs (ever priced shipping a battery pack or BD from US to Canada via UPS?) or speed reasons to buy from within Canada (once and awhile we don't get screwed) is a must and not an issue with Eli or Profoto.

AcuteB's are awesome. We have 2 of them, and I wish we used them more. One thing that I heard from my local photography shop was that using the Profoto7B charger on the Acutes effectively turns them into an Acute pack, since the AC adapter for the 7B and 7B2 replenish the battery at near the rate most users would deplete the batteries on the AcuteB's. I assume this would not be the case if you were shooting outdoors, trying to overpower the sun, but in an enclosed studio, I imagine you could easily turn these battery packs into "monolights."

Haven't tried the 7B charger on these myself, but I find that even with the included chargers, these packs do very well in studio settings.

Arka C.

Conner999 wrote:
A Vagabond style system is not an option - won't work with BXRis IIRC.

Tronix ExplorerXT new SpecialEdition is now capable of charging the BX units: ExplorerXT SE - just to let you know...

Arka and Peter - thanks veruy much. Interesting 'news' on the charger and the ExplorerXT SE.

AcuteB, I can't recommend the Ranger, I bought mine twice w/repairs and that left a bad taste in my mouth. I love my Profoto gear and though a tad expensive, will last a long long time with simple care.

I have an AcuteB 600R and luv it.

The Hensel Porty Lithium look like they may be good. They have a 600ws (12 lb) and a 1200ws (13 lb). I think I'd buy one of these before the Ranger ... YMMD.

Here's the 6 http://www.henselusa.com/porty600_li.html and here's the 12 http://www.henselusa.com/porty600_li.html

This thread is not going to be good for my wallet...Will take a closer look a Hensel, but with the ease of availability of stock of Eli or Profoto in US and Canada, I am biased towards one of those two.

On the Quadra vs Profoto (excluding Ranger for moment), the more I look at the AcuteB 600R, the more I like it. The Quadra looks like NICE kit and while not ruled out, couple 'little things' keep annoying me when I look at it. Things that could have been overcome in 10 secs by Elinchrom in the design/marketing of the Quadra.

Hell, it's not like they didn't put enough into the product - it's NICE full featured kit. It just has a couple of silly "ah, crap..." issues that really don't need to be there:

1. While some are rumored in the works last time I heard, no protective caps for tubes. So, it's a DIY solution - at least for now.

2. The Quadra-Eli adapter is harder than an honest politician to find anywhere. Seems perpetually backordered.

2A. The adapter's swivel mount, much like on a DLite, is not strong enough to take a heavier modifier - so would need to do the usual swap out of the lower 1/2 of the swivel with a modified Manfrotto umbrella mount as I did with a D-Lite. Not a big deal, but shouldn't be necessary. Another $50 and DIY project. Tired of DIY with lighting kit. Have enough DIY home renos to worry about ;> While the Quadra vs Ranger is a product positioning thing with Eli, I'm sorry but ANY light you make should securely mount, out of the box, to ANY modifier you make. Position the product with other specs.

One 'little thing' about Profoto I like are the protective glass domes. One of my "it's great kit, but WTF..?" pet peeves with Eli monos are that the tubes are so exposed when swapping modifiers. Every time I mount/remove my Demi I keep thinking one little slip (tapping exposed tube with speed ring) and that tube is toast. Same when reaching into Eli SB to lock/unlock rotation nut - one slip and I'm wiping my fingerprints off the tube with acetone.

Now Profoto users undoubtedly have 'little thing' gripes (lets hear some?), but just goes to show, spec sheets are nice, but until you actually shoot with something for X months, you never really know how well YOU'RE going to take to it and what 'little things' will start to annoy you.

Conner999 wrote:
The adapter's swivel mount, much like on a DLite, is not strong enough to take a heavier modifier - so would need to do the usual swap out of the lower 1/2 of the swivel with a modified Manfrotto umbrella mount as I did with a D-Lite. Not a big deal, but shouldn't be necessary. Another $50 and DIY project. Tired of DIY with lighting kit. Have enough DIY home renos to worry about ;> While the Quadra vs Ranger is a product positioning thing with Eli, I'm sorry but ANY light you make should securely mount, out of the box, to ANY modifier you make. Position the product with other specs.


Now for making things even more worse for you...you can use the Ranger RX heads with the Quadra if you prefer those. A simple RQ-Ranger heads adaptor pig tail makes it possible
www.elinchrom.com/products.php?p_id=41 or www.elinchrom.com/products.php?p_id=43#content

Hum, a la carte.... Had read that, but forgotten that was the case. Good thing I have until Dec 31 to make a decision - barring stumbling across a good used deal in the interim. Thanks for the reminder - I think ;>