Hi, I need help fast. Profoto and Elinchrom are having a big sale and I dont know whether to get the profoto acuteB 600 generator or the elinchrom quadra.

Here are prices and spec comparison:

$2399 - ELINCHROM Ranger Quadra To Go Speed "A" Case Set
-2 A heads that sync 1/6000 T5, 400WS on one head or 66%+33%
-6.6lb or 3kg battery weight
-150 Full power flashes per charge
-2 batteries
-$400 per softbox

$2299 - PROFOTO AcuteB 600 Battery Generator incl Charger and Sync Cable
-Price includes 1 Acute B 600 head that goes for 900 bucks retail
-600 w/s
-10.8lbs or 5kgs battery weight
-150 full power flashes per charge
-1 battery instead of two
-only 1 head instead of two
-$800 per softbox, will use third party softboxes maybe

advantage of getting elinchrom - lighter, cheaper for softboxes, two batteries is cool, two lights are cool, but less well built when connected to big softboxes

advantage of profoto - more powerful, softboxes less likely to break over weak head connections??

Elinchrom also comes with free stuff such as $400 case and $100 skyport. Sweet.

This is for weddings and engagements so I'm putting the poll here.

Any advice would be great. I'm gonna buy tomorrow with JClay so I need advice FAST. Thank you.

OMGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG

Im gonna be bankruptttttttttttttttttttt

Yo! Buy one and I'll buy the other! Frick lol

OMG I may buy THIS, lol Dynalite:

If you're going to spend that much on the quadra, then you might want to look into the Ranger RX AS. Yes, it's 18lbs (what is that like 9kgs), but 1200 J will get you shots you can't get with the Quadras. Plus you'll be able to attach a 53" Midi and you won't have to get that extra adapter for everything.

I went through this whole thing about two months ago- Ranger AS with a pair of batteries, a 39" DO FTW.

stop lol too many decisions for me =(

i'll definitely look into the RX AS. weight is a limiting factor for e-sessions but will take a look. 18 lbs is the same weight as PCB vegabond and vegabonds ive carried lots before lol.

frick at $400 per umbrella might as well attach some louis vuitton or gucci umbrellas to your profoto.

The Softlighter II works for me

You dont need 2 heads with the Quadra = win. AcuteB is no slouch and its hard to say which I like better. Having owned the AcuteB for a couple years, recently sold for a Quadra, it is a bittersweet parting. Equally balanced, but the biggest difference is size and weight. If size+weight is the biggest deal for you, Quadra wins hands down.

What about the Dynalite kits? Any thoughts? Me and Andy seem to be looking to drop some bank tomorrow.

Thanks Lovesong and Spencer! As for weight I've tried carrying both and the weight difference is not that big. Quadra might be more ergonomic to carry.

as for dynalite im gonna use that optical trigger on the dynalite to ruin UB's shots

Dyna's are not self-powered, meaning you need a power source. Dyna is a rock solid system, I just don't prefer them.

Quadra rocks, its so lightweight its crazy. Perfect amount of power!

Profoto with chimera softboxes (dont forget a speed ring) and westcott umbrellas

We use our profoto gear all the time, although we have the Acute 2400R and run it off of a honda generator on location. The whole system is rock solid, it takes a ton of beating and it never fails to work.

Check out some of the images, all of the strobed images in this gallery are with the profoto gear and either chimera softboxes or a profoto beauty dish.

http://www.thirdelementstudios.com/commercial.html

Andy, "the weight difference is not that big"? What?

AcuteB = 14lbs
Quadra = 7lbs

Thats 50% reduction on Quadra's end. Thats a big difference. It's also smaller and packs into a good backpack easily.

I'm using an AB1600 and Vagabond II right now with a big octabox for e-sessions.

I was just about to pull the trigger for some Profoto lights (D1s or maybe AcuteBs... or maybe Pro heads), but when I thought more about it, it wasn't going to really be more portable for me than what I'm doing now... which is one of the things I was looking for... Canon flashes on the other hand...

But I'm wondering if I should just stop doing that and use Canon 580 EX IIs with Quantum Turbo battery packs on ultra-portable light stands... They don't have as much power, obviously, and I can't really use a big octabox with them... but there is something to be said for portability... Decisions...

People keep asking portability and power. Elinchrom created that, its called the Quadra. Profoto made it, its called the AcuteB.

Pick two, you can't have everything:
-cheap
-portable/lightweight
-good power

True. Just realized that the quadra is half the weight of the AcuteB. Anything is better than carrying a 18lb vegabond lol.

$800 for a softbox?

pass.

Another option is to use an AB1600 and make a mini-Vagabond for about $200.

Thing I hate about the Quadras is the power ratio crap... That's what I like about monolights - individual control.

Why can't there be nice portable Profoto monolights with built-in battery cartridges? I wish I could JUST carry the light and nothing else. Like speedlights...

Like I said Kurtis, you don't get everything with one kit, pick your priorities and find the kit that best suits it.

Yeah I know nothing exists at this point that does everything we want. Not sure why that is though... Surely they -could- create such a product. Maybe they just need to see the light [har - pun intended].

One thing people don't seem to have mentioned about the Quadra is the skyport system. Remote power change is a huge win for me since I'm always putting strobes in hard to reach places.

I don't think profoto offer that yet...

i thought that the profoto acuteB 600R with the built in remote was the same as the built in quadra skyport reciever?