About 10 years ago I purchased a set of Bowens XMS1000's, and though they didn't live up to some of the hype, they have been good lights.
Last week, twice in a row I got really loud pops and then the third flash sounded like a gun shot and the light smelled smoky. I wrapped up the shoot without that light.
In 20 years I have not had a bulb go bad on me, so my first thought was the bulb. When I got home I swapped the bulbs between my two lights and when I fired the light with a different bulb I got a loud pop. I stopped there, and I am thinking that the capacitor may be bad, but there is not really anyone out there to fix Bowens lights out side of maybe shipping it from the U.S. to the U.K. which would probably cost more that it's worth.
Now I am looking for another light, but there really aren't many options over 1000w/s.
I normally shoot at about 1-1.5 stops from full power, so I am considering some older travelight 750s which seem to be easy to find, or possibly a new Godox QT1200.
The only thing I don't like about the Travelight is that you have to use the reflector to hold an umbrella.
Also Photography is a side gig for me and I have been out of a regular job for a year, so the travelights are also a cheap possibility temporary solution.
Any lights that I am over looking?
My main setup is 6 lights, an old Profo Acute24 running two lights off the ceiling, two old interfit stellar 1000s off the back wall, and my two Bowens XMS1000 into 7' umbrellas upfront.
I shoot at f16 with a cpl on.
What do you shoot with this setup? Surely not portraits, I hope. If you do portraits, you are likely having your subjects walk away from the shoot snow blind for the rest of the day. Why such high power flashes and a CPL? It seems a complete waste of light to use it this way. Do you set fire to your umbrellas? Why umbrellas? Not a very efficient way to manage your light either.
I only use CPL filters when out in very bright Sun to be able to slow my shutter speeds a bit. In all my 70+ years of photography I can't remember ever needing six high power flashes for any shoot, even very large group shots. For portraits in my studio, a couple of 300 w/s studio strobes and maybe a speedlite for a hair light is more than adequate. My largest Studio strobe is 1000 w/s, and if it gets used twice in a year, it's a lot. I do have 400 and 600 w/s studio strobes, but they also only rarely get used.
How are you triggering all these different brands of flash units? Unless you are using a Pocket Wizard system, I would think that synchronizing that many different brands of flash units might be an issue.
I'm sure you have but I have to ask.....have you searched for a used XMS1000?
I would venture to guess that the Godox system would probably be one of the least expensive brands to consider. I currently have one of the QT600lllM units and like it quite a bit (it IS heavy though). They go on sale from time to time but I have only seen the price drop by $30.
Godox should be the first option to consider. The DP series is literally the most bang per buck you'll get. All Godox have built-in optical triggers. Indoors you can probably sync that way without trouble. Pocketwizards will connect via 3.5mm cable. Godox uses Bowens mount so all your existing modifiers will fit.
@CharleyL
I shoot large products, mostly furniture.
I would upload an image, but apparently I can't and I can't use a link since I am new new either.
I did try to join earlier last summer to sell some high-end glass, but it didn't work. Now I joined for a bit of advice.
@LarryBeemer
I trigger everything optically, so I only need a trigger on one light, though I use Phottix Stratto II's and could trigger them all.
Yes I have searched for these lights used, but I suspect that there aren't many in the wild. Not only did Bowens go out of business shortly after they came out, but it is hard to find used lights over 1000 w/s in general which is why I opened the thread. Not many people really need anything that powerful.
I am glad to hear that you like your Godox QT lights, I am sure they aren't too much heavier than what I am used to. Someday I will pickup some dedicated portait lights that are smaller as well.
@jeffbuzz
I have thought about the DP based on price and I may go that direction, the QT are apparently a bit better with color though which is what interested me in them.
I do have a Godox V1 so I have the triggers already, and I would prefer to stay with Bowens mount as well.
I found your website and see you are based here in Minneapolis. Craig McNitt, a local commercial photographer told me he was considering selling his Profoto gear, but I dunno if he has any 1000 w/s strobes. I will ask.
He also mentioned a local gear swap coming up this spring for photographers.
I just wrapped up 18 years at National Camera, and though it shouldn't, it always surprises me when I don't know local photographers names. Obviously they don't do well with the pro's.
I have an Acute24, and though it is a great old light, it would be tough to run the cables between the two main lights and still be able to get products on and off the studio floor, but I would be interested in another set and would figure something out.
I imagine he is referring to the f-stop swap. I have never been, but that is a good idea to attend this year.
nasoj21 wrote:
I just wrapped up 18 years at National Camera, and though it shouldn't, it always surprises me when I don't know local photographers names. Obviously they don't do well with the pro's.
I have an Acute24, and though it is a great old light, it would be tough to run the cables between the two main lights and still be able to get products on and off the studio floor, but I would be interested in another set and would figure something out.
I imagine he is referring to the f-stop swap. I have never been, but that is a good idea to attend this year.
I wonder if the consolidation of Nat Cam to only Golden Valley hurt pro sales whereas West staying in NE Minneapolis took over some of that business. The Hennepin Ave Nat Cam store closed a long time ago now.
I don't have conversations with a lot of pros in the area, especially not in the commercial space, but the ones I do mention West.
I have purchased from NatCam in the past, but have mostly been going to West (or online).
It has been a long time since I have used my strobes, but did quite a lot of work with Dynalite 1000 and 500W/s packs with 2040 heads (2000W/s max) and never had a single problem. They also had a 2000W/s pack. Seems the company is no longer a going concern, and their used gear is quite reasonable.
Taperwing wrote:
It has been a long time since I have used my strobes, but did quite a lot of work with Dynalite 1000 and 500W/s packs with 2040 heads (2000W/s max) and never had a single problem. They also had a 2000W/s pack. Seems the company is no longer a going concern, and their used gear is quite reasonable.
I have the Speedotron Force 10 Monolights which are 1000 watts and self-contained, all-in-one flash units. I purchased these 4 monolights new and have used them twice for an indoor location photoshoot. Haven't used since the studio I've shot for has strobes. These are the last 4 I have and let me know if your interested in all 4, which i'll give you a great deal for them.
Taperwing wrote:
It has been a long time since I have used my strobes, but did quite a lot of work with Dynalite 1000 and 500W/s packs with 2040 heads (2000W/s max) and never had a single problem. They also had a 2000W/s pack. Seems the company is no longer a going concern, and their used gear is quite reasonable.
I am a long time user of Dynalite. Great products, wonderfully light in weight for the power they output. I have 2000 w/s pack and both 4040 heads and 2040 heads fir commercial work, as well as two 500 w/s packs with heads for portraiture and/or more mobile work. In all the time I have had them, they have been very reliable, and the only failure I had was the need to replace one flashtube in the 2040 head which I had purchased used. Sad that they went out of business, but it seems that the number of pro photographers needing quality studio units has dwindled. I still faithfully keep the power capacitors formed, although no longer actively shooting regularly.
