mmurph
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 p.6 #3 · Einstein Design Solution/Suggestion | |
Cableaddict wrote:
It would be very interesting to see what's on the "product development" wishlist of the pros.
I bought a Broncolor Verso A2 RFS with battery dock. I am 100% happy with it!
Up to 650 watts modeling light, 10 minutes of modeling, 3 heads, 1200 Ws, 8 stop control range, asymmetrical over all 3 heads. RFS control (like Sykport.) .3 to 1.8 sec recycle on battery, 350 full power pops. No more real wishes. It kicks ass! 
When I don't want to haul as much weight (pack is 16 pounds, + battery), like working without an assistant, I have my Broncolor Mobil and Visatec Litepac (really the same units) which I have been using for 4-5 years. The Visatec is 600 Ws, compared to the 1200 of the Mobil, but I almost always take that. A little bit lighter, about 12 pounds with battery. Easily fits in an airline carry-on roller with an extra battery, ring flash, and 2 heads. Plus modifiers and a pop-up softbox. It is a **real** pleasure to use, very very happy with it!
Digital control in .1 stop. 2 head outlets, symetrical, but that has never been an issue (newer version offers asymmetric.) Heads are the size of a can of soda. Cute little snoots or barn doors are not much larger, or use a beauty dish, or softbox, or even the Para 220 (though I bought the Verso to use with big modifiers like the Para.) Less than $1K used with 1-2 heads and battery.
I also still have 1 Dynalite Uni Jr 400 around, for when I want to go more portable with a Quantum Turbo battery (2x2.) About $500 used with battery. I also have 2 550Ex left (fried the 3rd)  Use that with the Quantum when needed. I have an St-E2, but prefer Pocket Wizards. Just for sports nad down and dirty stuiff, I find teh light harsh even with a small softbox, etc. and not to my liking.
So, that pretty much covers the spectrum for me. I am 100% happy and not in need of any other solutions.
If I were to "add on", I would buy a Dynalite XP 1100 or a Vagabond to use with my monolights or with my Speedotron Bronline packs. I used to have an XP 11000 before I got the battery powered packs. The XP 1100 is really a great unit, multiple batteries, very easy to swap out in about 5 seconds. But teh battery packs are much more elegant! So I never really need to go that route any more.
I don't see many if any "holes" in product technology. Things will continure to get better of course. More f stop range,. more diogital where it doesn't exist. Smaller, but realoly most of teh weight is the battery. The question is "how much juice do you want to carry, and what form factor."
It is pretty linear. You want 2 amps? Quantum Turbo. 5 amps? Small pack with battery, like the Elinchrom (guessing) 9 amps? Bron Mobil/Elinchrom Ranger (though the Ranger seems much larger/heavier). 18 amps? Vagabond or XP 1100.
You want it in 1 battery? Vagabond. 2 batteries? Mobil with extra battery. Etc.
I would suggest just going out and trying what is there. I used to drive myself nuts trying to engineer solutions in an "ideal" - armchair- world.
Somehow the stuff just works in the real world. And stuff that really bothered me before I tried the equipment - 2 head outlets that were symmetrical, not asymmetrical - become a total non-issue in use. Use 2 packs, or set 1 light at 7' and one at 10' to get a 1 stop difference.
I don't pay big bucks to models. But even with $50 to $100 and hour for a model, plus the same for a make-up artist, plus an assistant, "salaries" for a single shoot are usually around $1,500, even for personal work for my portfolio. So the cost of most equipment is negligable by comparison.
Of course the client always pays for the equipment in the end, one way or another. (I bill at 1/2 of regular rental rates for anything beyond the basics - like the Para, or the Canon 1DsII a few years ago, etc. $125 a day for the 1DsII, regular rental was $250.)
Cheers!
Michael
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