Bowens ? Elinchrome? powerpack? monobloc?

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Can anyone recommend a good studio lighting system ? And what are the advantages/ disadvantages of power packs and monoblocs? I'm looking at Bowens,Elinchrome and Balcar at the moment. Have any photographers using these systems encountered problems/advantages ?

Best wishes,

alan Sleator, England.

-- Alan Sleator (Sleator.alan@tesco.net), March 26, 1999

Answers

I have the same interest, but don't have exp. w/the models you list. But I have rented some Dynalight stuff (2000XL, 2040 heads) and it sort of confirms my sense that monolights make more sense---multiple mono- lights give more control, more real light per claimed watt-second, and better back-up. Unless of course you can afford two, three, or more power packs in case one fails. In the studio, at least, the added bulk/weight of a monolight at the top of your stands seems bearable, esp given the improvement in output/lb. of more recent systems.

Personally, I'm interested in knowing how well the White Lightning Ultra series proves out compared to some of the tonier, high quality imports like Elinchrome. The WL's don't have the cachet of the imports but I don't need to pay for cachet.

-- Jonathan Barber (jbarber@squonk.net), September 04, 1999.


I've been in the lucky circumstance that I did not have the money to buy studio flash for years. In these about 5 years I was able to compare everything, power packs, symmetric asymmetric, monoblocs, top-brands, cheap brands, etc. I finally decided for 2 Bowens Esprit 500 monoblocs. Main reason: the possibility to bring the light source down from 1/1 to 1/32, which is about 5 stops continuously. It's big value for money (but I'm not a heavy user) and it's 'asymmetric' for a reasonable price.

-- Lot (lotw@wxs.nl), September 04, 1999.

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