How would you rate the Flashpoint II vs. the Calumet Genesis monolights?

[NeutronBoy]

How would you rate the Flashpoint II vs. the Calumet Genesis monolights? I am narrowing down the selection and wonder if anyone has an opinion (here? no way!) on the 2 systems. I am leaning towards the 330ws Flashpoints or the 200 ws Calumets.

What say you?

[DSMITH131]

Dont know anything about either but you can do a search and find other post about them

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/search.php?searchid=2044530
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/search.php?searchid=2044609

[Rudi]

Never heard of the Flashpoint II, but the Calumet Genesis monolights are well-regarded around here. :)

[NeutronBoy]

Flashpoint II is put out by Adorama. I'm looking at this one: http://www.adorama.com/FP620AK.html

[2112]

Get the Genesis. I just picked up the kit with the two 200 w/s lights and its great. Excellent build quality for $319! Plus, Flashpoint is Adorama's product and I am not sure what accessories they have. Genesis are made by Elinchrom and they have a full lineup of accessories sold thru Calumet.

[slivr]

Neutron -
I have both a Genesis 200 kit and 400 kit, and think both are great value for an economical studio light with lots of features. The Flashpoint I saw online (but have never tried) is 300watt/seconds that places it right between the Genesis kits in power and guide number.

Both brands seem very similar in their packaging (i.e.: both include stand / shoot-thru umbrella / reflector / etc.) with the only real difference that I noticed being the flashpoints have an analog power dial whereas Genesis are digital LED, and the Flashpoint has a higher synch voltage of 6 ... whereas Genesis is a 5-volt so be sure your camera can handle 6 volts. One other thing is you can set the Genesis to fire in slave mode on the first flash, or second flash so if the camera does a red-eye reduction flash the studio lights stay in synch with you instead of popping on that pre-flash. I don't know if the Flashpoints incorporate that feature. The nice thing about the flashpoints is the number of accessories also available at Adorama for them such as barn doors, snoots, etc. You have to snoop around to come up with affordable accessories for the Genesis. They use a standard Elinchrom mount, but Elinchrom accessories are relatively expensive so I'm always looking to other 3rd-party brands for suitable goodies.

I can tell you the Genesis are VERY consistent in my tests (results posted in other threads) for both power output -AND- color temp. The only caveat being their color temp is lower than what they're rated in the manual by a few hundred degrees. Hopefully someone with Flashpoints will weigh in for you as well with their satisfaction level, but good luck with the hunt. Get a softbox right away as your first accessory and you won't be sorry!

[slivr]

Oh - just a side note following up with 2112: The Genesis lights actually aren't made by Elinchrom. They're Calumet's in-store brand just like Flashpoint's are Adorama's in-store brand. They just use an Elinchrom mount on their front for accessories and modifiers. I believe Genesis lights are manufactured in China whereas the Elinchrom brand is Swiss manufacture if I'm not mistaken.

Elinchrom's own brand of entry-level lights are the D-lites. Super product, but twice the price.

[2112]

The only caveat being their color temp is lower than what they're rated in the manual by a few hundred degrees.

Thought my first test shots last night looked cooler than when I have used the AB's. However, I would rather have to warm it up a bit than have it too red/yellow. Also, what I did was set my WB to Shade after 20 shots in Flash and it warms it up just about where I like my pics.

[NeutronBoy]

thanks for all the input - it is much appreciated. I was leaning towards the Genesis because they have the digital power settings. I could not find a picture of the Flashpoint controls at all. If it's a slider, then that solves my dilemma (don't want that). I just don't like the high cost of the accessories like you both mentioned. maybe some cheapie EBAY stuff from Hong Kong will do for snoots etc.

Did you both buy the Elinchrome adapter to fit a lightbox? Seems like $65 is kinda of steep.

Slivr - I envy your locale. I went to my nieces wedding a few years ago that was held right on the shoes of South Lake Tahoe and it was just beautiful. We drove in from Reno and it was unbelievable - like a postcard. We were ready to move right then. But, we are still here.

[Rudi]

Another point: While Elinchrom modifiers are not cheap, they are usually well worth the asking price! And... a lot of the time they are cheaper than the competition (if competition is a quality product put out by a good brand).

[Papa Carlo]

noticed being the flashpoints have an analog power dial whereas Genesis are digital LED, and the Flashpoint has a higher synch voltage of 6 ... whereas Genesis is a 5-volt so be sure your camera can handle 6 volts. ...

It would be very difficult to design a camera that would work with 5 V but would get fried by 6V :lol:
Normally you need to be concerned when the strobe is triggered by 200V.

[slivr]

Neutron - I picked up a Calumet Speedring and use it to attach two different softboxes (I think my inexpensive one is an OPUS brand 36"x48"), then picked up a 22" beauty dish from Speedotron and mounted an Elinchrom ring adapter to it, and for flexibility on the set I obtained some barndoors and snoots from another vendor that fits the Genesis reflector like a glove. In other words, if a shooter doesn't want to spend top dollar for actual Elinchrom brand accessories ... there's inexpensive options out there but you just have to search a bit and/or be creative to find other companies products with Elinchrom MOUNTS on them.

Reno/Tahoe has some great locations and scenery around them, for sure! I'm headed to a 50' waterfall in the Sierra's this weekend just a short distance off Lake Tahoe's main road to setup for a model shoot. Can't wait!

[slivr]

Hey, Papa -
In general that's very true, but some older digitals and film cameras did have very low limits to their synch voltage. Not much an issue with current hardware though.

[2112]

and for flexibility on the set I obtained some barndoors and snoots from another vendor that fits the Genesis reflector like a glove.

Thats awesome. I just picked up a set of Genesis lights. Mind telling us what brand barndoors and snoot fit them? Thanks

Oh, you can check out my first shots with them in the G&N section. Although I did use some Alienbees also :)

[slivr]

The Barndoors and Snoot I picked up were from Interfit, and though they're made for that manufacturer's EX150 lights ... they fit the Genesis reflectors perfectly. There's pictures of them mounted on my lights here: Calumet GENESIS Barndoors (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=512114)

[slivr]

Here's a short thread with pictures of my Speedotron Beauty Dish mounted to an Elinchrom ring. Had to drill 4 holes but was done with my "conversion" in less than 1/2 hour. WooHooo! Thread: Speedotron Beauty Dish on Genesis Lights (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=546731)

[2112]

Awesome, thanks!

[NeutronBoy]

What do you all think of this: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/331875-REG/Interfit_ASA1008_Adapter_Ring_for_Elinchrom.html as a replacement for the big bucks Calumet Adapter? It mounts a Patterson softbox (?) to an E*****om head.

[slivr]

It'll absolutely work - is what I think. :)