EL Ranger anyone?

[Rudi]

I already have and use Elinchrom RX and D-Lite monoblocs in the studio, but lately have need for more power outdoors (than my speedlites). One of my options (and the cheaper one at that :D ) is to just buy a Tronix Explorer XT power pack and use that when mains power is not available. Not as elegant as the purpose-built Ranger, but this solution would have some advantages:

1) Cheaper than a Ranger kit;
2) Backup strobes already available (have four monoblocs right now);
3) Tronix battery pack can be used with other things, such as laptop, etc.
4) Could buy four Tronix battery packs to power each of my lights separately, and still not spend as much money as I would on the Ranger kit. (But I wouldn't want to carry them all! :D )

But... the more elegant solution would be the Ranger AS Speed kit! :smile: Asymmetric power, up to 1100Ws of power (I was thinking of getting an RX1200 monobloc, the Ranger would negate that need), more rugged and weatherproof than lugging the RX strobes around with a battery pack, etc. The disadvantages of the Ranger solution are that it is more expensive, and that I would have to get a second flash head (for backup if nothing else), making it even more expensive! But... that could be postponed for a while, and if the unthinkable happened and I needed backup, I could always go back to my speedlites in a pinch (and work around the power issues). The advantages of the Ranger kit are as follows:

1) Tough and weatherproof;
2) Accepts all my Elinchrom accessories;
3) Versatile: 5.7Ws to 1100Ws of power;
4) One Ranger pack will power two heads reliably (not always the case with the Tronix);
5) I wouldn't need to buy a separate RX1200 head (an RX1200 plus one Tronix pack are still cheaper than the Ranger kit, but not by much!)

Your thoughts? ???

[Kyl3]

My thoughts are that it sounds like you have already made up your mind Rudi? ;)

Considering your already large investment in the monoblocks i'd buy two tronix batteries and run with that. As you say it's a LOT more versatile with the ability to power anything you might need to power..

[TMR Design]

Ahh Rudi, I knew it wouldn't be long before you started thinking about a Ranger setup. If cash is not a factor then I wouldn't mess around with RX1200's and Tronix portable batteries. I would just go for the Ranger. I think you'll find it more practical and easier to move around and you can leave your studio lights at home without beating them up.

[Hermes]

I baby my 1200RX (It's massive and the flashtube alone costs £130 over here), I certainly wouldn't enjoy lugging it around for location work.

Get the Ranger & head if you need something for working outdoors. Don't forget you can also use it in the studio if it comes down to it.

[Rudi]

Thanks for everyone's input. I have to say, I am using my RX600's on location at the moment, but always with mains power. The price difference between an RX1200 plus Tronix Explorer XT and a basic Ranger AS Speed pack plus one S head is not insubstantial (around $375 USD at today's rates), but it's also not so much that it makes the Ranger unattractive. I am leaning towards the Ranger. The fact that it is a comprehensive, tested system designed to work outdoors, independently of mains power, that has got to be worth $375, right? :) And as Hermes mentioned (and I already considered as well), it can be used in the studio in lieu if the RX1200, too.

[TMR Design]

If you're not in a hurry you can wait until June to see how the Quanta looks.

[Rudi]

Looking at the specs for the Quanta, while I like the light weight, the recycle times are slower at comparable powers to the Ranger, and I would still be short of power (the Quanta is only 400Ws). Pricewise, I think the Quanta is not going to be cheap, so my thinking is - if I'm going to spend the cash, I might as well kill two birds with the one stone - an 1100Ws strobe (almost an extra stop over my RX600), as well as an outdoors kit, all for the same price! Sure, it will be heavier and more cumbersome to transport than the Quanta, but there's no free lunch...

[TMR Design]

All true Rudi. I was not sure where your priorities were and what aspects of were important to you.

For me, power would be an issue but I'm not at all concerned with recycle times, as 99% of my shooting is and will be portraiture where I don't need the fast(er) recycles, but I would need the power.

[Rudi]

Overpowering the sun in Australia can be a challenge, Robert. :D I don't always have the luxury of picking the time of day, especially with weddings. Thus the need for 1100Ws...

[TMR Design]

I understand Rudi. Same here. That's why I said power would be an issue. It's recycle time that wouldn't be an issue for me.

[Hermes]

One other thing - the Ranger will give you the option of using the Ranger ringflash which I liked when I tried it. I'm not usually a fan of ringflashes but outdoors where you'll often want something to fill in the sun and there are no walls about to leave that ghastly ringflash shadow, they can be a brilliant tool.