Elinchrom kit d-lite 2 vs d-lite 4?

[Fastfwd13]

My 580EX is already way to powerful to use inside into any room of my house. I typically use it around 1/4 to 1/8 or power inside an umbrella.

The Elinchroms come with softboxes instead of umbrealls but surely it can't make much difference.

Are the 200ws going to be already stronger than my 580EX as I suspect? Why would anyone need 400ws or more? Is it about shooting outside or incredible huge rooms and light from very far away?

[m3rdpwr]

I've heard Speedlite's are around 70ws give or take.

I assume you are using the flash manually?

I've never had an instance where a 580EX was too powerful.
It has always been able to go down low enough.

You could always use the Speedlite in a Softbox to get even more diffusion and drop a stop. (Softlighter possibly too with the diffuser installed.

ND gel's are another option...

-Mario

[Fastfwd13]

I meant too powerful because I never use it 1/1. I have never used more than 1/4th of the power.

I guess if this is approx. 70ws then I'll have more than enough with 200ws, no need to get the d-lite 4.

[m3rdpwr]

While I'm not the best person to explain, if you start to use larger modifiers for full body shots, etc, you may need more power.

With my Speedlite's in a medium softbox trying to get more than a headshot, I would occasionally have to bump the ISO to 200 in order to make up for the lack of power.

Perhaps someone else will chime in...

-Mario

[snyderman]

Fastfwd13:

Just bought the D-Lite 4 kit. Opted for the more powerful strobes because I expect to use them outside as well as in. Indoors, (so far) the strobes are set very low for the couple of shoots I've done. Don't expect to really have to 'dial them up' much indoors at all. But still nice to have that extra horsepower for outdoors.

dave

[[godfather]]

When you will using large modifiers, you will feel short of power.

[hawk911]

It depends.... depends on where you plan to use them and how big your space is. If you have to use them in a 10x10 room, the D4 may be too powerful, but in a 20x30, you have room to move around and get creative.