Which Elinchrome set-up?

Hi everyone,

You have already helped me a lot when it cames to making the right decision whether it's a lens, computer or monitor choice. Now it's time to shed some light on ... the right lighting set-up.

I am really torn between Elinchrome D-Lite it 4 Studio 2 Go Set and BXRi 500 Twin Flash Head Kit. It's a choice between 400ws 1/800s and 500ws 1/1558s power duration.

First one = £549.00
Second one = £795.99

Here it is what I really want it for.

This is going to be my first 'proper' lighting setup and I am more of an enthusiast than pro though one day I would like to post pics on this forum that would be as good as Pham's or Robert's or Ryan's

I want to be able to take my light out on trips so I 'd need a battery pack.
I want to be able to take some action shots like jumping in the air, skating, falling objects (action freezing hence 1/800 vs 1/1558)
I want to be able to use it with strip boxes 50x130, 100x100
I would be using them once or twice a week for about 4 to 8 hours a day.

What do you think?

Is £250 difference worth BXrR?

Thanks for your help.

You're sure you want to have studio strobes? For me it sounds more like you are going to shoot more on location than in the studio. If I were you I would probably have a look at some mobile flashing systems, such as Elinchrom's Ranger and/or Quadra series. By the way, did you mention what your budget was?

Well, I'd love to have Ranger but this is well outside my budget = £700/£800

get the BXRi 500 if you have the money, it's worth it IMO. Also you'll be able to adjust BXRi power with Skyport, can't do that with DLite 4.

Also I've read Vagabond Mini works with one BXRi. And a Kacey dish, good for locations b/c more wind resistant than softboxes. If wind not issue stripboxes should be fine

The ability to remotely control power output on the BXRi is a nice feature especially if you boom your light. The flash durations are t.05 though so neither is that great at freezing motion. If I were buying again and staying with Elinchrom I would opt for the 250/500 kit as with the savings you could get a VML or wait for Innovatronix portable battery pack.

Learning wise, it was easier for me with hotshoe based flashes.

Even a 50$ one has a much better action freezing duration then most monolights, battery power means i was able to take them with me and rock em wherever. And it didn't blow my budget. Shooting indoors, without large modifiers, i found them more then powerful enough. Even the DLites were overkill at first because of lack of space and no modifiers to eat the light.

Though with hotshoe flashes Cons were lack of power, forget em outside, and lack of mods, but i started with umbrellas and they were more then enough to learn and know what i need/prefer.

Personally, i'd get the DLites, and move up to the RXs when youre serious enough.

Or, you could grab an Einstein with a Mini, for a bit cheaper i think, and have only 1 light, but the capability to freeze things solid and enough power for most outdoors situations as well as the possibility of the mini mobility.

pnmd wrote in post #12372294
get the BXRi 500 if you have the money, it's worth it IMO. Also you'll be able to adjust BXRi power with Skyport, can't do that with DLite 4.

Also I've read Vagabond Mini works with one BXRi. And a Kacey dish, good for locations b/c more wind resistant than softboxes. If wind not issue stripboxes should be fine

Csae wrote in post #12373877
Learning wise, it was easier for me with hotshoe based flashes.

Even a 50$ one has a much better action freezing duration then most monolights, battery power means i was able to take them with me and rock em wherever. And it didn't blow my budget. Shooting indoors, without large modifiers, i found them more then powerful enough. Even the DLites were overkill at first because of lack of space and no modifiers to eat the light.

Though with hotshoe flashes Cons were lack of power, forget em outside, and lack of mods, but i started with umbrellas and they were more then enough to learn and know what i need/prefer.

Personally, i'd get the DLites, and move up to the RXs when youre serious enough.

Or, you could grab an Einstein with a Mini, for a bit cheaper i think, and have only 1 light, but the capability to freeze things solid and enough power for most outdoors situations as well as the possibility of the mini mobility.

I was in the same situation as the OP. I went with the BXRi 500/500

He is in London so the Einstien and vagabond mini might not be worth it.