Elinchrom Users Only (Mark III) [Abandon hope all ye who enter]

tetrode wrote in post #13047171
A pair of Profoto Compact 600s was delivered to me just today. They're heavy as an engine block but definitely have a much more solid feel to them than my Elinchrom 600RXes.

Dave F.

They're also bi-voltage and I'm curious to see how they do with the VML.

TwoShoes wrote in post #13047190
I saw you chasing them on getdpi :P. Thoughts?

I've only had them for a few hours, Luke, so all I can offer is that they recycle *really* fast (Rob would love them for that alone) and they're surprisingly heavy. POTN'ers we know who have 'em (such as Jerry Kacey and Conner999) swear by 'em. I have an Elinchrom Profoto adapter heading my way thanks to Kemzo. Once that arrives next week, I'll be able exercise the lights thoroughly.

By the way, I came up empty on GetDPI (as usual). In an odd twist of fate, the individual who sold me his 1D Mark IV just happened to be trying to offload his 2-light Compact 600 kit as well. He made me an offer I couldn't refuse.

Dave F.

TMR Design wrote in post #13047236
They're also bi-voltage and I'm curious to see how they do with the VML.

Not brilliantly. I tried one of the Compacts with one of my VMLs. The light recycles in probably 3-1/2 seconds or so. What I don't particularly like is that the fan shuts off completely as soon as the flash is fired and remains off until the Compact is almost fully recycled. The fan in a 600RX just slows during recycle. See, now I wish I still had the 230v VML. A Compact and a 230v VML might be the winning combination.

Dave F.

Did you pick up a standard reflector? I'm sure you've done a variety of testing but I'd love to get an idea of full power measured output with a standard reflector, or perhaps the same lightbox on the Compact and an RX for an apples to oranges comparison.

tetrode wrote in post #13047262
.... Rob would love them for that alone .........

You're right, Dave. I would. Every time I see Profoto's used for a shoot I'm more impressed by the recycle time than anything else. That's one thing that I crave and one of the things that keeps luring me to Profoto. Unfortunately, the overall investment is something I'm just not prepared for and really can't justify.

TMR Design wrote in post #13047302
You're right, Dave. I would. Every time I see Profoto's used for a shoot I'm more impressed by the recycle time than anything else. That's one thing that I crave and one of the things that keeps luring me to Profoto. Unfortunately, the overall investment is something I'm just not prepared for and really can't justify.

I'm with you on that score, Rob. I certainly wouldn't be able to justify the cost of moving to Profoto. However, the price of admission via the Compact route is pretty reasonable. The 2-light kit I just bought cost me $750 shipped. For now, I'm viewing the Compacts as an adjunct to the Elinchroms. The ability of the Profotos to use Elinchrom mount accessories (reflectors and Rotalux modifiers) makes this venture a near no-brainer.

The Compacts are a nice, simple throw-back to a non digital age. I really like the analog power dial (and the dome-covered, forward-mounted flashtube). A Softlighter works beautifully with these heads.

I will, of course, be doing some metered testing once Kemzo's Elinchrom Profoto adapter gets here after the holiday.

Dave F.

Thats a heck of a deal! I got my first DLites4 for more then that! In fact right now, theres a two compact 600kit going for 1,7k used here....

The 69" Just came in, got it for 325$C, quite happy with the price, i look forward to trying it out, and pitting it against the 86" WPLM and the 200cm Visico.

This is SO LIGHT

http://forum.getdpi.co​m/forum/showthread.php​?t=29929

Pretty good deal for RX600's.

Interesting Dave. I can't say I'd need my 600RXs to recycle any faster (I'm on 230V). I really like the forward seated flashtube and the dome though.

TwoShoes wrote in post #13047619
Interesting Dave. I can't say I'd need my 600RXs to recycle any faster (I'm on 230V). I really like the forward seated flashtube and the dome though.

Yes, you 230v guys are spoiled, Luke. Your 600RXes recycle in .8 seconds, ours take twice as long

Dave F.

Yeah, that's at 100%, any usable power in my humble studio space is near instant.

I'm 90% on pulling the trigger on the Elinchrom Zoomspot, just curious if ANYONE here has used it? I'm wanting to know if 600Ws will be enough to do full length shots using the wider circle.

spxxxx wrote in post #13046839
With diffuser / eli ring / opal glass I bet its £500+ ($750)

WOW OK so you came up.

spxxxx wrote in post #13046880
No reason - the Mola was just too good a price to pass up on

so true!

John Schell wrote in post #13047035
Location use, definitely. I guess what's pulling me away is that I'm looking for a more durable (non-plastic) strobe, something that'll take years of abuse, er, I mean, years of use. I think the Einsteins are great, but I've already had one replaced by PCB because the modeling light wasn't working properly (flickering on and off). It really is a good strobe, but, for example, yesterday while I was standing on the beach during a shoot in knee high seawater the think that I felt was the weakest link was the strobe. And while that may or may not be true, I want the assurance from knowing I'm out there with something that'll hold up.

I'd like to overpower the sun with both, actually.

I think what is confusing me is that the ABs are pretty much straightforward in their explanation to new strobists. While looking for strobes last year, the PCB website (and the info on PotN) was very easy to find and discern (ab400, 800, 1600) while the rest of the light companies out there assume (or so it seemed to me at the time) that you have prior knowledge of everything and know what you're looking for Ranger? Quadra? Speed head, A-head, S-head.. . I didn't, so I went with AB and upgraded to Einstein earlier this year. Now I'm ready to move up again.

So, basically... I want something that I can use both on location and in studio, three to four lights - check out the last three shoots to get an idea of what I'm doing/looking for www.johnschellblog.com

Sorry for the long post.

ahhhh good reason.

I still dont know a s or what ever head. I just know ranger is heavier and more WS quadra is light and small. Think of it as the size of the box for the quadra is 2 580exIIs

Csae wrote in post #13046922
Hm, i've been eyeing that D600, i always boom my main light, and right now im just using a D200B with a metal pipe pretty much, its extremely inconvenient and its actually bend the D200B since the pipe is larger then the d200B shafts.

Finding something more... Solid would probably be a good long term investment for me.

Anything i should know about the D600?

I use an E250 double stud in the other half of the D200 to keep it from bending.

tetrode wrote in post #13047262
I've only had them for a few hours, Luke, so all I can offer is that they recycle *really* fast (Rob would love them for that alone) and they're surprisingly heavy. POTN'ers we know who have 'em (such as Jerry Kacey and Conner999) swear by 'em. I have an Elinchrom Profoto adapter heading my way thanks to Kemzo. Once that arrives next week, I'll be able exercise the lights thoroughly.

By the way, I came up empty on GetDPI (as usual). In an odd twist of fate, the individual who sold me his 1D Mark IV just happened to be trying to offload his 2-light Compact 600 kit as well. He made me an offer I couldn't refuse.

Dave F.

tetrode wrote in post #13047359
I'm with you on that score, Rob. I certainly wouldn't be able to justify the cost of moving to Profoto. However, the price of admission via the Compact route is pretty reasonable. The 2-light kit I just bought cost me $750 shipped. For now, I'm viewing the Compacts as an adjunct to the Elinchroms. The ability of the Profotos to use Elinchrom mount accessories (reflectors and Rotalux modifiers) makes this venture a near no-brainer.

The Compacts are a nice, simple throw-back to a non digital age. I really like the analog power dial (and the dome-covered, forward-mounted flashtube). A Softlighter works beautifully with these heads.

I will, of course, be doing some metered testing once Kemzo's Elinchrom Profoto adapter gets here after the holiday.

Dave F.

I also have a pair of Compact 600s, Dave. Love the build quality, the dome, the analog dial as well. Wish they'd dial done just one stop further, but that's what you get with an older strobe..
I was hoping for the Compacts would work really well with VMLs (as you have to manually change voltage with the voltage card swap).

The Elinchrom Profoto Adapter is really well made. (although you need to remove a bit of the reflector bit to make space for a deflector rod)

TMR Design wrote in post #13047154
Even the newer Profoto D1's, nice as they are, have that similar cheap plastic feel to me.

I really liked the plastic design of the D1's and didn't think it felt cheap at all. Plastic can be very very sturdy.
(Let's not talk about the reflector design though)

TwoShoes wrote in post #13047884
Yeah, that's at 100%, any usable power in my humble studio space is near instant.

I'm 90% on pulling the trigger on the Elinchrom Zoomspot, just curious if ANYONE here has used it? I'm wanting to know if 600Ws will be enough to do full length shots using the wider circle.

I tried to talk Dirk into getting the one sold on a German forum, but he doesn't seem too interested. I was thinking of getting it and using it with the Eli Profoto Adapter (the profoto zoom spot is $9000+), but i don't think i'll bother....

sigma pi wrote in post #13048220
Think of it as the size of the box for the quadra is 2 580exIIs

pictures work better

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/kokakaste2/5809​005787/