Analysis Paralysis!

Please share your opinions on which direction you think I should go based on your experiences and lessons learned. If you could go back and do it all over again, you would...

I've made the commitment to start to learn OCF/studio lighting for portrait work and I'm looking to invest in a lighting system that will be with me for the long haul. I've read about a few systems and it seems they all have something I like and something I wish they had. I'm the sort of guy that prefers to buy once and cry once, I really hate to buy something only to outgrow it or have it break in a short amount of time. That said I'm not made of money and I would have about $1800 to spend on lighting (heads or monolights and modifiers), I have accumulated stands, booms, reflector holders etc already so I should be OK in that area. If I go with more expensive equipment, I will have to make do with fewer lights (or a single light) until I'm able to fully fund another purchase.

How I would use them would be 70% location shooting (events, client homes, businesses, outdoor) and 30% home studio. Here are the ones I'm considering in no particular order, let me know if you think I should be looking at something I haven't listed!

PCB Einstein:
LIKES: I really like the idea behind the Cybercommander system. I like the fact that you can actually see the power settings of your flashes from the cybercommander vs having to rely on beeps when I might be in a noisy environment, built in light meter doesn't hurt either. Adjustability, wide range allows more flexibility built in without having to use additional modifiers. Vagabond Mini looks great for a portable setup. Seems to be a good value for the money.
CONCERNS: I've read about the mounting system and that worries me, especially if I'm outdoors and a wind kicks up. Durability, reports I read have them as not flimsy but definitely not heavy-duty.

Profoto D1 Air 500:
LIKES: Seems to be an industry standard, good for the ability to rent additional heads if needed and looks like the mounting system for light modifiers is the same across their range of products and looks very secure. Build quality looks to be very good.
CONCERNS: Most expensive, for most everything in the system. Air system seems limited in functionality in comparison to the Einstein, reliant on beeps if you lose track of where you are on each light?

Elinchrom RX600:
LIKES: Out of the box compatibility with Elinchrom modifiers that I'm interested in trying. Reviews are positive about reliability and quality of light. Middle range in price.
CONCERNS: Skyport seems to suffer the same issue as the Profoto Air in that it allows remote power adjustability but its blind. Not sure if it can be run from a powerpack for remote use.

I looked at the Elinchrom Ranger Quadra setup but I'm concerned about how power is distributed in that system as well as being concerned if I will want more power for outdoor shoots as I start to use it and see whats possible. Light Modifiers available to each system is a big factor as well. Thanks for reading this, it turned out longer than I planned!

They are all great systems.
Don't forget that the Elinchrom system now includes the iPhone app + WiFi module. It is a systems approach that due to it's bi-directional communications - let's you make changes and see at a glance exactly where things are set. No more "counting beeps".....lol This is an extremely cool add on that i find just a treat to use - but hey - we all have different workflows and likes and dislikes.

I love my einstein and cyber commander. I wouldnt worry much about the mounting system unless youre using a really heavy modifier. I use a 37inch octa on mine for most outdoor stuff and there is no way its coming off. Youre more likely to break or blow over the stand than to get the modifier to come off.

It is never easy when we face so many options. Calumet has a line of strobes called Travelites. They are good as well. That is not what you asked. Profoto for was out of my reach. Beautiful stuff but not in my budget. I looked at Elinchrom and the Einstein. One thing I learned is that the cost of the mono light is just the start of it. Over the last three years, I have purchased several modifiers and different light stands and a boom. I have also purchased some batteries for portability, which is really nice. So I decided to go with Buff since it seemed to me at the time the batteries were less expensive as are the range of light modifiers. From reflectors to softboxes. I was leaning toward the Elinchrom and then factored in my cost for portable power, metal reflectors and soft boxes and it was easier for me to decide once I looked at the full cost.
Just my story. You can't go wrong with any of your choices. Once you buy it, don't look back and just spend time using them. All of them will produce great light for your images. Enjoy them when you buy them.

Jim

The mounting system is the weak point in the Einstein design.

Jerry Kacey, who is a contributor here, has been designing some very useful adapter rings and other mounting support for Einstein. Even with the additional cost Jerry's solutions add, the Einstein is still cost effective.

As mentioned above, the problem only raises its head with large modifiers. I have found that Jerry's adapter rings work well with my collapsable modifiers from Buff and Fotodiox.

The Cyber Commander is, based on demos I've seen in person and on-line, is significantly more capable that either the Profoto (saw in person) or elinchrom (saw on-line) remote control devices.

In the end, as Jim points out, they all make light. The modifiers do more to shape the light than the strobe itself. Each has pluses and minuses. What it boils down to is which one for you is worth the investments over the long haul and will suit your shooting style and personal buying criteria.

SamFrench: I just read about the iPhone app and it looks promising!

JakAHearts: Thanks for the feedback, I might mount a large PLM or a 39" Deep Octa, not too heavy? Do you use your Cybercommander off camera and use a CST on your camera to trigger it?

jim_escalante: I absolutely would like to hear of alternatives I didn't list. I'm just getting into it so I'm sure there are lots of things I haven't considered. My main thing is I don't want to look back 6 months down the road and say "Man I wish I saved longer and bought 'X' instead."

dmward: When you talk about large modifiers, what do you consider large? I'm trying to be keep things as simple as I can and carry the least amount of things with me as possible. Single battery type, as few adapters as possible. The modifiers available to each system is a big deal, I just want to make sure that if I have to use adapters that it doesn't seem like a kludge (not talking about any adapter specifically) because it would just drive me mad if I had to spend lots of time dealing with a lot of add ons.

I haven't heard from any Profoto users, the mounting system looks to be the best out of the three at least as I can see from pictures, are there any frustrations with their mounting system?

If you could do it over again, would you build a light system slowly (over 6 months) with the Profoto system or would you move faster and get more lights NOW with one of the other two companies? Time is on my side and I don't mind going with a single monolight+speedlight+r​eflector for a while if I'm better off doing so. Hmm I might be talking myself into something just typing this, but what do you all think?

Stealther wrote in post #14952659
JakAHearts: Thanks for the feedback, I might mount a large PLM or a 39" Deep Octa, not too heavy? Do you use your Cybercommander off camera and use a CST on your camera to trigger it?

Neither of those should be a problem aside from the large PLM. Outdoors, that thing is going to go flying! The octa should be rock solid on there, no problem.

I just use the CC on camera. I tried it with it around my neck and just didnt like it. For me, its much easier to just have it on my camera.

Large is like a 60" octabox. That's the only modifier I've had problems with, and the Kacey adapter ring solved the problem. The adapter from Fotodiox was too small inner diameter and the flange was a bit wider, thus the fingers did not fully return to set position. With the Kacey adapter they fully return and the modifier is solid.

I really like PLMs with my Einsteins, but there is a wind concern.

I use a CST on the camera with the CC in my pocket or on the table. That really comes down to working style.

To address one of your questions about the 600RX strobes, I have several, and I use them on location all the time with the Tronix Explorer XT for power. I have the wifi module and iPad app, and before that, I was using the Elinchrom program on a laptop with the USB controller for the same purpose. I don't use either very often and only use them in the studio when a strobe is pretty high or when I use the indirect octa with the front diffuser, where I can't get to the back of the strobe without removing the diffuser.

Thanks for the input everyone, I just ordered a Einstein/Cybercommande​r setup with a 51" Soft Silver PLM and Vagabond Mini Lithium. I'd like to try a Beauty Dish but have heard mixed reviews in the PCB dish. Anyone guess what my next post will be about once I get my Einstein in?

Stealther wrote in post #14973020
Anyone guess what my next post will be about once I get my Einstein in?

Yes. Youre going to wonder how in the hell you work the CC.

Stealther wrote in post #14973020
Anyone guess what my next post will be about once I get my Einstein in?

What light meter should I buy.

lol you guys are funny, I'm pretty confident I'll be able to figure the CC out and I'm hoping the light meter built into the CC will be sufficient for now. No the next question will most likely be opinions on beauty dishes once I've done some research and see which dishes have the light pattern I like best.

Stealther wrote in post #14973243
lol you guys are funny, I'm pretty confident I'll be able to figure the CC out and I'm hoping the light meter built into the CC will be sufficient for now. No the next question will most likely be opinions on beauty dishes once I've done some research and see which dishes have the light pattern I like best.

You may want to start with either the Buff dish or the Kacey dish.
There is also a nice large (28") dish available from Fotodiox. If you get that one, you will want the Kacey flat adapter ring. Its the white one with the umbrella hole. It places the light tube farther into the dish, and also lets the fingers fully reset into the locked position.