sanity check on Elinchrom Ranger RX

So, I want to take portraits outdoors and be able to blot out the sun at high noon. I was initially looking at the PCB offerings, but after looking at the exif data on various photos floating around the web, it seems like they can only balance sunlight, not overpower it. Further, I have seen examples of photos taken with the Ranger RX at 1/800 and above when using PocketWizard hyper sync. This would open up a lot of fun possibilities for portraits; think children jumping around, skateboarders, etc.

So, am I insane for considering an Elinchrom Ranger RX kit w/ Mola Demi 22" BD as my first ever strobe kit?

Is there something cheaper out there that has oodles of power and can do hyper sync?

LostArk wrote in post #15868199
So, I want to take portraits outdoors and be able to blot out the sun at high noon. I was initially looking at the PCB offerings, but after looking at the exif data on various photos floating around the web, it seems like they can only balance sunlight, not overpower it. Further, I have seen examples of photos taken with the Ranger RX at 1/800 and above when using PocketWizard hyper sync. This would open up a lot of fun possibilities for portraits; think children jumping around, skateboarders, etc.

So, am I insane for considering an Elinchrom Ranger RX kit w/ Mola Demi 22" BD as my first ever strobe kit?

Is there something cheaper out there that has oodles of power and can do hyper sync?

White Lightning X3200.

Incredibly slow flash duration on the White Lightnings... Not gonna freeze action

LostArk wrote in post #15868262
Incredibly slow flash duration on the White Lightnings... Not gonna freeze action

Neither is the stroboscopic option.

You'll need a leaf shutter...

LostArk wrote in post #15868262
Incredibly slow flash duration on the White Lightnings... Not gonna freeze action

That's the point. You mentioned hypersync.

Depends on the camera you have and the modifier your gonna use. A H/O Beauty dish is gonna get you above F/16 easily. The MKIV and an AB1600 will get you into hypersynch at 1/800 all day long......Guess is all depends on what you want to spend and what equipment your trying to do things with.

I use PCB Beauty dish's with socks, w/o socks, with ND filters and w/o ND filters and shoot is full F/16 light when i have to with no problems. And we get good results as well.

Do it. Buy once, cry once. I've had mine tip over and smash on the ground many times. I've had the battery pack drenched in water. I've used it all day in freezing temperatures without a hitch. Not sure if the pcbs can handle all that too but if you want durability then the ranger is the choice. I've used my cactus triggers which I can only sync at 1/125 and I can still overpower sunny 16 sun (elinchrom deep octa without diffusers and mola Demi).

Ill use mine til it dies, especially since nobody will buy it after I just admitted what it's been thru I bought mine used for a nice price and I feel like it is one of the best investments I've made in photography. Maybe I should become a sales rep for them...

Manaj (his real name; forget his SN) on this forum overpowers the sun using E640s. I'm not sure what time of day he is shooting at though.