Recently acquired lighting equipment

I have recently come into possession of the following lighting equipment:

Calumet softboxes
RM3054
RM3022
RM3030
RM3040
speed rings that fit the LH2000 x2

Norman
P2000D flash unit (with appropriate cables)
LH2000 x2

I have some questions about the equipment

1. It is my understanding that I will only be able to use one flash head with the P2000D as the max w/s is 2000 and that is the w/s of the flash heads. I would appreciate some confirmation and/or clarification.

2. I have a number of poles to set up the soft boxes, most of them are about half in length like an aluminium pole with the other half a flexible fiberglass (I will take some pictures of what I have for reference). The 3054 is very large (50+" x 70+") and i do not believe any of the poles will work. I have tried with the smaller soft boxes and one of them the longer flex poles seem to fit but the soft box collapses when held up. I do have one set of slightly curved aluminum poles that fits one of the smaller, dont recall which one.

Do these softboxes with the speed rings require more rigid poles? Does anyone know of the size/length that work with each of the different softboxes? I have done searches to find more info on each of them but to no avail. Any other input would be appreciated.

Here is the P2000D manual:

http://normanlights.co​m/manuals/p200dmanual.​pdf

2000 w/s is the maximum for your flash head and power pack- you can split that up to 4 lamp heads in a number of different power settings, or put out all 2000 w/s in a single head if you desire and the head is rated for it.

Calumet's website is here:

http://www.calphoto.co​.uk/

How are you connecting the poles to the softbox and speedring? The ring is what gives it stability- the poles should go into the speedring, then into the holders of the softboxes.

So with the flash heads and power pack I can connect both flash heads, but the max output will be according to how I connect them? If I connect them both to the 800 slots then the max for each individual will be 800 w/s, for a total of 1600 w/s? Or I can connect just one to the 2000 w/s socket and be maxed out?

I had found the manual online but just not quite sure how it all works.

Thanks for the Calumets uk link. After looking around on the web found out about the spring bankruptcy thing and didnt know where else to try and find info. I will contact them directly to work out how to get the soft boxes set up properly. I have a suspicion that most of the poles I have are not for these soft boxes.

cheers
colby

thalo wrote in post #17137114
I had found the manual online but just not quite sure how it all works.

Consider it like this, you have 3 output groups of sockets to put those flash heads into:

2000 watt output group with 1 socket
800/400 watt output group 1 with 4 sockets
800/1200 watt output group 2 with 2 sockets

Output group 1 and 2 are independent so it's just take the wattage setting and divide it by the number of heads you have inserted into that output group but if you use the 2000 watt output socket then just divide 2000 by however many heads.

For example:

1 head in 2000 watt socket = 2000 watt for the head
4 heads in any combination with one in the 2000 watt socket = 500 watt per head

2 heads in output #1 at 400 setting = 200 watt for those two heads only
2 heads in output #2 at 1200 setting = 600 watt for those two heads only

The wording is a bit confusing but it's not complicated, I'd suggest you start off with the outlets in the 1 group at the 400 setting, you may find with only 2 heads the pack is actually a bit too powerful although you do have some big modifiers.

thalo wrote in post #17137114
So with the flash heads and power pack I can connect both flash heads, but the max output will be according to how I connect them? If I connect them both to the 800 slots then the max for each individual will be 800 w/s, for a total of 1600 w/s? Or I can connect just one to the 2000 w/s socket and be maxed out?

I had found the manual online but just not quite sure how it all works.

Thanks for the Calumets uk link. After looking around on the web found out about the spring bankruptcy thing and didnt know where else to try and find info. I will contact them directly to work out how to get the soft boxes set up properly. I have a suspicion that most of the poles I have are not for these soft boxes.

cheers
colby

Yep- Calumet declared bankruptcy in the states- their UK division remains open. Simonbarker did a nice job of explaining the power options- and the manual I linked includes pictures showing where to put each plug to get different power ratios.

So now I have to work out how to sync the camera to the power pack. the power pack has an household receptacle and I have a short Male PC to Household (HH) Connector Sync Cord. I do have two sets of Yongnuo RF-602tx/rx. I am trying to work out if these will be sufficient to make the wireless connection between the camera and power pack, not sure that it will.

Anyone have thoughts/ideas/experie​nces with using this type of tx/rx with a HH connector? I would like to keep it inexpensive. One option of course is to get a long PC to HH cable, trying to work out an inexpensive wireless option.

thalo wrote in post #17140822
So now I have to work out how to sync the camera to the power pack. the power pack has an household receptacle and I have a short Male PC to Household (HH) Connector Sync Cord. I do have two sets of Yongnuo RF-602tx/rx. I am trying to work out if these will be sufficient to make the wireless connection between the camera and power pack, not sure that it will.

Anyone have thoughts/ideas/experie​nces with using this type of tx/rx with a HH connector? I would like to keep it inexpensive. One option of course is to get a long PC to HH cable, trying to work out an inexpensive wireless option.

Phottix brand of trigger ($99)

One goes in the hot shoe, the other you will need a(short) stereo mini jack to household cable. Turns out pocket wizard makes such a cable!!!

The receiver is safe for sync voltage up to 300v.

Try to get rid if the Yongnou brand triggers. You bag big boy lights now! You'll want a good reliable trigger.

Thanks for the recommendation. Would it be the Strato II you are referring to?

The yongnuo works well for the speed lights and I have a couple of the 560II so I wont get rid of them.

I did plug the PC/HH directly into my camera and didnt think about voltage until I read another thread after. it did work for about 10 shots, just tests, and did not have any issues but dont want to push my luck.

Thanks again.

thalo wrote in post #17142591
Thanks for the recommendation. Would it be the Strato II you are referring to?

The yongnuo works well for the speed lights and I have a couple of the 560II so I wont get rid of them.

I did plug the PC/HH directly into my camera and didnt think about voltage until I read another thread after. it did work for about 10 shots, just tests, and did not have any issues but dont want to push my luck.

Thanks again.

Yes I was referring to the stratto 2. I forgot the name. They are great. I use them in studio with my medium format digital stuff and dslr type cameras. Super nifty.

I went with the Phottix Ares, just needed a simple wireless trigger as I won't be using it for other speed lights right now. The package came with a PC to 3.5mm cable and a 3.5 to 3.5 cable. I have a HH to PC cable and thought I could connect the PC/3.5 to the HH/PC but the PC ends were both male. I found a hot shoe with 2 female PC connections and plugged the cables in. It has a test fire button so I wasn't sure if it would work. It does. This is just a temporary/test setup to see if the Ares worked. I have a HH/3.5 adapter on its way.

I am excited to be able to use these "big boy" lights. Now to arrange the poles for the beastly 3054 soft box.

cheers