Advice on choosing good lights

Hello guys,
So recently I had an email requesting quote bid for a very nice, Avengers 4 dvd project. This is something new to me, I didn't win the bid but start thinking of more complex setups with very serious costumers.
Currently I'm lighting everything with 7 Canon speedlights, but after this email I was thinking that the time has come to get some pro lighting.
So long story short I'm looking for advice on something similar to Profoto B1, but slightly cheaper and slightly more powerful than 500w. So basically the ideal factors will be.
1. To have HSS - for this one, and in general, I was looking at the Broncolor range, the only thing is that it says with small text on the bottom that it work with HSS but with some sort of diferent light bulb, and there isn't more explanation.
2. Work with pocketwizards so I can combine them with my speedlights.
3. I think I will be leaning more towards monoblogs as they are the cheaper option and more portable easy to carry for location, and less messy no wires. But feel free to advice/suggest on this too.
4. I have lots of Interfit modifiers which are S fit, so something, or adapter, that will aloud me to use them.
5. Power probably more than 500w.
6. Brand that is popular among the rental shops.
So basically my idea is to buy at least two heads, and for more complex shoots to hire whatever I need, but off course to be compatible. I noticed that in London very popular brands among the hire stores are Profoto, Broncolor, Elinchrom and Bowens.
Any advice and suggestions are welcome.
Thanks,
Nikolay.

TETRAGRAMATON wrote in post #17731521
Hello guys,
So recently I had an email requesting quote bid for a very nice, Avengers 4 dvd project. This is something new to me, I didn't win the bid but start thinking of more complex setups with very serious costumers.
Currently I'm lighting everything with 7 Canon speedlights, but after this email I was thinking that the time has come to get some pro lighting.
So long story short I'm looking for advice on something similar to Profoto B1, but slightly cheaper and slightly more powerful than 500w. So basically the ideal factors will be.
1. To have HSS - for this one, and in general, I was looking at the Broncolor range, the only thing is that it says with small text on the bottom that it work with HSS but with some sort of diferent light bulb, and there isn't more explanation.
2. Work with pocketwizards so I can combine them with my speedlights.
3. I think I will be leaning more towards monoblogs as they are the cheaper option and more portable easy to carry for location, and less messy no wires. But feel free to advice/suggest on this too.
4. I have lots of Interfit modifiers which are S fit, so something, or adapter, that will aloud me to use them.
5. Power probably more than 500w.
6. Brand that is popular among the rental shops.
So basically my idea is to buy at least two heads, and for more complex shoots to hire whatever I need, but off course to be compatible. I noticed that in London very popular brands among the hire stores are Profoto, Broncolor, Elinchrom and Bowens.
Any advice and suggestions are welcome.
Thanks,
Nikolay.

In the UK if you want a warranty and ETTL:
Profoto or Phottix Indra.
Without ETTL
Lencarta Safari2 not a monobloc, but there's an advantage there too.
Elinchrom Ranger not monobloc, or S fit
iLux from Photomart,
I think there's a flash shop who does Godox branded versions of the Lencarta lights (be warned, Lencarta claim their products are only similar not identical).
There are others,

There's also the Godox ad360 with a little less power also sold by Lencarta as the atom.

The monobloc point? Once you're outside with large modifiers, your biggest problem becomes stability, IMHO attaching a heavy battery at the bottom of a light stand makes more sense than perching it at the top of one. See the Cheetahstand CL600 thread for a discussion of the Godox/Lencarta light.

HSS? I don't know why you want HSS, but mostly it's going to be a whole other learning curve for you, (it's not simple like it is with a flashgun indoors) the Safari doesn't have a particularly long burn, I'd recommend using an ND rather than HSS.

AFAIC only the Phottix Indra and Profoto offer proper HSS. If you're prepared to gamble from abroad, you can save a packet and buy the Jinbei version of the Adorama Rovelight, see the Rovelight thread for all the details.

I'll add:
It's common for people new to studio flash to think they need HSS and ETTL, but they're not often an advantage.

My lighting rationale... If I've got a flashgun atop my camera, it's ETTL because in a constantly changing environment I can rely on ETTL giving me a good exposure. As soon as the flash is on a stand and the situation is static, I only have to calculate exposure once for consistent results, manual flash is easier and gives better results, consider your subject in a white t shirt then a black one, ETTL will give inconsistent results without intervention. Consider a sunset shot with flash lit subject, as the sun moves around the frame ETTL will be all over the place, a Manual flash setting will have it nailed.

HSS? See the thread comparing HSS to the use of ND's, it's a 'nice to use' but not really a 'deal breaker'. I was disappointed when I couldn't get consistent 'Supersync' results from the Safari, but a 3 stop ND and it no longer matters.

BTW if you really need high speed flash, HSS isn't the answer, you need to look at IGBT studio flashes, and that's a whole other issue.

Wow I never thought of ND filter as an option it is a very clever solution.
To be honest I thought ETTL is handy option to have it as a available tool, but in my case I do not really need it as most of the time I shoot in manual mode with my speedlits. But it seems like this extra option comes with extra cost, so probably I will skip on this.
And I will be checking on the IGBT, as I never heard of this system before.
Also I was thinking that probably the best option will be to buy just two heads, one as main light with battery pack - and second one to be monoblock, and if I need more just use my speelits or hire from local shops.

Bear in mind that your flashguns might not play nice with the big boys in terms of colour temperature. Whist quality studio strobes/power packs have a variation of +/- 50K in colour temperature at different power levels–which is practically negligible and unnoticeable–, flashguns vary noticeably in colour as you go down in power. If your flashguns right off the bat have a different colour temperature (at max power) than your studio strobes, you'll have issues that will be a nightmare to correct in post.

Based on your initial shopping list, your only choice is really Profoto: they're ubiquitous across rental stores and pack the features that you want. Myself, I don't care for ETTL or HSS: I'm a manual mode nut. Lightmeter and NDs in case I need very dark backgrounds or wide open apertures under full sun.

I just came across this one, and it looks like an option:
http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …ry_powered_mono​light.html

TETRAGRAMATON wrote in post #17734037
I just came across this one, and it looks like an option:
http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …ry_powered_mono​light.html

Well the cost of it by the time it crosses the pond, the support should it go wrong, and the fact it's only 400Ws would put me off.

I think there's loads better options tbh.

@Phil V - yeh try, I don't think it is still available here in UK, and yes 400w isn't very bright.

I think, at least at the moment, I'm on for Bowens strobes, Bowens Gemini 750w Pro for example. They seems very reasonably priced and quite versatile and they are using S speedring fitting.