Adding a 3rd light to a two light Explor600 set up

I have been using the Explor600's for outdoor portraits.

New to studio/on location interior portraits. I am considering adding an additonal light source to my 2 Flashpoint Explor600's for studio/on location indoor portraits. I am considering the Flashpoint Rapid 600/ Godox QT600 ii or another brand of light with a stronger modeling light.

I initially gravitated toward the Rapid600 due to it having the same 2.4ghz system as the Explor and all can be triggered with the X1 trigger. All have Bowens mount. The Rapid600 has a flash duration that is fast and thought that could add some versatility for other types of photography. Have any of you tried this strobe?

https://www.adorama.co​m …ml?utm_source=r​flaid68302

questions:

1) Is the 150 watt modeling light on the Rapid600 strong enough or should I look for a strobe with a 250 watt modeling light?
2) Will it make a difference that the above strobes have different flash durations? The rapid 600 has faster durations.
3) Is there another brand of strobe with bowens mount and a fast flash duration with a strong modeling light that I could integrate in with the two Expor600's? Maybe trigger the Explor's with the X1 trigger and the new strobe in slave mode?

What you shooting that requires fast flash duration?

I thought if I was buying an additional light, that one that is the most versatile would be good. I've read where dance, movement of a subject or movement hair from a model etc.... would need faster flash duration.

The rapid600 had some of those speed capabilities with a greater power adjustment range. It also has a modeling light that is not as strong as others.

At full power, the Xplor600 has a speed of 1/220, and the Rapid600 has a speed of 1/190...NOT going to make much of a difference in freezing any motion when using the flash at max power!

My black Friday special - Flashpoint Rapid 600 came in today. Actually they are still on sale for $379 as today. Have not play with the Speed mode yet, but my quick observation..

To me the 150W modeling light is adequate for home studio, good enough for seeing the modeling effects and assist focusing. 250W is better, but leaving the 250W at max for more than 10 mins, the modifiers near the lamp will get real hot. Of course it could be turned down. The Rapid/QT600 II has a very effective air/vent setup that I feel confident to leave modeling light on max for extended period of time.

The crazy fast flash duration only happens at minimum power. In more practical range, the flash duration is 1/2424 in 'stable color' mode @ 1/8 power. In Speed mode, 1/3968 @ 1/8, and 1/6288@ 1/16, according to LCD screen. Also in Speed mode, once the power is set below 1/8, the color balance shift toward cool quickly, almost near 9K at minimum.

After I got used to the Godox LED modeling lights, the hot light in the QT600 look orange and sick on a real person's skin So beware of that when mixing with the AD600.

First pic: flash not fired. The reflections on the strobe are from Godox LED modeling lights.

Second: HSS freezes motion too. I need HSS to shoot F1.4 with studio strobes.

Lotto, I just want to thank you for your follow up and information with this thread!

FYI the Xplor600 TTL is on sale today for $479 :O

https://www.adorama.co​m/fplfx600tb.html

Lotto,

Have you had a chance to use the Rapid600 with your other Godox/Flashpoint strobes? Does the different flash durations cause any difficulties in practical use? Does it integrate well?

Thank You!

I have been playing with the new toy everyday for the past week but only using the standard speed mode with the other strobes. The flash duration is limited by the slowest one. From the few test shots in Speed mode, I can see that there will be difficulties working with the regular strobes because of the color balance shift, even with another Rapid 600 in different power setting.

I have been shooting ballet dancing on stage for more than 10 years, with the typical camera setting of 1/320, iso1250, and I have no problem to freeze the dancer in studio setting with 1/125, iso100 with regular strobes in lower power settings, just make sure to kill the ambient lights as much as I can. I use my AD600 outdoors with HSS, so I am more comfortable using HSS with the Rapid 600 when working high speed with other Godox lights.

Also the side benefit of the HSS is the ability of using wilder aperture with the powerful studio strobe. In the test shot above: @ minimum power (1/128) F5.6, 1/125; with HSS (1/16 is the lowest setting), F1.4, 1/6400.

As for integration, the power, controls, and functions are pretty close to the AD600. Two things worth to mention. 1) there is no proportion mode for the modeling light. 2) HSS can only be activated by pressing the button on back of the strobe.

Two major physical differences with AD600 are the all metal chassis and that clickly light stand mount that we all hate.


The metal stand mount on the Rapid 600 is smooth as a tripod head. The crank handle is non-ratchet type, witch I swapped out with the Manfrotto 026 flash bracket..

Lotto wrote in post #18764301
(Flashpoint Rapid 600) From the few test shots in Speed mode, I can see that there will be difficulties working with the regular strobes because of the color balance shift, even with another Rapid 600 in different power setting.

Color balance shift at different power settings...the bane of the Alien Bee lights, and the very raison d'etre for the Einstein!