Monolights or Power pack with heads?

Pros and Cons of Monolights vs. Pack+heads

Pros Monolight
Each light adds power, not merely divides power
Convenient setup if lights need to be physically separated long distances
Some, not most, offer convenient adjustment of power settings without climbing to each head


Pros Pack+Heads
Lightest weight aloft, minimizes need for weight bags on stand feet
Lightest weight aloft minimizes counterweight on hairlight booms
Central adjustment of power at each head, no climbing
Central control of all modeling lights on/off


Cons Monolight
More weight aloft for every light, makes stands top heavy
More weight aloft for hair light, increases counterweight mass
Must climb to each light to adjust power
Must climb to each light to turn on/off modeling lights

Cons Pack+Heads
Each head divides available power
Add heavy power pack to add light output power
Individual control of modeling light on/ff individually at each head requires climbing
Distance between heads due to power cables, unless you add power packs


[keyword: pack v mono]

How about cost wise? Are the monolights more expensive or less for the same amount of light power?

It is very hard to answer the relative cost question on the basis of generalities. For example, because you pay for a power supply with every monolight, it would seem that monolights are more expensive to buy per light. But AB comes in less expensive per light than other brands pack+heads.

Now if we have three AB800 at 320 w-s each, and compare to a 1000 w-s pack with 3 heads...$840 vs $1650. But we are comparing apples and oranges, since AB is clearly priced well under the pro equipment market and aims at enthusiasts!

If we compare three Dynalight Uni250jr monolights to a Dynalite economy version 1000 ws pack with 3 heads , $1650 vs. $1650, so we see you are paying same dollars for less power with the monolights (750 w/s vs. 1000 w/s)

You have a 320ws limit on a 320ws monoblock. A 1000ws pack and head system will allow for 1000ws to one head if you wish Or 800ws to one and 100ws each to two others, etc, etc.

I'd change it to "... unless you add head extension cables or power packs."

Jarrad wrote in post #4857377
You have a 320ws limit on a 320ws monoblock. A 1000ws pack and head system will allow for 1000ws to one head if you wish Or 800ws to one and 100ws each to two others, etc, etc.


I'd change it to "... unless you add head extension cables or power packs."

There is a limit to even the length of extension cables due to voltage drop thru long lengths of cables.

Jarrad wrote in post #4857377
. A 1000ws pack and head system will allow for 1000ws to one head if you wish Or 800ws to one and 100ws each to two others, etc, etc.

Some, but not all, power packs allow for 'assymmetrical' power distribution thru multiple heads connected to the power pack. Some heads permit, if three heads were plugged in, only for all three heads to divide 1000w-s/3 equally. Other packs, with assymmetrical power distribution, could permit things to be divided unequally, although the 800-100-100 might not be achieveable, 500-125-125 might be for a two-channel power pack.

I know with my profotos I can use the 16' extension cord with no noticeable loss of power.

I love having my power pack. I can see both sides, in different situations. For me, the power pack was the way to go. I dont find switching individual modeling lights on or off a pain at all. Usually you'll know before hand which ones to turn off or not.

A centralized unit is great to adjust power, much quicker.

The division of power really matters that much? I find it nicer. I have NEVER needed to turn my 1200 pack to full power, ever... I guess there agian it depends on what you do. With my pack I am limited to 3 lights, where I know I will want 4 eventually. I't's just an excuse to get another pack lol.

The decision is yours I guess... whatever you prefer.

Wilt wrote in post #4857402
There is a limit to even the length of extension cables due to voltage drop thru long lengths of cables.

Yes, there is a limit, but you need quite a bit of extension to reach it and it means not absolutely needing to add an extra pack for more distance between heads.

Wilt wrote in post #4857419
Some, but not all, power packs allow for 'assymmetrical' power distribution thru multiple heads connected to the power pack. Some heads permit, if three heads were plugged in, only for all three heads to divide 1000w-s/3 equally. Other packs, with assymmetrical power distribution, could permit things to be divided unequally, although the 800-100-100 might not be achieveable, 500-125-125 might be for a two-channel power pack.

Yup, Some. Not none though and probably most newer packs. It's an advantage worth noting, IMO.

Jeff Allred wrote in post #4857435
A centralized unit is great to adjust power, much quicker.

Paul C. Buff sells a wired and a wireless remote control that will adjust the power of all the lights from one centralized remote. I use the wired remote for that reason. I don't really want to have to use a step ladder to change the power on the White Lightning I use for a hair light.

Michael

If you need max power thru one head, packs + head is the way to go...imagine 4000 w/s thru a single head, and the beast of a monolight that would have to be up on a very sturdy stand to accomplish that!

I haven't done all the figures but I sure would like to have some power packs + heads, often I've had a softbox and mono light at the top of a stand and it's kind of scary and it's not a wimpy stand, also I would love to have the option of 1200w or 2400w when bouncing off of large surfaces. I looked at getting a Elinchrom 600w or 1200w monolight and the price is huge plus the lights get even bigger an those things stopped me in my tracks.

I've watched other photographers work with the Profoto packs and heads and if the money is possible, go for it, it's a really sensible system, I've looked into the Elinchrom packs and heads too, I'm using Elinchrom monolights right now and love them but I'd love to switch over to the other method.

There is a place I really would love to do some portraits with a broad expanse of background indoors but I really want to mess with one light raking from about 3/4 side/back over a large area and feel I would probably need some pretty heavy duty power to do it. This is where having the more powerful packs+heads would be lovely.

Jannie wrote in post #8753507
I haven't done all the figures but I sure would like to have some power packs + heads, often I've had a softbox and mono light at the top of a stand and it's kind of scary and it's not a wimpy stand, also I would love to have the option of 1200w or 2400w when bouncing off of large surfaces. I looked at getting a Elinchrom 600w or 1200w monolight and the price is huge plus the lights get even bigger an those things stopped me in my tracks.

I've watched other photographers work with the Profoto packs and heads and if the money is possible, go for it, it's a really sensible system, I've looked into the Elinchrom packs and heads too, I'm using Elinchrom monolights right now and love them but I'd love to switch over to the other method.

There is a place I really would love to do some portraits with a broad expanse of background indoors but I really want to mess with one light raking from about 3/4 side/back over a large area and feel I would probably need some pretty heavy duty power to do it. This is where having the more powerful packs+heads would be lovely.

If raw power for one light is what you need, consider an older, analog pack.

There is a practically new Elinchrom 6000 Classic (yes... that's 6000 Watt-seconds) going for $1500 at BH at the moment - considering the 1200RX monolight is priced just under that, that's incredible value. You'll find others such as the 3000 classic around too.

http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …Classic_Power_S​upply.html

One thing to consider. If you have a pack, and it fouls up, you're done for the day. If you have mono lights, if one goes bad, you can still shoot with the others. (If you have more than one). Unlikely but stuff does happen. Just another angle.

Dave......

Hermes wrote in post #8753576
If raw power for one light is what you need, consider an older, analog pack.

There is a practically new Elinchrom 6000 Classic (yes... that's 6000 Watt-seconds) going for $1500 at BH at the moment - considering the 1200RX monolight is priced just under that, that's incredible value. You'll find others such as the 3000 classic around too.

But that's just a pack, you still need a head to use with it.

Wilt wrote in post #8754079
But that's just a pack, you still need a head to use with it.

Yep, an expensive one too. Costs as much as the pack itself. Relatively speaking though, the whole thing is good value. I don't know of any manufacturers who even make anything as powerful as this today and i'd be willing to bet no-one makes one for anywhere near this price.