Monolights or Power pack with heads?

Hermes wrote in post #8754382
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.

I have to admit not pouring over all the heads in the Elinchrom line, but the bitube head only handled 2400 w-s !

Well, the bi-tube Twin X4 handles 4800Ws, the bi-tube X6000N can handle the full 6000Ws from the classic 6000 or the Micro 6000 AS. Both heads are still being sold new last time I looked.

These things are workhorses and I know of a couple of studios still using the range of powerpacks Elinchrom made before the classics with no issues.

I edited the OP in order to represent pros and cons of studio flash vs. speedlight lighting...

Pros and Cons of Monolights vs. Pack+heads vs. Speedlights

Pros Monolight
Modelling light to see effect of lighting placement without taking a photo
Each light adds power, not merely divides power
Convenient setup if lights need to be physically separated long distances
Some units (not most), offer convenient adjustment of power settings without climbing to each head
Unlimited number of flashes (AC powered)
Full power recycle typically 1 sec. or less
Wide variety of light modifiers


Pros Pack+Heads
Modelling light to see effect of lighting placement without taking a photo
Lighter weight aloft, minimizes need for weight bags on stand feet
Lighter weight aloft minimizes counterweight on hairlight booms
Central adjustment of power at each head, no climbing
Central control of all modeling lights on/off
Unlimited number of flashes (AC powered)
Full power recycle typically 1 sec. or less
Widest variety of light modifiers

Pros Speedlight
Each light adds power, not merely divides power
Convenient setup if lights need to be physically separated long distances
Lightest weight aloft, minimizes need for weight bags on stand feet
Lightest weight aloft minimizes counterweight on hairlight booms
Some light modifiers
Most portable lighting available


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/off, or power level) individually at each head requires climbing
Distance between heads due to power cables, unless you add power packs
Least portable lighting available *

Cons Speedlight
No modelling light to see effect of lighting placement without taking a photo *
Individual control of light (on/off, or power level) individually at each head requires climbing (unless ETTL ratio control)
Recycle time, unless expensive battery pack is used
Limited number of flashes due to battery capacity
Fewer light modifiers available compared to studio strobes
Max power generally lower than even small studio strobes

* 'comment applies to some/most, but not all units of this class' (disclaimer to address the objections of some to universalized statements)

Wilt, I just wanted to comment on a few of your bullet points (highlighted in bold font).

Wilt wrote in post #11069440
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

Some monolights, for example, the Elinchrom Style RX monolights can be controlled remotely without the need to climb to each head. The same goes for turning the modeling light on and off.

Wilt wrote in post #11069440
Cons Pack+Heads
Each head divides available power
Add heavy power pack to add light output power
Individual control of modeling light (on/off, or power level) individually at each head requires climbing
Distance between heads due to power cables, unless you add power packs
Least portable lighting available

I didn't know that you could control the power output of a head that's attached to a pack at the head itself. I thought they were all controlled at the pack. I do know about the modeling lamp control at the head, though.

Wilt wrote in post #11069440
Cons Speedlight
No modelling light to see effect of lighting placement without taking a photo
Individual control of light (on/off, or power level) individually at each head requires climbing (unless ETTL ratio control)
Recycle time, unless expensive battery pack is used
Limited number of flashes due to battery capacity
Fewer light modifiers available compared to studio strobes
Max power generally lower than even small studio strobes

The Canon Speedlites have a modeling light feature which allows you to "preview" the lighting set up. Granted, it only lasts a second or two but it still serves as a modeling light.


BTW, which category would the battery packs + heads fall into? Or do we need to add another category for them.

PacAce wrote in post #11069534
Wilt, I just wanted to comment on a few of your bullet points (highlighted in bold font).

Thanks for additions, Leo. I am well aware that some brands of monolight offer remote control of heads...most notable to do it a long time ago was White Lightning with optional remote control unit, and more recently the Elinchrom.

The "that you could control the power output of a head that's attached to a pack at the head itself" was intended as a comment about the selective control of the modelling light intensity and on/off at certain heads. Of course, it is possible to switch off all modelling lights at the pack, or set modelling power levels of all heads at the pack.

Does anyone really consider the 'modelling light' mode of any speedlight to be really useful, especially since you have to be careful about thermal overload of the flash by using that too much?!

Wilt wrote in post #11069603
Thanks for additions, Leo. I am well aware that some brands of monolight offer remote control of heads...most notable to do it a long time ago was White Lightning with optional remote control unit, and more recently the Elinchrom.

The "that you could control the power output of a head that's attached to a pack at the head itself" was intended as a comment about the selective control of the modelling light intensity and on/off at certain heads. Of course, it is possible to switch off all modelling lights at the pack, or set modelling power levels of all heads at the pack.

Does anyone really consider the 'modelling light' mode of any speedlight to be really useful, especially since you have to be careful about thermal overload of the flash by using that too much?!

It's better than nothing, that's for sure. And I have used it on occasion. So you really can't say that none of the hotshoe flashes have modeling lights because there are some that do, at least, according to the specs of those hotshoe flashes. Now, whether they are suitable for your purposes or not is a different matter.

Wilt wrote in post #11069440
Cons Pack+Heads
Least portable lighting available

Huh?

I've always found the modeling light mode on both Canon and Nikon flashes to be pretty useless.

TMR Design wrote in post #11076983
I've always found the modeling light mode on both Canon and Nikon flashes to be pretty useless.

Agreed.

=]Originally Posted by Wilt

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Cons Pack+Heads
Least portable lighting available

mickeyjuice wrote in post #11076488
Huh?

You have to carry a separate power pack, rather than the power capacitor being built into the monolight.
You have to carry the cable which goes between the pack and the head.
The power pack is typically heavier than when the power supply is part of the monolight.

And if you ever lifted a 4800 w-s pack from Speedotron, you know what a boat anchor it is!

Wilt wrote in post #11079776
You have to carry a separate power pack, rather than the power capacitor being built into the monolight.
You have to carry the cable which goes between the pack and the head.
The power pack is typically heavier than when the power supply is part of the monolight.

And if you ever lifted a 4800 w-s pack from Speedotron, you know what a boat anchor it is!

I carried a Quadra around on my shoulder with the head on a bracket on the camera, and the lead looped in the hand on the bracket.

Did that for an hour while shooting in the crowd before the AFL grand final (so VERY busy), could have done it most of the day.

Hardly non-portable.

mickeyjuice wrote in post #11079876
I carried a Quadra around on my shoulder with the head on a bracket on the camera, and the lead looped in the hand on the bracket.
.

Pardon me, sir, but whatsaQuadra?!

Wilt wrote in post #11079941
Pardon me, sir, but whatsaQuadra?!

Elinchrom Ranger Quadra - 400Ws pack/head

Here's Peter's rig that I pretty much copied. VERY portable.

Wilt wrote in post #11079776
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You have to carry a separate power pack, rather than the power capacitor being built into the monolight.
You have to carry the cable which goes between the pack and the head.
The power pack is typically heavier than when the power supply is part of the monolight.

And if you ever lifted a 4800 w-s pack from Speedotron, you know what a boat anchor it is!

While this is true, wouldn't each monolight be heavier because they have their own power supply? So instead of 4 little power supplies, you carry one big one?

As far as cables, you run one to the wall(or battery pack) or to the head. No getting around a power cable for each unit.

mickeyjuice wrote in post #11079950
Elinchrom Ranger Quadra - 400Ws pack/head

Here's Peter's rig that I pretty much copied. VERY portable.

As a group, packs+ heads are less portrable than monolights. Yeah, there is always an exception to the rule, and Norman Pro B is another one. As is Comet.