Monolights or Power pack with heads?

tkbslc wrote in post #11079953
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.

Taylor, using AB800 as an example, four of them weigh a total of 12 lbs. for 1300 w-s total. On the other hand, four (light weight) Dynalite 2040 heads weigh 8 lbs., and the 1000 w-s pack weighs 6 lbs. (total 14+ lbs.) and most comparable packs and heads are heavier than Dynalites.

Point taken. My Speedotron 400w pack feels like a car battery with a handle (really only 11lbs)

Although it seems silly to argue which of the non-portable options are less portable! Just get a bunch of speedlites!

Wilt wrote in post #11079967
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.

So there's a heap of exceptions. Maybe that means it's not a hard and fast rule, then, and thus shouldn't be in the "cons" section.

That would be a pretty short list if you only compared hard and fast rules.

tkbslc wrote in post #11080088
That would be a pretty short list if you only compared hard and fast rules.

Well, that's how they're being presented.

Aren't we quibbling too much over being literally true, vs. figuratively true? Like saying 'All politicians are crooked' vs 'many politicians are crooked' vs. 'policitians are crooked'?

There are few absolute truths in the world, and there are many exceptions to any generalization. As a class of product, packs + heads are heavier and less portable (than monolights or speedlights) in terms of weight and number of items to port around. Yes there are exceptions.

Wilt wrote in post #11084966
Aren't we quibbling too much over being literally true, vs. figuratively true? Like saying 'All politicians are crooked' vs 'many politicians are crooked' vs. 'policitians are crooked'?

There are few absolute truths in the world, and there are many exceptions to any generalization. As a class of product, packs + heads are heavier and less portable (than monolights or speedlights) in terms of weight and number of items to port around. Yes there are exceptions.

I don't think we are - a blanket statement based on 2400Ws+ in-studio packs purporting to cover all pack/head systems is quite misleading, especially in something that is being looked at as a guide.

OK, let us merely agree to disagree on this point, then.

How about a lack of adjustment to individual heads on pack n' head system? Most packs give you a ratio to adjust between heads, mono's are far more adjustable per head. Not to mention price wise, why am I paying $900-$1000 for a flash tube with a fan stuck to it when a mono with all the guts included can be bought for the same price?

Farley121 wrote in post #11085297
How about a lack of adjustment to individual heads on pack n' head system? Most packs give you a ratio to adjust between heads, mono's are far more adjustable per head. Not to mention price wise, why am I paying $900-$1000 for a flash tube with a fan stuck to it when a mono with all the guts included can be bought for the same price?

You seem to be forgetting powering the lights...

mickeyjuice wrote in post #11085312
You seem to be forgetting powering the lights...

Nope, banged on the lack of adjustment between heads already.

But since you brought it up, it also drives me nuts that you spend 1K for a tube and fan, then you need the pack with a lack of adjustment for another nasty price. Hmmm, I like mono's

Farley121 wrote in post #11085297
How about a lack of adjustment to individual heads on pack n' head system? Most packs give you a ratio to adjust between heads, mono's are far more adjustable per head. Not to mention price wise, why am I paying $900-$1000 for a flash tube with a fan stuck to it when a mono with all the guts included can be bought for the same price?

True of some packs which offer only 'symmetric' power splitting, not true of some packs which offer choice of symmetric vs. 'assymetric power splitting. I can take each of two channels on my Dynalite and set three different power settings (1/1, 1/2. 1/4) for each channel (A vs. B); only the fractional EV (e.g. 0.2EV) power dial is not channel independent. Admittedly, if I have two heads plugged into a single channel (for a total of 3 heads on the same pack), the two on Channel B are not independently adjustable.

Farley121 wrote in post #11085456
Nope, banged on the lack of adjustment between heads already.

But since you brought it up, it also drives me nuts that you spend 1K for a tube and fan, then you need the pack with a lack of adjustment for another nasty price. Hmmm, I like mono's

Maybe you should learn a bit more about pack/heads, then, rather than repeating this dribble, which has nothing to do with my point. (And clearly isn't true across all pack/heads anyway.)

Pack/heads like the Elinchrom Ranger/Quadras, plenty of the Profotos, etc, are self-contained, and are thus usable in the firled, which monos won't do without an external battery pack.

As I've said before, how this makes them the least portable is beyond me.

To appease mickeyjuice, I added this statement to my prior summary of pros and cons of different types of lighting...

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

mickeyjuice wrote in post #11085475
Maybe you should learn a bit more about pack/heads, then, rather than repeating this dribble, which has nothing to do with my point. (And clearly isn't true across all pack/heads anyway.)

Pack/heads like the Elinchrom Ranger/Quadras, plenty of the Profotos, etc, are self-contained, and are thus usable in the firled, which monos won't do without an external battery pack.

As I've said before, how this makes them the least portable is beyond me.

And what shall I learn about pack and heads then?
That the Ranger/Quadra idea you have is only self contained if you have one pack per head? And by having one pack per head you now weigh the same as a mono. Not any more portable then.

That each pack comes with a lack individual adjustment if using more than one head?

That the price point I already mentioned gets blown out of the water compared to mono's?

Here in Canada a Quadra RX set (1 head, 1 pack) is $1700. For that I can get a couple of mono's and a battery pack and have all the adjustment I want.