New Versatile Studio Lighting

Thanks for your input Rudi.

I am kicking around the idea, of just getting two D-lite 4's instead of three Alien Bees. There are just so many options out there, when it comes to softboxes and modifiers. I will most likely go with a big octabox, the rest I am still debating over.

Chris,

A D-Lite 4 kit will set you back $850 - http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …ails&Q=&sku=478​443&is=REG

The Octa Midi is $308 - http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …Midi_Octa_Light​_Bank.html

Another D-Lite 4 strobe is only $335 - http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …e4_400_W_S_Mono​light.html

So all that is still under $1500 - all you have to do is get a cheap light stand, and you're on-budget (or only very slightly over), you have three Elinchrom strobes instead of AB, and you have three Elinchrom softboxes (instead of AB).

What is there to think about???

Rudi, on the kit you have listed, the boxes are only 21"x21" and 25"x25". They seem kind of small, are they very usefull?

One more question, does the D-lite 4 have an umbrella bracket?

I have found the original Portalite softboxes more useful than I thought I would. A large softbox is not always the right answer!

The D-Lites do have a central umbrella fitting, but you will have to use umbrellas with a 7mm shaft. If you want to use an umbrella with an 8mm shaft (or thicker), just mount the D-Lite on an umbrella bracket (that's what I do). I highly recommend this one: http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …vel_Umbrella_Ad​apter.html

Have you had any problems with yours getting hot, not being fan cooled?

Mine are fan-cooled.

On the BH website, it says that the D-lite4 is not fan cooled. Your saying they are?

Mine are, and all the new kits are, AFAIK. I dunno if B&H have any old stock left...

Ok, thanks for the info!

Have you looked at the Calumet Genesis 400's? I've seen alot of good reports about them. You can search "Genesis" on POTN.
Here's link to product page:http://www.calumetphot​o.com/item/CF0514K1/

Not yet, I tried to get on their website earlier but it was not working. Looks like it is now, I will look into them.

tim wrote in post #5905397
The first time I tried to assemble a soft box it took ages, the instructions that come with them suck. Once I looked at the instructions online and a friend who happened to pop around had a look too it was pretty quick, now it takes me a few minutes to assemble a soft box.

You mean you got instructions? They must of forgot mine.

Regarding D-Lite's being fan cooled. This is also something that's been discussed and we've found the answers.

All current D-Lite's in production are fan cooled. From what I've seen in my purchases and others here on POTN, we know that the individual strobes are the fan cooled version. We're not sure about old stock on the kits that B&H and Adorama have. Some people ordered the kit and got the older version. Unfortunately in all of this B&H isn't even aware of the product change and stock numbers are identical, so unless you can get them to do a physical check or you open the boxes in a store you don't know what you're getting. But that only goes for the kits, not the standalone lights.

Sounds like it's still a crap shoot which version you will get (if you order the kit) based on the previous posts. So I'll chime in with my experience with the non-fan cooled versions. My d-lite2 kit came with non-fan cooled lights and I have not had any problems. I stressed over it at first, but after using them for a few months I forgot all about it. They work great, and I haven't noticed any overheating. My Elinchrom purchase was one of the best decisions that I made when it comes to photography equipment.

Hey Bret,

I can say the same. I have a set of D-Lite 2's that are fan cooled and a set of D-Lite 4's that are not fan cooled and even with the modeling light on full the unit barely gets warm and I've had no overheating problems at all. I haven't tried using a grid or accessories that would tend to block the flow of air but I don't really see any issue. I wouldn't actually stress over it or make it the deciding factor.