What about the new Elinchrom BX 250/500 Ri?

I saw that Elinchrom had launched a new compact strobe head, the BX Ri head, coming in flavors of 250ws and 500ws with integrated EL-Skyport. Where might these land price wise? Any other thoughts about them?

Well, they look like they are the same BX line, just updated and with skyports. So maybe $550 and $750, but that's just a guess.

Yeah, but the integrated EL-Skyports make them quite interesting, since you can change their output wirelessly.

Isn't that what I had said? They look very nice indeed.

fi20100 wrote in post #6347822
I saw that Elinchrom had launched a new compact strobe head, the BX Ri head, coming in flavors of 250ws and 500ws with integrated EL-Skyport. Where might these land price wise? Any other thoughts about them?

Just a personal note...These 2 new heads share the same power as the old El500 and El250 aluminum heads from a decade ago. Personally, I always loved the 500 and 250 power settings. Maybe it's psychological...but 600 and 300 monolights are usually too powerful for the way I light...The 500 and 250 heads seem to hit the sweet spot better. It's only a slight difference but for some reason it works for me I've got the old heads and the new RX

The addition of built-in skyport and 1/10th stop digital increment control like the RX is just icing on the cake

From what I've read...these two new heads sound like a perfect elinchrom evolution to me. They just sound perfect...I can't imagine anything better

Personally, if I needed anymore power then I'd go with the 2400 w/s packs. For everything else....500 and 250 are just about darn perfect for how I like to light

The lights are not likely to be widely available till early next year. However I agree with GV's comments that the 300RX is sometimes too powerful for small areas, I also use the 400BXs and this rarely go above 1/2 power depending on the modifier and how they are used.

In fact I often use just the modeling lights to light a low key scene.

Faolan wrote in post #6350204
However I agree with GV's comments that the 300RX is sometimes too powerful for small areas

You can turn down the RX300 much lower than the BX250Ri! What am I missing??

Rudi wrote in post #6350297
You can turn down the RX300 much lower than the BX250Ri! What am I missing??

Yep, it looks like the specs pdf is now online and says the RX only has a 5 stop range (whereas the RX has a 6 stop range)....so that means the RX has a slightly lower power setting than the new RI...That kinda bums me out ...Elinchrom should have kept the same 6 stop variation so the 500/250 would go lower than the RX..oh well that dashed my hopes a bit

Gentleman Villain wrote in post #6350005
Just a personal note...These 2 new heads share the same power as the old El500 and El250 aluminum heads from a decade ago. Personally, I always loved the 500 and 250 power settings. Maybe it's psychological...but 600 and 300 monolights are usually too powerful for the way I light...The 500 and 250 heads seem to hit the sweet spot better. It's only a slight difference but for some reason it works for me I've got the old heads and the new RX

haha...I'm gonna quote myself cuz now I know why I always liked those power settings on the old ELs

Back in the day, I shot the old Elinchrom ELs on medium and large format. So they were the perfect for the apertures I was using back then

I've only run into power problems with the Rx units because of shooting 35mm for stock and workflow. The sweet spots on my 35mm lenses are usually around F8 whereas I shot F16 or so on medium/large format.

Lately, I've been thinking about getting rid of 35mm altogether and going to Alpa or maybe Hasselblad (hopefully Alpa)...so the new elinchrom lights would be PERFECT for hitting the sweet spots on the lenses of those camera systems

Cool...now my thoughts on the subject are finally organized

Rudi wrote in post #6350297
You can turn down the RX300 much lower than the BX250Ri! What am I missing??

And the old EL250 and EL500s only had a 3-stop range - I always found them too powerful for most DSLR studio work.

The new units look to be ideally suited for location work with the receiver and fuses contained within the light's shell - on top of that it looks like they don't have the vents on top like the RXs and the old BXs which would make me far more comfortable using them outside (especially here in the UK where it can go from sunny to raining in seconds).

I just picked up a used Elinchrom 500 last night at local photo shop Mpls.
Finally figured out how to get it to fire from the 580EXII. A true manual
might be handy. I need a softbox mounting ring for it. Any help on those 2 items
would be great. I tried the 30" umbrella as reflector or shoot through, just to get
some idea of it's power.
It does punch out some light.
Oh Yea, the modeling light was inop. Is there a 'best of' choice to use?
I just put in a candle type 60w for now.
Thanks"

All Elinchrom softboxes will come with a speed ring to attach them to an Elinchrom strobe. If you buy another brand, you will just have to buy an Elinchrom speed ring for it.

Rudi wrote in post #6426233
All Elinchrom softboxes will come with a speed ring to attach them to an Elinchrom strobe. If you buy another brand, you will just have to buy an Elinchrom speed ring for it.

Great info. Apparrently with all the softboxes hanging about, what I needed was out of stock.
Thanks Much. Didn't expect such rapid reply. Now to explore where they are.

Philscbx wrote in post #6426332
Apparrently with all the softboxes hanging about, what I needed was out of stock.

That's always the case, isn't it?