Testing the new Ranger...

Hi everyone,

With the wedding season getting underway here in Oz, I finally decided to bite the bullet and get myself the Elinchrom Ranger - in my case, the Ranger RX Speed AS kit with the Ranger A head, two batteries, Varistar kit (incl. Varistar reflector), 7" grid reflector and hard case.

First impressions:

As good as the RX strobes are in the studio, the Ranger is going to be on location. I am already thinking about getting a second head for it (S head this time), because for simple portraiture that is all I would need. No worrying about mains power, just drag the thing in, pop off a few frames, pass GO and collect $200, then get the hell out of there! The only thing to remember is that it will be 66/33% power distribution, so fine-tuning, if needed, will be done by moving the lights or different light modifiers, gels, etc. (but I can do a LOT with 2:1!).

At full power, this thing is impressive. It sounds like firing an air rifle, only much louder! Don't know if that is just the speedy A head, or if the S head sounds similar... but I can already see that I will not need more power for the things I plan to shoot with this. Similarly impressive in port B at minimum power of only 5.7Ws... and it's all built to take years of punishment!

I quite like the small Varistar umbrella kit supplied with it, broad even light for simple portraiture. The opposite of the Deep Octa in many ways, but produces nice light. It's a pain to put on though! Even with the central umbrella fitting, the umbrella is distorted when the Varistar reflector is inside with the backing zipped up. I'm not much of an umbrella fan lately, I'll just have to play with the Varistar and see if it will grow on me more. In the meantime, back to softboxes and simple reflectors for now.

I don't have a clue why Elinchrom supply the 7" grid reflector with these kits, but they do. I already have the 8.25" "standard" reflector and a set of grids, barndoors, etc, so I will have to see if I have any use for this. I'm not complaining about an extra reflector, I just wonder why this one instead of the usual 6" umbrella reflector.

One thing that I noticed is that the Ranger is capable of higher sync speeds than both the D-Lites (not surprising), but also the RX600 strobes that I have. This is a good thing since the Ranger is built to be used on location! Inside the studio the sync speed is less of an issue.

My 5D syncs at up to 1/160, with only the tiniest hint of shutter creep at 1/200, where the RX strobes show a lot more shutter creep.

Excuse the ugly unpainted door jamb I photographed for testing sync speeds...

Here is the 5D with the RX600 at its max sync speed of 1/200:

What can I say Rudi? She's beautiful !!!!

Oh! One thing I forgot to mention is that the locking mechanism on the Ranger (to lock the speed ring when mounted on the strobe) is much tighter and more "positive" than on the RX strobes. There's better feedback as you mount modifiers on to the Ranger head, there is a positive click and you know exactly when the thing's locked. The whole affair feels a lot more solid. Again, I think it's because this thing is built to be taken on location, and handle large modifiers flapping in the wind...

So what's next on the shopping list, Rudi? Big Octa? Avenger A700? 5D Mark II? Rhinestone encrusted collar for Harry?

Love the product shots. Love the Ranger.

Dave F.

I am a little surprised that there's no handle. Is there an option for a hardware handle?

Awesome! I really hope you enjoy it a whole lot

Very nice Rudi. Hopefully Santa brings me one.

tetrode wrote in post #6762702
So what's next on the shopping list, Rudi? Big Octa? Avenger A700? 5D Mark II? Rhinestone encrusted collar for Harry?

All interesting ideas, Dave. And The Avenger A700 keeps calling out to me, but I think the next big purchase will be a second head for the Ranger. Or some two-minute noodles. Might be the only hot meal I'll be able to afford for a while!

TMR Design wrote in post #6762773
I am a little surprised that there's no handle. Is there an option for a hardware handle?

It wouldn't be too hard to fit a handle to the provided metal loops on the side of the pack. I might look into that.

Rudi wrote in post #6762264
Oh! One thing I forgot to mention is that the locking mechanism on the Ranger (to lock the speed ring when mounted on the strobe) is much tighter and more "positive" than on the RX strobes. There's better feedback as you mount modifiers on to the Ranger head, there is a positive click and you know exactly when the thing's locked. The whole affair feels a lot more solid. Again, I think it's because this thing is built to be taken on location, and handle large modifiers flapping in the wind...

Actually, most Elinchrom strobes including monoblocs used to have that same locking mechanism. Unfortunately, over the years of 'updates' and new products, the monoblocs have become plastic with more flimsy locking collars while the older designs are still metal with the old style mechanism.

Congrats on the Ranger btw. Seriously, try out the ringflash if you get the chance - outdoors where you're constantly moving and pointing the camera in different directions, having your flash on the camera instead of on a stand can be very helpful.

Very nice...jealous!

BTW, when you tested the synch speeds stated above were you using a synch cord or the skyports? Just curious. I don't see shutter creep with the 600RX until 1/250 with the skyports (30D).

I soooo want a Ranger and ringflash!

How much did these things cost ya?! I'm considering something like this so i'd be interested to hear your opinion after you use it for a couple of jobs.

DavidPhoto wrote in post #6768635
Very nice...jealous!

BTW, when you tested the synch speeds stated above were you using a synch cord or the skyports? Just curious. I don't see shutter creep with the 600RX until 1/250 with the skyports (30D).

I soooo want a Ranger and ringflash!

I used Skyports. The 5D has a max sync speed of 1/200, not sure what the 30D's sync speed is. Like I wrote above, the sync speed seems to be a combination of strobe and camera (and fresh battery in the Skyport transmitter ), since my 1DIIn synced all the way up to its max sync speed of 1/250...

tim wrote in post #6769952
How much did these things cost ya?! I'm considering something like this so i'd be interested to hear your opinion after you use it for a couple of jobs.

Too much! The kit, including the Skyport adapter (which you need for the Skyport RX), was $4050 AUD. That was my price. Normally, the kit itself is $4295 if you order online, and $4495 otherwise (although it wouldn't be that hard to look up the online price first, right? ). That includes GST of course.

I will report back once I've used it in anger. Here is a wedding that finally made me get off the fence and get the Ranger: https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=606244

Rudi,

Do you know what the possible power distribution combinations are with the asymmetrical (AS) power pack if you have both the A-head and the S-head?

For example, with the symmetrical power head, you have a 50-50 power distribution if both heads are of the same type (either both A-heads or both S-heads) and a 2:1 distribution, according to the Elinchrom documentation (not sure of the math involved here to arrive at that but I'm going to take their word for it for now), with a combination of an A-head and an S-head.

BTW, for those interested in a Ranger RX Speed power pack kit with both the A-head and the S-head from B&H Photo, you can save yourself about $200 if you order the Range RX Speed kit which includes the S-head and then get a separate A-head instead than getting the RX Speed kit with the A-head and then getting a separate S-head (unless I'm missing something).