Testing the new Ranger...

Thanks that is good to know. I might be going with the RX Speed AS pack with an S head for now and pick up an A head later. I am not real sure though. I have also thought about going with a battery pack for my Alien Bees but I really want the extra consistency that I have been told that these heads have. And these S heads seem to be really awsome...

The Ranger is as consistent as my RX strobes are. I don't think you will be disappointed. For location shooting this is a much better solution than a battery pack for your monolights. The only drawback will be having to get a different speed ring for your favourite modifiers.

Rudi wrote in post #6788909
With the regular RX Ranger and the RX Speed packs, you have access to 17Ws-1100Ws. With the RX Speed AS pack, you have 5.7Ws-1100Ws of power. And yes, I'm sure.

But you only get the 5.7Ws when you have both heads connected and only with the head connected to Port B, right?

I don't know if you have to have a head connected to port A, to be honest. Being an asymmetrical pack, the way I understand it you can never get 100% out of port B. Ever! Only out of port A, and only when there's only one head connected.So... considering that the max you can get out of port B is 33% of 1100Ws, that being 363Ws (the pack specifies 366Ws). If you turn 366Ws down 7 stops - you get 5.7Ws! So I don't think that you have to have another head connected to port A to get the lower power.

EDIT: I was right. This is a link to a discussion about the Ranger on FM. I knew I saw this somewhere (duh! I was part of that thread... ): http://www.fredmiranda​.com/forum/topic/70908​6

Rudi wrote in post #6790364
I don't know if you have to have a head connected to port A, to be honest. Being an asymmetrical pack, the way I understand it you can never get 100% out of port B. Ever! Only out of port A, and only when there's only one head connected.So... considering that the max you can get out of port B is 33% of 1100Ws, that being 363Ws (the pack specifies 366Ws). If you turn 366Ws down 7 stops - you get 5.7Ws! So I don't think that you have to have another head connected to port A to get the lower power.

EDIT: I was right. This is a link to a discussion about the Ranger on FM. I knew I saw this somewhere (duh! I was part of that thread... ): http://www.fredmiranda​.com/forum/topic/70908​6

Thanks for the clarification, Rudi. In that case, the AS pack does seem a little more versatile than the symmetrical pack, doesn't it? Other than group pictures, I'm wondering what other applications a symmetrical pack would be useful for with two heads.

PacAce wrote in post #6794844
Thanks for the clarification, Rudi. In that case, the AS pack does seem a little more versatile than the symmetrical pack, doesn't it? Other than group pictures, I'm wondering what other applications a symmetrical pack would be useful for with two heads.

Simple portraits, for the asymmetrical pack. 2:1 is workable, even with groups. It's actually quite conservative, flat lighting, IMO. With the symmetrical pack, you could still do interesting portraiture using rim lighting (equal power from both sides - seen it done, it can be very effective for some types of portraiture).

Seeing that portraiture of one sort or another pays most of my bills, the asymmetrical pack makes more sense, especially if I only have one. If I decide to buy another pack, it might be the symmetrical version to compliment what I already have. I'd better get more wealthy clients first though!

I love my Ranger! As much as I like my RX600 strobes in the studio.

OK, a bit of an update for anyone still interested.

I picked up a Ranger S head today. In a bizarre case of cosmic coincidence, the box which the dealer pulled off the shelf contained my S head - the "A" was crossed out and the "S" penciled in, and he remembers doing that when he pulled an A head off the shelf to make up the A kit for me (he didn't have any A kits left at the time, only S kits, so he made one up for me ).

There are some differences between the two heads. The flashtube inside the Ranger S head is the regular Omega flashtube, similar in looks to what is inside the RX strobes:

Thanks for the pictures and the update Rudi. Very nice stuff. I hope it's doing what you want and that the expense was well worth it. Beautiful gear, my friend

TMR Design wrote in post #6818504
Thanks for the pictures and the update Rudi. Very nice stuff. I hope it's doing what you want and that the expense was well worth it. Beautiful gear, my friend

Thanks Robert. And let me tell you - for location shooting, this thing is a dream! I do wish they were cheaper though, so I could buy another pack.

I know this is off topic but how do you like that octa?

Bumgardnern wrote in post #6827456
I know this is off topic but how do you like that octa?

The Deep Octa? I love it! That is my favourite light modifier, followed closely by the 135cm Octa Midi.

Rudi wrote in post #6817704
The sad news is that the max sync is 1/3 of a stop slower than with the A head, and this is with both my cameras, the 5D and the 1D mark II N.

I didn't realise time could be measured in stops! I'm sure my girlfriend would love it if I said i'd meet her at 45 stops past two

Good to hear about your ongoing experiments, I suspect i'll need a portable lighting rig some time, so do keep posting your experiences

Picked up a Ranger RX Speed AS + S head past week...

I was told by the official Dutch dealer (that also sells Elinchrom) that the A head asks more juice of the battery than the S head. I think both heads should at least give you 50.000 pops before the tubes wear down.

It is an inconvience that the Ranger has no handle. I bought the Ranger Snappy to go with it. It makes carrying the Ranger around a whole lot more comfortable.

I get 1/200s top with the Skyports + 1Ds3. Not too happy about that, because outside I can use all the shutterspeed I can get to control the ambient. When using the sync cord I get 1/250s sync speed.

The reason why a 1D2 or 30D can get 1/250s sync speed with the Skyports could be related to the crop factor eliminating the shutter creep in the (full) frame.

I just got my Ranger RX Speed AS + S head today. So far it seems really good. I have just tested around the house. I will be using it pretty heavy the next three weeks or so. Hopefully it will work extreamley well it will be the only flash that I am taking with me on my trip.