Elinchrom 600/1200RX kit for fashion photography?

I understand flash duration is important, and I've been eye-balling the 600/600RX kit for a long time. The 600RX has a flash duration of 1/2050 sec. Now, B&H has a great deal on the 600/1200RX kit, but the flash duration of the 1200 RX is 1/1450 sec.

We shoot weddings, seniors, and fashion. We're doing more and more on-location fashion photography, so maybe we'll be really happy about the extra power. All of our work is on location. But, I'm concerned about the duration of the 1200RX. Is this anything to worry about?

Also, the recycle time is longer for the 1200 than for the 600. Is there a problem using two lights each with different recycle times?

Lastly, I HAD planned to purchase a couple of Vagabond II's, but I think the VB II won't power the 1200 as I understand it is barely capable of powering the 600. Now what?

Thanks in advance to any an all opinions on this lighting set-up!

Chris

Chris&jess wrote in post #6862196
I understand flash duration is important, and I've been eye-balling the 600/600RX kit for a long time. The 600RX has a flash duration of 1/2050 sec. Now, B&H has a great deal on the 600/1200RX kit, but the flash duration of the 1200 RX is 1/1450 sec.

We shoot weddings, seniors, and fashion. We're doing more and more on-location fashion photography, so maybe we'll be really happy about the extra power. All of our work is on location. But, I'm concerned about the duration of the 1200RX. Is this anything to worry about?

Also, the recycle time is longer for the 1200 than for the 600. Is there a problem using two lights each with different recycle times?

Lastly, I HAD planned to purchase a couple of Vagabond II's, but I think the VB II won't power the 1200 as I understand it is barely capable of powering the 600. Now what?

Thanks in advance to any an all opinions on this lighting set-up!

Chris

I can only answer the question about the portable power so here we go :
I would really recommend to get a Innovatronix explorer XT, if possible one for each light, the explorer xt has more battery power than the vagabond II:

If you live in a country with 110v electricity this is the one for you http://innovatronix.co​m …Products%20and%​20Services

If you live in a country with 220v electricity this is the one for you
http://innovatronix.co​m …Products%20and%​20Services

I can't necessarilly envision your potential set ups but I can tell you that even the 600s throw a LOT of light.

Just offered as a point of reference: At 15' (basically all the way back in the space I use as a "studio") and dialed all the way down power wise, I still need a two-stop ND to get under f/4 at ISO 100 on my EOS 5D MkI. This is with a softbox or OctaBox AND the internal scrim mounted.

You probably won't ever want or need an apeture that wide open (I do some table top stuff) but just thought you'd like to know what one users experience has been.

FWIW, they're awsome lights and with the SkyPort RX receivers, the ability to tweak the lights right from the camera is tremendous.

Thanks eduardo, I had no idea there was a portable power supply at this price that would power the 1200. At $349 plus shopping, that seems like a pretty good deal.
Chris

FlyingPhotog, have you used them outside in the full sun? If so, did you have plenty of power?
Chris

I won't be able to afford the Skyports for a while, but I sure am looking forward to getting some. All I've heard is great things about them...

Chris&jess wrote in post #6862355
FlyingPhotog, have you used them outside in the full sun? If so, did you have plenty of power?
Chris

No sorry I honestly have not done that yet.

I bet I would be happy with two 600's, but for $45 more dollars, I can get a 600 and a 1200...

Chris,

How many lights do you need? If you shoot on location a lot, you might be better-off with the Elinchrom Ranger with a Ranger A head. Up to 1100Ws of power, and the shortest flash duration of all (RX600, RX1200 and the Ranger A head).

I have both the RX600 and the Ranger kit, and the Ranger is the pick for location work - I would hate to have to lug my RX strobes around with battery packs/inverters. Unless you have access to mains power, the Ranger really is the better choice. You do pay extra for that convenience, but you only pay once...

P.S. Unless you use the RX1200 at full power all the time, your flash duration will be even slower than 1/1450 (t0.5) - too slow to stop action!

FlyingPhotog wrote in post #6862295
Just offered as a point of reference: At 15' (basically all the way back in the space I use as a "studio") and dialed all the way down power wise, I still need a two-stop ND to get under f/4 at ISO 100 on my EOS 5D MkI. This is with a softbox or OctaBox AND the internal scrim mounted.

That does not sound right! What modifier are you using?

Here is a measurement I did with my D-Lite4 strobe (which does not turn down as low as my RX600's do!), using a 53" Octa Midi, 6 feet away from the light meter:

https://photography-on-the.net …hp?p=6173075&po​stcount=20

Chris&jess wrote in post #6862196
I understand flash duration is important, and I've been eye-balling the 600/600RX kit for a long time. The 600RX has a flash duration of 1/2050 sec. Now, B&H has a great deal on the 600/1200RX kit, but the flash duration of the 1200 RX is 1/1450 sec.

We shoot weddings, seniors, and fashion. We're doing more and more on-location fashion photography, so maybe we'll be really happy about the extra power. All of our work is on location. But, I'm concerned about the duration of the 1200RX. Is this anything to worry about?

Also, the recycle time is longer for the 1200 than for the 600. Is there a problem using two lights each with different recycle times?

Lastly, I HAD planned to purchase a couple of Vagabond II's, but I think the VB II won't power the 1200 as I understand it is barely capable of powering the 600. Now what?

Thanks in advance to any an all opinions on this lighting set-up!

Chris

I own the lights you mention - what specifically worries you about the flash duration?

There is no problem using lights with different recycle times.

If 'location' means outdoors rather than indoors, I would second Rudi's recommendation of the Ranger RX.

Rudi: About half of our work is outdoors where an electrical receptacle is not available. So, I do need portable power. However, the cost of the Ranger is like, holy cow, a lot.

For some reason, I was thinking that if you use the 1200 RX at a power LESS than full, the flash duration would be faster than 1/1450! No?

Hermes: Is the 600 RX plenty of power outdoors in full sun?

Thanks guys,
Chris

Chris&jess wrote in post #6863839
Rudi: About half of our work is outdoors where an electrical receptacle is not available. So, I do need portable power. However, the cost of the Ranger is like, holy cow, a lot.

Agreed! And I considered getting the Innovatronix Explorer XT for my RX600's too, at first. But I have to tell you - I am glad I didn't! The Ranger purpose-built to be schlepped all around the world. It is a very elegant solution for when there is no mains power (and a lot of the time even when there is, the Ranger is easier to set up and use). And if you need more power than 600Ws and action-stopping flash duration with an Elinchrom mount, the Ranger is the only game in town!

Chris&jess wrote in post #6863839
Is the 600 RX plenty of power outdoors in full sun?

I don't think so. That is why I got the Ranger (and I guess that is why they make it 1100Ws).

Rudi wrote in post #6862822
Chris,

How many lights do you need? If you shoot on location a lot, you might be better-off with the Elinchrom Ranger with a Ranger A head. Up to 1100Ws of power, and the shortest flash duration of all (RX600, RX1200 and the Ranger A head).

I have both the RX600 and the Ranger kit, and the Ranger is the pick for location work - I would hate to have to lug my RX strobes around with battery packs/inverters. Unless you have access to mains power, the Ranger really is the better choice. You do pay extra for that convenience, but you only pay once...

P.S. Unless you use the RX1200 at full power all the time, your flash duration will be even slower than 1/1450 (t0.5) - too slow to stop action!

Hi Rudi,

Sorry, missed this one...

Uh, well, like I said, when I have my two 600s backed all the way into the corners, I'm still at like f/4, f/4.5. As for modifiers, I have the 53" OctaBox, the 40" RectaBox and a 27" square softbox to choose from.

And bear in mind as well (and I should have said this above) that I'm a lighting rookie and still learning. Sounds like the OP is light-years (bad pun) ahead of me and I probably should have laid out, sorry, sorry, sorry...

Chris&jess wrote in post #6863839
Rudi: About half of our work is outdoors where an electrical receptacle is not available. So, I do need portable power. However, the cost of the Ranger is like, holy cow, a lot.

For some reason, I was thinking that if you use the 1200 RX at a power LESS than full, the flash duration would be faster than 1/1450! No?

Hermes: Is the 600 RX plenty of power outdoors in full sun?

Thanks guys,
Chris

Not really, but neither is 1200ws You can get by with either but you'll have to be careful about how you use modifiers, and position the setup to avoid wasting power. If you want enough power to work freely in direct sunlight then consider renting a 4800ws pack (or if you want to stick with Elinchrom, two 2400RX packs).

I guess what I'm getting here is that the flash duration of the 1200RX is a bit on the long side, and if used at less full power, it is even longer.
So, fine, I'll go for the 600/600RX kit for now since it seems to have a really brief flash duration and someday when my ship comes in , go for the Ranger A head.
But, I will need to go with a couple of the cheap power packs like the VB II or the Explorer XT. I hope it will get me by...
Thank you all, this was indeed helpful!
Chris