Seeking opinions on this lighting set-up

• Elinchrom Digital Style Combo 600RX two light kit with EL Skyport ($1649.95)
  
• Two Elinchrom Midi-Octa (53") light banks ($585.90)
  
• Elinchrom Basic Pro accessory Kit (reflectors, case umbrellas, cord...) ($287.50)
  
• two Explorer XT ($350 each plus 50 each shipping=$800)
  

Do you have good stands those Midi-Octas aren't super light. Other than that it is the same setup I have minus the 2 explorers and it works great thought I haven't tried using skyports and PW combined.

Yes, I have a couple of Avenger A420's which should be fine. This reminds me though, that I better get some sand bags too.

Have you thought about looking at some Alien Bee gear?

It looks like a really good set up to me. I really do not have anything negative to say about that setup.

Damian75 wrote in post #7385642
Do you have good stands those Midi-Octas aren't super light. Other than that it is the same setup I have minus the 2 explorers and it works great thought I haven't tried using skyports and PW combined.

Actually, I find that the midi the Midi-Octas (and Elinchrom softboxes in general) are super-light. They have a simple design and are made of a very thin & lightweight fabric. Just about all the other modifiers I own are heavier than my rotalux boxes (they're not lightbanks btw).

As for the kit you've listed, the only issue for me would be buying two identical softboxes. Is there a reason you've decided to go with two midi-octas?. Personally, I find an octabox/stripbox combo to be more useful and more versatile for just about every two-light setup imaginable.

Hermes wrote in post #7392839
As for the kit you've listed, the only issue for me would be buying two identical softboxes. Is there a reason you've decided to go with two midi-octas?. Personally, I find an octabox/stripbox combo to be more useful and more versatile for just about every two-light setup imaginable.

Or maybe one midi-octa and the deep throat? either way, I agree that two of the midi-octa doesn't really make sense for many lighting setups. A little variety never hurts.

Cathpah wrote in post #7392882
Or maybe one midi-octa and the deep throat?

Still too similar IMO. A stripbox opens up so many more options than an Octabox. You can use it horizontally for very even fill, you can use it vertically as a precise hairlight or accent light, you can hang it horizontally overhead as a top-light, you can feather it in from one side for very rapid fall-off.

All an octabox is, is a big, round, soft, even light source. I can see why the OP would want to have one but two seems over-the top.

I am in fact just a little concerned about getting two identical modifiers. My thought was that when we do wedding formals I would want it. Sometimes we'll get 16 people at a time in a group, or worse, the entire wedding party side-by-side doing the pull-the-bride-and-groom-apart thing. It is for those few instances that I was thinking of the two octa's.
So, is it kind of dorky to have two totally different modifiers for these shots?
Chris

Just pick up a couple of umbrellas to use for group shots, you'll get wider coverage & quicker set-up, and they won't add much cost or weight. That will leave you free to pick softboxes based on what's best for portraits.

A couple of umbrellas may be just the thing. What are the best umbrellas for this application? How about the Softlighter II?

No need to spend money on softbox umbrellas like the softlighter - at the sort of distances you'll be using them at, all that the extra diffusion will do is waste power.

I'd get 60" white umbrellas (I think mine are either westcott or photogenics). Remember that to use the central umbrella holder on the Elinchroms you'll need to get them in a 7mm shaft. Using the external holder for 8mm umbrellas isn't too much of a hassle though.

Two 60-inch umbrellas it is then. And, holy cow! I read a lot of threads about shaft size for the 600RX and became convinced that 8mm would fit. So, I've avoided ordering incompatible equipment. Thank you for that.
I wanted to share the 'PULL-THE-BRIDE-AND-GROOM-APART" shot I was talking about. This was shot with two 580's through 36" umbrellas.
Chris

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Chris&jess wrote in post #7400857
Two 60-inch umbrellas it is then. And, holy cow! I read a lot of threads about shaft size for the 600RX and became convinced that 8mm would fit. So, I've avoided ordering incompatible equipment. Thank you for that.
I wanted to share the 'PULL-THE-BRIDE-AND-GROOM-APART" shot I was talking about. This was shot with two 580's through 36" umbrellas.
Chris

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I think the 8mm shaft fitting in the Elinchroms was specific to one type of umbrella (could have been the softlighter). I know that my 60", 8mm umbrellas don't fit in the central tube off any of my RXs. I only use them with speedlites anyway but I have tried them with the external umbrella holder on the mount and I don't think it would be a problem to use them like that if it was only occasionally.

GenuineRolla wrote in post #7392327
Have you thought about looking at some Alien Bee gear?

The gear he is looking at is in a whole different league. White Lightning's would be the closest comparison from PCB but you are still dealing with outdated technology. I used to own WL 13 years ago and they were great strobes but when I went to look at new strobes I was looking for the benefits of new technology the precision and consistency of digital controls. I am not knocking AB's they are a legitimate option for those looking for budget strobes but not in this league.