Elinchrom D-Lite4 vs Hensel Integra Pro 1000

slivr wrote in post #8551390
You're going to need responses from people that have used them and are familiar with both. Hope someone can shed light on it for you.

I won't need that, I'm already very happy with my RX monoblocs and Ranger gear, but yeah, an objective, well-reasoned opinion would be very welcome in this thread right about now (especially if I was looking to make up my mind ).

Just for the record - the only report of a handle shattering but just picking the light up (that I am aware of) is a "review" of an RX strobe on B&H. I am not aware of any other reports of that happening, so if the poster mentioning that he "read many complaints about the housing cracking, melting and even capacitors blowing on Elinchrom D and BX models" wouldn't mind - let's see them! Post links, so we can read these complaints. "Many" would suggest more than a handful, right? Otherwise there is no problem, given how many of these units are being sold worldwide, and given how an unhappy customer will always complain the loudest. (For the slower individuals among us: That is not the same as saying that it can never happen - every man-made product will sometimes fail. I am sure that is the case with Hensel strobes as well, and Profoto, etc. But, less than a handful of reports of a particular issue does NOT represent a problem with the entire line of products).

Food for thought...

Working professionals generally don't have small budgets and they buy the gear they need and/or want. They're not shopping price and not looking for entry level. They buy what works or what they've worked with or what is recommended by other working professionals.

I'm not taking anything away from Hensel because they are good strobes but you have to take a step back and wonder why there isn't an abundance of working professionals choosing and using Hensel. Whenever you see lists of top rated strobes Hensel makes it on the list but it's generally not in the top 3. Those top 3 are consistently Broncolor, Profoto and Elinchrom and many professionals refer to Elinchrom as the poor mans Broncolor.

You don't really see Hensel's in top studios and don't see any ads or endorsements from top photographers using them. You would think that if they were really top notch lights that they would be more popular.

I've never owned Hensel but I did have the opportunity to test them for pop to pop consistency and unfortunately I didn't find them to be as consistent as I wanted or would expect from pro gear. I'm ok with a strobe that fluctuates 1 in 10 or 1 in 20 pops by 1/10 stop but my tests with a Hensel Integra 500 proved to be less stable and I was seeing 2 or 3 in 10 pops showing 3/10 stop variation.

For most working pros, 3/10 stop variation is unacceptable. Better build and a 300 Watt modeling light doesn't make up for that kind of inconsistency. Performance is first and foremost.

slivr wrote in post #8551390
Yeah, Rudi - the thread kinda took a left turn and kept going, but made for a good read anyway. Cameltoe - asking "which is better" opens debate based on opinion and experience ... and each person's experience varies. The guy with an Elinchrom D-Lite who's handle snapped out is going to say they're crap ... while another photographer might be successfully relying on his RX series for daily professional use. Likely the same for Hensels. I'm not personally familiar with the Hensel's, meaning no "hands on" experience - but was following the thread to see what the consensus is between those two options. Didn't really pull anything out of the thread except Hensel's are heavier and have a 300w light (just statistics) which might be a larger heat sink ... or it could just be a crappy design with lead solder inside. You're going to need responses from people that have used them and are familiar with both. Hope someone can shed light on it for you.

I am both of those photographers.

Another point to make is that just as weight is meaningless as a measure of quality, power consumption doesn't equate to light output for either the flashtube or the modelling lamp. You need to check the manufacturers' specs for guide numbers & measurements in lumens, and wherever possible test for yourself.

New photographers tend to overlook the fact that its the modifiers that really count and this is where Hensel fall down for me. Your starting point for choosing strobes should be detailing the types of lighting you want to create and how you'll need to operate (speed, weight, portability, servicing workflow, e.t.c.) then working backwards to the modifiers you'll need, and finally settling on lights that are capable of powering your required setup.

Let's get this cleared up no where have i stated that Hensel was a great product or given any opinion on it. I came here to get some opinions on Hensel and come to find out nobody uses it around here for various reasons which have nothing to do with build quality. It so happens to research i use Google and unfortunately this makes things difficult because Hensel is also a last name. So searching for different terms you find lots of totally non related discussions.

Again i've also looked at Photogenic the guy at B&H said it was a step below the Hensel and Elinchrom but a well built product. For the same money as the Hensel i could have a fully remote triggered battery kit which seemed like a good way to go. But then reading some discussions it seems you get no modeling light on battery power. There were some other downsides that also turned me off a little. If not for this forum going on the advice of the guy at B&H those Photogenic's would be here already.

And sure there may not be a ton of complaints about the plastic handles breaking but neither are there a ton complaints about anything. If these companies had their own forums to handle complaints there would be which is exactly why they don't. Instead most people don't have the time or simply don't waste their time making complaints to anyone but the company directly when they send the product for repair. I have bought tons of electronics over the years but never found it worth dedicating my life to filing complaints in regards to every product that has failed.

I don't doubt that many love Elinchrom and that many pro's use it. Although iv'e watched some videos by pros with huge studios that use White Lighting and other products that always get negative comments on here. Not many on here seem to own Profoto either or everyone who argues in favor of Elinchrom would get an argument that Profoto was superior and it would never end. But if nobody was buying Hensel, Photogenic, Bowens, Interfit, or even Cowboy Studio kits then none of those companies would be able to remain in business. It could very well be that some people that buy those other brands are to busy shooting and making money then spending their time posting pro's vs con's.

This thread just got a bit shorter. While it's fine to have strong opinions and robust discussion, personal attacks are not acceptable and we don't tolerate flaming here. If you have an opinion or experience about a particular set of gear, you can express it respectfully and can agree to disagree if it gets to that point.

Rudi wrote in post #8551453
I won't need that, I'm already very happy with my RX monoblocs and Ranger gear ...

Sorry Rudi - I switched focus mid-paragraph and that comment of mine was directed back towards the O.P. when I said the most appropriate opinion on each light's respective merits might come from someone with a working knowledge of both (rather than a guy like me that's only familiar with some stats). I know you already shoot Eli's as does Robert(TMR) and Dave (Tetrode) among others and I've carefully reviewed Robert's detailed testing of a dozen popular brands. I'm leaning in Elinchrom's direction for my next light purchase as well because of their price point / feature combination but also because I currently own Genesis entry-level lights and my current modifiers use the Eli mount.

I'm outtie ....

Okay, since we can't play nice, we can't play at all. Thread closed.