Time to upgrade.. Advice?

So.. my 160w strobes took a dump and its time to upgrade..they took bowens mounts but only have a BD and 1 speed ring, so im not too worried about switching to a diff brand/type of strobe..

i was looking at the elinchrom dlite4 kit, i dont really need new softboxes or cases/stands, so id rather not spend 850..

can calumet genesis users chime in?

im lookin at pickin up 2x genesis 400's, an octabox and an extra speed ring so i can use my existing softboxes

my main questions are

1) are they dependable strobes? will the genesis work with pcb vagabond?
2)my light stands are a tad weak, should i pay the extra 30 a piece for the calumet 10 foot stands? (are they steady enough for the genesis's)
3)what other kits/strobes around 6-800 could i look at, keeping in mind, theyll be powered by a vagabond II (not a fan of alien bees.. for some reason)

A pair of D-Lite 4 it (not the To Go Kit) is only $597.90. So if you don't want to spend $849, you can just buy the strobes. It didn't use to make sense when you buy two strobes because for a couple hundred more, you had a kit worth well over what you paid for... even if you didn't want them. Now that their price has been lowered, people who don't want the stands, bag, transmitter, softboxes, etc. don't have to buy it.

after much head scratching.. this is what ive come up with

since im only losing 2 160s, ive decided to go with 2 genesis 200's.. i still have a good 400w strobe

with my budget of around 1000 (i gave myself room to play with in post 1)..im thinking of..

2x genesis 200's $280
and a T2i to mess around with HD video

would you guys settle for that? or go for some elinchrom dlite4's

any real advice?.. cant believe this is a dead thread. im having a really hard time deciding, for about a budget max of 1200..these are the two carts ive come up with, keep in mind, i already have a 400w strobe, and a 430ex

(1)
T2i (to start into HD video)
2x Calumet Genesis 200
ebay Fotodiox 60 inch octa

(2)
sigma 10-20
Calumet Genesis 200
Calumet Genesis 400
Elinchrom 53 in Octa

Not sure about the vagabond but they work with the explorer xt se. Check their site to make sure though.

I really like my genesis. I also like thy they take Eli modifiers so if I want to upgrade later on to Eli strobes I can.

If you are looking for a studio kit with a little portability than go with the genesis. If it's mostly location with some studio go with the d-lite.

Sigma 10-20 is a nice lens but obviously isn't for people/portrait. The T2i is a personal choice but HD video isn't for me. Never even use it on my 5d.

The 400s give you 1 more atop than the 200s. Indoors the 200a are fine. Outdoors you may need the extra stop. Or if you are looking o fill large modifiers. Although my 400 fills a 64" PLM fine.

The genesis, and the d-lites, will have some sag with large modifiers but there is a way to support it DIY.

Cheetah sells a pretty good Eli ring for like $13.

Fureinku wrote in post #10699491
any real advice?.. cant believe this is a dead thread. im having a really hard time deciding, for about a budget max of 1200..these are the two carts ive come up with, keep in mind, i already have a 400w strobe, and a 430ex

(1)
T2i (to start into HD video)
2x Calumet Genesis 200
ebay Fotodiox 60 inch octa

(2)
sigma 10-20
Calumet Genesis 200
Calumet Genesis 400
Elinchrom 53 in Octa

Im considering the Fotodiox 60 vs the Elinchrom 53 as well. They both have the speckled metallic interior and similar size. Im sure the Elinchrom's diffusion material is superior to the Fotodiox but you can buy a replacement inner diffuser for the Eli 53 that may fit the Fotodiox. The problem with that is the Eli diffuser itself costs just as much as the entire Fotodiox 60!


Personally I would get 2 200s because it may be confusing/difficult adjusting your power between a 200 and 400 because the power scale isnt linear. But thats just speculation on my part and it may or may not be an issue.

Please let us know if you get the Fotodiox 60!

i just ordered a 200 to go with my 2 400s.

I just purchased a set of Genesis 200's I am looking at a softbox on ebay that includes speedring for Elinchrom, would the speedring work on the Genesis?

Yes

newnan3 wrote in post #10741816
Im considering the Fotodiox 60 vs the Elinchrom 53 as well. They both have the speckled metallic interior and similar size. Im sure the Elinchrom's diffusion material is superior to the Fotodiox but you can buy a replacement inner diffuser for the Eli 53 that may fit the Fotodiox. The problem with that is the Eli diffuser itself costs just as much as the entire Fotodiox 60!


Personally I would get 2 200s because it may be confusing/difficult adjusting your power between a 200 and 400 because the power scale isnt linear. But thats just speculation on my part and it may or may not be an issue.

Please let us know if you get the Fotodiox 60!

With Elinchrom this isn't a problem. You can mix and match any Elinchrom strobe and the power scale are all the same.

Read this -> https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=879026

OP: go Elinchrom for strobes and modifiers! You wont regret it!

I was on the same fence a few months ago. I eventually went with elinchrom. Either way they are winners

Seanzky wrote in post #10681446
A pair of D-Lite 4 it (not the To Go Kit) is only $597.90. So if you don't want to spend $849, you can just buy the strobes. It didn't use to make sense when you buy two strobes because for a couple hundred more, you had a kit worth well over what you paid for... even if you didn't want them. Now that their price has been lowered, people who don't want the stands, bag, transmitter, softboxes, etc. don't have to buy it.

You have to buy the reflectors, too, right? another $100? I'm mostly torn between AB's and d-lites, heh. The extras on the elinchrom push me over to AB. That and I have cybersyncs already, as I was going to start with one light, use my 550EX's as highlights/background/​etc.