Guy Mancuso
Administrator, Instructor
Yes and i am already using the Skyports so for me this is quite interesting. Little pricey though . But having the small form factor over my Ranger is a plus
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The largest modifier you can safely use with the adapter is the 39" Octa softbox. Beyond that and modifier weight gets to be too much for the adapter.They do look interesting. Seems like they (elinchrom) realized that folks will want to use modifiers and they are coming out with something to handle that part as the new heads are not able to take many (any?) other Elinchrom modifiers like the Octa and stuff. The heads for these do look compact, and the battery unit appears to be a lot smaller than the Ranger unit, so it could be a much more compact set to cart around.
I agree with Marc, normal monos may do the job quite well for a lot less, but they are not as portable or the added cost/weight of a battery to run them changes things.
LJ
Understood that part, David. I guess the question becomes just how well they will handle the 39" Octa, which is one of the more popular devices used from Elinchrom. Smaller reflectors and small softboxes or umbrellas should be a piece of cake, but larger softboxes or the bigger Octa are heavier, and can apply too much torque to the mount of the smaller head, hence the need for the special support bracket. Still think it they are very nice units. Very small and quite portable looking.The largest modifier you can safely use with the adapter is the 39" Octa softbox. Beyond that and modifier weight gets to be too much for the adapter.
David
Unless it's my 8' Octa which has an integrated mount so all the head/adapter need do is support themselves. The Octa holds the head, not the other way around. 400/ w/s works even on that huge Octa, I've done it before. ... but that defeats the whole portable nature doesn't it?The largest modifier you can safely use with the adapter is the 39" Octa softbox. Beyond that and modifier weight gets to be too much for the adapter.
David
I would think that the idea of these is "small and portable" ... a step better than Quantums and a bunch of on-camera flashes used off camera on stands (like I use now for a set-up that I can quickly manage by myself.) I see them as a more modern replacement for Lumidynes/Normans, and the like.I think Frank's last post was referring to the modeling lights on the Quadras vs. a mains-powered unit.
Question - how many Ranger/Quadra, etc users run with an asymmetric pack vs say two symmetric packs for more output control? Just doing some research on the packs and fixed-ratio asymmetric power output just seems like a PITA. What am I missing?
That's a good question. I use a 30' extention on the Hensel Porty and have never noticed that happening ... but then, I wasn't looking for it either.Marc,
Thanks. Doing some more research and I can see the attraction of the A system - ability to use 2 lights at 2:1 ratio, 1 light at higher power range or 1 light with lower power range (min and max).
Am I correct in recalling (I think) that the cabling of these systems normally taxes the output by out 1 stop vs. a similar WS studio strobe?