After years with Elinchrom, I did the same thing ... moved to a pair of D4-2400 packs and never looked back ... but that adapter was a help for sure ... like for using the Profoto heads in the expensive Elinchrom Octabox and Gobo Box. However, you lose the Profoto ability to slide direct mount softbox modifiers back and forth to further shape and alter the lighting. So, not only is the Profoto mount much more secure, it is more versatile creatively. Actually, a simple but ingenious idea when you think about it.
Isn't lighting fascinating?
In many ways it is the least understood of our bag of tools, and there are so many that think "light is just light" and buy on price failing to realize that the value aspect is actually quite poor in the long run.
I recently was explaining this to a younger photographer that wanted to start building a studio and location capability but was on a budget. The cheaper alternatives were very attractive to him for obvious reasons. I advised that it would be better to forego yet another lens or digital do-dad, and step up his choice of lighting. BTW, I suggested he try and hunt down the older style Profoto 600R Compacts to start with ... one of the best price/value/performance buys out there if you can find them ... then they can be used as auxiliary lighting later when he expands.
I also agree that the whole radio transmitter thing has been a trip. An expensive trip. As I mentioned, if starting over (with enough cash
), I'd do all Profoto AIR and select Hensel 1200Ls for location because they are also AIR triggered.
After selling my older bullet proof, but huge Porty 1200 Plus kit, the only location kit I now have is a pair of Quadras and 5 heads. This is the best "one man band" outfit I could assemble at the time. I have the tiny heads mounted on stands and leave them there in a Light Caddy with 60" ribless umbrellas and all the various cords and connections. I found "padded socks" to cover the heads like golfers do ... which always gets funny comments from guests at weddings
But to tell the truth, while the Quadras are pretty nifty they are
very limited. To do anything beyond the basic ratios requires two of them ... which adds up to more bulk than the Hensel but only delivers 800 w/s of user defined asymmetrical distribution compared to the Hensel 2 head 1200 w/s of symmetrical or asymmetrical distribution, and full ability to use the extensive modifier choices (Love the Hensel Beauty Dish). I do wish Profoto would make a smaller lith powered box with 800w/s and two head outlets ... their 600 is nice but one head
The other thing that pissed me off about the Elinchrom stuff, including the Quadras, was the different shaft diameter mount for umbrellas ... what an incredibly ignorant design idea ... probably the brainchild of some bean counter to sell more of their umbrellas by forcing you to use them, or hunt down some third party maker. Of course the best umbrellas aren't available in the Elinchrom shaft size, so you have to add umbrella brackets which then makes it so you can't fire straight into the center of the umbrella. Stupid ... makes you wonder if these people ever actually tried to use their own products.
-Marc
