2 replies to this topic

[Wired]

So my accountant stopped by yesterday morning to file my tax return for me. It's a staggering amount which almost triples my original budget for lights! We're talking $5000 Canadian dollars. I already gave my wife the option (in fact begged) to take half of it to go on a trip (specifically to Toronto) for a week in August. But nope, she doesn't wanna. She would rather just travel around the province that week as originally budgeted and saved for. So I've gotten the green light to spend stupid money *insert evil grin here*

 

 

I've nailed this down to two different lights, but four different outfitting options... Please help...

 

 

First the lights:

 

Profoto B1 500 TTL head 

- offers TTL metering

- lighter of the two heads

- comes with a carrying case

- well known brand name

- local service is good

- uses, in my opinion, a superior mount

- can shoot upto 1/4000" using nikon cameras (they don't recommend going to 1/80000 for some reason)

- integrated reflector produces nice light

- flash bulb is recessed

- stupidly expensive

 

 

Lightrein LR6bat battery head

- integrated battery like the Profoto

- not as good battery life

- no TTL

- will support HSS when the Nikon trigger is released later this summer 

- good price

- heavier and bigger than the B1

- local service center has really bad hours, but customer service is good

- no cases

- flash bulb is very exposed (but under pyrex cover)

- could light the world with the modeling light alone

 

 

 

So here are the kits:

$4500 Profoto Option

1 B1 head

1 TTL Remote

1 Elinchrom Speedring (so I can use my octa box)

1 Zoom reflector

1 Grid for reflector

1 27" beauty dish w/profoto mount (from Strobepro.com)

1 extra battery for B1 head

1 Sekonic L478D light meter

 

 

$5500 Profoto kit

1 B1 head

1 D1 Air 500w head (mains powered)

1 TTL remote

1 Elinchrom Speedring

1 Studio bag 

1 zoom reflector

1 27" beauty dish w/profoto mount (from Strobepro.com)

 

 

Lightrein $4000 kit

2 LR6bat heads

1 Elinchrom Speedring

1 36x48 Softbox

1 60" Octabox

1 27" Beauty Dish

2 Bowens speedrings

4 Pocketwizard Plus II Trancievers

1 small reflector

1 Grid for reflector

1 Sekonic LR478D Meter

 

Lightrien $5400 kit

3 LR6bat heads

1 Elinchrom Speedring

3 Bowens speedrings

5 Pocketwizard Plus II Trancievers

1 LR478D meter

2 20x40 Strip softboxes

1 60" Octabox

1 27" Beautydish

1 Refelctor

1 grid for reflector

 

 

 

Obviously I'm getting a lot more light for the money when I go with Lightrein... but I don't know anything about the brand other than that they are Lightrein copies. They are very heavy, bodies are full metal construction. they are quite large too. These are a first generation product that just landed this week. The triggers for high-speed-sync and remote power control were supposed to be here as soon as May, but they could be delayed...There are no reviews I can find on the product, and the only person I know who uses this brand currently is a local pro of 20 years who ditched his White Lightning and Einstines for them... The other pros' i know who have used them have went to Profoto.

 

Those who have switched from the mains powered Lightreins to Profoto's have mentioned better color consistency, less variations shot to shot for power/exposure output, and better overall reliability. 

 

 

I'll admit I'm leaning towards the B1 just for the reputation of Profoto and the fact the service centers are actually open when I can make it to them. It's just hard to ignore the fact how many lights and modifiers I can buy going with Lightrein.

 

what am I asking??? How would you spend the money? Is there a better configuration without blowing my budget?

[Merco_61]

Another factor in favour of the ProFoto is that they have a reputation for linear response between the modeling light and flash, even when the unit ages. This makes it much easier to control shadows compared to most cheaper units.

 

I like my Broncolor system as I find them logical and easy to use, but I think that even the Siros kits fall outside your budget when you include a Li-ion pack and inverter for portability. I know that my Verso A4, heads and two power docks are way out of this budget. I think the Verso pack on it's own is somewhere around $10000 new today...

[Wired]

Yes, the consistency and reliability is a huge reason I'm preferring the Profoto setup. Specifically running the D1 and B1 kit.

 

Broncolor would be nice... but yea, way too expensive (and not available locally)!

 

I'm borrowing a friends Lightrein LR12D while he is on location in Pheonix (while he borrows my 50mm f1.4 Art) so I'll see how it goes. It's a massive light. But really once you look at the spec chart the casings for the LR6 and the B1 are very similar in size, and the Lightreins are only a pound heavier (which adds up in the bag though).

 

So far I'm impressed my little battery pack is firing off the LR12 at full power and still having a quickish recycle speed... its 1200 watts!!!