Elinchrom Digital 2400RX generators

[HarperPhotos]

Hello,

I've been shooting professional now for 28 years using Bowens flash and have decided to up grade my flash system for the 3rd time.

So I’m am looking at getting 3x 2400 watt generators and 6 heads so I am looking Bowens, Broncolor and Elinchrom.

I’m on the Elinchrom website and I see these nice looking Digital 2400 RX generators so I start reading the specs thinking the first 3 points are a bit gimmicky  but then I read that even though there are 2 lamp sockets they are not Asymmetrical!

Come on Elinchrom what where you thinking I can not believe the designers would not incorporate this feature?

Big mistake as I am now looking at Bowens or Broncolor.

Cheers

Simon

[MrSmith]

That's what I thought when having a browse too, the long classic packs are a stupid shape, more expensive and I much prefer the smaller square format.

[Ellis Vener]

The Elinchrom Digital Micro AS 3000 (3000Ws) Power Pack is has both symmetric and asymmetric energy distribution. I see you are in New Zealand. Are any of the brands you are looking at locally supported? Is there a reason you are not looking  at Profoto or possibly Comet?

[Dustbak]

The micro 3000 also allows to set each head individually which is not possible with the other Elinchrom Packs (like RX1200 and RX2400). I have owned all three of them. The Micro 3000 is most flexible in usage but big and heavy, nice for in studio usage (BTW there is also a 6000 but that one is particularly hard to find). The 2400RX is like the 1200RX but I preferred the 1200RX since it is a lot smaller and lighter. Both the 1200RX as well as 2400RX I mostly used as a 'single head pack'. Sometimes when I needed 2 lights with the same output I would use the 2 outlets but not that often.

I am currently all Profoto, I switched about 3 years ago.

[FredBGG]

I'd recommend the Elinchron Micro AS 3000 packs.
All three sockets can be controlled independantly with a huge power ratio.

I have 2 3000 and a 6000. They work flawlessly. Very rugged build.

Only thing that bothers me is the fan noise from the Elinchrom heads.

I put silent fans in several heads and that's much better.

Infra red remote for the packs is nice too.

One thing to be aware of though is that the AS packs are voltage specific and can
only be powered by one voltage. Same goes for the heads.

IF you go with Elinchrom the SL35 big fresnel spot is a brilliant light shaper as is the Zoom spot.
You can even make your own zoom spot with a selecon acclaim and a speed ring.

This was shot with the SL35

[HarperPhotos]

Hello,

Ellis,

Bowens, Broncolor and Elinchrom are locally support by good established distributors. Profoto is also supported locally but the distributor is new and in my opinion has no street cred. As for Comet no one in NZ supports them.

The Elinchrom Digital Micro AS 3000 power packs aren’t manufatured any more plus they are to big and heavy to cart around on location and they are just so dame ugly.

Cheers

Simon

[K.C.]

Bowens, Broncolor and Elinchrom are locally support by good established distributors. Profoto is also supported locally but the distributor is new and in my opinion has no street cred. As for Comet no one in NZ supports them.

What a nostalgic concept, working with a local vendor for lighting equipment. I've been using Profoto for over a decade, Pro 6 and 7 packs and heads, compacts, Acute packs and heads and D1 Air monos. I bought everything online, have never talked to a dealer and never needed any support.

The same is true of my Elinchrom and Comet gear. I don't think Comet is supported anywhere outside of the Pacific rim and Japan. But I've got 20 year old packs and heads that live in my studio and work like the day I bought them out of New York. I also have 3 of the original Bowens Voyagers that are close to 30 years old and work great.

Of course you may have excessive import duties or other reasons for not buying online. But lack of support shouldn't be one of them. All the pro companies will take care of you no matter where you bought the product, as should the local vendors.

And there is always something to be said for supporting the local economy by buying local.

[Ellis Vener]

"What a nostalgic concept, working with a local vendor for lighting equipment. I've been using Profoto for over a decade, Pro 6 and 7 packs and heads, compacts, Acute packs and heads and D1 Air monos. I bought everything online, have never talked to a dealer and never needed any support."

I guess you've never needed to rent or borrow a piece of gear or needed anything for a shoot that afternoon, have you?  Lucky you.

But then again you don't live in a really beautiful small country tens of thousands of miles from the nearest big mail order vendor  do you? Oh, poor you.

So I guess it balances out.

[HarperPhotos]

Hello,

I could buy from B&H but the problem with the Bowens 2400 generator is that the one from the USA is 110 volt and NZ uses 240 volt.

Elinchrom is out cause of the asymmetrical problem and the Broncolor distributor in NZ can sell them cheaper to me than B&H.

Another contender is Hensel with there 2400 watt Nova generator which is also has a very good distributor in NZ.

I am leaning towards the Broncolor 2400 watt Senso packs and six Litos heads. I like the fact that they have three sockets and are asymmetrical plus most of all they look cool and have pretty blue lights.

Cheers

Simon

[Dustbak]

I got Profoto because they are widely available for rent but they are also both 120V as well as 240V. The choice was between Profoto and Broncolor. I skipped on Broncolor, expensive and try renting something if you need it. 

[HarperPhotos]

Hi Dustbak,

Profoto is not very popular in New Zealand. Broncolor has the lions share of the rental market here and I never have to rent as I already have six 3k generators and fourteen 3k heads plus spot and ring flash. The Senso is also multi voltage.

Cheers

Simon

[Dustbak]

In that case Bron makes sense. The situation is reverse over here and I also have an excellent relation with the Profoto importer. The Elinchrom importer is also excellent over here BTW.

[HarperPhotos]

Hi Dustbak,

Can you please tell me what part of the world you are?

Cheers

Simon

[Dustbak]

The Netherlands, the other side of the globe

[stevesanacore]

I think I have used almost every brand of strobe made over the past 30 years. Without a doubt the most rugged high quality lights are Profoto. I could go into detail but hate to insult major brands in public. For studio use Broncolor would be my second choice. All my work is on location usually traveling by airline to tropical locations - so it gets abused by the elements weekly. Profoto has been the only brand I can rely on. Elinchom used to make high quality gear but their cheap moonlights are very poorly made and expensive to repair, causing me to lose respect for them.

[fpoole]

I think I have used almost every brand of strobe made over the past 30 years. Without a doubt the most rugged high quality lights are Profoto. I could go into detail but hate to insult major brands in public. For studio use Broncolor would be my second choice. All my work is on location usually traveling by airline to tropical locations - so it gets abused by the elements weekly. Profoto has been the only brand I can rely on. Elinchom used to make high quality gear but their cheap moonlights are very poorly made and expensive to repair, causing me to lose respect for them.

Steve,
I have had the same experience with Elinchrom.  I have 25 year old Elinchrom Classic packs still working,  that have never been in for service and 3 year old 1200rxw/s 2400rx w/s packs and monolights that that have to go in for service already. I used to be able to drop off  at Manfrotto in New Jersey and actually talk to repair people.   But now they have sub-contracted it out to a generic repair shop in Arizona.  I have a 2400 w/pack there over a month.  Most of my work is in the studio now and I just made to switch [investment] to Broncolor packs and Profoto D1's for location.  Both companies have excellent service and support. 

[K.C.]

I guess you've never needed to rent or borrow a piece of gear or needed anything for a shoot that afternoon, have you?  Lucky you.

But then again you don't live in a really beautiful small country tens of thousands of miles from the nearest big mail order vendor  do you? Oh, poor you.

So I guess it balances out.

Wow Ellis. You do petty quite well.

[K.C.]

I think I have used almost every brand of strobe made over the past 30 years. Without a doubt the most rugged high quality lights are Profoto. I could go into detail but hate to insult major brands in public. For studio use Broncolor would be my second choice. All my work is on location usually traveling by airline to tropical locations - so it gets abused by the elements weekly. Profoto has been the only brand I can rely on. Elinchom used to make high quality gear but their cheap moonlights are very poorly made and expensive to repair, causing me to lose respect for them.

I've also had the opportunity to use every major brand over the last couple of decades and prefer Profoto. Although for location work in extreme weather the Elinchrom Ranger RX Speed AS have been great.

[BobDavid]

The nice thing about Elinchrom is that color is consistent throughout the line, no matter how you dial up or down the power--this includes the Quadras, head/power pack combos, and monolights. I love the 74" Octabox--for which I use a 2400RX power pack with a single SE head. The symmetry issue stinks. I got the pack brand new at half price. I've had it for six years and have never had a problem with it. I also like the deep Rotolux Octaboxes. The 27" and the 39" are very nice. And the Varistar is a nice way to light a large space with relatively flat lighting.

The Elinchrom brackets and sockets for attaching heads to arms and c-stands are not up to spec. I have had a few fail on me. I have a friend who is a machinist and he is my goto guy when a stupid thing like a clamp, socket, or bracket breaks. I do not like the bayonet mount system for attaching modifyers to the heads. Elinchrom lights can handle voltages from 260 to 90.

Elinchrom is a bargain when compared to Broncolor. The Broncolor modifiers and packs are in a different league altogether. Broncolor is uber expensive, but it is at the top of the heap. The broncolor equipment is built well and it's heavy-duty. The lights and modifyers are heavier than the  Elinchrom and Profoto equivalents.

Profoto is what most rental bureaus and rental studios carry. I've used Profoto lights a few times. I like the way the modifiers attach to the lights. Very clever, easy, and secure. You can also get Elinchrom to Profoto adapters so that you can use the Elinchrom modifiers, which I think are really terrific, on Profoto lights.

I have an Elincrhom 300 WS Quadra with an "A" head. It is assymetrical (2 outlets) and is a nifty portable solution. I'm thinking about buying another. For the most part, with the exception of the cheesy bayonet mount system and the skimpy hardware, Elinchrom equipment puts out some really nicre light. Stay away from the BXI series--the light output is fine, but the hardware is terrible. I also have a couple of Digital Style RX 1200 monolights. I've put them through very heavy use for six years; they still work fine. I had to replace a mounting bracket on one of them and the other has a fan that is just barely slightly noisier than when I bought it. I use the monolights for copystand and portraitue.

If I were in your position, I'd look carefully at Profoto. If I had to start over again with building a comprehensive light kit, I'd still go with Elinchrom. I am aware of its pitfalls, but all of the lights and modifiers make great light. If money is not an object, go with Broncolor--the Rolls Royce of strobes.