Which flash outfit - Bowens or Elinchrom?

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Deano

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Been looking at the Bowens 'studio in a box' 200 or the Elinchrom D Lite 2 light to go package. Any ideas which will be the best kit to go for and if so who is the best mail order company to roder from?
As usual, all advice or help gratefully received.
 
very good review of both in November Professional Photographer
comes down in favour of the Elinchrom kit
 
I dont have the experience to recommend one over the other (though I own and am happy with Bowen's).
What I will say though is I have been at several top shoots through my work (not as photographer) and its always been Elinchroms Ive spotted ... no pun intended, well perhaps just a little one ;)
 
I'm in the same boat.

I have a budget of around £450 for lights.

I was looking at the Bowens and D-lites.

Both will get the job done for what and I would imagine 90% of beginners/small setups would need.

For me the elinchroms stole it because of the digital dials.
Also after looking around again the D-lite 2 kits have come down in price, so my original budget will now cover the D-lite 4's.

Yes I too did ponder about the portablilty of the bowens travel pack, but if you look at the prices I think the entry for the pack is around £700-800 which is a bit daft considering the price of the lights, unless I was gonna get mega serious about it, then this is not the route for me yet.

You can still have portablilty, you just can't walk into the middle of a park a shoot away with the d-lites?

I did read on here some time ago about a travel pack that was compatible with the d-lites and it was around £300 ish, so still a chance.

For me the wallet will be opening up over the next few weeks and will most definately be buying a d-lite 4 set.

DidyDave uses the d-lites and he's very happy with them.
 
Glen just had a quick look but I think D-lites are multi volt so just trying to find a spec sheet and found that d-lite 2 are 12volt min and 25 volt for the D-lite 4

Portability is now here with these. I am sure I have read somewhere else about car batteries and such like you just need a the help of Strobist.com I think.
 
I brought the d-lite 2 set a few weeks ago and am really pleased with them, I also looked at the bowens and 3 places that I had a fairly long chat with all recommend the Elinchrom sets, ( yes they did stock both and yes the bowens were more expensive) apparently the elinchrom's have a shorter flash duration so are better at stopping movement if doing still life or such likes, water droplets , you know what I mean.
 
Hello All,

I'm new on here but this is the exact topic i have been researching so have found the info very useful.

Can i ask
• After 6 months how you are finding your respective choices?
• Also is the D-lite the same power output as the bowen 200 as in each light being 200 or 200 combined?

One last question - where is the cheapest place to purchase?

Many thanks for your help

Rob
 
THE D LITES ARE 200 WATTS EACH, I HAVENT HAD MINE SIX MONTHS YET( THOUGH THEY ARE THE 400W EQUIVELANTS) BUT THEY ARE WORKING FINE, I GOT MINE FROM WWW.WAREHOUSEEXPRESS.CO.UK AND SEEMED AS CHEAP AS EERYONE ELSE. THE ONLY BAD THING IS YOU ARE STUCK TO ELINCHROM ACCESORIES WHEREAS THE BOWENS ATTACHMENTS ARE THE SAME AS MOST OTHER BRANDS (FOR REFLECTORS, BARN DOORS ETC). BUT VERY HAPPY WITH MY DECISION ON THE D LITES AND WOULD RECCOMEND THEM.
 
I've been using all types of electronic flash since 1966. The first Balcar I used fizzed and popped with its mechanical breakers. The first Courtney I used blew up on the spot.
The first Bowens I used was a Multilec 1000 and was an interesting pack with its turnlock switching.
The Strobe packs I used were massive and built like tanks with yachting hoists. 5000j per pack with a softbox called a "pool" 2 metres x 1 metre could take the power from 4 packs producing 20,000 joules of light power. Used for 10 x 8 photography where f stops of f128 were common practice.
My favourite packs were always Elinchrom. Superior design, easy fitting reflectors and soft boxes. Light to handle. And power outputs which were consistent and close to that stated on the box.
It's what the big London Studios use if they don't keep their old Strobes going...and certainly preferred for location.
I use Elinchrom now.
 
I use Bowens Esprit 500 monoblocs and they're rugged as hell and ruthlessly reliable...
The only thing I don't like is the slow recycle time between flashes common to most makes of studio flash...since I've been doing a lot of jobs lately using off-camera speedlights, the longer lag between flashes seems interminable... not being able to take multi-frame sequences is a real PITA too...
 
Bowens over elinchrom every time, simply from a cost perspective for accessories, lots of people make bowens fit accessories whilst very few cover elinchrom so you'd be left buying original modifiers which are stupidly expensive for what they are
 
InaGlo said:
I dont have the experience to recommend one over the other (though I own and am happy with Bowen's).
What I will say though is I have been at several top shoots through my work (not as photographer) and its always been Elinchroms Ive spotted ... no pun intended, well perhaps just a little one ;)
Click to expand...

I think a part of the reason you see a lot of pro's with Elinchrom is because of the big Octa soft box they make. This box gives a sublime soft light, which as far as I'm aware, no other make has yet to achieve. Their other Rotalux softboxes, have the advantage of being very easy to put up and take down. However as mentioned previously Elinchrom modifiers are very expensive, but like a lot of things, you get what you pay for. (the exception to this is Profoto and Broncolor, which are just a blatant rip off, and in no way worth the ridiculous price tag) :)
 
Hairyduck said:
Bowens over elinchrom every time, simply from a cost perspective for accessories, lots of people make bowens fit accessories whilst very few cover elinchrom so you'd be left buying original modifiers which are stupidly expensive for what they are
Click to expand...

I agree 100%, also IMO you should draw a distinction between the better quality Elinchrom pro gear and the cheaper consumer products. They used to be sold under the name of Prolinca, now that they're sold under the name Elinchrom so the lines are smudged.

Take a look at the Lencarta Elite Pro range. I believe that they're on par with Bowens build quality for much lower cost
 
I think this used to be the case, but now several manufacturers are doing elinchrom fitting accessories, so the Bowens S fit is no longer the universal cheap option. Or they are offering a universal fit with various speedrings.

Just search on Ebay for elinchrom. Everything I could possibly want with Eli fitting at a decent price.
 
Hello, I'm new to this site and spotted this thread. I have recently purchased a set of studio lights from Elemental Europe Ltd. I chose their Genesis3 system and found them to be of good quality.

You may wish to consider their products.
http://www.studio-flash.com
 
mickd300 said:
Hello, I'm new to this site and spotted this thread. I have recently purchased a set of studio lights from Elemental Europe Ltd. I chose their Genesis3 system and found them to be of good quality.

You may wish to consider their products.
http://www.studio-flash.com
Click to expand...

yep, good stuff, but their genesis stuff isn't fan cooled, which may lead to bad things... try to pay the bit more for M series if possible. Hook them up to a £300 tronix explorer XT for portable lighting anywhere :)
 
Another Bowens vote, we had some Dlites at the studio and after a while the plastic tilt adjuster became worn and had to be tie wrapped meaning we could not use anything heavier than a std reflector and brolly, the synch lead plug also failed, cheap plasticky build quality, not impressed.
 
all my stuff is Elinchrom, shot with the dlite4 kit, fantastic lights, had a couple of problems with them which needed repair but got good help from the flash centre with that.
Im upgrading the the style rx kit as I plan to start using these a lot more and the dlites arent designed for the amount of use I plan to put them through.

Carl
 
itsdavedotnet said:
yep, good stuff, but their genesis stuff isn't fan cooled, which may lead to bad things... try to pay the bit more for M series if possible. Hook them up to a £300 tronix explorer XT for portable lighting anywhere :)
Click to expand...

Yes, I had thought of that becoming a problem if I was to use them for prolonged periods, my photography is at a level where my use of studio lights will be rather limited to friends and family so overheating should not be a problem for me. I guess I would consider fan cooled lights but at a future stage hopefully if and when studio work takes over.
 
Hairyduck said:
Bowens over elinchrom every time, simply from a cost perspective for accessories, lots of people make bowens fit accessories whilst very few cover elinchrom so you'd be left buying original modifiers which are stupidly expensive for what they are
Click to expand...

Another who echoes that statement!

Go and have a look at the price of an Elinchrom softbox or beauty dish before you spend a penny on the lights! :gag:
 
I also think that Elinchrom is in wider professional use than Bowens, though have no evidence and am willing to be corrected.

This might have an effect on long term second hand value.

You have to see your lighting kit like your camera body - it's a long term marriage.
 
treeman said:
I think a part of the reason you see a lot of pro's with Elinchrom is because of the big Octa soft box they make. This box gives a sublime soft light, which as far as I'm aware, no other make has yet to achieve.
Click to expand...

I've heard good things about Bowens but I LOVE my Elinchrom.

Does any body else have trouble building the Octabox - awesome light, but I don't think I've got the knack of putting it up well. I've returned one speedring because a broken sprung nut and the replacement looks iffy too. Am I just unlucky, anybody else have the same issues...or can anybody share a secret to lower my octabox stress levels.

Steve
 
I have 6 bowens heads, all their new R and Pro range monoblocks, had a couple of problems, but am happy and wouldnt change them.
 
I hate it when someone asks a question and someone doesn't answer it as the question was posed, but I am about to do just that. Sorry. My answer would be neither. There is much better around. Without going silly on price I would have to say Multiblitz. Not that much more expensive, but significantly better in quality. I have seen too many examples of Bowens and Elinchrom cutting corners to be happy with either, particularly the more recent stuff.

For lightweight location work I have Bron Impact lights, which have been very good. They are very simple and don't give a wide power range, but they have small. I can take six heads in two cases.

If money were no object I would go with Profoto every time, but for many of us it is.

P.S. I know I am rather late replying to this, but maybe someone will find it useful.
 
John H Maw said:
I hate it when someone asks a question and someone doesn't answer it as the question was posed, but I am about to do just that. Sorry. My answer would be neither. There is much better around. Without going silly on price I would have to say Multiblitz. Not that much more expensive, but significantly better in quality. I have seen too many examples of Bowens and Elinchrom cutting corners to be happy with either, particularly the more recent stuff.

For lightweight location work I have Bron Impact lights, which have been very good. They are very simple and don't give a wide power range, but they have small. I can take six heads in two cases.

If money were no object I would go with Profoto every time, but for many of us it is.

P.S. I know I am rather late replying to this, but maybe someone will find it useful.
Click to expand...

Well as you resurrected this thread, I'd have to agree about Multiblitz for quality - excluding the Compact Plus that is - but price wise...:shake: Also some of their accessories make Elinchrom seem cheap in comparison! I don't think many would consider Multiblitz as an option because most find the entry price (to spec) just too much.

Paul
 
John H Maw said:
I hate it when someone asks a question and someone doesn't answer it as the question was posed, but I am about to do just that. Sorry. My answer would be neither. There is much better around. Without going silly on price I would have to say Multiblitz. Not that much more expensive, but significantly better in quality. I have seen too many examples of Bowens and Elinchrom cutting corners to be happy with either, particularly the more recent stuff.

For lightweight location work I have Bron Impact lights, which have been very good. They are very simple and don't give a wide power range, but they have small. I can take six heads in two cases.

If money were no object I would go with Profoto every time, but for many of us it is.

P.S. I know I am rather late replying to this, but maybe someone will find it useful.
Click to expand...
This thread is OVER three years old! lol
 
EOS_JD said:
This thread is OVER three years old! lol
Click to expand...

I know, and embarrassingly, earlier in this thread I said this....

However as mentioned previously Elinchrom modifiers are very expensive, but like a lot of things, you get what you pay for. (the exception to this is Profoto and Broncolor, which are just a blatant rip off, and in no way worth the ridiculous price tag)
Click to expand...

I now exclusively own Profoto!! :)
 
Problem with Multiblitz is they just don't have any real 'presence' in the UK, like quite a few other good brands. Mr Cad is supposed to be the distributor.

Will they be at the Focus show?
 
HoppyUK said:
Problem with Multiblitz is they just don't have any real 'presence' in the UK, like quite a few other good brands. Mr Cad is supposed to be the distributor.

Will they be at the Focus show?
Click to expand...

No idea if there will be anyone at Focus and it continues to be a mystery to me why the only two UK sellers show out of date information on their sites. Many, many years ago the UK distributor was Hasselblad UK and I could buy them through my local camera shop!

In the US Multiblitz have set-up a direct sales (?) operation and the prices are lower than in Germany!:thinking:

Profilux Plus 200 @ $599 vs. 699€ (Germany direct) or £509 in the UK - so given a 1:1.5 exchange rate (£-$) only £399 in the USofA or (1:1.3) 460€. :suspect:

Paul.
 
HoppyUK said:
Problem with Multiblitz is they just don't have any real 'presence' in the UK, like quite a few other good brands. Mr Cad is supposed to be the distributor.

Will they be at the Focus show?
Click to expand...

Mr Cad are a distributor along with Morco, as for Focus, I guess going to these events can cost a lot of money and compared to the reach of magazine readerships and the Internet, might not always prove that cost effective. :shrug:
 
treeman said:
Mr Cad are a distributor along with Morco, as for Focus, I guess going to these events can cost a lot of money and compared to the reach of magazine readerships and the Internet, might not always prove that cost effective. :shrug:
Click to expand...
Trust me, a stand at Focus costs a fortune - but if you've got a good product it's by far the best way of getting people to actually see how good it is. The same kind of spend on media advertising might reach a lot more people, but it can be far less cost effective.
 
The problem as I see it is there isn't much demand for another brand, and building a presence and brand profile in what is, at the end of the day quite a small part of the overall photo equipment market, takes both a lot of money and time.

Even then you're left with share-stealing rather than growing the market, and even if you have a great product it's going to be hard to beat Lencarta at the lower-cost end, tough to topple the stength and depth of Elinchrom in the middle ground, and for my money Profoto is pretty strong at the top.
 
Well Multiblitz have obviously decided they want a section of the bigger US market - direct sales, lower prices, 20% student discounts, attendance at shows, social networking involvement, competition for show tickets, great website with up-to-date info, current catalogue cover pic from a US photographer...

...and in the UK:thinking:

Paul
 
Only other question on my mind (to do with this thread) is what really prompted the resurrection at this point in time from John H and will he be back :suspect:

Time to let it sink back into its grave.:D

Paul
 
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