Bowens Lighting Is it worth it ?

All, I'm Looking at buying my first studio lighting. I seemed to have settled on buying Bowens kit on the basis I could buy on ebay and probably sell it for similar price if its not what I want. If it is what I want then I have bought into a "system" and can upgrade/add etc. Trouble is, like for like, Bowens seems to carry a hefty premium when compared to Elemental or Lencarta for example. I am guessing the answer to my question is "yes" but i'm struggling to understand why. Can anybody help? Cheers Paul

All,

I'm Looking at buying my first studio lighting.

I seemed to have settled on buying Bowens kit on the basis I could buy on ebay and probably sell it for similar price if its not what I want. If it is what I want then I have bought into a "system" and can upgrade/add etc.

Trouble is, like for like, Bowens seems to carry a hefty premium when compared to Elemental or Lencarta for example.

I am guessing the answer to my question is "yes" but i'm struggling to understand why. Can anybody help?

Cheers
Paul

Is Bowens worth it...? In the long term yes, If its just a passing fad, You can get away with just about any brand. ;)

Is Bowens worth it...?

In the long term yes, If its just a passing fad, You can get away with just about any brand.

I've got a Bowens Gemeni 250 kit. Brilliant. I can't speak for Elemental or Lencarta, but one of the things that seriously impressed me with the Bowens kit his how astoundingly solid it all is. Not that I'm going to try it but you could probably run over it with a train and it'd only smash the tube.... well maybe not but you know what I mean. Sam

I've got a Bowens Gemeni 250 kit. Brilliant.

I can't speak for Elemental or Lencarta, but one of the things that seriously impressed me with the Bowens kit his how astoundingly solid it all is.

Not that I'm going to try it but you could probably run over it with a train and it'd only smash the tube.... well maybe not but you know what I mean.

Sam

[quote]Trouble is, like for like, Bowens seems to carry a hefty premium when compared to Elemental or Lencarta for example. I am guessing the answer to my question is "yes" but i'm struggling to understand why. Can anybody help?[/quote] Bookmarking

Quote:Trouble is, like for like, Bowens seems to carry a hefty premium when compared to Elemental or Lencarta for example.

I am guessing the answer to my question is "yes" but i'm struggling to understand why. Can anybody help?


Bookmarking

Thanks for the feedback. Unfortunately i'll take that as a yes then. I say unfortunately as i'll probably have to go for something used. Ebay here I come ! Great quality, durability, and a flexible system with the option of using a battery pack seem the biggest + points Thanks Paul

Thanks for the feedback. Unfortunately i'll take that as a yes then. I say unfortunately as i'll probably have to go for something used. Ebay here I come !

Great quality, durability, and a flexible system with the option of using a battery pack seem the biggest + points

Thanks
Paul

Bowens = [quote]Great quality, durability, and a flexible system with the option of using a battery pack seem the biggest + points [/quote] Plus: Reliability Consistency: Quality, and colour of light Better functionality (e.g 1/10stop variation) Built to last and used as a workhorse in the studio Would be interested in the viewpoints of some of the pro studio Togs re: Bowens Kit

Bowens =
Quote:Great quality, durability, and a flexible system with the option of using a battery pack seem the biggest + points



Plus:

Reliability
Consistency: Quality, and colour of light
Better functionality (e.g 1/10stop variation)
Built to last and used as a workhorse in the studio

Would be interested in the viewpoints of some of the pro studio Togs re: Bowens Kit

I have the bowens gemini 500w kit, it is pretty good, fairly well built etc, and the ability to use the battery pack can be useful for location shoots - although it's not a very fast recycle time when using a battery. the only real down side (for me) is the fairly slow flash duration time when compared to broncolors or something high end like that - but then you would be paying alot more for those hope this helps

I have the bowens gemini 500w kit,
it is pretty good, fairly well built etc, and the ability to use the battery pack can be useful for location shoots - although it's not a very fast recycle time when using a battery.

the only real down side (for me) is the fairly slow flash duration time when compared to broncolors or something high end like that - but then you would be paying alot more for those

hope this helps

[quote]Is Bowens worth it...? In the long term yes, If its just a passing fad, You can get away with just about any brand[/quote] For me both yes and no. For years I used a mixture of Elinchrom and Prolinca flash heads, I also used an old set of cheap Jessops Portaflash heads sometimes on there own or as additional lights. Lots of people nit pick especially other the quality of the colour output of flash heads and using cheap Portaflash heads on there own and using film I found them ok. Bowens kits are pretty good value for money, especially when you consider the prices of the light modifiers sold on there own, and the heads should last for years. I use the cheaper stellars and they have never given any problems and since they take the standared S fitting I use a fair few bowens modifiers, snoots, barn doors etc. Swings and roundabouts.

Quote:Is Bowens worth it...?

In the long term yes, If its just a passing fad, You can get away with just about any brand


For me both yes and no.

For years I used a mixture of Elinchrom and Prolinca flash heads, I also used an old set of cheap Jessops Portaflash heads sometimes on there own or as additional lights.

Lots of people nit pick especially other the quality of the colour output of flash heads and using cheap Portaflash heads on there own and using film I found them ok.

Bowens kits are pretty good value for money, especially when you consider the prices of the light modifiers sold on there own, and the heads should last for years.

I use the cheaper stellars and they have never given any problems and since they take the standared S fitting I use a fair few bowens modifiers, snoots, barn doors etc.

Swings and roundabouts.

I think it's fairly difficult to answer that question... Historically, Bowens have always been an excellent brand simply because their lights were built to last, and in this country at least, their main competitor has always been Elinchrom. Elinchrom seem to me to be becoming less and less well built (although the quality of the light is good) at least with their consumer range, although their much more expensive pro range is still good. Their accessories are extremely expensive. Bowens accessories are very expensive too, but unlike Elinchrom there are plenty of choices available from other suppliers at much more reasonable prices. When it comes to quality, Some of the Bowens stuff is still excellent but you need to remember that not all of their products are made in the same country (or the same continent) so there is quite a lot of variation. I was staffing the Lencarta stand at Focus last week, right next to the Bowens stand - people were comparing Bowens prices and Elinchrom quality with Lencarta and of course we won on both counts:D I think my answer to you is a clear maybe - Bowens is still a good choice if you are looking at the high end stuff, but you may be paying a lot for the name if you're looking at their cheaper models

I think it's fairly difficult to answer that question...
Historically, Bowens have always been an excellent brand simply because their lights were built to last, and in this country at least, their main competitor has always been Elinchrom.

Elinchrom seem to me to be becoming less and less well built (although the quality of the light is good) at least with their consumer range, although their much more expensive pro range is still good. Their accessories are extremely expensive.

Bowens accessories are very expensive too, but unlike Elinchrom there are plenty of choices available from other suppliers at much more reasonable prices.

When it comes to quality, Some of the Bowens stuff is still excellent but you need to remember that not all of their products are made in the same country (or the same continent) so there is quite a lot of variation.

I was staffing the Lencarta stand at Focus last week, right next to the Bowens stand - people were comparing Bowens prices and Elinchrom quality with Lencarta and of course we won on both counts

I think my answer to you is a clear maybe - Bowens is still a good choice if you are looking at the high end stuff, but you may be paying a lot for the name if you're looking at their cheaper models

[quote] I think my answer to you is a clear maybe - Bowens is still a good choice if you are looking at the high end stuff, but you may be paying a lot for the name if you're looking at their cheaper models[/quote] I agree with that comment entirely. If you are only getting the GM250 with a set of tiny softbox and a brolly, Lencarta or Elemental would probably do you just as well. It's only when you start looking at getting creative with lighting, you come to appreciate just how well they perform.

Quote:

I think my answer to you is a clear maybe - Bowens is still a good choice if you are looking at the high end stuff, but you may be paying a lot for the name if you're looking at their cheaper models


I agree with that comment entirely. If you are only getting the GM250 with a set of tiny softbox and a brolly, Lencarta or Elemental would probably do you just as well. It's only when you start looking at getting creative with lighting, you come to appreciate just how well they perform.

You get what you pay for

You get what you pay for

After losing out on an eBay auction, I have changed my mind and have just ordered a Lencarta Smartflash starter kit.[link=http://www.lencarta.com/smartflash-mains-flash/fla0020-smartflash-starter-kit-with-1-softbox-+-1-umbrellas/index.php]Lencarta Starter Kit[/link] After acknowledging the benenfits of the Bowens kit, i was finally persuaded that as a first timer, most of those benefits of the additional cost would either be lost on me or come further down the line. As for now I just need to get going. So hopefully on Weds I will be up and running learning the arts and crafts of taking photos in a studio environment. Thanks for your input, it really did help.

After losing out on an eBay auction, I have changed my mind and have just ordered a Lencarta Smartflash starter kit. Lencarta Starter Kit

After acknowledging the benenfits of the Bowens kit, i was finally persuaded that as a first timer, most of those benefits of the additional cost would either be lost on me or come further down the line. As for now I just need to get going.

So hopefully on Weds I will be up and running learning the arts and crafts of taking photos in a studio environment.

Thanks for your input, it really did help.

I 'm waiting for my delivery from the UK Lastolite Lumen8 SV Lighting Kit - 400w, from "Just Studio Gear' for £393 + delivery charges.

I 'm waiting for my delivery from the UK Lastolite Lumen8 SV Lighting Kit - 400w, from "Just Studio Gear' for £393 + delivery charges.

[quote]After losing out on an eBay auction, I have changed my mind and have just ordered a Lencarta Smartflash starter kit.Lencarta Starter Kit After acknowledging the benenfits of the Bowens kit, i was finally persuaded that as a first timer, most of those benefits of the additional cost would either be lost on me or come further down the line. As for now I just need to get going. So hopefully on Weds I will be up and running learning the arts and crafts of taking photos in a studio environment. Thanks for your input, it really did help.[/quote] You'll be very happy with your choice - and you'll find that as your experience grows, you'll be just as able to get creative results with the Lencarta kit (and vast range of light shapers) as with any other.

Quote:After losing out on an eBay auction, I have changed my mind and have just ordered a Lencarta Smartflash starter kit.Lencarta Starter Kit

After acknowledging the benenfits of the Bowens kit, i was finally persuaded that as a first timer, most of those benefits of the additional cost would either be lost on me or come further down the line. As for now I just need to get going.

So hopefully on Weds I will be up and running learning the arts and crafts of taking photos in a studio environment.

Thanks for your input, it really did help.


You'll be very happy with your choice - and you'll find that as your experience grows, you'll be just as able to get creative results with the Lencarta kit (and vast range of light shapers) as with any other.

I was finally able to have a go with the new Lencarta kit tonight. This was with one light with an umberella and a great model ! [link=https://www.ephotozine.com/u120331/gallery/1502165]Wot you lookin at ![/link] Cheers Paul

I was finally able to have a go with the new Lencarta kit tonight. This was with one light with an umberella and a great model !

Wot you lookin at !

Cheers
Paul