Studio flash brands ? I'm 30 years out of date
Ok, I'm back into photography after about 30 years out of the game and am in the middle of investing in Canon EOS 5D MK3 based kit with L glass.
I want to get a three or four head studio flash kit together but am lacking in knowledge as to what the best and most reliable brands are these days.
Back in the day (late 80s) there was really only Bowens, Elinchrom and Broncolour. Back then (I should know as I used to work in the Flash Centre Hire Department in London) Elinchrom were totally unreliable, their heads used to pack up almost on a daily basis, the poor repair guys out back were inundated with blown heads. Bowens were more reliable and I had no knowledge of Broncolour back then.
So can any of you knowledgeable studio flash light chaps bring me up to speed on what makes/models I should be looking at.
Appart from heads, I'll need soft-boxes, snoots and the usual accessories for 3-point lighting set up.
This will be for a small studio doing portrait shoots, head and shoulders and full-length.
Thanks all.
I want to get a three or four head studio flash kit together but am lacking in knowledge as to what the best and most reliable brands are these days.
Back in the day (late 80s) there was really only Bowens, Elinchrom and Broncolour. Back then (I should know as I used to work in the Flash Centre Hire Department in London) Elinchrom were totally unreliable, their heads used to pack up almost on a daily basis, the poor repair guys out back were inundated with blown heads. Bowens were more reliable and I had no knowledge of Broncolour back then.
So can any of you knowledgeable studio flash light chaps bring me up to speed on what makes/models I should be looking at.
Appart from heads, I'll need soft-boxes, snoots and the usual accessories for 3-point lighting set up.
This will be for a small studio doing portrait shoots, head and shoulders and full-length.
Thanks all.
Hi there,
Bowens is now owned by Wex and is in the process of releasing new model studio heads to enhance the brand.
Everything seems to have got more reliable now, and even the previously unreliable chinese imports seem to happily stand their ground.
For a quick look at other brands the now, unfortunately, Silent "Lighting rumours" site will give you a wild list of alternatives - e.g. https://www.lightingrumours.com/interfit-badger-unleashed-review-10722
Personally i always liked the bowens S mount as it had many cheap clone fitting on ebay.
Of course now you also have LED modelling lights which last much longer.
Many flash units now also have built in TTL controllers too.
I'm not an expert in this area at all but used to keep a keen interest in the cheaper end products i used.
p.s. - you say " middle of investing in Canon EOS 5D MK3" did you consider the EOS-R?
Bowens is now owned by Wex and is in the process of releasing new model studio heads to enhance the brand.
Everything seems to have got more reliable now, and even the previously unreliable chinese imports seem to happily stand their ground.
For a quick look at other brands the now, unfortunately, Silent "Lighting rumours" site will give you a wild list of alternatives - e.g. https://www.lightingrumours.com/interfit-badger-unleashed-review-10722
Personally i always liked the bowens S mount as it had many cheap clone fitting on ebay.
Of course now you also have LED modelling lights which last much longer.
Many flash units now also have built in TTL controllers too.
I'm not an expert in this area at all but used to keep a keen interest in the cheaper end products i used.
p.s. - you say " middle of investing in Canon EOS 5D MK3" did you consider the EOS-R?
I've used Broncolor since the early 1980s and it seems to last forever, although we had to upgrade the power packs when we went digital and some years back, my wife demanded that we retire all the blue heads.
The current kit is awesome but the downside is that it's very expensive indeed. You can get good kit off Fleabay but you need to be careful.
When my wife started with studio photography, she liked the WYSIWYG of the broncolor light-shapers because it gave her total control.
The current kit is awesome but the downside is that it's very expensive indeed. You can get good kit off Fleabay but you need to be careful.
When my wife started with studio photography, she liked the WYSIWYG of the broncolor light-shapers because it gave her total control.
Are we not rapidly heading into continuous light, LED panels now..? unless flash is needed to “freeze” fast motion..?
I already have 3 studio “strobes” etc.. I’d consider the above if starting again...but maybe they’re more costly...not really checked...
I already have 3 studio “strobes” etc.. I’d consider the above if starting again...but maybe they’re more costly...not really checked...
Jack, yes, 5D MK3 all the way. Would not consider R, don't like mirrorless.
You won't go far wrong by looking at the Lencarta web site, they sell the Godox range that is rapidly becoming the go to for photographers, the ecosystem is by far the most comprehensive of any... I use and can highly recommend Godox from 600 w/s studio heads to compact AD200's and TT685 speed lights, these all talk to each other with built in receivers and a single transmitter (only the transmitter is camera model specific) plus the speed lights have a built in transmitter...
HTH
Phil
HTH
Phil
I endorse what Phil has said about Godox. I have 2 685’s and have used the AD200, all with Godox’s pro trigger.
For indoor use I still use the old fashioned heads but only because they still work.
Today there are far more options, many heads are compact and take lithium batteries, a pair of these are quite mobile, good for both indoors and on the move,
Profoto , Goddox, Bowens etc are all leaping into this market.
Today there are far more options, many heads are compact and take lithium batteries, a pair of these are quite mobile, good for both indoors and on the move,
Profoto , Goddox, Bowens etc are all leaping into this market.
