Forums > Photography Talk > Elinchrome Setup - Suggestions?

Photographer

Jake Garn

Posts: 3958

Salt Lake City, Utah, US

So I want to buy an Elinchrome Head and Octadome for portraits.  Any recommendations for which head to buy, or even some alternate brands.  I already have plenty of more entry level lights so I'm wanted to step up.

Dec 27 07 12:41 pm Link

Photographer

EL PIC

Posts: 2835

Austin, Indiana, US

Its not the light but what you do with it.
More creative is non standard light setups.
I use a lot of bare bulb as fill and sometimes as key.
The important things about lights are ... constant K temp over range of 1/32 to full, in house service, full accessories, those that dont explode {reliable}, and adequate power for use.
I use Bowens Esprit II 500 WS and examples are in my port.

EL

Dec 27 07 12:45 pm Link

Photographer

Thyronne

Posts: 1361

Huntington Beach, California, US

Between me and the guy I share my studio with we have maybe a dozen Elinchrom monoblocks and 4 3000wt powerpacks with another 8 heads.  Everything on my profile was shot with the monoblocks except for one of the magazine stories when I busted out a power pack so I could use a ringlight.  even with all that at my disposal I find I prefer to go on location with a few 400 and 500 watt heads, and accessories.  I like the portability and ease and they seem to put out more light than I ever need.  I switch up between the medium Octa or the 39'' square box or various grid spots.  I thought about the large Octadome which I have used and loved but recently have been interested in their large Quad.

Dec 27 07 12:52 pm Link

Photographer

Chip Willis

Posts: 1780

Columbus, Georgia, US

Jake,

I switched to Elinchrom not long ago. I found a good deal on the older style monolights - a 250, and 2-500s'.

I found them at Columbus Camera Group ( they have auctions on Ebay as well ).

These are very nice heads, and they work with inverter setups as well, unlike some of the newer style heads.

The reason I picked them were:
27" Beauty Dish produces a wonderful light ( silver )
Plenty of modifiers available for a decent price.
The price was right as well.

The other reason is eventually I will get a Ranger battery pack and I wanted to have all the same lighting equipment as far as modifiers go.

If money were no object, I would have gotten Profoto, but the price I got the monos for was very very good.

I might pick up some of the DLites for a lighter travel kit as well, but I have heard there are some issues with them so I need to investigage more later.

The Elinchrom softboxes are nice as well, but I have an Auroura silver lined recessed octa that produces a light that I like, for half the price.

Good luck!

Dec 27 07 12:54 pm Link

Photographer

Brooks Ayola

Posts: 9754

Chatsworth, California, US

I use Speedotron with my Octa bank. I took apart an old speedring and used the metal rotating ring to make a custom ring to attach them.

Dec 27 07 12:57 pm Link

Photographer

RAW-R IMAGE

Posts: 3379

Los Angeles, California, US

Jake Garn wrote:
So I want to buy an Elinchrome Head and Octadome for portraits.  Any recommendations for which head to buy, or even some alternate brands.  I already have plenty of more entry level lights so I'm wanted to step up.

The other posters don't seem to get it that you have chosen one of the MOST beautiful light producing units I have ever seen. The Elinchrom Octadome and a single head with a pack is a single light system that can, without fail, produce results that are otherwordly. Hope you got the 7 foot--it's so tasty!!

I WANT ONE!

Dec 27 07 12:59 pm Link

Photographer

ward

Posts: 6142

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Depends. The Elinchrom 400, 500 and 600 series lights are nice. You may find them used on e-Bay, or a good photo store. If you prefer monolights, the quality is pretty good, and the portability is nice for taking them on the road.

Dec 27 07 12:59 pm Link

Photographer

Jake Garn

Posts: 3958

Salt Lake City, Utah, US

RAW-R IMAGE wrote:

The other posters don't seem to get it that you have chosen one of the MOST beautiful light producing units I have ever seen. The Elinchrom Octadome and a single head with a pack is a single light system that can, without fail, produce results that are otherwordly. Hope you got the 7 foot--it's so tasty!!

I WANT ONE!

Ya, I've shot with the Octadome a few times, I'm in love with it... now I must have one.  But I need to get everything now since I've been using a small Lumedyne battery powered strobe mostly for on-location stuff.  Time for an upgrade, and the necessary education before doing the upgrade...  :-)

Dec 27 07 01:04 pm Link

Photographer

Brooks Ayola

Posts: 9754

Chatsworth, California, US

For the record... Just in case someone starts searching for stuff from this thread... The Elinchrom Octa is not called an "octadome."

http://elinchrom.com/

Click on "Indirect Softlites."

Dec 27 07 01:04 pm Link

Photographer

Jake Garn

Posts: 3958

Salt Lake City, Utah, US

Brooks Ayola wrote:
For the record... Just in case someone starts searching for stuff from this thread... The Elinchrom Octa is not called an "octadome."

http://elinchrom.com/

Click on "Indirect Softlites."

Thanks!

Dec 27 07 01:10 pm Link

Photographer

Chip Willis

Posts: 1780

Columbus, Georgia, US

RAW-R IMAGE wrote:

The other posters don't seem to get it that you have chosen one of the MOST beautiful light producing units I have ever seen. The Elinchrom Octadome and a single head with a pack is a single light system that can, without fail, produce results that are otherwordly. Hope you got the 7 foot--it's so tasty!!

I WANT ONE!

umm... the 27" silver beauty dish!
That is what was a driving factor for me.

Dec 27 07 02:19 pm Link