Elinchrom Ranger Quadra RX Complete Set A with Case

Comments about Elinchrom Ranger Quadra RX Complete Set A with Case:

fantastic piece of equipment, would be with out it now. can be use in most situation and so versatile, i like to use on location with the extendable handle

Comments about Elinchrom Ranger Quadra RX Complete Set A with Case:

Using these lights out doors, their compact size makes them ideal for this. I haven't had these units for long but I am very impressed at the moment. The quality of light is v.good, and battery life seems reasonable.

Comments about Elinchrom Ranger Quadra RX Complete Set A with Case:

This has been my main light source for outdoor and location work for the last year. It's powerful enough for all my sets and since moving from a flash gun set up it's helped me improve the quality of the work by given me more control and confidence. The modelling light also helps me focus in low-light, again something that wasn't always possible with radio triggered flash guns.

It's not perfect but there's nothing on the market that comes close to it's portability, price and versatility. If you get the pack get two adaptors for the heads, that way you can use the standard Elinchrom modifiers, but even without them the diffuser cap gives good quality light for run and gun portraits.

Since most of my work is outdoors the pack lives in a camera bag to protect it from the elements as the Quadra isn't waterproof. However this doesn't hinder usage because I can still control power remotely with the Skyport controllers, which are a major time saver when setting up lights.

I've used this with the Deep Octa, Octa Midi and also the 70cm beauty dish.

Battery life is excellent, I've yet to use the second battery on a session and it keeps it's charge for weeks and the longest it's not been not used is two weeks and it still had a charge in the pack.

The other main downside has been touched on above it's Asymetric meaning the power is distributed 66/33 to A/B channels. To get 50/50 power you need to either invest in the full ranger or by another controller pack.

The target market for this kit is the advanced Strobists who want something more versatile/powerful, event, wedding and location photographers.

Comments about Elinchrom Ranger Quadra RX Complete Set A with Case:

After, much research I decided to take a punt and purchase the
Elinchrom kit (x2 A heads x2 battery packs, skyport etc..)

First impressions: I noticed there were concerns and statements
about poor build quality and while this is no Profoto rugged pack,
and the heads are not bomb proof It really didn't stand out as much
of an issue for me. Having said that - one of the plastic cords that
attatch the screw in caps to protect the A and B channel sockets
frayed completely within a couple of days - I have no idea how this
happened... Time will tell how long the rest will stand up - But all in
all it does seem fairly well built - so try not let my experience scare
you.

Light output: The light output yields consistent results as far as I can
see in terms of color temp. Intensity - Which seems to be another
concern of most people, seems to work fine for my needs. Given
there are so many factors involved you need to decide if that output
is strong enough for you... I also have a 1200ws pack that when using
I sometimes wish would go dimmer than the lowest setting..
so power is not everything and when taking into account the inverse square
law bringing the light as close as possible to the subject (headshot for instance)
will easily over power a bright sun.. battery life is fantastic done a whole day
shooting on one battery set to slow recycle mode to increase battery life by
an extra 30%..

Thoughts:
you really have to weigh up what you need from a light, if you really do need
1200ws or more from a light then this obviously won't work for you..
the only complaints I have heard about this product is from people expecting it do
do something that it simply wasent designed to do. This head WAY outpowers
a 580ex for example, so like I say it is all dependant on your needs I have
never felt the need for more power since using it for portraits, shooting
indoors at f11 with Rotalux deep octa modifier attatched.

Wishes:
I was under the assumption when I purchased this that I would be able to
control both channels independently via the skyport transmitter. It turns
out I can only control one so the obvious investment for me is to purchase
a spare control box.. this way I don't have to have wires trailing all over
(I already purchased the longer wires that can daisy chain together) and
I can control both channels that way and have two spare ports for extra heads..
My complaint is the price of a battery control box by its own.. I just wish it
was cheaper... at approx £750 I find myself thinking at that price I might as
well buy another kit with another head and a spare battery but after investing
that much you are in pretty deep.. and might make you consider if the money
should have been invested elsewhere.

It would also nice to see a range of quadra specific light control modifiers
that take advantage of there size - because the quadra to EL adapter
when fitted -more than doubles the size of this head which completely
defeats the purpose of this wonderfully compact head In my opinion.

All in all I am satisfied and with it, there is loads of stuff I havent touched upon
but hopefully what I have might be of some use to someone.