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Nice GN/Price.
I'm at work, so didn't read the entire review, but is there a standard mount for modifiers for these? is that reflector interchangible? Can the "zoom" be changed?
Given the kinda 'headlight' style reflector, I'm wondering how well they'd fill a larger softbox, say?
Posted 33 months ago.
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Yeh, same questions as scott really.. Does it have an speedring to S-type mount so i can get my softboxes. snoots etc on it.
Very tempting though at the price. Be good to compare it to the bees with a vagabond
Posted 33 months ago.
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no worries guys, I'll make sure I cover those questions in the video followup and show you how it all works..
but the zoom part.. well.. it's just a standard silver metal reflector like you get on normal studio strobes, no zoom sorry mate... but.. changing the reflector style like you do on normal studio strobes can narrow the beam, just not as quick as you can on the little 580s & sb800s etc can..
I'll cover what you can expect with snoots, softboxes and beauty dishes etc in a follow up review also with examples.
SSbuchanan, When you put a softbox on it you remove the reflector just like you would with a normal studio strobe. I'll cover that in the video review so you can see how it works.
Thanks guys,
Tony.
Posted 33 months ago.
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Thanks Tony - that was my main Q - if the reflector could be removed. Sounding good.
Posted 33 months ago.
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what is the price on these?? cant see it written (typed) anywhere?
Posted 33 months ago.
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Ah, I was looking at this yesterday...
Posted 33 months ago.
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@dodgsun, price is $695. Their site is dragonimage.com.au :)
This would be great for location shoots. Tempted.
Posted 33 months ago.
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@Ed, then again, I've seen the price of the mini Elinchrom's from your place of business that look tempting too...
Posted 33 months ago.
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@Scott. the d-lite's? yeah but they aren't portable unless you add in a pure sine wave converter + battery or a generator.
I guess it depends on where you shoot most :)
Posted 33 months ago.
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@Ed, oh, bummer, I thought they were 'portable' like the Elinchrom Rangers...
Posted 33 months ago.
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I love this thing, and I will use it extensively at weddings, commercial shoots and workshops, but I have found its claims at GN 72 etc misleading. From my measurements using my Sekonic Flash meter, it would perhaps be 72 in feet at 100 ISO, maybe, but not 72 in metres.
What do you come up with Tony?
Posted 32 months ago.
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What's the price on one of these things?
I'm considering the Boling unit that Ian had at the last meet :)
Posted 32 months ago.
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MKSAGAR81 [deleted] says:
I've seen this before in Ebay, they are selling it for $390 that includes the flash units, battery and the case.
Posted 32 months ago.
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@Shelton: 72 feet, say 22m, we're talking less power than say a 580EXII?
@Ed: Oat loves the Chinabees :)
Posted 32 months ago.
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i agree with ssbuchanan, thats some serious falloff, you using the standard reflector? Sounds like its throwing light everywhere but forward.
(still very interested, just wondering why its such a low GN)
Originally posted 32 months ago.
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aal04 edited this topic 32 months ago.
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Not sure mate, you guys got my last few units ... Will wait for new shipment .. also when you come in show me how you measured them ok..
I'm getting about four more stops - edit! 'more - as in two stops i guess? :)' out of these units then the little flashies.. so that's about four times more power for it
seen those units on ebay - they are the smaller 200w units , ours are rated at 320w and theirs have a normal Ni-cd battery, not the 'Nickel-Hydrogen Silver' batteries ours has.. big difference there..
Originally posted 32 months ago.
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RexyInc edited this topic 32 months ago.
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Just played yesterday with the Elinchom Quadra two light kit (thanks Jeremy)... Wow... love everything about them except the price tag *ouch*. I wonder how these DLCD lights compare to the Q's? Recycle time was awesome yesterday and if i were to move away from speedlights for location work it would certainly be a key requirement (fast recycle).
Anyone had a change to compare the two?
Are there any plans to offer the DLCD in a two light kit etc?
And of course still want to understand what accessories can be mounted to the DLCD, and if it is a standard S-type speed ring etc. I know the Q's only take Elinchrom accessories, which is another drawback as i'm all S-Type in the studio, and LightPro adapters for speedlights
Posted 32 months ago.
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hi jroo you can use your exact same speedlight to bowens s-type adapters you already have with the DLCD units, they are THAT SMALL! .. so your totally sweet on that one..
now what do you call fast recycle time ?.. we have about 1.72 to 2.1 second recharge time on the GN72 full power setting and anything under 1/2 power is near instant recharge time.
Elinchrom Ranger Quadra
Recycling 100% fast at min. / max. power (Outlet A or A+B) 0.5 / 2.2 sec
Recycling 100% slow at min. / max. power (Outlet A or A+B) 1 / 4 sec
If you want, you can get a two head kit for the DLCD but your then limited to the lenght of the cables to the heads from the battery packs, which means then it'll have the same limitations as the Elinchom system where you are stuck with the limited distance you can stretch the cables apart.. that's not much fun at all.. the units are cheap enough to buy as single head kits and then each head has it's own power supply and that means you have freedom to place the light exactly where you need them and not be limited by cable lenghts. You know what I mean yeah ?...
ok with the way Elinchrom packs work they support two asymmetric 400w heads, you also cannot have both heads on the same power setting.. ie:
Elinchrom Ranger Quadra
Flash power range outlet A 25 - 400 J (Ws)
Flash power range outlet B 8.2 - 132 J (Ws)
This means that if you want two lights with equal power, you would have to resort to investing in a second pack ( big $$ ! and another big OUCH !)
I guess that’s probably the way most users will head anyway. It’s definitely what I would do but also with another reason in mind as well. The supplied cables are only 2.5m long, which means that once you extend the light stands up to a reasonable height you need the power pack to be right at the base of the stand, which means that you can’t position the second light all that far from the first light.
There is an extension cable available but the power loss from that is totally unacceptable ( upto 60%-70% will have to double check supplied facts that i was told.. 'a big' loss in power to the heads per meter of ext cable ) but trailing wires are never a great idea on location so the second power pack is probably the more logical approach even if it will set you back a further big $$ !
Where the Elinchrom system does win over us is their Skyport and the fact you can change power settings without walking over to the heads to change the power like you do on ours.
Elinchrom Ranger Quadra
Fully charged battery Flashes
min. power, slow recycling 4,000
min. power, fast recycling 3,000
max. power, slow recycling 150
max. power, fast recycling 110
Dragon Image DLCD 2.0
min.power 15,000
MAX.power 800
( = we eat them alive :)
Originally posted 32 months ago.
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RexyInc edited this topic 32 months ago.
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oh yeah - i also got more powerful units - the battery packs are a little bigger -
Elinchrom Ranger Quadra sized actually - but are rated at 800w and 1200w - with ports for two heads, using the same battery technology 3000mha and the same sized heads as the DLCD range ( without the digital controls on the heads though )
Originally posted 32 months ago.
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RexyInc edited this topic 32 months ago.
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A few points on the Quadra's:
* You can buy extension cables and even join cables together and there is no power loss - see here www.flickr.com/photos/mazzapix/3867447014/ (I think Rexy might be thinking of the Ranger ... though I cant confirm if thats an issue with them or not)
* A-heads allow fast action stopping flash durations (up to 1/6000s)
* Minumum power all the way down to 8.2WS
* Precise/consistent power and temperature outputs pop after pop
* Battery charge time of 45 mins if you dont run them down to zero (the two head kit has two batteries so its never a problem)
* The batteries can run plugged into the wall if necessary
* LED modelling lights that don't drain the battery
* Option to use an incredible family of light modifiers
* Remote receiver built in for power adjustment, modelling light
I am sure the DI lights are great and a fraction of the price of the Elinchrom Quadra system but to be fair it isn't an apples to apples comparison. To get the Quadra's level of quality, features and consistency in a small portable format yes you certainly do have to pay for it!!
Here's a shot from the weekend I took with my Quadra (I love this thing!) - View Large On Black
Originally posted 32 months ago.
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mondo... edited this topic 32 months ago.
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Thanks Rexy,
I knew about the asymmetric power on the Quadra (which didn't phase me too much unless I really wanted two full strength lights, i'm most likely going to be working with a ratio anyway), but didn't realise upto 60%-70% loss in power to the heads per meter of ext cable - That is a problem!
The Quadra cables supplied are too short for two lights on either side of a model, without the risk of knocking the whole lot over (plus its useful to use the battery pack as a weight on the lightstand when outdoors).
The skyport power setting was useful, but that's what assistants are for right ;)
Do the DLCD have a modelling light? The Quadra little LCD one was very cool.
Is there a demo model in the Sydney store?
Posted 32 months ago.
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"* You can buy extension cables and even join cables together and there is no power loss - see here www.flickr.com/photos/mazzapix/3867447014/ (I think Rexy might be thinking of the Ranger ... though I cant confirm if thats an issue with them or not)"
any light - not just your model, it's pyhsics at play here.
( Million dollars has now been taken - edit - Tony haha )
ps: jroo - no modelling lamp on the DLCD 2.0's sorry! - the 800w and 1200w versions do however.
Originally posted 32 months ago.
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RexyInc edited this topic 32 months ago.
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Rexy - take a look at the link you just copy and pasted? Pete says there is no light loss that he measured with his light meter. Maybe I can buy another quadra pack now with that million :)
Update:
Pete said he measured no light loss BUT he didn't try it at full power so I just popped off a couple of tests during lunch and these are my results:
Ranger Quadra FULL power (400WS) @ 3metres:
1 x 2.5m cable = f20
2 x 2.5m cable = f18
Ranger Quadra HALF power @ 3metres:
1 x 2.5m cable = f7.1
2 x 2.5m cable = f6.3
So thats an extra 2.5m of cable with a tiny 1/3 of a stop power loss.
OK maybe not a million dollars... but we should work something out since its nowhere near 60-70% :)
Originally posted 32 months ago.
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mondo... edited this topic 32 months ago.
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haha do you take cheques ? lol
re: mondo - took a look at your shot - yeah .. sweet shot mate.. well done!
Originally posted 32 months ago.
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RexyInc edited this topic 32 months ago.
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LOL - Rexy I just checked Pete's post... and I don't want to suggest he tested inaccurately. He used a single 3.5m extension and got no light loss whereas I joined my two 2.5m cables - explains the slight light loss.
Posted 32 months ago.
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hey just thinking..
you cannot independently control the output of the 2 heads, since the RX Transceiver is contained in the battery pack, not in the heads.
true yes?
Posted 32 months ago.
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4 more stops is awesome for the price...
JRoo, based on quick calcs (GN72), with bare DLCD2.0 you'd need to have the light at full power, within about 3 meters to replicate your test. Chuck a modifier in that loses 2 stops, and you're down to closer than a meter.
Chuck two together, you're at half the price of a Quadra, and you're back to 1.5m. Maths r00lz.
But nothing can beat HSS for DOF with full daylight. Who wants f/22 in sunlight? f/1.2 @ 1/8000th FTW!
Posted 32 months ago.
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Rexy - yeah the power ratio between the two is fixed. As you say need a second pack to have separate light output control... I have two batteries... I just need the second pack...maybe once you cut me that cheque i can afford it :)
Posted 32 months ago.
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Rexy - P.S. I'm guessing the GN difference Shelton has seen might be based on 'zoom' - i.e. a bare head vs a reflector?
Posted 32 months ago.
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@ Rexy
....... four stops doesn't mean 4x more powerful, its actually = to 16x more powerful ! Are you saying its 16x more powerful than a 580x2, thats pretty impressive if true.......
1 stop = 2x power
2 stop = 4x power
3 stop = 8x power
4 stop = 16x power
Posted 32 months ago.
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@pixel - I'll stick with 4x power @ two stops.. ( unconfirmed until i do a proper real test and document it. )
I measured a 200w monoblock ( mains powered ) at F16.9 at iso 100, 1meter. ( note: we don't sell 200w units )
I also measured my sb800 at 1/1 and got F22.1 at iso 100 and 1meter.
so F16.9 and F22.1 is basically the same fstop.
for reference.. I use the tests at alienbee's website.
200w D-Lite2 = f16 plus 8/10f, AB400(160w) = f22 plus 3/10
alienbees.com/compare.html
I'll have to wait until i get another DLCD 2.0 in stock to test what it's rated at... we completely sold out of the first shipment 3 weeks ago.
Posted 32 months ago.
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Ahh heck the way the Aussie Dolar is going we will all be buying broncolor for chinabee type prices soon anyway...
Nice shot Mondo, I didn't think the quadra could overpower the sun, well done!
Posted 32 months ago.
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I got confused, so I set a 580EXII to 105mm zoom, full power, 1m away from a light meter. Got about F57. That dropped to F36 @ 24mm.
The AB site tests were at 1.4m from the background... so at 1.4m, a 580EXII should be about F25@24mm or F40@105mm.
That got me thinking that the D-Lite2s aren't all that powerful (I guess you might get a bit more light spread from it than a 580EXII @ 24mm? maybe... I'd hope)
It also made me more confused... the DLCD2.0 (320w) - 72GN @ 1m, at 1.4m from the background, it should be about F51. That's somewhere around 2.5-3.5 more F stops than the DLite, AB400 and 580EXII@24mm.
If you assume a tighter beam (like the flash 'zoom') on the DLCD2.0, it kinda makes sense - the 580 gets over a stop from a tighter zoom, throw in double the wattage (of an AB400), and you've got 2 f-stops.
Posted 32 months ago.
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Not sure mate, you guys got my last few units ... Will wait for new shipment .. also when you come in show me how you measured them ok.. 
I'm getting about 
seen those units on ebay - they are the smaller 200w units , ours are rated at 320w and theirs have a normal Ni-cd battery, not the 'Nickel-Hydrogen Silver' batteries ours has.. big difference there..
hi jroo you can use your exact same speedlight to bowens s-type adapters you already have with the DLCD units, they are THAT SMALL! .. so your totally sweet on that one.. 
"* You can buy extension cables and even join cables together and there is no power loss - see here 
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