Author Topic: any bowens users? (Read 7132 times)

stokfoto · « **on:** August 08, 2007, 17:27 »

hi I am hoping to buy a bowens kit (esprit gemini 500/500/500 kit)
and I'd like to hear if any of you have experience with such kits

what I mainly would like to know is how heavy this kit is ?I chekced but it is not indicated on their site.

http://www.bowens.co.uk/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=21_29&products_id=246

Perrush · « **Reply #1 on:** August 08, 2007, 18:45 »

I have one, but a 500/500 kit with accu.

What do you mean with 'heavy' ? The weight ? (that 2.3 kg I think) or how they are build ? (seems to be fine too)

I had Elinchroms FX400 (replaced by the bowens because they can be used outside and the FX400 can't) and still have FE300B (best value for your money)

One remark. My tripods of the FE are still the best of all the tripods I have. strange if you know they are the cheapiest of the lot.

hatman12 · « **Reply #2 on:** August 08, 2007, 18:50 »

Don't know about the Bowens, but I recently did a lot of research and ended up buying two sets of the Elinchrom D-Lites. These come in a set of two flash units, studio stands, soft boxes, cables etc, in fact anything one would need to set up a studio. I bought two complete sets (four flash units) and use two for the background and two for the model or object.

I believe each flash unit is rated at 500W. In a studio of approx 25ft by 25ft I get enough power to stop my lenses down to F32 when shooting head and shoulders, F22 for waist up and F16 for full length. However I've noticed that lens quality deteriorates markedly below about F18 (I am using Nikon prime lenses) so I try to use the range F11 to F16 for most of my work.

When using these flash units for macro or object work I can get F32 using about half power.

The Elinchroms are certainly worth considering if they are available in your country.

Most of the peeps on iStock say Alien Bees are the best, but those are not available here in Australia.

stokfoto · « **Reply #3 on:** August 08, 2007, 19:12 »

Thank you Perrus and Hatman12 for your inputs.

what I meant by 'heavy' was actualy weight,this might have sounded strange but I wanted to know becasue I am planning to buy them from the UK and I was wondering how easy it would be to bring them home by airways.( trying to keep limits of luggage weight limits)

Thank you very much for telling me about the performances of your light strobes.this has ben realy helpful,becase I was curious about to what exten I could stop down my lenses in a fairly small room with this kind of kits.
I will check to find out if Elinchroms are available here as it sounds like a god option. unfortunately alien bees are not available here either,I read a lot about them it sounds very promising.

Thank you very much guys for your help

chellyar · « **Reply #4 on:** August 09, 2007, 05:17 »

Seeing as someone else piped in with Elinchrome...

I use Multiblitz Profilux 600's. They have done me quite well, although the stands than came with them were too light for larger modifiers, and the lock on the 'tilt' for the lights has to be done up very tight to stop my 60" octabox tipping forward on the stand.

I think any of the major brands will be fine these days, the major factors being local support and cost I suppose. Unless you've got particular requirements like outdoor portable use, or very fast recycle.

I got the Multiblitz lights as they are well supported by my regular camera shop, and they are a 'big' brand. The also sell cheap bownes clones for about 1/4 the price, but as I do team photos I needed something I could knock around a bit, and had decent carry bags etc.

Cheers, Me.

stokfoto · « **Reply #5 on:** August 09, 2007, 16:44 »

Thank you chellyar for your advice and giving your opinion.I think multblizt would be an option too but it sounds like bowens would meet my expectations better,what's more multiblizt are quite expensive here due to high customs tax as there are imported.with same /similar amount I think it would be wiser to go for bowens(but that's only possible if I buy them from abroad.(UK)
thank you very much indeed for your help.
regards

chellyar · « **Reply #6 on:** August 10, 2007, 17:27 »

'Ay, local price/support is a bit factor with 'brand' name lights. Cheap lights are cheap everywhere, but a lot of the low end stuff we can get here in NZ is just junk.

That, and Multiblitz isn't cheap anywhere from what I understand, even in Germany where they are made. :-). My decision was not made on price, so I went with them..

Out of curiosity, what country are you in?

stokfoto · « **Reply #7 on:** August 10, 2007, 18:36 »

Quote from: chellyar on August 10, 2007, 17:27

That, and Multiblitz isn't cheap anywhere from what I understand, even in Germany where they are made. :-). My decision was not made on price, so I went with them..

Out of curiosity, what country are you in?

Sorry I didn't mean to refer Multiblitz as 'cheap brand' it obviously isn't.- eg. in here multiblitz 600w flash head (just one of it)costs USD 880 on average)

sorry about any kind of missunderstanding,what I meant was simply to my point of view Bowens has better reputation and as far as I am concerned they are more expensive than multiblitz here. like you like you said cheap stuff is usually cheap everywhere.I didn't even want to search for that option.(I think if I was to go to for more reasonable(not necessarily cheap but more reasonable) brand and if I had the option I'd surely go for alien bees.unfortunately like I mentioned before they are not available here in Turkey:(
once again thank you for your help and input. I appreciate it.
Regards

chellyar · « **Reply #8 on:** August 11, 2007, 15:28 »

Quote from: stokfoto on August 10, 2007, 18:36

Quote from: chellyar on August 10, 2007, 17:27

That, and Multiblitz isn't cheap anywhere from what I understand, even in Germany where they are made. :-). My decision was not made on price, so I went with them..

Out of curiosity, what country are you in?
Sorry I didn't mean to refer Multiblitz as 'cheap brand' it obviously isn't.- eg. in here multiblitz 600w flash head (just one of it)costs USD 880 on average)

sorry about any kind of missunderstanding,what I meant was simply to my point of view Bowens has

Don't worry, there was no misunderstanding, I paid good money for my multiblitz gear, and I'm very happy with it. If you can get Bowens in Turkey at a good price go for them, they are a good brand as well...

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Author Topic: any bowens users? (Read 7132 times)

stokfoto

Perrush

hatman12

stokfoto

chellyar

stokfoto

chellyar

stokfoto

chellyar

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