Rovelight HSS review

[pursang]

I have posted a short review of the Rovelight's HSS performance.

 

[Nixon Glenn]

The HSS works in all power setting or only at full power ?

 

[MadManAce]

The HSS works in all power setting or only at full power ?

It works down to 1/16 power, but remember just like the manufacture's speedlights or Profoto's B1, expect about 2-stops less actual light output when shooting at 1/8000.

 

[Nikonparrothead]

So when you attach the Rovelight trigger to the Cells trigger you don't need to attach a secondary Cells receiver to do high shutter speeds? Interesting. I picked up the Cells IIN to use with my Godox light I'll have to try it with my Rovelight too

 

[Nixon Glenn]

The HSS works in all power setting or only at full power ?

It works down to 1/16 power, but remember just like the manufacture's speedlights or Profoto's B1, expect about 2-stops less actual light output when shooting at 1/8000.

Thanks.
I still wonder because OP said the strobe doesnt firing sequence of light pulse instead it uses the tail of single pulse.

 

[Nikonparrothead]

It's not classic HSS (which is the pulsing throughout the exposure) basically the flash actually fires a touch before the shutter opens. The shutter opens and closes while the flash dissipates.

Pocketwizard (which has trademarked the word) calls this Hypersync. I've heard users of Yongnuo TTL triggers call it supersync. Priolite -- which markets two versions of strobes at the same wattage -- calls it Hot Sync.

When I've tried it with my RoveLight and my Pocket Wizard TTL system, I noticed no difference between exposure when the RoveLight is set to normal operation or HSS mode. Though as I noted in another post, if I can just use a Cells II-N trigger with the Flashpoint trigger clipped to it and the internal receiver of the RoveLight to initiate the long-tail burn, I'd be happy because it's one less thing to go wrong. Though Jinbei is reportedly working on a new trigger that would do this on its own.

 

[pursang]

So when you attach the Rovelight trigger to the Cells trigger you don't need to attach a secondary Cells receiver to do high shutter speeds? Interesting. I picked up the Cells IIN to use with my Godox light I'll have to try it with my Rovelight too

 

[Nixon Glenn]

I see. So in hss mode it uses long duration tail light. Previously I assume that it can only be done at full power, but this strobe manages to do that at the lower power as well. Thats cool.

 

[pursang]

I see. So in hss mode it uses long duration tail light. Previously I assume that it can only be done at full power, but this strobe manages to do that at the lower power as well. Thats cool.

Yes it's most likely why you cannot shoot below 1/16th power with the Rovelight. It's probably too difficult to increase the flash duration below that power.

 

[Nikonparrothead]

I just tried the high sync with the Flashpoint Trigger clipped to the Cells II-N and it works perfectly when the light is in HSS mode and only at full power when the flash is in Manual mode. It is good to know it can work with the RoveLight's internal receiver.

 

[victorian squid]

I have posted a short review of the Rovelight's HSS performance.

Thanks for a nice review.

I bought mine when they had the half-price introductory offer. My needs are much more humble, but it's great to know that they'll grow with me as I try to expand their use.

I think they're a screaming deal when they're down to $450 or so (or even less), which seems often.

 

[Nikonparrothead]

It's looking like that's the permanent price these days for Adorama (at least through eBay), which is a good thing.

 

[Nixon Glenn]

By the way, I wonder of the recycle time comparison between long tail HSS vs mutli pulse HSS. In case somebody need to shoot more frame per seconds for moving object outdoor mid day or need fast shutter speed.

I am not expecting like 10 fps, but maybe 5-6 fps and also it should be in lower power to get faster recycle time. But I assume that the multi pulse HSS will force the strobe to work harder compared to long tail HSS. Any comments ?

 

[pursang]

I just tried the high sync with the Flashpoint Trigger clipped to the Cells II-N and it works perfectly when the light is in HSS mode and only at full power when the flash is in Manual mode. It is good to know it can work with the RoveLight's internal receiver.

 

[pursang]

By the way, I wonder of the recycle time comparison between long tail HSS vs mutli pulse HSS. In case somebody need to shoot more frame per seconds for moving object outdoor mid day or need fast shutter speed.

I am not expecting like 10 fps, but maybe 5-6 fps and also it should be in lower power to get faster recycle time. But I assume that the multi pulse HSS will force the strobe to work harder compared to long tail HSS. Any comments ?

Can't speak to that because I don't use my hi frames per second mode for dance. I will say that the Einsteins at power levels below 200WS recycle as fast as my 1DX fires in hi speed frame mode which is incredible. If you're looking to shoot multiple frames per second whether that's long flash duration or pulsing I believe you'd have to go to a pack system, a very high end pack system.

 

[Nixon Glenn]

By the way, I wonder of the recycle time comparison between long tail HSS vs mutli pulse HSS. In case somebody need to shoot more frame per seconds for moving object outdoor mid day or need fast shutter speed.

I am not expecting like 10 fps, but maybe 5-6 fps and also it should be in lower power to get faster recycle time. But I assume that the multi pulse HSS will force the strobe to work harder compared to long tail HSS. Any comments ?

Can't speak to that because I don't use my hi frames per second mode for dance. I will say that the Einsteins at power levels below 200WS recycle as fast as my 1DX fires in hi speed frame mode which is incredible. If you're looking to shoot multiple frames per second whether that's long flash duration or pulsing I believe you'd have to go to a pack system, a very high end pack system.

Hi Pursang, thanks for the comment, but I mean at fast shutter speed such as 1/4000-1/8000 (mid day or where ambient light is still very high). The Einstein I assume will have uneven exposure at that shutter speed, am I right?

This is related to a previous thread where OP need the flash that can work at high fps on broad day light to capture the action as ski jumping as OP showed in his post.

Most of us maybe never need that setup but I just curious to know the solution

 

[pursang]

By the way, I wonder of the recycle time comparison between long tail HSS vs mutli pulse HSS. In case somebody need to shoot more frame per seconds for moving object outdoor mid day or need fast shutter speed.

I am not expecting like 10 fps, but maybe 5-6 fps and also it should be in lower power to get faster recycle time. But I assume that the multi pulse HSS will force the strobe to work harder compared to long tail HSS. Any comments ?

Can't speak to that because I don't use my hi frames per second mode for dance. I will say that the Einsteins at power levels below 200WS recycle as fast as my 1DX fires in hi speed frame mode which is incredible. If you're looking to shoot multiple frames per second whether that's long flash duration or pulsing I believe you'd have to go to a pack system, a very high end pack system.

Hi Pursang, thanks for the comment, but I mean at fast shutter speed such as 1/4000-1/8000 (mid day or where ambient light is still very high). The Einstein I assume will have uneven exposure at that shutter speed, am I right?

This is related to a previous thread where OP need the flash that can work at high fps on broad day light to capture the action as ski jumping as OP showed in his post.

Most of us maybe never need that setup but I just curious to know the solution

Sorry been working. So the shutter speed works right up to 1/8000th which will stop most fast action. I say most because it really depends. Any human movement will freeze, but I'm not sure if a swinging bat, golf club head, etc. would be frozen. Much better than the Einstein unless it's at full power where it's light fall off tail is the longest. And yes you do get a gradient with the Einsteins. But being able to use the Rovelight in HSS down to 1/16th power give you lots of power options.

I have found the sweet spot for my work at HSS is 1/4000th f4.0 ISO 100 at 1/4 power for outdoor action when there's full daylight.

 

[Nixon Glenn]

By the way, I wonder of the recycle time comparison between long tail HSS vs mutli pulse HSS. In case somebody need to shoot more frame per seconds for moving object outdoor mid day or need fast shutter speed.

I am not expecting like 10 fps, but maybe 5-6 fps and also it should be in lower power to get faster recycle time. But I assume that the multi pulse HSS will force the strobe to work harder compared to long tail HSS. Any comments ?

Can't speak to that because I don't use my hi frames per second mode for dance. I will say that the Einsteins at power levels below 200WS recycle as fast as my 1DX fires in hi speed frame mode which is incredible. If you're looking to shoot multiple frames per second whether that's long flash duration or pulsing I believe you'd have to go to a pack system, a very high end pack system.

Hi Pursang, thanks for the comment, but I mean at fast shutter speed such as 1/4000-1/8000 (mid day or where ambient light is still very high). The Einstein I assume will have uneven exposure at that shutter speed, am I right?

This is related to a previous thread where OP need the flash that can work at high fps on broad day light to capture the action as ski jumping as OP showed in his post.

Most of us maybe never need that setup but I just curious to know the solution

Sorry been working. So the shutter speed works right up to 1/8000th which will stop most fast action. I say most because it really depends. Any human movement will freeze, but I'm not sure if a swinging bat, golf club head, etc. would be frozen. Much better than the Einstein unless it's at full power where it's light fall off tail is the longest. And yes you do get a gradient with the Einsteins. But being able to use the Rovelight in HSS down to 1/16th power give you lots of power options.

I have found the sweet spot for my work at HSS is 1/4000th f4.0 ISO 100 at 1/4 power for outdoor action when there's full daylight.

OK, thanks for the RL sweet spot info.

At that setting how many frame per seconds can it go? Just curious.

With the same power output compared with the pulse light hss systems, I wonder which systems will have higher frame per seconds. My assumption is the long tail light systems. The Hss has to work harder. What do you think?

 

[pursang]

Sorry been working. So the shutter speed works right up to 1/8000th which will stop most fast action. I say most because it really depends. Any human movement will freeze, but I'm not sure if a swinging bat, golf club head, etc. would be frozen. Much better than the Einstein unless it's at full power where it's light fall off tail is the longest. And yes you do get a gradient with the Einsteins. But being able to use the Rovelight in HSS down to 1/16th power give you lots of power options.

I have found the sweet spot for my work at HSS is 1/4000th f4.0 ISO 100 at 1/4 power for outdoor action when there's full daylight.

OK, thanks for the RL sweet spot info.

At that setting how many frame per seconds can it go? Just curious.

With the same power output compared with the pulse light hss systems, I wonder which systems will have higher frame per seconds. My assumption is the long tail light systems. The Hss has to work harder. What do you think?

FPS won't work with the RL. In fact in HSS the recycle time is about 2.5 times longer than when not in HSS. I have no idea about FPS on pulsing speedlights because I don't use them but I doubt you'd get good performance from those either. It seems you want what larger much more expensive packs offer. If I were you I'd rent lights that fit your needs to see if they do before you purchase them. That protocol has served me well.

 

[Nixon Glenn]

Sorry been working. So the shutter speed works right up to 1/8000th which will stop most fast action. I say most because it really depends. Any human movement will freeze, but I'm not sure if a swinging bat, golf club head, etc. would be frozen. Much better than the Einstein unless it's at full power where it's light fall off tail is the longest. And yes you do get a gradient with the Einsteins. But being able to use the Rovelight in HSS down to 1/16th power give you lots of power options.

I have found the sweet spot for my work at HSS is 1/4000th f4.0 ISO 100 at 1/4 power for outdoor action when there's full daylight.

OK, thanks for the RL sweet spot info.

At that setting how many frame per seconds can it go? Just curious.

With the same power output compared with the pulse light hss systems, I wonder which systems will have higher frame per seconds. My assumption is the long tail light systems. The Hss has to work harder. What do you think?

FPS won't work with the RL. In fact in HSS the recycle time is about 2.5 times longer than when not in HSS. I have no idea about FPS on pulsing speedlights because I don't use them but I doubt you'd get good performance from those either. It seems you want what larger much more expensive packs offer. If I were you I'd rent lights that fit your needs to see if they do before you purchase them. That protocol has served me well.

I see. Thanks for the comments and info.