Should I buy one Profoto B1 or Elinchrom Pro HD Set (2 strobes)

[Nicholas Soh]

Hi there,

I am new in strobe lighting. Understand that they both are in different categories, however, deal to budget constrain I would like to seek your professional opinion that whether I should get Elinchrom Pro HD 500 Set or I should just get one good build quality Profoto B1?

Here is my concern

Elinchrom

• Build quality wasn't sturdy compare to Profoto.
• The bulb of Elinchrom Pro HD 500 Set looks very fragile, worry I will east to break it.
• The Skyport looks very old school.
• But Elinchrom modifier always produce wonderful lighting.

Profoto

• Very expensive
• Not sure it can be as powerful as Elinchrom Pro HD set
• One light may limiting on style
• But they are easy to operate, sturdy.

Please give me your professional suggestion and base on your experience, what is the Pros and Cons about them.

Many Thanks.

 

[Sailor Blue]

Hi there,

I am new in strobe lighting.

You really need to tell us where you live, your budget, and what you want the lights for if you want us to make any intelligent recommendations on what brands and types of studio equipment to buy.

Please tell us where you live, your budget, and what you want the lights for.

I understand the desire to buy the best equipment but do you really need it as a beginner? There are several brands of good quality studio strobes and accessories selling at a variety of prices. Unless you are a hard working professional the B1 lights are probably not a financially wise purchase.

In the US I would strongly recommend Paul C. Buff equipment but not if you lived outside the US, Canada, or Mexico (assuming you can travel to the US to buy it). In Asia there may be different options to the Middle East, Europe, Africa, or Central and South America.

 

[Nikonparrothead]

Hi there,

I am new in strobe lighting. Understand that they both are in different categories, however, deal to budget constrain I would like to seek your professional opinion that whether I should get Elinchrom Pro HD 500 Set or I should just get one good build quality Profoto B1?

Here is my concern

Elinchrom

• Build quality wasn't sturdy compare to Profoto.
• The bulb of Elinchrom Pro HD 500 Set looks very fragile, worry I will east to break it.
• The Skyport looks very old school.
• But Elinchrom modifier always produce wonderful lighting.

Profoto

• Very expensive
• Not sure it can be as powerful as Elinchrom Pro HD set
• One light may limiting on style
• But they are easy to operate, sturdy.

Please give me your professional suggestion and base on your experience, what is the Pros and Cons about them.

Many Thanks.

Hi Nicholas: First off I agree with Sailor Blue, it helps to know where you live. (Not so much on Buff gear, but that's a personal choice).

Glancing at the F-stoppers review, they point out that Profoto is better built. I know three people who own the B1 and rave about them. You can use the TTL trigger and do HSS and TTL with the Profoto. It's flash tube is protected by a frosted dome. I think in the end your thoughts about the flash tube being sturdier than the Elinchrom one are unfounded.

I haven't shot with Elinchrom HD500 but I do own several Elinchrom lights, use them with bare flash tubes and haven't broken one yet. The HD500 flash tube comes with a clear glass dome (frosted optional). The Skyports are ancient in the world of flash triggers and I'm praying that if they do update them, it'll be something I can use on my current kit. Not sure how the units work with Hypersync to exceed flash sync. So if you wan tto do higher shutter speed sync, that could be a dealbreaker.

500 watts of light in one B1 will be exactly half as powerful as the 1000 watts of two HD500s. Not sure about the trick functions of the lights (stroboscopic effects, etc.) The B1 is a battery powered light -- there is no way to use it in studio and plug it into a wall, so you'll need multiple batteries.

As far as Elinchrom modifiers, you can buy Elinchrom's Profoto mount speed ring and use that, or buy an adapter and use them on Profotos -- Joey L does the latter. I asked him if there was a reason he did't use the Elinchrom ring and basically it didn't exist when he was putting together his kit.

For what it's worth, longtime Elinchrom user Joe McNally switched to Profoto last year.

You're new to strobe lighting. I don't know your definition of "new." Perhaps this video, a comparison by Joey L of the Profoto B1, an Einstein and a Broncolor setup for portable work will help.

The only thing I know about the Elinchrom's you're interested in I learned from reading/chatting with Frank Doorhof

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www.frankdoorhof.com

For an opinion straight from Frank (who is affiliated with Elinchrom) seek him out on social media. He regularly replies. The last time I chatted with him was about the ELB400 pack.

Tom Bol has some videos with the 1000 watt versions of the new lights and has a video.

Based on what I know (and prefer to shoot) if I was starting from scratch today, I'd go with the Profoto. I've been meaning to rent the light to put one through its paces. (Though it's doubtful I'd switch, because I have so much sunk into my current Elinchrom kit and couldn't receive enough in value).

 

[Nicholas Soh]

Hi Sailor Blue,

I live in Singapore, the option here are not much. We have Broncolor, Profoto, Elinchrom, Jinbei (from China), and Bowen.

My budget is around 3500 Singapore dollars, with this budget I wish I can get lights, stands, and beauty dish.

I hope this will helps.

 

[PenPix]

A couple things about the Elinchrom… Although I use BRX, I believe the same applies to the HD based on my observations between them when I was in the camera store.

Like: The umbrella rod hole is centred close to the flash tube

Dislike: The hole is 7mm (the standard is 8mm) so you have to search for umbrellas with a 7mm rod :-( . There is a provision for using the 8mm umbrellas via a plastic bracket on the side of the tilt-head tightening leaver… a very poor arrangement IMO because you need to loosen the head to use the umbrella.

Like: Rotolux soft boxes. VERY easy to assemble and disassemble as well as being very light. You can buy most of the soft boxes with the speedring included and save a fair bit of change. You can buy a ProFoto speedring for the Rotolux, so this is not so big a deal other than additional cost.

Dislike: Slips when using very heavy modifiers. I tried using a 60" umbrella on my HD500 and the head kept on creeping down! I had to tighten the head to keep it from slipping… I mean really tighten it. Whenever I use umbrellas, I use a separate umbrella holder.

Like: iPhone app allows you to control lights with you iPhone or iPod touch via WiFi. A separate WiFi adapter needs to be purchased though.

Like: Deflector set. Different disks you can place in front of the flash tube. With it I can get the beauty dish look from my 70x70 soft box.

I picked Elinchrom purely because of the Rotolux soft boxes. Almost all of my work is location and nothing else I could find is as easy to use as the Rotolux. As you can see, my biggest beef is that it cannot handle a big modifier attached to it.

 

[Ellis Vener]

Hi there,

I am new in strobe lighting. Understand that they both are in different categories, however, deal to budget constrain I would like to seek your professional opinion that whether I should get Elinchrom Pro HD 500 Set or I should just get one good build quality Profoto B1?

Here is my concern

Elinchrom

• Build quality wasn't sturdy compare to Profoto.

I do not believe that is true, but the B1 is slightly smaller and I like the Profoto reflector/ modifier attachment method.

• The bulb of Elinchrom Pro HD 500 Set looks very fragile, worry I will east to break it.

Others have answered this. But if you work at it through sloppiness yes you can break it.

• The Skyport looks very old school.

Except for the ttl functionality of the Profoto Air TTL remote with the B1, the Skyport and the Air are functionally equivalent.

• But Elinchrom modifier always produce wonderful lighting.

photographers create wonderful lighting, not modifiers.

Profoto

• Very expensive

Yes and wait till you need to have one repaired! But Profoto has an extensive international rental network.

• Not sure it can be as powerful as Elinchrom Pro HD set

I have done some real testing of the two against each other, both are equally efficient

• One light may limiting on style

it will limit your tons, your style is up to your imagination and taste. Better photographers than you, I, and everyone else on this forum have made great, beautiful photographs with lesser gear Han either of here lights.

• But they are easy to operate, sturdy.

Please give me your professional suggestion and base on your experience, what is the Pros and Cons about them.

Many Thanks.

The B1 is a great light but it has a very real world limitation: there is no AC power option.

There is a third alternative and it comes out of Singapore: the Phottix Indra500 TTL. I have real world experience with this light as well. Build quality and ruggedness is equal to the Profoto B1 and the Elnchrom 500 HD, so is light quality. Like the B1 you have TTL control capability. Unlike the B1 there are both AC and battery power options. it uses the Bowens- S triple lugged bayonet mount which I think is superior to Elinchrom's mount and because of the Recessed built-in reflector design of the B1, it's a more versatile choice. Finally , if you use TTL-smart hotshot mount flashes, Phottix's Odin system, unlike the Profoto AirTTL radio transceiver system, let's you integrate those small flashes with the Indra lights.

In the end all three of these lights, along with the Paul C. Buff Einstein E640, are the peaks of moonlight design and all perform equally well. So it comes down to deciding what feature set and price point appeal to you. Pride of ownership (you stroking your own ego) is also a powerful consideration and, being the irrational creatures that we are, should not be ignored or dismissed as a trivial concern.

Hope that helps!

 

[PNad]

Get a few Einstein strobes then? Profoto is the last brand I would buy as someone with tight budget. Its just like cars, dont buy a Cadilac Escalade if you dont have the cashflow to own and maintain one.

 

[Nikonparrothead]

Get a few Einstein strobes then? Profoto is the last brand I would buy as someone with tight budget. Its just like cars, dont buy a Cadilac Escalade if you dont have the cashflow to own and maintain one.

The OP is in Singapore. For the vast part of the globe, Paul C. Buff products really aren't the answer.

 

[Ellis Vener]

Get a few Einstein strobes then? Profoto is the last brand I would buy as someone with tight budget. Its just like cars, dont buy a Cadilac Escalade if you dont have the cashflow to own and maintain one.

Porsche and Jaguar are better automotive analogies. Cadillacs are just more expensive Buicks.

 

[Simon Barker]

I am new in strobe lighting. Understand that they both are in different categories, however, deal to budget constrain I would like to seek your professional opinion that whether I should get Elinchrom Pro HD 500 Set or I should just get one good build quality Profoto B1?

Here is my concern

Elinchrom

• Build quality wasn't sturdy compare to Profoto.
• The bulb of Elinchrom Pro HD 500 Set looks very fragile, worry I will east to break it.
• The Skyport looks very old school.
• But Elinchrom modifier always produce wonderful lighting.

Profoto

• Very expensive
• Not sure it can be as powerful as Elinchrom Pro HD set
• One light may limiting on style
• But they are easy to operate, sturdy.

Please give me your professional suggestion and base on your experience, what is the Pros and Cons about them.

An Elinchrom Elc Pro HD is most closely matched to a Profoto D1 as they're both mains powered monoblocks while the B1 is a battery powered unit which has the advantage of portability and faster flash duration at increased cost. If you're working in a studio I don't really see the need for a B1 but if you need to go wireless that rules out an Elc Pro HD or D1.

Elinchrom isn't poorly made it's just using thinner plastics so it doesn't feel as solid as the Profoto, neither is just going to fall apart so is this really a concern? If anything you'll probably see wear on the Profoto first thanks to the way modifiers hug the sides.

The Skyport system is fairly bare bones, the Profoto air remotes are better as they also offer the ability to turn modelling lights and heads on and off but they both get the job done.

I'd personally favour the Elinchrom head design, the Profoto might be sturdier but it doesn't provide as much coverage so can be worse with certain modifiers. Either way, get in the habit of not jabbing things into them or dropping them.

I'd follow some of the advice already given here, think in terms of what kind of system you're actually able to support, barely being able to afford a single head is not a good starting point and what happens if it breaks after the warranty is out? Profoto modifiers can be seriously expensive, for example if you wanted to add a Snoot to your Profoto it's nearly £300 (grid and filter kit + snoot) while the Elinchrom is only £45 with a grid.

In your shoes I would get the Elinchrom (actually I'd probably get a BRX kit unless the flash duration mattered) as light is light, your photos won't be better because you're using a B1 rather than a D-lite but having the right modifiers to achieve the look you're after will.

 

[Sailor Blue]

Hi Sailor Blue,

I live in Singapore, the option here are not much. We have Broncolor, Profoto, Elinchrom, Jinbei (from China), and Bowen.

These are all good brands but don't go with the bottom end lights from Bowens and Elinchrom and make sure you get 300Ws to 600Ws of power.

Jinbei would be my low budget choice. Jinbei is relabeled and sold as the Flashpoint house brand by Adorama, one of the biggest photo dealers in the US, and has a pretty good reputation for a budget priced strobe.

The advice to look at the Phottix Indra500 that Ellis Vener mentions is excellent advice but they are expensive compared to what you can get from Bowens, Elinchrome, or Jinbei.

Other good brands you can probably find are Godox from China and RiME light from Korea.

My budget is around 3500 Singapore dollars, with this budget I wish I can get lights, stands, and beauty dish.

I don't know what import duties and taxes are like in Singapore but that isn't a very large budget.

You are better off having one good light and one good medium to large sized diffuser plus a sheet of white foam core board as a reflector than 6 cheap low quality studios strobes with poor quality diffusers.

A 300Ws 5-stop strobe will let you use that 30"x60" softbox with your camera with any aperture from f/1.4 to f/16 just by using ISO 100 or 200 and by using the softbox between about 1 and 2 times the diagonal of the softbox (5.5' to 11' or 1.7m to 3.4m) from the subject.

Sailorblue - Equipment Guide for Setting up a Small Home PortraitGlamor Studio

Sailorblue - Diffuser Size and Studio Strobe Power

Umbrellas WITH removable black backings are cheap and can be a good way to start if you are servilely budget limited but softboxes give you better control of the light on the subject and a lot less stray light.

For a medium sized reflector, one in the 1500 in² to 2000 in² range (1 m² to 1.3 m²), look for a softbox in the 30"x60" (75-80cm x 150cm) size range. You can use it horizontally for a waist up portrait or head shot of one to three people or vertically for a standing portrait.

Note: Don't get hung up on the exact dimensions, 30"x60" is just an example of a softbox in the mid-size range. My mid-size softbox is 40"x40" and sometimes I turn it 45° for standing portraits.

The low cost alternative is a 60" white umbrella with a removable black backing but its area of about 2600 in² means using ISO 200 to 400 unless you have 500Ws to 600Ws of power.

 

[dorriewiz]

Hey, with regards to the elinchrom pro hd set - can you use them with a battery pack and if so, which one? I am considering buy this kit but id like to be able to use it on location as well as in the studio....thanks!

 

[Don89]

Hey, with regards to the elinchrom pro hd set - can you use them with a battery pack and if so, which one? I am considering buy this kit but id like to be able to use it on location as well as in the studio....thanks!

Old thread here

anyway... I have wide range of Elinchrom strobes including the new HD pros. They all work with the Paul C Buff VML and VLX batteries. Hundreds of shots. Ive never ran out of juice for any of my shoots.

I am super happy with these batteries. Excellent.

 

[Nikonparrothead]

Hi Dorrie:

Elinchrom recommends (and depending on where you are, marketing) the Godox LP 800x battery. Tronix marketed a battery pack that worked well with Elinchrom too. But the Godox is what they're suggesting these days.

If you were statesdide, the Buff Vagabond series might be an option too.

If you go with the Godox pack, shop around, different distributors may charge different prices. For example, here in the U.s. B&H sells the Godox for about $720 U.S. but Adorama markets it as part of its Flashpoint store brand for $599 U.S.

Good luck with your choice.

 

[dorriewiz]

Thanks so much for that - unfortunately as I am in France C buff work as I have french plugs and I think it only accepts US plugs and I don't want to use adaptors. However, just called The Flash Centre in London who are Elinchrom experts and they told me that GODOX LP - 800 x will work for all plugs so I think I will have to go for that.....Thaks for the advice!

 

[michael Zero]

Why not use Buff gear since you new to flash? Great equipment at great prices and amazing customer service. Buff is not sexy like the others you mentioned but it works. Light is light and unless you a commercial rock start shooting everyday why spend thousand more unless you need to impress someone from a brand standpoint? In some cases the Buff Einstein lights are better for lots of reasons...

Joel Grimes uses buff and he a amazing photographer that could use anything he wanted. Here is his stuff

Also I personally use Buff and its works for me. I have access to the all of the fanciest equipment out there but I keep coming back to is price. I can get an amazing studio strobe for less than a Nikon top of the line speed light. Amazing! I can buy multiple lights for what 1 of these cost from another manufacture. Again from the looks department its not sexy or cool but it sure works... in some cases even better. Just my two cents and I get there will be others that disagree...

 

[Don89]

Thanks so much for that - unfortunately as I am in France C buff work as I have french plugs and I think it only accepts US plugs and I don't want to use adaptors. However, just called The Flash Centre in London who are Elinchrom experts and they told me that GODOX LP - 800 x will work for all plugs so I think I will have to go for that.....Thaks for the advice!

Ive had no problems with adapter plugs. Ive lived in 220/110 areas for years. In fact I use some 220 designed gear here in the US with transformer and adapters for a very long time.

Good to know you've got local products that will work for you.

 

[Don89]

I am new in strobe lighting. Understand that they both are in different categories, however, deal to budget constrain I would like to seek your professional opinion that whether I should get Elinchrom Pro HD 500 Set or I should just get one good build quality Profoto B1?

Here is my concern

Elinchrom

• Build quality wasn't sturdy compare to Profoto.
• The bulb of Elinchrom Pro HD 500 Set looks very fragile, worry I will east to break it.
• The Skyport looks very old school.
• But Elinchrom modifier always produce wonderful lighting.

Profoto

• Very expensive
• Not sure it can be as powerful as Elinchrom Pro HD set
• One light may limiting on style
• But they are easy to operate, sturdy.

Please give me your professional suggestion and base on your experience, what is the Pros and Cons about them.

An Elinchrom Elc Pro HD is most closely matched to a Profoto D1 as they're both mains powered monoblocks while the B1 is a battery powered unit which has the advantage of portability and faster flash duration at increased cost. If you're working in a studio I don't really see the need for a B1 but if you need to go wireless that rules out an Elc Pro HD or D1.

Elinchrom isn't poorly made it's just using thinner plastics so it doesn't feel as solid as the Profoto, neither is just going to fall apart so is this really a concern? If anything you'll probably see wear on the Profoto first thanks to the way modifiers hug the sides.

The Skyport system is fairly bare bones, the Profoto air remotes are better as they also offer the ability to turn modelling lights and heads on and off but they both get the job done.

I'd personally favour the Elinchrom head design, the Profoto might be sturdier but it doesn't provide as much coverage so can be worse with certain modifiers. Either way, get in the habit of not jabbing things into them or dropping them.

I'd follow some of the advice already given here, think in terms of what kind of system you're actually able to support, barely being able to afford a single head is not a good starting point and what happens if it breaks after the warranty is out? Profoto modifiers can be seriously expensive, for example if you wanted to add a Snoot to your Profoto it's nearly £300 (grid and filter kit + snoot) while the Elinchrom is only £45 with a grid.

In your shoes I would get the Elinchrom (actually I'd probably get a BRX kit unless the flash duration mattered) as light is light, your photos won't be better because you're using a B1 rather than a D-lite but having the right modifiers to achieve the look you're after will.

The new Elinchrom Skyport HS is a dream to use. Control lights, shoot HS. I only keep my old Skyport as backup. The new one is superb. Displays power, likghts, groups. It's wonderful.

Ive got Eli Strobes. Some of which are over 20 years old. They all work flawlessly. 100% reliable. The new Skyport trigger can see and display all my lights and control them all - except the oldest that are manually controlled.

Ill be setting up a shoot using HS and more than one Strobe just for some fun. Maybe shooting will all of them in HS.