Any One Used Adaptalux Lighting

[David Mintzer]

I've been exploring lighting options for my Macro work when I ran across this:

Adaptalux - Adaptable LED Macro Photography Lighting

Macro photography lighting at your fingertips. Flexable and adaptalble LED lighting to take your macro photography to the next level!

adaptalux.com

Seems like a very innovative way to light for Macro. Was wondering if anyone had experience with this set up and if so, what they think.

 

[PhotoLutz]

I have the Adaptalux studio and it’s pretty cool. The new pod is even better and is great for many types of photography.

For macro it depends what you are looking to do. If you are shooting moving subjects you need a flash as that will help to freeze movement. But if you are standing still it can add great color and or light.

Now with the new FX arms you can do some fun stuff too with UV or lasers. If doing UV I suggest a minimum of two arms

 

[David Mintzer]

I have the Adaptalux studio and it’s pretty cool. The new pod is even better and is great for many types of photography.

For macro it depends what you are looking to do. If you are shooting moving subjects you need a flash as that will help to freeze movement. But if you are standing still it can add great color and or light.

Now with the new FX arms you can do some fun stuff too with UV or lasers. If doing UV I suggest a minimum of two arms

Thanks. One more question, if you mount the on camera, how cumbersome is it?

 

[PhotoLutz]

It’s going to add a little weight and the new pod I assume is heavier due to the tougher construction. I don’t usually mount mine but hold it for better control. But it’s certainly doable.

 

[prymsnap]

I just took delivery of an Adaptalux Starter Kit (shipped to U.S.) After I sent diagnostic info to the company's owner, he agreed that one of the arms is defective. However, the cost to ship the arm back to the U.K. with a secure, tracked method would cost me about $31. Adaptalux will not provide a prepaid label or refund the shipping cost. This policy might not be a dealbreaker for you, but it's best to be informed of the risks.

 

[David Mintzer]

I just took delivery of an Adaptalux Starter Kit (shipped to U.S.) After I sent diagnostic info to the company's owner, he agreed that one of the arms is defective. However, the cost to ship the arm back to the U.K. with a secure, tracked method would cost me about $31. Adaptalux will not provide a prepaid label or refund the shipping cost. This policy might not be a dealbreaker for you, but it's best to be informed of the risks.

That's really unacceptable behavior on the part of Adaptalux. I was considering a purchase but with that kind of horrible customer service I'm going to take a pass. Let us know how it goes in the long room. How pathetic.

 

[prymsnap]

It does seem rather short-sighted on their part. The defective arm is en route back to the U.K. I let them know exactly how much I paid for shipping. I'll have to wait and see what their response is, but I'm not hopeful. I very politely asked if their policy was firm, even in the case of defective-on-delivery, and they were not inclined to budge. However, if they do the right thing I will gladly report back.

 

[Danny Burk Photo]

Hmm, I'd certainly have a low opinion of that and would be inclined to dispute that portion of the charge with my CC company. I bought a setup a few weeks ago and returned it last week since it didn't really work out for what I wanted to do, but I didn't expect them to pay the return cost since it wasn't a defective unit.

 

[prymsnap]

I agree with you on that. Unfortunately, my only available options were: 1) pay to return the defective arm (actual shipping cost came in at over $36.00) and hope the replacement will be ok so I don't have to go through this whole thing again, 2) return the entire kit for a refund in which case I'd be out the cost of the original shipping plus the cost of the return shipping, or 3) put up with using a defective product. None of those reflect a good customer service policy. Again, I'm hoping they reconsider my request.