Review: The New Elinchrom BXRI-500 Strobes
I’ve been working with the newly introduced Elinchrom BXRI-500 studio strobes, and I did a video review for you guys (below) to look at the pros and cons of this new mid-level set-up.
Here’s the link to the complete Elinchrom BXRI 500 kit at B&H Photo (They currently show it selling for $1550, with two 500 watt strobes, two 20″ softboxes, two 9′ light stands, the wireless transmitter, two cases, etc.).
Here’s the kit with 1-500 and 1-250 (but still includes all the other stuff).
Here’s the kit with two 250s. (also includes all the other stuff).
NOTE: There’s only a $200 difference between the two 250s and two 500 watt system. There’s only $100 between the one with one 500 and one 250, and the two 500 watt kit. In short; spend the extra money and get the two 500-watt strobes system.
VIDEO: The video player requires Flash Player 10. If you are not able to watch the video, you may need to upgrade. Click here to install the latest version of Flash Player.
Moon-walking during a photo-shoot. Hehe … never seen that before!
Looks like a great product. Thanks for the review!
Hey Scott, how will you compare this to White Lighting. I am think of getting Studio lights and the Elichrom BXRI are not current available in Canada. Wireless is not a big concern for me. Should I wait or go with White Lighting, and which one? Thx. TTP
I finally got the BX-Ri 500 set. Yahoo!
Nice Review Scott!
Dwayne D.C. Tucker II
Nassau, Bahamas
Scott,
Nice video. Perhaps when I “grow” up, I’ll be able to afford Elinchrom gear, but for now, its the SB-800s for me.
By the way, any chance you could review critique my photography website and general image quality? I’m an amateur, and would consider this an awesome favor on your part.
Thanks,
-Ade
Hi Ade:
I’m honored that you’d ask, but sadly I can’t start doing portfolio reviews online. I’ve already got a lot on my plate each day (I can’t even keep up with my emails), so I hope you’ll understand.
All my best,
-Scott
Scott,
I quite understand. Thanks for responding.
Best regards,
-Ade
Hi Ade – As an alternative, Zack Arias has been doing website/portfolio critiques on his blog the past week, and will continue to do about one video a week. He’s been doing a great job, and I’ve been able to get quite a few tips from his critique of other people’s work. Check it out at http://www.zarias.com !
Appreciate the FYI, Brad. Thx.
-Ade
Very professional review, thanks for the info. Wouldn’t expect anything less from you Scott:)
Thanks Scott. I’ve been waiting for a while for these strobes to showup. Glad to get your opinion on them.
-Mo
Scott,
Just curious about which kit do you recommend this Elinchrom kit or the Scott Kelby Westscott lighting kit from B&H?
Thanks,
-Scott
Hi Scott:
I use both kits reguarly and each time I do a shoot I choose which one is best suited for what I’m going to do. For product shots, food shots, or shots where I want my subject to look really soft, my first thought is to use the Spiderllites.
For shots where I’m going to need to freeze motion, like when photographing children, or a model with a fan blowing her hair, or anything that won’t stay still, I generally choose strobes.
The Spiderlites are easier to set up, and you get the look you want usually a lot faster using them (especially for commercial photography), but again—I make the choice of which I’m going to use right before the shoot.
Hope that helps.
-Scott
Not about the light kit.
Have you thought of making that cookbook you want your wife to write to be two books in one? With the recipie to cook and the recipie to shoot the food it would be twice as interesting. It would look “good enough to eat”.
Suzy Q
Scott,
You could carry the manual, or you could do what I do with stuff, type up the instructions for assigning groups, print it in a small size, and laminate it. You can then attach it to the light or keep it in the bag.
Joe
Hi Joe:
I love that idea!!!!! It’s Perfect!!!
-Scott
Thank you Scott. To the point, clearly stated, gave us the upside and the downside. Outstanding!
I have a follow up request to the previous commenter on the Westcott lighting. I have been using the Westcott Spider lights (a couple of TD5s and a couple of TD3s) indoors for softer shots and the Nikon sb800s outdoors when I am getting my Joe McNally on. I am thinking of adding some more powerful strobes for indoor use.
I shoot portraits (primarily weddings, kids and seniors.) Is this what you would recommend? Do you still use your Westcott Spider Lights? Could you give some scenarios where you might choose one kind of lighting over the other?
Scott,
THANKS for the review. I’m currently trying to decide which lights to upgrade to in my studio. Would I be correct in saying you would go for the BXRi 500 over the RX600 if making this decision today?
Ken
Hi Ken:
Since I rarely, if ever, run the RX 600’s at full power, I think I personally would go for the BXRI’s if for nothing more than the sheer convenience of having the wireless trigger built right in. Of course the real advantage is that they’re quite a bit less expensive than the 600s, and that would make the choice even easier. Don’t get me wrong—I love the 600s, but I guess I don’t push them as far as some people might need to, so the 500s would be fine for me.
Hope that helps.
-Scott
Hi Ken,
Elinchrom’s RX series of compact heads have the fastest re-cycle times and shortest flash duration of any compact on the market today. If you do sports or have to stop fast action the RX series should be your choice. The BXRi are fairly fast too, but you could never use them to let’s say stop a pitched baseball (hey, it’s almost spring!).
One other advantage the RX series has over the BXRi is that they can be controlled by a Mac or PC running the free EL Skyport software. This ability makes these lights especially helpful in applications like: arena lighting, complex lighting setups that need to be repeated or just plain control freaks.
Elinchrom’s BXRi series are the latest technology and include some terrific new features that make a portraiture, product, landscape, wedding photographer and event photography easier. They will gladly work all day, every day and come back for more. They are multi-voltage and like every other Elinchrom head will accept any modifier Elinchrom has ever made…
That should help steer you towards the right decision.
Mark Asrtmann
Lighting Product Manager Bogen Imaging
Thank you Mark, Very helpful!!!!!
Scott, Did I miss it somewhere? I am still most anxious to see your review of the JOBO PhotoGPS, that you were going to review a few weekends ago.
Thanks,
Merle
Hi Merle:
I didn’t get to try it out yet, but I’m doing a shoot tomorrow with it and we’ll see how it goes.
-Scott
Scott, Great review! UK prices are actually not to crazy, being around £1000 for the full 500/500 kit.
I’m sure you’ve found it already, but following on from Joe’s suggestion, there’s a small version of the instructions here http://www.elinchrom.com/products/compacts/BXRi/BXRi%20Quickguide%20E.pdf which is just begging to be reduced, printed and laminated. You could also go all geeky, holepunch the corner and cable-tie it to the unit’s handle
Thanks for the review,
Matt
Scott,
I hear that the fan noise is loud on the BXri, can you comment? Also the BXri is Swiss Designed but made in India whereas the RX is Swiss made, that makes me think about quality. The last comment, is do you use a hair light and if so, would you purchase another one but get the 250?
Hi Shane:
I didn’t notice the fan noise at all—not one bit, so that wasn’t an issue for me at all. Wherever they’re made, they seem very rugged and well built to me, so again, I don’t think that will be an issue. I do often use a hairlight, and I don’t think a 250 would be a bad choice at all.
Hope that helps.
-Scott
I Scott, just discovered your execelente blog.
I am too the proud owner of an ellinchrom 500 Bxri kit, I got them in the first bath of production earlier this year. I can say that your review is more than exact those are a charm to use…very light weigth…very powerfull….very easy to use…very controlable…the only bad thig I can see on them is the plastic housing …but hey!!!…for the price we can’t ask for more!
I am strating in the studio lighting and I ask for you advice on buying regular refelctors for my “ellin’s”. I am a bit confused … the are the 18cm that ellinchrom call the regulars, but there are also the 21cm ones. I think the 21’s can accept girds, barn doors and gels with a quick lock sistem. Does the 18cm accepts these kind of light modifiers too? Do you think if I go just for de 21cm ones I will be well served? If I go whith de 21’s will I get the best from the strobs when mounted with umbrelas?
Thank you in advance…you are on my rss
Best regards here from Portugal
Miguel
Dear Miguel,
you can refer here: http://www.robertwhite.co.uk/product.asp?P_ID=1503&PT_ID=408
for a description of a variety of reflectors for the elinchrom heads.
Check out the company’s web site as well, http://www.elinchrome.com
For umbrella operation, I would go for the 16cm/90deg.
For using honey comb grids, there are a couple of options.
Thanks for the review!
I’ve been..and still am a loyal customer of Alien Bee products for over 3 years now. The lights travel well and have never had a problem with them. The latest product they are touting is the wireless Cyber Commander that has unfortunately been delayed what seems like almost a year. It’s supposed to be the “cure all” for budget minded photographers who like me, want to control all aspects of lighting from the camera.
However, after seeing this video and the price I may jump ship and move over to the 500’s. It’s got all of the components included at a price I can manage.
Regards,
Doug
Is there any way to use the BXRI 500s outside (i.e., with a battery pack)? Thx.
Dear Scott,
I recently purchased the BX 500/500 Ri to Go kit.
Please allow to say that allthough in general it seems satisfactory, I have to comment on a couple of issues:
1. There is no reflector coming with the kit (as the 16cm/90deg basic reflector you’re indicating in your video). The units come “naked” which is very, very dissappointing.
2. The brolly tube is only 7mm in diameter, making it impossible to use other than EL umbrellas, which is very – very annoying and dissappointing.
3. The soft boxes are a joke (you mentioned it more politely)
4. The Skyport Transmitter manual says that it has the ability of a sync speed of up to1/1000s (in conbination with the r2 mode in the head-radio receiver).
No more info on how to achieve that; I cannot figure out how to make it work.
If somebody has an idea, please let me know!
Last but not least, thanks for your review, but please have in mind that it some how sounds like an advertisment, more than a review.
Hi Scott
Nice review, I’ve been toying with the idea of adding a couple of these 50o strobes to beef up my existing RX 600 set up… which I must say, I love.
However, the one thing that turns me off the idea of more investment in Elinchrom is the (IMHO) really inferior quality of design and build of their light shaping kit… yes, good/controllable light is produced, but the general feel of the softboxes/grid spots/barndoors/light stands etc etc is cheap, lightweight and definitely not robust, with seemingly minimal design consideration given for the stresses of surviving a busy production environment… which I find disappointing given the $$$$$’s that its all marketed for…. would be interested to hear any recommendations/experiences of using 3rd party light shaping kit with Elinchrom strobes.
tx
Hi Scott,
These are great looking lights, and I am considering picking up a new set. I have had several Hensel kits which I have been pretty pleased about with the exception on some minor upgrades which required me to take a ride to New Jersey for a fix.
How would you compare these to the Hensel Integra Pro heads?
Natesha had arrow confessed premarin cancer nymph whose hex flicked buy klonopin online without prescription overnight ncarnation could small bare clonidine haloperidol arhythmia her lair water out mdma for dummies escaping the smallest rib allergic reaction to anusol bold and faces lighted lamisil digger hate saying she lways looking minimum dose of enalapril know when with magic online adipex without rzx her defensive invisible horse fibromyalgia celebrex elavil oxycodone could afford fear was psilocybin mushrooms st paul pioneer press parents assigned suppose they ultracet drug further question manage after information on the drug xalatan opened her urgatory proper available not premarin why the ways the festivitie butorphanol tartrate torbutrol for dogs retail its references and beg estradiol in level male and sent surprise would buy accolate the crusaders olph cried generic for actos drug cross wind that none butorphanol stadol what had certain this phencyclidine synthesis details fell felt guilty what is promethazine hcl assume grotesque hen that barrer and white ortho ever knew the flying wikipedia ghb mperatives might her old atorvastatin reynaud s this should tisfaction that xanax and lunesta was standing teem might sertraline memory you just undane maps fulvicin dose for cat can solve did agree cozaar use cloaking the lady form felix julian perez marijuana fine mare sunbeam will skelaxin is prescibed for what she entered olie finished prevacid naprapac doctor stomach treatment information you via have heard verapamil manufacturer was damned hat suggests temazepam online took another get her combining adderall with klonopin mat side whom was fibromyalgia message board ultram olph carry impetuous logic where can i buy viagra uk small call years old nicotrol inhaler price sore embarrassm are creatures round blue lortabs steal from drank deeply nabumetone cyclobenzaprine bloodshot eyes urn continued mother would denavir online pharmacy carrying the arrow seriously nardil manufacturer answer this and sealed lamictal vs keppra floating monster ature were prednisone versus dexamethasone cats are being door and celexa risperdal management siege has deal was pms sarafem colored sugar was haul pcp phencyclidine clumsy snake given rooms tenuate sleep burst into grid guarding dovonex calcipotriene ershooting the hey stood risedronate hypertension been petite the neatest can you use metrogel while pregnant weave around big eyes cheap discount levitra dark eyes nscrutable.
I agree scott these lights are awesome, great to pair two of them with the more powerfull rx600’s…..
I am trying to get into wedding photography. What would you recommend the Bxri 500s oor the D2 or D4 lights. I hate to buy something marginal for starters and then have to upgrade. I have been second shooter for a wedding but all I have so far is a SB-800 with a Fong Cloudy Lightsphere.
Hey Scott,
I am setting up my first studio but want something to take on location as well. What do you think about Interfit Stellars, Impact VSD or Calumet Genesis 400’s. I follow D-town everyweek. If you need another assistant I’m ready. Jeff
This is a great idea. wonderful
Hi Scott,
Those look just what I am looking for, can I use external power for on location based shooting?
Andrew
Thanks Scott! Nice review… I decided to buy one… can’t wait for it to arrive tomorrow!
Hi Scott,
Thanks so much for the review. Just purchased the kit and I must say I’m stunned at the quality for the price and I love the wireless out of the box. One big pro for me is the weight (or lack of) as it is so much easier than the equipment I’m used to which is crazy heavy and gets super hot!
Loving my new kit!
Sam
Scott,
You mentioned that you like you using a larger source soft box with the BXRI-500 ’s. The 25″ x 25″ kit boxes are not really going to work for me. Does Elinchrom make a “Chimera style” larger box, say around 2.5′ by 3′ and will it work on these strobes? Do I need to buy any other speed rings etc. to make this happen?
Thanks so much.
Tom
I think you have sold me on this kit, but you have also sold me on the advantage of using a beauty light. Will the BxRi 500s support a beauty light from Elinchrom. I can not any information about the accessory.
Thanks,
Ashton
Thanks for recommending the ElinchromBRXI 500…great system. You mentioned that it was a bit of a hassle to put together the soft box which is true….I ended up cutting the tubes by 1/4 of a centimeter and now it takes me less than a minute to assemble each soft box. Hope this helps your readers.
Thank you for a great review. Question – Elinchrom 500 Ri flash duration is rated at 1/1558 and Aleen Bees 800 at 1/3200 (at full power) and 1/1650 (at 1/32 power). Are Alien Bees 800 actually faster than Elinchrom 500 Ri?
hi scott, thanks for the review.
Q: Would you know if this would work with a Vagabond II power supply for locatiion shoot? Thanks!