A First Look at the new Elinchrom Ranger Quadra Battery-Powered Strobe System
Jul. 16
1:29 am
Last week Mark Astmann from Bogen Imaging came by our studios, and showed us one of the coolest, and most anticipated, new battery-powered strobe systems ever, and well…you’ve just gotta watch the video below to see what all the fuss is about (Note: this is the same kit that Joe McNally was using for his shot of the diver in the water last week at his workshop in St. Lucia).
UPDATE: I just learned that the first shipment of these is due to hit B&H photo any day now, and they’re acceptings orders right now. Here’s the link to the “S” head two-head kit I talked about on the video, but you can find all the Quadra gear there by searching for “Ranger Quadra.”
Oh god – this is like NSFW video. I can’t watch this with my wife or co-workers around.
LOL….It is, strobe porn!
Scott I like the advert but your grade school teacher must be turning in her grave, .55 of a pound is a half not a third.
Hi Warren:
I thought Mark said it was 5 ounces.—-a pound is 16 ounces, so wouldn’t five ounces be around 1/3 of a pound?).
However, you’re right. I’m sure my grade school teacher is very disappointed in me.
-Scott
Warren: SURELY Scott’s grade school teacher isn’t dead yet. He’s not THAT old.
Ummm, Yeah – that Kelby kid sure turned out poorly, too bad. He had potential, just never applied himself – always daydreaming in class…
Truly a shame…
Doug
(And I was thrilled with my recent 2nd SB-900 purchase – now I want a Quadra!)
I’ve also done a writeup on the ERQ, since I live in Germany, I’ve already taken delivery on mine. You can see the full review here:
http://mr-chompers.blogspot.com/2009/06/elinchromrangerquadra.html
And since they don’t offer a protective cap for transporting yet, I made my own: http://mr-chompers.blogspot.com/2009/06/littlepreview.html
Hello Scott,
I’ve had the Quadra for a month now, I live in the Netherlands, so Europe got it earlier than US. Must say I like the pack very much, it mixes very well with Rangers and Speedlites.
I found a – to me – perfect bag for a one head set up. I’ts the Think Tank Urban Diguise 40.
I just wanted to share this info. On my Flickr stream I posted some pictures if anyone is interested: http://www.flickr.com/photos/image-ex/sets/72157620899425649/
Regards, Erik
Where did you buy from for europe?
I bought from FotoFlits, just north of Amsterdam, they are the main distributer for the Netherlands, but i believe they also ship
to other countries.
Link: http://www.fotoflits.nl/index.html
Good luck, Erik
OK, you had me until the price! =)
Which is, for the two-head kit, the carrying case, reflector hoods, power unit and cables, and the secret decoder ring, $2200!
That’s almost as much as two SB900’s with some double A batteries. :>)
Thank you Scott for a great demo of a great product. I’m basically sold – I used a couple of Canon flashes so far and realized the many advantages a studio light has (especially if it’s part of such a solid and extensive line such as Elinchrom’s) and this is the first really portable solution.
I would go for the 2 head set, since 2 lights give much more flexibility than one, but I think of 2 issues:
a) you cannot independently control the output of the 2 heads, since the RX Transceiver is contained in the battery pack, not in the heads.
b) I will need to connect 2 or even 3 cables for the head that will be placed further away from the battery pack in order to effectively light a scene. This brings 2 inconvenients: safety issues (subjects tripping over) and power loss.
I would like to build a portable system based on the Ranger Quadra (3-4 lights in total), but I think this will lead me to having to buy a second set (a second battery), which raises the total cost too much.
Give me your thoughts on this if you find the time (as a long-time reader I know you have a continuously busy schedule), especially considering the flashes-vs-studio lights post you wrote a few months ago. The Quadra range seems to have the advantages of both solutions and they’re in the (nearly) same price range.
Thank you!
Where’s the video? I keep getting a “Video not found” error.
I was sold by the video Scott until I saw the price. This product is revolutionary, and maybe I can sell my speedlights to get this package. Its something I truly want, but unfortunately I am a poor student
!
It looks like a nice portable system, but I just dropped my money on the BX Ri 500 kit a few weeks ago. If only those came with that battery pack to become a bit more portable for locations.
Coolest thing of the day, however, that price tag does put it out of my range. I could upgrade my second body to a D300 and get a few more speedlights for that.
But, really really cool still.
Mark,
You’re my hero! Thanks for sharing this awesome strobe kit. I am saving my pennies to get one.
That would be 219,995 pennies there Brian.
A take on the old adage “just a dollar day will buy you this complete outfit” ….in only six years.
:>)
is a twin head planned? (that allows 800Ws …. good for outdour)
Scott your voices are cracking me up man. Long live Ernie T. Chicken!
Scott, sorry for being off topic, but I just happened to look at your ‘portfolio’ on scottkelby.com. It is WAY COOL. Great photos you have taken man! For me, what I’d like to know more about, is how the site is made. I like that everything (seems) pre-loaded so when you click on a photo it is very quicky, very snappy. Also the background music, the tone for when the mouse hovers over a new photo, the graphic and sound when transitioning to a new section of the portfolio–it is all really well done. Could you at some point shed light on how this was done?
Thanks,
Jason
Scott – thanks for the video – it was real cool and exciting to have something like that.
Can you add a feature to your web site from your digital photography book. Specifically the coin, bill and bag of money.
I really liked the product, but clicking on the B&H store page almost required a visit to my cardiologist or EMT coming to the house. Stamp this with a bag o’ money for warning.
Just jealous
I bought the 2 head system. All told the set with 2 EL Adaptors was €1800 inc VAT. I can claim the VAT back (sales tax would be a rough equivalent 21.5% here). It’s about twice the price of the BX400 2 head kit.
I’m already debating a second control pack for better control.
I’m delighted with it, even the bare reflector looks great. Using the EL Adaptors, I can use it with the large set of Elinchrom modifiers I own.
One other thing about these adaptors is that they allow me to use my smaller Elinchrom softboxes with Speedlights.
One final note is that I have a set of small speedlight softboxes from Photomart. These are identical to the Alzo models, which is turn resemble the Lastolite Ezybox (the smaller 15X15 model). The spring section where the bracket normally goes sits perfectly onto the Quadra reflector.
Here’s a sample with the bare head: http://www.flickr.com/photos/seanmcfoto/3670634662/
And with an 80cmX120cm softbox: http://www.flickr.com/photos/seanmcfoto/3671964897/in/set-186126/
This is great for lightweight power.
It’s not perfect, but I love it.
how do you fasten you speedlights with the el adapter?
Wow, are all Americans that large?
Oh that’s a generalization. There has however been some discussion on the web about this video being nothing but an infomercial – kickbacks and discounts from bogen for Scott?
Wow…this is a nasty little sub thread. Did you two get up on the wrong side of the bed today?
Now dont be rude.
I have the S head kit coming on Monday. I own a Ranger RX but I have a feeling that because of it’s size, the Quadra is going to be my go to kit.
is 400 watt enough to shoot straight in the sun and still light your subject?
PS. Ive seen product shots of the quadra, but seeing this video made me see for the first time how small these things are.
roger in a short an answer that is NO but it wasnt intended to that is Ranger country or if you have two battery pack you could just do it.
KarlB
Any chance that you can trigger these somehow with a Pocket Wizard FlexTT5/Mini set up?
Trigger yes, there is a socket for a std sync cable, control no.
Hi Scott, had my two head s kit a month now and it rocks also got the adaptor so any of my dishes etc work great, one note though as soon as you intro a softbox the power sometimes can be a little on the low side but with beauty or high performance reflector light output can increase by .5 stop. it is a great partner to my ranger gear as well as a really small light source for studio work, it gets a fair bit of use as a top/hair light with a 21cm grid.
for outdoor into sun work it will never do but it wasnt intended for that, this is where you will need the ranger and high performance reflector. some of the shots ive done can be seen on my blog http://www.ilifephotoblog.com
KarlB…
looking for a cell phone jammer; check out cellphone-jammerscom