Best battery rig for the money

[ric_bower1]

I am looking to part with a considerable sum for a battery powered setup. I

will be using it commercially for editorial, portraiture and fashion.

My short list runs to:

 

Profoto, the Acute B series plus ring flash (light but very expensive)

Bowens Travel pack 500's (cheaper by far but no ring flash possibility and big

and heavy)

Elinchrom Ranger series (I am wondering if this is the happy medium)

 

Any thoughts born of experience appreciated.

 

The other thing does anyone know of a cheap but RELIABLE alternative to Pocket

Wizards (e bay cheapies have let me down one to many times!)

 

Thanks in advance

[mikeseb]

Think about Lumedyne as well.

 

Anything other than PW is going to be penny wise and dollar foolish IMO. You're a

commercial shooter; you don't have time to dick around with unreliable gear.

[phoneguy]

Why spend a considerable sum of money on lighting, and get cheap triggers. Go with the

PW's, you wont regret it. I just sold and ST-E2 to add to my PW's, because it didn't serve the

purpose outdoors.

[josh_ross1]

The elinchrome skyport system is a viable alternative to the pocketwizards. It's half the price but has less range and, at least currently, does not support remote triggering. It is every bit as reliable.

[ric_bower1]

thanks- I am attracted by the idea of being able to control the Rangers from the Skyport on camera- save on my assisstant budget- only joking- but it would be seriously convenient when the gear is over a 100yard area on an outdoor shoot.-- does anyone have experience of this. I have been put off Lumindyne because they look like they have been cobbled together in someones shed (just what i am trying to get away from).

[peter_tannenbaum]

i use the elinchrom ranger with pocket wizards and have been thrilled with the results.

definitely a good purchase in my opinion. if you are not already invested in a lighting system

I would seriously consider the profotos. i had the pleasure of using some the other day and

I was blown away by their performance. they color temperture was spot on across the board

at all power levels. they feel sturdy and the packs were easy to use. one thing to consider

the ranger has almost twice the power of the acute b series.

 

hope that helps.

[conraderb]

oh yeah, canon's wireless system is good outdoors only for short distances. anything over 30 feet is really pushing it.

 

as for alternatives to PWs, I have used quantum radio slaves with no problems at all...