Buy gone bad Elinchrom

[Jockos]

Today I purchased a Elinchrom D-Lite RX 2 to go set, or at least I thought I did:

The seller was located in another city, and my girlfriend was going there to look at a car she wanted to buy (and did buy actually), so I asked her to pick the kit up as well. She headed over to the seller, and everything seemed fine. When she got home, she sent me a picture of one of the lashes, and it turned out to be the Elinchrom D-Lite it 2.

I emailed the seller, and he agreed to take the whole kit back or reduce the price (no word on how much yet).

Now I'm asking, is this kit worth keeping at all? AFAIK, the greatest difference is the build quality, it being crappier, and the it not being able to adjust power with the remote trigger (which sounds very handy).
I've never worked with studio flashes before, so I don't know how much the extras matter.
I'm not photographing professionally, nor do I have a studio, so currently there isn't much running involved to adjust power.

I was planning on using these with my large format cameras, my Leica M3 and my Sony a7 if that matters.


What do you guys think? It's a three hour trip there and back with the train to return them, or a ~$80 postage.

[BarryS]

I'd consider working out a deal with the seller as long as the lights are in good condition. Elinchrom makes high quality equipment and the extra features probably won't be a big deal. My flash gear is an assortment of solid basic equipment from Balcar, Norman, and Hensel--some of it semi-ancient. It doesn't get much easier than adjusting a couple monolights.

[Fred L]

I would love to work with lights that can be controlled remotely (Profoto, Einsteins etc.) Tired of running back and forth adjusting power levels....ymmv

[Steven Tribe]

My experiences with technology are that often the basic versions are less liable to faults in the long run. This is an important factor for the second, third etc. owner.

[HMG]

Since "I'm not photographing professionally, nor do I have a studio" I would think they won't get heavy, everyday use. But I'm always leery of companies coming out with lower-cost lines that are different than their main line (as opposed to simply removing features). It seems they often just outsource and put their name on another contract manufacturer's product and don't have a long term commitment to that product line.

I don't know if this is the case with the D-lite 2it, but worth checking out.

[Peter Lewin]

Out of curiosity I looked up the DLite It 2 on the B&H site, and it looked to me as if that model was discontinued, replaced with the RX. If that is the case, there isn't a quality difference, just a newer design. Elinochrom equipment was always right up there with Sinar's Broncolor lighting.

As for the remote power control, I suspect that is less useful than it appears: I always use an incident flash meter at the subject to determine settings, and when you are at the subject, you are usually close to your strobe heads, so it isn't a big deal to change the power settings on the mono lights. IOW, the remote capability is a nice-to-have but not a deal-breaker. (I've always used DynaLite power packs and strobes, or White Lightning mono heads, and never had the luxury of remote power setting, given how I meter, I'm still not sure how useful it would be.)

[Jockos]

Since "I'm not photographing professionally, nor do I have a studio" I would think they won't get heavy, everyday use. But I'm always leery of companies coming out with lower-cost lines that are different than their main line (as opposed to simply removing features). It seems they often just outsource and put their name on another contract manufacturer's product and don't have a long term commitment to that product line.

I don't know if this is the case with the D-lite 2it, but worth checking out.
These are made in India fwiw, main line in Switzerland.

[Jockos]

Out of curiosity I looked up the DLite It 2 on the B&H site, and it looked to me as if that model was discontinued, replaced with the RX. If that is the case, there isn't a quality difference, just a newer design. Elinochrom equipment was always right up there with Sinar's Broncolor lighting. From what i've read there is a built quality difference. The early series (it) were poorly built, and that was corrected in the RX series.


As for the remote power control, I suspect that is less useful than it appears: I always use an incident flash meter at the subject to determine settings, and when you are at the subject, you are usually close to your strobe heads, so it isn't a big deal to change the power settings on the mono lights. IOW, the remote capability is a nice-to-have but not a deal-breaker. (I've always used DynaLite power packs and strobes, or White Lightning mono heads, and never had the luxury of remote power setting, given how I meter, I'm still not sure how useful it would be.)I'm bostly concerned about tall lights, like if I'm lighting the models hair, it'd be difficult to reach. I'm only 1.75m :)

[Jockos]

My experiences with technology are that often the basic versions are less liable to faults in the long run. This is an important factor for the second, third etc. owner.My experience is that a button would break before a wireless interface would.

[Michael E]

I have four DLite 4 it units that I use professionally for six years now. They are not used hard (products rather than portraits) and not daily, but I have never had a problem with them. The build quality is good, the controls are nice and simple, the light output is consistent (color and intensity), even the accessories (bags/zippers, cords, stands, softboxes) hold up well. The best strobe system I have ever had (compared to my old Multiblitz and semi-old Hensel).

I do miss remote settings when the unit is set up very high or very low. I just memorize the buttons and use them blindly. My cell phone display also makes a convenient mirror to read the display.

If you get a good deal on the set, don't hesitate to take it. It is a very light and mobile set, easy to use and part of a vast system of strobes and accessories. If you have never had a strobe system, this is a good point to start.

Michael

[Jockos]

I have four DLite 4 it units that I use professionally for six years now. They are not used hard (products rather than portraits) and not daily, but I have never had a problem with them. The build quality is good, the controls are nice and simple, the light output is consistent (color and intensity), even the accessories (bags/zippers, cords, stands, softboxes) hold up well. The best strobe system I have ever had (compared to my old Multiblitz and semi-old Hensel).

I do miss remote settings when the unit is set up very high or very low. I just memorize the buttons and use them blindly. My cell phone display also makes a convenient mirror to read the display.

If you get a good deal on the set, don't hesitate to take it. It is a very light and mobile set, easy to use and part of a vast system of strobes and accessories. If you have never had a strobe system, this is a good point to start.

Michael
The guy got back to me a while ago and offered a very nice discount. I was thinking of maybe taking it, and if the remote situation gets to bothersome, the money saved could buy me a third monolight with full remote controls for those high positions!

[Michael E]

and if the remote situation gets to bothersome,

Generations of photographers have worked without a remote. But then again, people used to lock their car with a key and closed the trunk without electric help. Don't even get me started on those times when photographers advanced film with a little lever instead of a motor drive... :-)

[Jockos]

Generations of photographers have worked without a remote. But then again, people used to lock their car with a key and closed the trunk without electric help. Don't even get me started on those times when photographers advanced film with a little lever instead of a motor drive... :-)
Well, generations of photographers also had slave.. err.. assistants configuring their lights unpaid or for peanuts, so there's obviously some kind of boon not having to run around configuring strobes :)