|
Points to Consider when Purchasing Flash Equipment
We are noticing more and more a tendency for photographers to underplay the importance of lighting and choosing to purchase the smallest and cheapest set of lights they can find (often after spending way too much on a top-of-the-range digital camera). One fact to remember is that photography is primarily about light (those of you doing photography courses will probably have this fact drummed into you constantly). Another point to consider is that, unlike your “supa-dupa” digital camera that will be out of date soon after you have unpacked it out of its box, lights should last you a good few years (during which time you will most likely have upgraded your “pixel box” a few times).
Our recommendation is that you invest sufficiently in a lighting system that can grow with your needs into the future. We are fortunate that these days you don’t necessarily have to buy an expensive European brand to get good consistent lights. Some manufacturers from the East are now producing reliable flash equipment with a comprehensive range of light shapers and accessories that are good value.
The following are some points we recommend you consider when buying flash equipment:
- Buy a little more power that you think you need now. The time will soon come when you get a job that requires more power than your equipment can handle (a 2-head 600w kit costs only approximately 30% more than the equivalent 300w kit).
- Buy fan-cooled lights. With digital one tends to shoot more and fast. Non fan-cooled lights are not designed for heavy usage.
- Power control – How many f-stops can you adjust the power by, and is it adjustable in small steps?
- The range of light shapers available such as soft boxes, snoots, beauty dishes and other accessories (most brands have their own connector fitting which is not compatible with other brands of lights). Prices of these accessories also vary greatly between the various brands.
- Consider investing in a wireless trigger (infra red or radio) so as to have freedom of movement in the studio – who wants to be tripping over sync cables?!
The above are probably the main points to consider. Other features to look out for are the modelling lights (if only of fixed output, or also proportional to the selected power) and whether they have a built in sensor (pretty much every flash head today has these).
Visico VL- 400 Plus Single Head
 VL Plus Head
Visico VL-400 Head
- Power output: 400WS GN 70 (2m, ISO 100, SF-610 reflector)
- Output range: Full to 1/32 (60 settings in 1/10th of a stop)
- Plug-in flash tube (user replaceable)
- Recycling time: 0.6s – 2.0s (0.8s – 2.3s for the 400 Head)
- Built in slave sensor (pre-flash compatible)
- Each head has a built-in 2.4GHz 16 channel radio trigger receiver
- Takes Bowens S-type accessories
- Overheating protection/warning
- 2 Year warranty (home/hobby use)
- Price including standard reflector and sync cable: Please call
Visico VL-300 Plus 2 Kit
 VL-300 Plus 2 Kit
Visico VL-300 PLUS 2-Head SB/UB kit
- Light weight, Compact & easy to operate
- Clear digital power level display
- Power output: 300WS GN 60 (2m, ISO 100, SF-610 reflector)
- Output range: Full to 1/32 (60 settings in 1/10th of a stop)
- Plug-in flash tube (user replaceable)
- Recycling time: 0.6s – 2.0s
- Built in slave sensor (pre-flash compatible)
- Each head has a built-in 2.4GHz 16 channel radio trigger receiver
- Takes Bowens S-type accessories
- Overheating protection/warning
- 2 Year warranty
Kit includes:
2 x VL-300 PLUS Flash heads with 1 reflector
1 x SB-030 soft box 50cm x 70cm
1 x 80cm Umbrella
2 x Light stands LS-8003
2 x Sync leads
2 x Power leads (with fitted SA 16A plug)
1 x 2.4GHz 16 channel radio trigger transmitter
1 x Kit Bag
Please call
Visico VE-300 Flash Kit
 Visico VE-300 2x 300w Kit
Visico VE-300 PLUS 2 Head Studio Flash Kit
- Each head has a built-in 2.4GHz 16 channel radio trigger receiver
- Power output: 300WS GN 60 (2m, ISO 100)
- Output range: Full to 1/32 stepless
- 0.3~1.3 sec Recycling time
- Plug-in flash tube and cooling fan
- Low 4.5V trigger voltage
- Built in slave sensor
- Overvoltage/overheating protection
- 2 Year warranty
Kit includes:
2 x VE-300 PLUS Flash heads with reflectors
2 x Air cushioned light stands
2 x 80cm Umbrellas
1 x 2.4GHz 16 channel radio trigger transmitter
1 x Kit Bag
Price (for existing stock) – R8990 (Sold Out)
Other kits also available. For a video demo of the VE-300 head click here.
Visico VC-300 HH Plus 2 Head Soft Box Kit
 VC-300 Plus 2 Soft Box Kit
Visico VC-300 HH Plus 2 Head Soft Box Flash Kit
- Each head has a built-in 2.4GHz 16 channel radio trigger receiver
- Professional studio flash kit
- Power output: 300WS (GN 60 – 2m, ISO 100)
- Output range: Full to 1/32 step less
- 0.9 sec Recycling time at full power (220V)
- Plug-in flash tube and cooling fan
- Low 5V trigger voltage
- Built-in slave sensor (Pre-flash compatible)
- Auto power dump
- Overvoltage/overheating protection
- 2 Year warranty
Kit includes:
2 x VC-300 Plus flash heads
2 x Air cushioned light stands
2 x 60cm x 90cm soft boxes
1 x 2.4GHz 16 channel radio trigger transmitter
1 x Kit bag
Price: R10990 (Sold Out)
Visico VE-400 Plus2 Soft Box Kit
 VE-400 Soft Box Kit
- Each head has a built-in 2.4GHz 16 channel radio trigger receiver
- Power output: 400WS GN 70 (2m, ISO 100)
- Output range: Full to 1/32 step-less
- 0.3~1.5 sec Recycling time
- Plug-in flash tube and cooling fan
- Low 4.5V trigger voltage
- Built in slave sensor
- Over-voltage/overheating protection
- 2 Year warranty
Kit includes:
2 x VE-400 Plus flash heads
2 x Air cushioned light stands
2 x 60cm x 90cm soft boxes
1 x 2.4GHz 16 channel radio trigger transmitter
1 x Kit bag
Price: R9990 (Sold Out)
Visico VL-400 Battery / Mains Flash
 Visico VL-400 Battery/Mains Flash Kit
Visico VL-400PLUS AC/DC Studio Flash
- Portable AC/DC dual duty flash with power pack
- Perfect for location work like weddings, portrait, fashion etc.
- Light and compact
- Flash head features 2 sockets: 1 for mains & 1 for battery pack
- Power output: 400WS GN 73 (2m, ISO 100)
- Output range: Full to 1/32 step-less (60 settings in 1/10th of a stop)
- Clear digital power level display
- Recycling time on mains: 0.8s – 2.3s
- Recycling time on battery: 1.3s – 3.5s
- Battery charging time of 4hrs
- 250 – 350 full power flashes per battery charge
Kit includes:
1 x VL-400PLUS AC/DC Flash head with reflector
1 x Mains power cable
1 x Battery pack with carry bag
1 x Battery pack to flash connecting cable
1 x Mains charger for battery
1 x Car cigarette lighter cord (for charging battery)
1 x Sync lead
NOTE: Stand in image not included
Price: R7990 (Sold Out)
Visico 5 TTL HSS Lithium Battery Mono-Head Flash
 Visico 5 TTL High Speed Battery Flash
Visico 5 TTL HSS Battery powered studio flash
- Ideal for location photography
- Built‐in replaceable Lithium battery
- Up to 500 flashes per charge
- Recycling time 0.1s – 2.8s
- 400Ws output power (GN 68)
- 8 f-stop output range: Full to 1/128
- Full TTL on Canon and Nikon with optional VC-818TX transmitter
- 1/8000s sync speed with VC-818TX transmitter, 1st curtain or 2nd curtain sync
- Stroboscopic flash mode up to 20 flashes at 30Hz
- Flash exposure compensation +3.0 to -3.0 in 1/3 steps (TTL mode)
- 13W energy saving LED modelling lamp
- 2.4GHz remote trigger system with 8 channels (3 groups each) and 30 wireless radio ID’s
- Weight with battery: 1.85Kg
- Price – Please Call
Soft Boxes
 Various Soft Boxes
Boxes available for Bowens, Visico, Jinbei and others:
Beauty Dishes for Bowens “S”
Beauty dishes available for Bowens , Jinbei, Visico & others – R1300. Honeycomb for beauty dish also available.
Profoto Lighting
Profoto Flash – For info on this superior flash system, go here
 Profoto Flash
Visico LED 100 (Constant) Light
- 100w LED Light
- Ideal for video and stills
- Variable power
- Constant 5500k throughout power range
- Light-shapers available: Beauty dish, snoot & various size soft boxes
- Price: Please call
 LED Light
“Strobist’s” Accessories
For “Strobists” we have a variety of accessories (stands, soft boxes, shoe mounts, umbrellas, triggers) to enable you to get the most out of your hot-shoe flashguns.
 Speedlight + Umbrella to Stand Adapter
Collapsible soft boxes for Speedlight flashguns. Folds up like a reflector and attaches onto standard lightstands. Available in 40x40cm and includes a bag with two front diffusers.
Cosmolight 3x 300w Tungsten Kit
Made in Italy
The Uniflood 650w (rated to 650w but fitted with 300w bulbs) is the latest creation in the Cosmolight portable range. These ultra compact lights are suitable for portable video and photographic purposes. These heads are focusable and include barn-doors and a metal grid and the kit consists of three heads, three compact Manfrotto Nano stands and a carry case. Please phone for current pricing.
E&OE.
Have a look at what else we have on promotion, here.
To visit our Facebook page click the logo:
If you are anywhere near Cape Town we would like to invite you to pay us a visit at our showroom in Observatory where you can view the various lighting options available to you. If you have any questions regarding any of the above items, please drop us a mail here.
|
