Thank you Frank for making this video. This will be my next kit. I've grown tired of ND filters and/or not being able to shoot wide open. This is great! Thanks again.
I've had the Elb400 and hs skyport for about three months now and I absolutely love it. Its so simple to use, the flash recycles quick and the battery lasts (although have bought a second one). Downside is that it is expensive but you are a getting a quality set up that is very user friendly which is essential to me.
Hi, Frank. My Quadra RX (Asymmetric) doesn't shoot HSS, although it's supposed to have it. I use an older standard Skyport on My Fuji X -T2. Tried with either port on the pack (A and B) - same story. With either head (I have 2 A-heads) - idem. Since the Skyport has a single hotshoe contact point, it should work equally well on any system. It triggers fine (no worse than it did in combination with my now sold Sony A7r or the Canon 5D Mark II prior to that - unfortunately I never shot at above 1/250 with those). Have you a suggestion? Thanks, mate. 😊
They do work but you will have to fine tune the ODS very carefully. As explained in the videos however the faster heads do have less performance than the slower ones.
The Elinchrom Hi-Sync technology can be used for exposing the ambient light level to achieve blue skys when shooting weddings and daytime events in the Tropics as the sun is usually very harsh. Photographers in these geographical regions have no option but to shoot under this high contrast, undesired lighting condition with a 1/250 shutter speed which limits their ability to control the ambient light exposure, resulting in blown out skys. Elinchrom Hi-Sync has the potential to truely give daytime events photographers creative exposure control and consequently, greatly increase the brand's market share. To achieve this goal, an automatic flash exposure function must be introduced. It will be in Elinchrom's interest to please the market by adding TTL flash exposure to the ELB 400 and EL-Skyport HS before the end of 1st quarter 2016. In the world today, technology can only be considered to be a "game changer" when it has gained considerable market share. Its 'offered benefits' must have a desirable impact which influences photographers to invest.
Yes, this is a real game changer, indeed! The best thing is, that I can stil use my old lights (RX 4), which I use outdoor with a mobile power station (Godox lp800x), often in combination with neutral densitiy filters. Works perfect with the Skyport HS. So, no need to buy new lights (well, I will purchase the ELB 400 with HS Head anyway in the future). With this new Skyport HS it's not neccessary anymore to use neutral densitiy filters, and that's an huge advantage. In my opinion the new Skyport HS has at least 3 reasons for beeing a strong-buy: 1. HS functionality 2. LCD with power control 3. works with standard AA batteries (I really hate those button cell batteries...) I own the Skyport HS for 1 week now, and frankly I feel like a kid having its first carrera go track.... :)
Ik krijg de hi sync niet eens aan de praat. mijn sluitertijd blijft automatisch begrenst op 250... ik heb de skyport op speed staan en de HS kop aangesloten. en de bracketing flits staat op auto fp. werk alleen wel met nikon.
Hi Frank! Can i overpower the sun using this with high shutter speed as well as getting maximum power output say f/11 at 20 ft? If not can you suggest me something (elnchrom gear) for my situation. I use canon 5d mark iii and for a particular fashion situation i want my model when placed from light almost 20ft , be 4 stops brighter then the ambient light, ofcourse sun in our case! :) Thanks in advance !
Full power is never possible with any HS or HSS system the higher the shutterspeed the more the strobe is cut so the output (on camera) will diminish. However you can fight the sun easily. Use the maxi light and you're in a situation where it's pretty easy.
Thanks for getting back to me :) So, please can you tellme what can be the best setting to achieve maximum output with highest shutter speed in my situation? *best option light head* other then quadra hs?
+Frank Doorhof Is S-Head the same as Pro Head? I know the Action Head is not the best for Hi-sync but the only other heads I know they are offering are the Pro Heads and HS Heads.
I thoroughly regret having shelled ca. €2500 (more, I believe) on Elinchrom crap. 5 years ago Elinchrom touted the Ranger Quadra RX as some sort of a speed miracle. Turns out, its "High Speed" mode syncs at 1/250sec max. (compared to 1/200sec "normal mode")! Really??? My grandma spins faster in her grave than that! Totally useless for freezing any movement, including a snail's crawl. Then there's the issue with the brackets made of disposable cheap plastic cup material. Broke two without trying (I'm almost more gentle with My equipment than I've been with My women - and a gentleman I am I assure you, no man is gentler to a woman). About an hour ago My second Skyport "Speed" ("speed" My arse!) kicked the bucket (the first one had a couple of months earlier). They should have called it "El Skyport Crawl". They're as reliable as rocket launchers in ISIS "warriors"' clutches (Wuallahu akhbar, piss be upon 'm!). Had I the money, I would go for Broncolor or Briese with the hasty gusto of a muslim hellbent on raping European women. Unfortunately, right now I do not even know how I am going to pay My €5000,- MacBook Pro upgrade (which in Æmæricæ costs a good €1300 less - nice job, Apple (go f•ck yourself, Tom Cook! The addlebrained anorexic self-hating scrawny bum squanders millions a year on his "#Diversity & #Inclusion" propaganda, to quench his petty social justice hunger with his unasked-for political correctness, yet demands one-third as much for the flagship items here in Europe than in the United States of Hunt'ng & Fish'n inbred gun & bow and arrow - toting vermin)… let alone a bloody set of lights. Sorry, Frank, these corporate fucks with their gimmicky updates, their pompous marketing swindlery and propaganda piss Me off - this goes for Elinchrom AND Apple (although comparing Elinchrom to Apple is an insult to #Apple). I'd say, Apple's equivalent in studio lighting is BronColor and Briese, not Elinchrom. Elinchrom is the #OLPC of the photography lighting world (yes, stands for One Laptop per child -looks and is made to Elinchrom design and reliability standards). I imagine, Godox is vastly better than Elinchrom. Will give a couple of Godox AD600 a try next, after selling this "Designed in Switzerland" by some trigger-happy alpine hick with heads of murdered deer on his cabin walls and made in India crap.
+Unum sed Leonem ummmmm bad day? If your dealer Would have given you the right information you would have known that the speed is mostly used for leaf shutter lenses which I can confirm works like a charm. Personally I never broke an Elinchrom mount. But I believe you. I would appreciate a bit more civil expressions btw. We try to keep this channel friendly ;)
Of course, I'd known about the leaf shutter advantages in flash photography looong before My acquisition of the Quadra. Elinchrom never mentioned that when marketing the Quadra as the cheetah and the falcon of all strobes out there a few years back. Turns out, it's the banana #slug of the lighting world. Now they price their relatively proper semi-portable lights (ELB1200) at a jaw-dropping €3500 (that's for a single-head system without modifiers - it doesn't come with a wheeled carry case, but with a granny chest instead)! The first portable Elinchrom pack that doesn't disintegrate as soon as you push a button or lift the pack. Compliments on that - it's just a shame they sold idiots like Me and you lemons (I actually don;t think you're an idiot - I'm sure they had to sponsored you, else you'd be at least half as critical and disenchanted as I am) for so many years before resorting to imitating others a tad better (meaning, matching their equipment quality to the competitors' lower-range equipment, as opposed to the totally subpar trash made in some cheap Tupperware factory in Uttar Pradesh). The question is, which fool is going to spend €4000+ on an Elinchrom pack with 3 heads when for a smidgen over €5000 one can instead procure a fine Broncolor system with 2 heads (either pack and head, or 2 800w monolights with extras in a nice wheeled backpack)? Anyway, will call the swindlers at Elinchrom tomorrow to see if their newer triggers last longer than a month or two - and whether they do work with the junk I have? I'm sure, they'll lie alright to see to Me buying junk from them again every couple of months. Your reply wasn't particularly helpful, but thanks for the input anyway, Frank. Good to hear back from you.
+Unum sed Leonem don't know why you're so angry even before asking your dealer. I'm not friendly towards Elinchrom or any other company. I'm always saying exactly what I think or feel and if a company doesn't like that they have to change my opinion by better products. At the moment I feel Elinchrom is a bit at a stand still although I like the concept of the new ranger it's out of my price range (no I don't get it for free). My response was actually on the money I think. Your dealer should have told you that the skyport speed is not for "normal" cameras but for leaf shutter ones. If you know how a camera works you should have knows NO system without HSS or HS can break the x-sync speed. It's not the fault of the strobe but from the camera. The black bar you see is the second shutter curtain. So if you thought a simple remote could fix that the fault is not really to be blamed on Elinchrom but first of all on your dealer for not telling you. Not everyone knows the technical part of cameras so the dealer has a task there. Pricing wise I think Elinchrom is about right. Although I would love to see more progress at the moment it's still my favorite brand
Frank Doorhof Thank you, Frank. My mistake. Should have known that Elinchrom's "Speed" does not denote "HSS" / "HS", though wouldn't leaf shutters sync with any strobe fairly fast, regardless of the designation "Speed", "HSS" or nothing all? Since I can't afford a Hasselblad yet, I'll have to resort to buying a point-and-shoot one instead... if I decide to keep the Elinchrom (not to mention new triggers every so long). Have you shot with Rotolight (Anova Pro or Aeos)? Those are interesting options (save for their inability to overpower the sun and the limited range of compatible adapters)? Mark Mann has beautiful celebrity portraits taken with Rotolight Anova Pros.
+Unum sed Leonem I'm using phottix and soon maybe testing another brand. I think the term speed can be confusing that's why I think dealers should be trained to tell this. It saves a lot of trouble.
Thank you Frank for making this video. This will be my next kit. I've grown tired of ND filters and/or not being able to shoot wide open. This is great! Thanks again.
More than welcome
I've had the Elb400 and hs skyport for about three months now and I absolutely love it. Its so simple to use, the flash recycles quick and the battery lasts (although have bought a second one). Downside is that it is expensive but you are a getting a quality set up that is very user friendly which is essential to me.
One important feature of this trigger is that it enables shooting on 2nd curtain sync mode which was also not possible with Elinchrom flashes.
Good demonstration of HSS with real examples.
Many thanks - very helpful 😊
You're welcome
Hi, Frank.
My Quadra RX (Asymmetric) doesn't shoot HSS, although it's supposed to have it.
I use an older standard Skyport on My Fuji X -T2. Tried with either port on the pack (A and B) - same story. With either head (I have 2 A-heads) - idem.
Since the Skyport has a single hotshoe contact point, it should work equally well on any system. It triggers fine (no worse than it did in combination with my now sold Sony A7r or the Canon 5D Mark II prior to that - unfortunately I never shot at above 1/250 with those).
Have you a suggestion?
Thanks, mate. 😊
thank u so much frank....great video. will this elinchrom hs work with the fujifilm camera as well?
thanks.
I believe only canon, Nikon and sony
Great video Frank. What ODS setting do you find works best with your Canon? Thanks!
Im still with sony ;) I tested it however with canon. It varied to be honest a bit per strobe.
I just got the skyport PLUS HS canon version. Ranger RX Quadra A heads does not work on Hi-Sync.
They do work but you will have to fine tune the ODS very carefully. As explained in the videos however the faster heads do have less performance than the slower ones.
The Elinchrom Hi-Sync technology can be used for exposing the ambient light level to achieve blue skys when shooting weddings and daytime events in the Tropics as the sun is usually very harsh.
Photographers in these geographical regions have no option but to shoot under this high contrast, undesired lighting condition with a 1/250 shutter speed which limits their ability to control the ambient light exposure, resulting in blown out skys.
Elinchrom Hi-Sync has the potential to truely give daytime events photographers creative exposure control and consequently, greatly increase the brand's market share.
To achieve this goal, an automatic flash exposure function must be introduced.
It will be in Elinchrom's interest to please the market by adding TTL flash exposure to the ELB 400 and EL-Skyport HS before the end of 1st quarter 2016.
In the world today, technology can only be considered to be a "game changer" when it has gained considerable market share. Its 'offered benefits' must have a desirable impact which influences photographers to invest.
Yes, this is a real game changer, indeed! The best thing is, that I can stil use my old lights (RX 4), which I use outdoor with a mobile power station (Godox lp800x), often in combination with neutral densitiy filters. Works perfect with the Skyport HS. So, no need to buy new lights (well, I will purchase the ELB 400 with HS Head anyway in the future). With this new Skyport HS it's not neccessary anymore to use neutral densitiy filters, and that's an huge advantage.
In my opinion the new Skyport HS has at least 3 reasons for beeing a strong-buy:
1. HS functionality
2. LCD with power control
3. works with standard AA batteries (I really hate those button cell batteries...)
I own the Skyport HS for 1 week now, and frankly I feel like a kid having its first carrera go track.... :)
+Giuseppe Buso :D
Frank, did you try various ODS settings to optimize your flash coverage? If so, what do you use for your Canon camera?
Yes. It will vary per camera and strobe head actually.
Will this work to shoot Hi-sync with the BRX 500 also?
Yes. But results vary per strobe
But how to know what power to set the flash on?
More or less just start somewhere and histogram it?
In This case Above app 1/200 Yes. It cuts power the more you go up so its eyeballing it.
Ik krijg de hi sync niet eens aan de praat. mijn sluitertijd blijft automatisch begrenst op 250... ik heb de skyport op speed staan en de HS kop aangesloten. en de bracketing flits staat op auto fp. werk alleen wel met nikon.
Hi Frank!
Can i overpower the sun using this with high shutter speed as well as getting maximum power output say f/11 at 20 ft?
If not can you suggest me something (elnchrom gear) for my situation.
I use canon 5d mark iii and for a particular fashion situation i want my model when placed from light almost 20ft , be 4 stops brighter then the ambient light, ofcourse sun in our case! :)
Thanks in advance !
Full power is never possible with any HS or HSS system the higher the shutterspeed the more the strobe is cut so the output (on camera) will diminish.
However you can fight the sun easily. Use the maxi light and you're in a situation where it's pretty easy.
Thanks for getting back to me :)
So, please can you tellme what can be the best setting to achieve maximum output with highest shutter speed in my situation?
*best option light head* other then quadra hs?
+Ricky Tomar don't know what you mean. I only have experience with small flash and Elinchrom no other brands.
I meant elinchrom only.
but thanks :)
Hoeveel flitsgroepen kan je tegelijkertijd gebruiken met de Hi-sync functie?
Zelfde als normaal
Which head were used? HS head or pro head?
+Chang Frank HS heads, but it also works with the S-heads, but you loose more light.
+Frank Doorhof Is S-Head the same as Pro Head? I know the Action Head is not the best for Hi-sync but the only other heads I know they are offering are the Pro Heads and HS Heads.
+Felipe Buccianti s head is similar indeed
Whats the light diffusior ?
Maxilight
Weer op Canon overgestapt???
+Matthijs Oudshoorn zeker niet :D maar moest wel even voor deze test aangezien de Sony versie later komt
Oké vandaar. :)
What about over powering the sun, this shoot was on an overcast day...
Without a doubt. But you need the sun for that ;)
;)
I thoroughly regret having shelled ca. €2500 (more, I believe) on Elinchrom crap. 5 years ago Elinchrom touted the Ranger Quadra RX as some sort of a speed miracle. Turns out, its "High Speed" mode syncs at 1/250sec max. (compared to 1/200sec "normal mode")! Really??? My grandma spins faster in her grave than that! Totally useless for freezing any movement, including a snail's crawl.
Then there's the issue with the brackets made of disposable cheap plastic cup material. Broke two without trying (I'm almost more gentle with My equipment than I've been with My women - and a gentleman I am I assure you, no man is gentler to a woman).
About an hour ago My second Skyport "Speed" ("speed" My arse!) kicked the bucket (the first one had a couple of months earlier). They should have called it "El Skyport Crawl". They're as reliable as rocket launchers in ISIS "warriors"' clutches (Wuallahu akhbar, piss be upon 'm!).
Had I the money, I would go for Broncolor or Briese with the hasty gusto of a muslim hellbent on raping European women. Unfortunately, right now I do not even know how I am going to pay My €5000,- MacBook Pro upgrade (which in Æmæricæ costs a good €1300 less - nice job, Apple (go f•ck yourself, Tom Cook! The addlebrained anorexic self-hating scrawny bum squanders millions a year on his "#Diversity & #Inclusion" propaganda, to quench his petty social justice hunger with his unasked-for political correctness, yet demands one-third as much for the flagship items here in Europe than in the United States of Hunt'ng & Fish'n inbred gun & bow and arrow - toting vermin)… let alone a bloody set of lights.
Sorry, Frank, these corporate fucks with their gimmicky updates, their pompous marketing swindlery and propaganda piss Me off - this goes for Elinchrom AND Apple (although comparing Elinchrom to Apple is an insult to #Apple). I'd say, Apple's equivalent in studio lighting is BronColor and Briese, not Elinchrom. Elinchrom is the #OLPC of the photography lighting world (yes, stands for One Laptop per child -looks and is made to Elinchrom design and reliability standards). I imagine, Godox is vastly better than Elinchrom. Will give a couple of Godox AD600 a try next, after selling this "Designed in Switzerland" by some trigger-happy alpine hick with heads of murdered deer on his cabin walls and made in India crap.
+Unum sed Leonem ummmmm bad day?
If your dealer Would have given you the right information you would have known that the speed is mostly used for leaf shutter lenses which I can confirm works like a charm.
Personally I never broke an Elinchrom mount. But I believe you.
I would appreciate a bit more civil expressions btw. We try to keep this channel friendly ;)
Of course, I'd known about the leaf shutter advantages in flash photography looong before My acquisition of the Quadra. Elinchrom never mentioned that when marketing the Quadra as the cheetah and the falcon of all strobes out there a few years back. Turns out, it's the banana #slug of the lighting world.
Now they price their relatively proper semi-portable lights (ELB1200) at a jaw-dropping €3500 (that's for a single-head system without modifiers - it doesn't come with a wheeled carry case, but with a granny chest instead)! The first portable Elinchrom pack that doesn't disintegrate as soon as you push a button or lift the pack. Compliments on that - it's just a shame they sold idiots like Me and you lemons (I actually don;t think you're an idiot - I'm sure they had to sponsored you, else you'd be at least half as critical and disenchanted as I am) for so many years before resorting to imitating others a tad better (meaning, matching their equipment quality to the competitors' lower-range equipment, as opposed to the totally subpar trash made in some cheap Tupperware factory in Uttar Pradesh). The question is, which fool is going to spend €4000+ on an Elinchrom pack with 3 heads when for a smidgen over €5000 one can instead procure a fine Broncolor system with 2 heads (either pack and head, or 2 800w monolights with extras in a nice wheeled backpack)?
Anyway, will call the swindlers at Elinchrom tomorrow to see if their newer triggers last longer than a month or two - and whether they do work with the junk I have? I'm sure, they'll lie alright to see to Me buying junk from them again every couple of months.
Your reply wasn't particularly helpful, but thanks for the input anyway, Frank. Good to hear back from you.
+Unum sed Leonem don't know why you're so angry even before asking your dealer. I'm not friendly towards Elinchrom or any other company. I'm always saying exactly what I think or feel and if a company doesn't like that they have to change my opinion by better products.
At the moment I feel Elinchrom is a bit at a stand still although I like the concept of the new ranger it's out of my price range (no I don't get it for free).
My response was actually on the money I think. Your dealer should have told you that the skyport speed is not for "normal" cameras but for leaf shutter ones.
If you know how a camera works you should have knows NO system without HSS or HS can break the x-sync speed. It's not the fault of the strobe but from the camera. The black bar you see is the second shutter curtain. So if you thought a simple remote could fix that the fault is not really to be blamed on Elinchrom but first of all on your dealer for not telling you. Not everyone knows the technical part of cameras so the dealer has a task there.
Pricing wise I think Elinchrom is about right. Although I would love to see more progress at the moment it's still my favorite brand
Frank Doorhof Thank you, Frank. My mistake. Should have known that Elinchrom's "Speed" does not denote "HSS" / "HS", though wouldn't leaf shutters sync with any strobe fairly fast, regardless of the designation "Speed", "HSS" or nothing all?
Since I can't afford a Hasselblad yet, I'll have to resort to buying a point-and-shoot one instead... if I decide to keep the Elinchrom (not to mention new triggers every so long).
Have you shot with Rotolight (Anova Pro or Aeos)? Those are interesting options (save for their inability to overpower the sun and the limited range of compatible adapters)? Mark Mann has beautiful celebrity portraits taken with Rotolight Anova Pros.
+Unum sed Leonem I'm using phottix and soon maybe testing another brand.
I think the term speed can be confusing that's why I think dealers should be trained to tell this. It saves a lot of trouble.