Calumet & Elinchrom

[Designs by Gregus]

Is Elinchrom BX400 better than Calumet 500 mono lights? I can buy the Elinchrom for around $1198.00 and the Calumet two light kit for $999.99. I read the quality of light from Elinchrom might be better. Does anybody have experience with these lights?

[Designs by Gregus]

I see no one cares. Well I went 150 miles to Calumet in Chicago Tuesday and bought the Two light set of Calumet Travelite 750 lights. I got them for $999.99 and they marked them wrong on the web site. They are supposed to be $1099.99 a hundred bucks more. These are a deal at that pierce. The stands are great, the Umbrellas are some of the best I have used and the Travelites are great also. I plan on getting the battery that goes with them.

[Mark Swindler]

James- I just now noticed your post. I haven't used Elinchrom, but I do have 3 travellights that I use all the time. I have Calumet Elite 2400 lights for the studio, but I use Travelights for all my location work. I just finished 2 dance studios, individuals and groups, and with 2 set-ups, we shot 1500-1600 images. The Travelights work flawlessly! I use them with umbrellas, but also sometime use the softboxes from the studio, and I like the light quality better. Also, the Travelights are almost exactly daylight balanced, and a gray card will make it exactly correct.
Hope this helps!

Mark S.

[Jason_Hoss]

I'll second the calumet travelights. I have six three head kits (2x750, 1x350) and love them. They are not without there flaws though. Sometimes exposure varies....thats the down fall of a rheostat. If it were a digital head then it would be more consistent. Either way, it cannot be beat for the $$$. The stands and umbrellas are top notch though the cases don't last long.

[Designs by Gregus]

Thanks Mark and Jason for the info. I have the two 750 kit. Jason what case are you using now? I like the Calumet case with the wheels on it. You say it does not last long so I was wondering what case you use. Where is Jackson, Wi?

[Jason_Hoss]

James,

Have not yet found an affordable replacement for the Calumet cases. Though in the meantime, I've repaired the cases as best I can.

Jackson is located just south of West Bend on Hwy 45 or North of Milwaukee by 20 miles.

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[Mark Swindler]

I agree, the cases that come with the lights are junk, besides having to carry them around. I bought a Tamrac rolling case, and it's big enough for 2 750's, 1-375 w/gridspot, 3 lightstands, umbrellas, cords, gaffertape, ect. I've carried this set-up all over West Texas for 7-8 years, and it works great.

Jason- I've also noticed a slight variance in exposure. I am in the middle of processing images for 2 dance studios, and I'm having to tweak some of the exposures. Maybe I should invest in a set of digital Travelights. I'd do it in a heartbeat if the consistency was there!

Mark S.

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