To buy or not to buy?

[HaseebM]

Been a while since my last visit so hope you folks are keeping well.

For quite some time now, I have been thinking of getting myself an Elinchrom D-Lite RX 4 kit. Having used the FRX 400 at office, I quite like the set up and ease of use. However, for my home use, I don't have a dedicated room for a studio nor do I intend to do any commercial work, just as a hobby pass time.

I already have a 600 ex rt and white umbrella, stand and a cheap 100w strobe with soft box. The 100w was a complete let down and serves me well for buying for the sake of buying. Now performance wise, I am sure the D-Lite RX 4's will not let me down. This almost led me to the verge of placing the order but I keep stopping myself. Reasons?

1. Lack of space.
2. Hobby only.
3. If to use a Backdrop, I may have to utilize the hall which means moving furniture often, not to mention set up and tear down.

However, the idea of owning a quality kit is still appealing and I can't quite bring myself to accepting aforementioned reasons. Do you think it would be a good move on my part to invest in this for later? For later as the prices are pretty attractive at the moment, ( almost half that of what's available in U.K ) and I don't want to lose the chance. Any advice would be appreciated. Thank you!

[GrahamS]

Haseeb, I have a D-Lite 4 kit and, like you, very little space. I have no trouble assembling the kit with a portable backdrop support once some furniture has been moved aside. The quality of the light output is superb and the heads are very reliable and tough. However, I have some complaints: 1) The diameter of the shaft of the Elinchrom umbrellas is not "industry standard" and is one millimetre smaller. Therefore the umbrella mounting socket on the lamphead bracket will not accept standard umbrellas or light modifiers. To correct this, the new D-Lite 4 RX kits include what is described as a "stand bracket for larger umbrella shafts". I have not examined one of these brackets but you need to have a look at one and make sure that it is convenient to use and that it will support a large umbrella securely and not be a PITA. 2) The transport case is poorly made and doesn't last five minutes. The zippers detach from the case material easily. I would prefer a more rigid case. 3) A standard lamp-head reflector and honeycomb grid is essential and neither is supplied with the kit - you will have to purchase both separately. They do not fit inside the supplied transport case either, which has no room for any "extras".

As long as you are aware of the above, the Elinchrom equipment is made to the high standard one would expect of the Swiss.

[HaseebM]

Thank you Graham. I am glad to hear these can be used in small spaced rooms ( aside from portraiture ) and to read about their quality. I need to check the umbrella bracket on these RX 4 models but this isn't that much of a concern for me as I can use softboxes which are supplied. Later on I could get reflectors and a grid. Fortunately I was surprised to learn, Elinchrom's units are made in India and perhaps the reason why they sell at a lower cost?

With my earlier experience with FRX 400, disassembly is more of an issue with softboxes ( or rather the re-assembly ) and I prefer to keep them in stand position unless I need to go someplace for a shoot. Somewhat disappointed to read about the transport case, looks like I may need to buy another bag.

[GrahamS]

Fortunately I was surprised to learn, Elinchrom's units are made in India and perhaps the reason why they sell at a lower cost?

Haseeb, I don't know where you heard this, but it is not true. All Elinchrom manufacturing is in Switzerland.
http://www.elinchrom.com/corporate.php

[Andrew76]

Haseeb, I don't know where you heard this, but it is not true. All Elinchrom manufacturing is in Switzerland.
http://www.elinchrom.com/corporate.php

I believe Haseeb may be correct. I just read a review that says the D-Lite RX4 heads, and all available grids are manufactured in India.

Swiss 'engineered', though.

[Andrew1]

Haseeb, as you will come to realize, the future in your hobby as a photographer will have many paths to follow. You may in fact come to a time when the lights may be a good idea however you may go through a few periods before that when something else such as a macro lens may become more important. Far too many options in this craft. None of us knows what our next major purchase is going to be too far in advance. Something simple like dropping your camera could completely change your priorities in less than a minute. You seem very uncertain right now so my suggestion would be to not purchase the lights until you absolutely need them. If you come to a time when your existing lights won't suffice, or you can't move your subject into better light, or you can't borrow or rent the lights, and you will need them more than a few times then certainly go ahead if it's that critical. In the meantime, put your money into a separate account or mattress and keep adding to it a bit at a time and you'll soon have enough so that when the next big expense does come along it won't be such a hard decision.

Disclaimer: I don't do that. I meant to though.

[GrahamS]

I believe Haseeb may be correct. I just read a review that says the D-Lite RX4 heads, and all available grids are manufactured in India.

Swiss 'engineered', though.

If this it true, I stand corrected, but I can find no mention of it on the company website. It wouldn't surprise me though, as India has a heritage of lighting luminaire manufacture. I attended a Photokina once, 1980's, where I found what were cloned Mole Richardson luminaires and stands cc 1950 being manufactured and sold by a small company in New Delhi. Alongside them was an exhibit by a company in Calcutta who were manufacturing then state of the art HMI luminaires for the motion picture industry.

[HaseebM]

Hi Graham, as Andrew stated, the heads and grids are manufactured in India though Swiss engineered. India is second to the Hollywood industry so lighting may well play a major part of the production line branching into other lighting equipments.

Andrew1, very helpful advice that and something to consider. Appreciate it. I will wait some more and hope prices don't go up.