Fast Recycyle or Continuous

Ok... I'm really wanting to venture into indoor / studio photography, and I don't want to go slow - My current setup (2 x 550 EXs and a transmitter) are just WAY too long on the recycle time - I'm wanting something that can keep up. (BTW, I'm usually taking a couple of photos per second).

Now I realise I'm going to be paying through the nose for this, and am looking at the possiblity of getting a loan for it.

I've looked at the Elinchrom Chic 2, which according to the local store supplies 2400 w/s over 2 heads (1200 each) and has a recycle rate of between 0.27 seconds and 1.7 seconds. I think this means that I'm going to have something quite powerful (which I can turn down to get the minimum recharge time) while still getting a decent shutter speed and f stop.

Anyone help me out with some advice or experience with the faster recycle rate strobes? Failing that, can someone explain exactly how strobes work? As I understand it you have a power source that puts out a certain amount (for the elinchrom it's 2400 w/s), and that gets devided into the heads you attach to it (so that's 2 @ 1200 each, 4 @ 600 etc). But what does that ultimately mean? Are the heads limited (so you can get 2 at 1200, but not 1 at 2400?) - and have their own ratings?

Please help

PS. I'm not able to get alien bees here, and don't think they're what I'm after anyway.

I've just picked up a couple of Bowens strobes and, while I'm still grappling with the complexity of it all, I might be able to help a bit.

Regarding your question about splitting the output, I think it depends on whether you are using a monobloc head or a generator/battery pack.

Monoblocs have the power pack contained in the head, so if it's rated at 500W you can be sure that that's the output at full strength.

Monoblocs require mains power, which limits their use outdoors, but if you are thinking of setting up a dedicated studio space, this is the way to go. The other advantage of monoblocs is that you don't lose the whole lighting set up if the generator/battery/whatever fails.

I have no practical experience with the other set up, but I understand that its the total output of the generator divided by the number of lights that determines the flash output.

So, lets say you have a powerpack that can output 1500w, and you have three strobes with a max output of 1500w ea. You will only get 500w max output for each flash head (1500w/3 flashes).

The other thing to consider is after sales service. I was also looking at Elinchrom lights, but was advised that it's difficult to service them in Australia. Bowens have local represenation here, which is one of the reasons I went with them.

I don't think you can go wrong with either brand in terms of quality.

HTH a bit

You might want to try a Canon Battery Pack I've gotten one and it about doubles the recycling time.

You're looking at a pack and head system; most of us here have monolights like the Alien Bees.

I haven't heard of them before, but the Chic 2's look pretty powerful. As far as I can tell the brand is not very popular in the U.S. You tend to see Norman, Broncolor, Lumedyne around here. You might want to make sure that accessories are easily available where you are, or that the strobe takes accessories by other manufacturers.

Here's a beginner primer on studio lights.

Hopefully you mean they halve the recycling time. I expect the Elinchroms are on a whole 'nother level of power, though.

HA! Yeah, that's it I always failed math classes.