Ok another dilemma

Kbarredo · Jul 4, 2011

so I saw the lighting kit I wanted at henrys for 799$ free shipping. At london drugs they said they are getting the lighting kit I want but for 999$. The problem I have is if anything is wrong with the kit from henrys I have to mail it back at my expense. At ld I just have to drive to the store but for 200$ more. Any advice? Anyone ever tried the opus monolight brand

tirediron · Jul 4, 2011

Yep; I have a couple of Opus lights, and I'm very happy with them. I'm not sure that they're up to all day use every day, but I have used them for things like the Pets with Santa shoot that I do in the fall - and for three days, they had no problem dealing with 3-500 shots/day for three days. The only thing they don't have is fan cooling.

Kbarredo · Jul 4, 2011

tirediron said:
Yep; I have a couple of Opus lights, and I'm very happy with them. I'm not sure that they're up to all day use every day, but I have used them for things like the Pets with Santa shoot that I do in the fall - and for three days, they had no problem dealing with 3-500 shots/day for three days. The only thing they don't have is fan cooling.

so they are reliable. Its not a popular brand and I wasn't sure if it was ebay style crap or decent beginner stuff.

ghache · Jul 4, 2011

I have 2 opus pro 250 that i use all the time and they never failed, output seems to be consitant. You mount anything from opus, bowens and lumahawk on them, they have the same mount. i changed both modeling lighs but henrys and vistek didnt had them in stock so i just bough some elinchrom 250ws modeling light and they fit without any problem

I also have 2 150 ws opus that i use for background lightning, hair light and anything else.

they are cheap but they work flawlessly and there is alot of opus gear you can get in any shop in canada.

The supplier is NADEL and they are located in toronto. if you need anything for your light you call them and somebody from the sales department is going to contact in minutes.

Camera japan also carries all the nadel products.

http://www.nadel.ca/

Kbarredo · Jul 4, 2011

K well if they are reliable I'll definately get it from henrys. I got screwed over by the youngou 560 flash. I just didn't want that to happen again

gsgary · Jul 4, 2011

With good quality lights flash tubes hardly ever blow usually it is miss use, if your putting on a softbox lay the softbox on the floor face down and mount the light to the box not the box to the light

Derrel · Jul 4, 2011

gsgary said:
With good quality lights flash tubes hardly ever blow usually it is miss use, if your putting on a softbox lay the softbox on the floor face down and mount the light to the box not the box to the light

Yes, Gary's got great advice: put the softbox on the FLOOR, and mount the light to the BOX!!! On modeling lights, never allow finger oils to touch the protective glass around the outside of the filament. Finger oils on quartz-halogen bulbs will form dark spots, where heat concentrates, causing premature filament failure. Also, when you switch OFF the modeling lights, always,always,always allow at least 30 seconds before moving the light or beginning to break down the set. When the filament is glowing, it is fine; but, when the filament is beginning to cool off, right after it is switched off, it is very vulnerable to shaking, vibrating, thumping, or any kind of "rattling" of the filament. When it is RED-hot and glowing or stone cold, it's tough and durable--but there's a very narrow window after powering OFF during which time the filament can eaaaaaaaaaaasily be broken. This period lasts only seconds.

Clean any accidental finger oil smudges with an immaculately clean paper towel and some alcohol. On a cool bulb, of course. Follow the no oils--cool down rule and modeling lamps, which cost $35 on some models of light heads, will last for a long,long,long time. Ignore them, and you'll run thru modeling lights like a frat house runs thru kegs of beer.