Nice deal on Speedotron gear (this ain't an ad!)

[Michael Carter]

Hi folks -- if anyone's considering getting some pro-level gear, there's a photo seller with a good rep on eBay with a good deal; I just ordered one myself:

It's Speedotron BlackLine (the pro level stuff)... an 805 pack (800 watt second power pack), 4 103 heads with tubes, 2 umbrellas, and a 48" octagonal softbox, all for $775. (You'll need to get your own modeling lamp bulbs, about $15 a pop)

This pack is about the size of a shoebox (most speedo packs are massive)... it has dial-down power (which means you can fine-tune the output) and assymetrical outlets (you can divide the total output to control, say, a hot key light with a softer hair or fill). I have 1200 and 2400 packs, but I'm shooting all-digital now and don't use nearly the power I used with film, so the 805 is a nice fit. (And the dial-down knob will totally spoil you).

The heads are the smaller heads, without fan-cooling... the main drawback to these heads is they only have a 150 watt modeling light (as opposed to 250 on the fan cooled heads). The upside is they're much smaller than other speedo heads, and they take all Blackline accessories (my all-time favorite being the 11" reflector with a grid... one of the prettiest and most useful things in all my gear... still looking for a way to attach it to a movie light). The pack will work with all speedo heads (and the heads with any speedo pack from the last 20 years or so). Blackline is a great system-approach to studio strobes.

This is used stuff (he has a new set for about $1200 as well, another killer deal). But I bought my first speedo pack & heads used a decade ago and use 'em weekly... Speedo has a rep for amazing reliability; I've shot in studios with decades-old speedo stuff that's still humming along. I picked up on this deal since I'm getting a lot of location work lately and need some smaller gear.

Anyway -- I've no affiliation with this seller, but I've read a ton of posts here asking advice for studio lighting... this would be a kick-butt start for someone wanting pro-level strobes with plenty of options for growth. (Or a location shooter needing more gear). All you need is stands, and you've got a great product & portrait rig. (Stands, and that 11" refelctor with a grid, the greatest hair and product light on earth).

Search eBay for "speedotron", there's usually only 2 pages or so. Hope that helps someone out! --MC

www.mcarterphoto.com

 

[ianmcc]

thanks for the headsup I have a TON of black line gear but would love a small pack!

 

[Michael Carter]

I hear ya -- my rental house used to have ONE of those little 2401 packs. Still want one of those!

Y'know, I'm seriously considering getting a force 10 or force 5 monolight. I have a little Novatron mono from when I was first learning, and I use it on almost every location shoot. Sometimes I just need one strobe and a big scrim, balance to room light with a gel and get a real ambient look. I keep the mono at the top of my case and there's plenty of times that it's all I unpack from the lighting trunk. Lots faster than packs & heads. It's also great if there's a distant wall or architecture you need lit in the BG... don't need to string a head extension across the room.

I have ebay setup to alert me when these keywords are in a new item's description:

Speedotron 805
Speedotron 405 (that could be handy as heck)
Speedotron force 10

etc....

 

[ianmcc]

I have a pair of Force 10's. Don't bother with them, this set up, the 800w/s pack and the smaller heads will weigh less and stand up better.
The switches and dials on the back of both monelights have broken, and aren't well designed. I bought these as a quick location pair, so I wasn't using them constantly, like my black line gear. Plenty of power, they weigh like Speedos, but they don't last like em!

Oh and FYI the seller of the gear refuses to ship to Canada, Alaska and Hawaii. I'm in Canada and when I pressed him for a reason, he said " We just don't" So take that for what it's worth. I don't know why, if there is any risk, which there isn't, it's at my end...