Originally posted by Class A I guess the ability to dial the output power continuously rather than in jumps and the facts that they have modelling lights are points in favour for them. Too bad that one cannot dial them lower than 1/16 power. Or is that really dim already?
Does the intensity of the modelling light change when you adjust the strobe power? It would be very helpful if it did.
The intensity of the modelling light does not change with the strobe power.
Its just a yellow bulb, and not exactly very bright at that. I realized this after purchasing a couple other strobes.
Originally posted by Class A Their recycling times seem good. Have you compared it to your speedlights?
Truthfully with strobes I have never had any problem with the recycling time.
But, in all fairness, I am very certain that the recycling time is very good. My speedlight noticeable charges slower as I get to the end of the shooting session. While my speedlight will not fire as it charges slower and slower,
these QQ strobes has never not fired.
Originally posted by Class A Uh, that doesn't sound good (no pun intended
). Is it a faint sound or easy to hear from normal distances? Is it a constant noise or does it only occur while they are recharging?
This screeching noise happens when i dial lower than full power. It happens with both units, and it will disappear for a little, or occasionally, when I dial up just a little. So the practice becomes...dial down...then tweak up just a little.
It screeches all the time, and if there was a ready beep, i never heard it.
It can be heard from normal distance, but truthfully, i am quite tolerant for noise; and I learn to ignore it and blast lady gaga while i am shooting. But it is not faint at all, and some of my friends who are more sensitive to sound are not pleased by it.
Originally posted by Class A I guess incompatibility of light modifiers between different brands is just the unfortunate normal case. Or can one swap over any modifiers from one brand to another among those you listed?
Well, i am new to this; but the camera stores here in canada are not much help to me. Henry's over here only carries Bowen brand, and I think their sales rep dont know how to answer that when I asked them. I dont even know how a bowen modifier latches on to a bowen light.
Vistek carries elinchrome, profoto and other major brands, and again i dont think their sales rep can reliably answer that question. I think the only way I can have that question answered is to actually bring a QQ250 head to the store and show them. (which i didnt do, in restrospect i should have...).
The unit themselves did have a hole to put an umbrella through, of normal size. So i bought myself an umbrella to diffuse the light.
Originally posted by Class A Are they less powerful than the guide number 48 they are advertised for? There are of course flashes that are more powerful than this. A guide number of 48 seems low considering that light modifiers, such as a softbox, will eat quite some light. Is it too little power in practice?
I wrote a long reply on this subject, cautioning that I am not an expert on strobes. While doing this, I researched some more on the subject too. I am going to have to be honest, as much as it pains me, please take a look at the two following photos.
Gadget Infinity :: Digital Camera :: Light Source :: Value Combo :: Jinbei QQ250 Studio Strobe Combo 110V Jinbei QQ250 | Flickr - Photo Sharing!
As you can see from the photos, the pictures from gadgetinfinity website has the bulb protector on. The picture on the flickr side has a reflector on and no bulb protector.
I dont know how to say this and not look or sound stoooopid
:ugh:
, but anyway. The novice that I am,
I did not know that the black thing is a protector that is supposed to be taken off when shooting. In fact, i just realized it while writing this. Naked bulb? duuuuuhhhhhh......protect it so that i wont break it accidentally!
To be fair to me, i dont...think there was instruction to take it off either.
But to be double fair to the QQ, I bought a pro level strobe the other day, and it didnt have instructions to take off the protector either. I just did it cuz with the pro level strobe I can't mount a softbox any other way.
With the QQ i can mount umbrella just fine with the protector on.
So, all other questions answered correctly, in regards to its power i will have to do more testing to be fair.
I have the units in my friend's basement, along with my other strobes, and will post here as soon as I have my findings. Hopefully this weekend.