Priolite just announced the addition of a new flash unit to their HotSync lineup, the MBX300HS. This slightly smaller and lighter, but much cheaper, unit is a welcome addition to their current line of products. Alongside the already available 500Ws and 1000Ws strobes, this new compact unit looks like a solid alternative to more well-established brand's battery powered system.
When reading about Priolite on the web, and talking about it with other photographers, many complained about the price. Most people seem to feel like their units were quite expensive for not having "Profoto" or "Broncolor" written on the side, along with the reputation that goes with these brands. The new MBX300HS might change this perspective.
At just $899, the MBX300HS comes in at about half the price of its competitors: the Elinchrom ELB400, the Profoto B1 and the Profoto B2. If you think Profoto and Elinchrom have an advantage with their respective HSS and Hi-Sync system, you might want to change your mind. The HotSync line of products created by the German strobe manufacturer was specifically designed to be synced at high shutter speeds using the RC-HS remote that was announced earlier this year. What Priolite calls HotSync, is what Elinchrom calls Hi-Sync and PocketWizard HyperSync. For those that have been sleeping under a rock for the past couple of years, HyperSync (or however you want to call it) simply allows for sync of up to 1/8000s. However, the best results when using this technology is achieved with strobes that have a long flash duration. The HotSync – or HS – strobes developed by Priolite have a flash duration of 1/200s at full power. From my experience with Elinchrom Hi-Sync system, this should translate into awesome results.
Providing up to 180 full-power flashes per charge, the Priolite MBX300HS does almost as well as the B1 and its 220 announced full-power flashes per charge. At less than half the price, with a very similar form factor, it seems like a very attractive products for those not willing to invest in the quite expensive line of Profoto's products. The cherry on the cake? Priolite HotSync works with Pentax! So if you were lurking at that Pentax 645 but retained yourself from buying it because it can only sync at up to 1/125s, you might want to take a look at Priolite products.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5uO3qm7NSss
Find more information about the MBX300HS on Priolite's website. If you want to give their system a try head over to the "Try before you buy" page.
I went with the Baja B4's by Dynalite and LOVE them! Very affordable and around 500 Full power pops per charge! HSS compatible with Canon, Nikon on the way...
I just googled the Baja and they look great on paper. I'm just not very convinced by the HSS. There's too much loss of power compared to HyperSync/Hi-Sync/HotSync in my opinion. Also the power is not very consistent from shot to shot when using HSS. But more on that in an article coming up next week ;)
To be fair, I am a Sony shooter and cannot access the HSS yet (if ever), I have played with the stroboscopic function but mostly use them for wedding, family and senior portraits.
HyperSync should be more on the inconsistent side in terms of color? Can't wait for your test.
Just came here to mention the Baja's. I have 4 and they're awesome. Haven't bought the HSS triggers yet, but for everything else I've done they've been rock solid. And for only $600/head they're almost a no-brainer.
Turns out Dynalite is not available in Europe, they don't have a dealer here. They used to have one in Spain, but apparently they are now Broncolor's dealer.
However, I found that the Dynalite Baja are actually based on RiMELITE strobes (Korean brand). I might look further into it, it looks like they have interesting products!
Yeah dynalite is just the distributor. RiMELITE also makes some fantastic modifiers (I have several of their parabolic softboxes).
I would love to see a comparison on the Baja 4-6, Priolites and B1s! And i did notice they have the Baja Nikon triggers in stock on B&H with a delay shipping.
I luckily own the priolite MB500 hot sync and it's amazing ... but I was frustrated that I wouldn't be able to afford more than one strobe ... with this new coming serie I might change my mind and complete a full set of extra strobe ... :D
Could you please tell if the priolite can sync up to the shutter speed 1/250s or just up to 1/200s only. Thanks.
That 1/200 number isn't sync speed, which is a function of the camera, not the flash. That's the flash duration.
The 1/200s mentioned in the article is, like Graham said, the flash duration at full power, not the sync speed.
But, looking at Priolite website you can find this on the HotSync remote control's page:
"This is the HotSync version of Priolite Radio Control, available for PENTAX, CANON, or NIKON. When combined with Priolite HotSync strobes (MBX 500 HotSync, MBX 1000 HotSync, and M-PACK 1000 HotSync) synchronization up to 1/8000 sec. can be achieved. Please note that this HotSync version RC can be also used with standard strobes, but only with shutter speeds up to 1/200 sec."
I often shoot at 1/8000 with my nikon D810 when I use the 50mm at 1.4 ...
Yet another lighting company ignoring Sony...
Not quite. I'd rather say another company that actually supports Sony, and probably the only one offering something for Pentax! The US website might not have them available but the Austrian one does, right here: http://www.prioliteshop.com/zubeh%C3%B6r/funkfernbedienungen/
Only thing that is unclear to me regarding the Sony remote is if the HSS they describe is HotSync Solution (Priolite's HyperSync) or true HSS – High Speed Sync – like Profoto implemented with the B1 and Air Remote TTL. Because both are very different and results are far from similar between HyperSync and HSS.
Another company supporting Sony cameras is Elinchrom. Not yet, but they are working on it for 2016.
Profoto on the other hand hasn't announced anything yet, but their basic Air remote (not TTL) works with Sony cameras.
As for Bron, I guess most of their users have leaf shutter cameras anyways…
I just glanced their site and they actually supported Sony. How come the US version doesn't? Now I wonder if I could order the light in US and the RC from Austria? I have been waiting for the Sony support awhile now.
Blame Minolta, not the lighting companies.
How is $899 affordable. There are a few other options that are better price wise.
what other more affordable studio lights are there that offer Hotsync?
ummm hotsync term is only used by Prolite. Everyone else has HSS.
HSS and HotSync are two totally different things. HSS stands for High-Speed sync which works by pulsing the light to give your camera sensor the impression of continuous lighting. To my knowledge, apart from Profoto – which implemented it on their Profoto B1 and B2 –, only hot shoe flashes (Yongnuos, Canon, Nikon, etc.) have it.
Priolite's HotSync is very similar to PocketWizard's HyperSync or Elinchrom Hi-Sync.
More on that here: https://fstoppers.com/originals/fstoppers-compares-profoto-hss-and-elinc...
I suppose you meant "Priolite Introduces *ITS* Most Affordable Li-Ion Powered HotSync Flash".
I don't get how they can maintain a continuous lumen output across the slit travel.
Very ugly looking light. Why can't they spend a bit more to hire a better designer?
The price looks fantastic, with 1000/ws for only $2100, giving you twice the power than the ProFoto B1, .... but, I love my B1, and really want to pick up 2 more, .... would love to see what the quality of light is like with these compared to the B1
I'm failing to see how this is such a good deal. Maybe i'm missing something. If I am, can someone please point it out to me?
But $900 for a 300 watt strobe seems a bit crazy to me. One can pick up a Godox/Streaklight/Cheetahlight 360 for about $320 (starting at). Not to mention the battery it comes with offers about 400-500 full power flashes. Furthermore, one can get a Flashpoint Rovelight 600 for about $400.
Power is one thing, but not everything. I wouldn't see myself using a Godox 360 in studio or for portraits. Apart from standard reflectors, small umbrellas, and small beauty dishes not many light shapers can be mounted on it. I don't think it could handle a Rotalux Octa 69" or even just a Deep octa 39" for example. The Godox 360 might be awesome for wedding and sport photographers, but for portrait, beauty or fashion photographers not so much.
Regarding Flashpoint, I had never heard of it before. I looked it up and it's apparently made by Adorama? If that's the case, it's all great for American-based customers, not so much for others.
I've got 2 Flashpoint Rovelight 600's. They sync up to 1/8000. Best bang for the buck out there right now, but build quality is only 7/10. You get what you pay for, but it's doing the trick for now. I expect some price wars ahead with all the new players. Can't wait!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kuWimY7uZJQ
I could definitely see a 69" octa being a problem for a 300-360 watt strobe. However, I use my 360 in a 33" collapsible beauty dish/octa and a 47" octa (not a deep one) and it does more than enough for studio work. You can easily use Bowen or Elinchrom mount modifiers with it. You just have to buy the Speed Pro bracket for it.
The power is not the "problem". I use a 250Ws BRX with my 69" and 59" octas, and it is enough for most of my studio work. Even in the huge Litemotiv 190cm it was enough.
The main issue I have with comparing a Godox 360 to strobes such as Priolite's is the practicality. If you work in a studio or do portraits session only a couple of times a year, it's all great, but otherwise not so much. I wouldn't see myself buying Speed Pro brackets for 4-5 strobes and mounting them before each photo shoot. I'd also be curious to know how much weight such brackets could withstand. Some beauty dishes can be quite heavy, same with huge softboxes… The Priolite is meant to be a versatile strobe, that can be used in studio or outdoors, like the Profoto B1. The Godox 360 isn't really the same kind of product. It'd be kind of like comparing a Canon 5D to a 5Ds: two cameras, but each meant for a different use and for different users :)
But I must admit I'd be curious to compare something such as a Profoto B2 or Elinchrom ELB400 to a Godox 360. Especially to see how the claimed 360Ws performs in the real world (because yes, those Ws manufacturers give us are not really the true effective output power).
Quentin Decaillet :
The AD360 flashes are perfect for portrait photography. Especially if you on the go. It works well in studio too. Yes they can fill a 84 parabolic and a 40" deep octa. Its 300 watts of light. If you need more power you go with a bigger stronger flash of course.
I have 3 of them, one Einstein and a ttl flash. I use a 84" parabolic, 60" softlighter, 2 48" octas and 2 50x50" boxes. No problem. That collection of equipment works for any setup I need to photograph a portrait with no problem.
And yes, of course 300 watts isn't enough for a 64" deep octa...you need double the power. Which two 360s is still cheaper than the prolite.
But then again… not talking about power only. How practical is it to have 2 or 3 different systems? Wouldn't it be easier to have only one brand with one speed ring/mount so that all your light shapers work on everything?
I used to have Elinchrom gear in my studio and Profoto strobes for outdoors. I ended selling my Profoto and getting an ELB 400 for outdoors for a couple of reasons. But the main one, was not having to change the speed ring on my softboxes every single time I would go out or come back to the studio.
I get your point, the Godox 360 can do almost everything as far as power goes but still… to me, it's a hot-shoe flash, not a compact flash unit like the Priolite. Because if it were only about power, trust me, I would sell all my Elinchrom gear and get 30-40 Yongnuo 600EX and work with that.