ILux Summit 600C
Take your studio with you with this wireless lighting solution
Hotshoe flashes are great sources of portable light, but for more illumination you’ll need to use studio flash, which can be unwieldy. The iLux Summit 600C, however, is both portable and powerful. While the units are much larger than, say, SB-900 Speedlights, they are smaller and lighter than most studio flash heads, weighing under two and half kilograms each. The kit is powered by a high-capacity lithium-ion battery, which iLux claims will give between 500 and 3800 flashes from a full charge, depending on power. This battery is removable, and spares cost around £80/$130.
There are two versions, one with an S-type accessories mount and the other with an EL-type. This means that as well as using iLux’s own accessories, you can attach ones from a wide range of other manufacturers.
The Summit arrives in a flight case. The overall build is good. There are a few nice touches, such as the strap lugs, and a stand slot screw that bolts into the base of the handle. In the box you’ll also find the transmitter that enables the wireless trigger, but all mode and power adjustment need to be made through the back of the unit.
The simple interface is easy to navigate, with several modes and options. The most important of these is the ability to step the power output from full power down to 1/64. There are also options for multi- flash strobe and a selection of focal plane (FP) modes. The FP flash options are designed for high-speed sync flash, but this option will not work with the transmitter supplied with the kit at present, so you need to use another, such as a PocketWizard, to get it to work.
It might seem expensive, but compared with the costly ProFoto B1 or a bulky standard portable studio flash, the iLux Summit is a very good idea.