The WI NNER IS…

For power with finesse and versatility, the Elinchrom is brilliant – and it’s great value, too

The most glaring conclusion from this group test is that studio flash heads deliver far greater illumination and versatility for the home studio. And of all the flash heads on test, the Elinchrom D-Lite RX 4 delivers the best blend of plentiful power and advanced features, at a very keen asking price. The Bowens Gemini 500R flash head runs a close second to the Elinchrom and is certainly sturdily built, if a little on the heavy side. The Interfit EX200 Ti is surprisingly powerful for a 200Ws head, and the optional Ti smart trigger is well worth the small extra outlay.

For constant lighting, the Calumet and Manfrotto LED panels are more desirable than the halogen heads. They give almost as much illumination as the halogen-based lamps (even though it’s far less in photographic terms than any of the flash heads), but are far cooler-running and require much less electrical power. The availability of optional battery packs gives them an added bonus for lightweight portable use, especially when shooting video as well as stills.