ELINCHROM ELB 500 TTL TO GO SET
Elinchrom’s latest location flash head is really a joy to use, and with no compromise along the way
The latest ELB 500 switches to IGBT (Insulated-Gate Bipolar Transistor) technology, similar to that used in regular flashguns. It’s more of a challenge to ensure consistent output in terms of power and colour temperature, but benefits include greater versatility without the need to swap heads.
As such, the ELB 500 offers a fully automatic mode with TTL flash metering, HSS (High Speed Sync) for use with fast shutter speeds, and an ‘Action’ mode with super-short flash duration. You’ll need a wireless trigger that’s dedicated to your camera brand. Elinchrom offers the ‘Pro’ Skyport trigger (£209/$250) in either Canon or Nikon options. The Phottix Odin II TTL trigger (£125/$125) adds Sony dedication to the list and gives the advantage of assigning dual flash heads to separate groups, with independent power levels being set remotely.
The Elinchrom has a particularly lightweight head, with a separate battery pack containing the control interface. The pack can drive one or two heads but, this time, power settings for each can be set completely independently.
ELB 500 flash heads include a built-in
14W LED modelling lamp, which you can use in ‘free’ or proportional power settings. The head connects to the pack via a 2.5m cable and optional extension cables are available with lengths of up to 10m. The heads are compatible with Elinchrom’s wide range of Q-series accessories, plus the full range of studio flash light shapers, via an optional adaptor.
When fitted with its standard reflector, the Elinchrom gave the most powerful output in the group during our tests, at GN 64 (ISO 100, metres), shrinking to a still impressive GN 40 in HSS mode. Recycling is near instantaneous at most settings, rising to 2.0 seconds after a regular full-power flash, 1.1 seconds after a full-power HSS flash, or 2.8 seconds in the ‘Eco’ mode that saves on the battery.