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Zeus head flash duration as pack power is lowered
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Author:  kenyee [ Tue Dec 29, 2009 5:01 pm ]
Post subject:  Zeus head flash duration as pack power is lowered
If you lower the pack power down to 1/32, is the flash duration faster or slower than at 1/1 power?
Author:  Technical Support [ Tue Dec 29, 2009 5:04 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Zeus head flash duration as pack power is lowered
All lights we currently carrry, as well as most studio lights, will have a longer flash duration at lower power. This will not be true with Einstein.
TS
Author:  kenyee [ Tue Dec 29, 2009 10:31 pm ]
Post subject:  zeus head on dynalite pack?
Thanks. Good to know about the Zeus packs.
If you take a Zeus head and put it on a dynalite pack turned down all the way, is flash duration faster than at full power? (their packs seem to have a faster flash duration as you lower power).
Author:  Technical Support [ Wed Dec 30, 2009 10:02 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Zeus head flash duration as pack power is lowered
The Zeus head should follow the characteristic of the pack it is connected to. I cannot speak for Dynalite, but i would also guess it depends on the model pack you are using. Using a bi tube head with both cables attached would also yield a shorter flash duration at any given power output vs a single tube head at the same power.

TS
Author:  Luap [ Fri Jan 01, 2010 12:00 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Zeus head flash duration as pack power is lowered
There are two opposing effects happening with power pack systems, including Zeus and Dynalite.

If you reduce power by switching out capacitors (ratio swich on Zeus or basic power settings on Dynalite, the duration becomes shorter at reduced power. If you reduce power on either system by using the "Variator", flash durations lengthen as you reduce power. Same thing on WLX1600/3200.

Einstein, Broncolor Grafit and Photogenic Solaire are IGBT controlled and behave entirely differently . . . whenever you you reduce power you shorten flash duration. Same with speedlights.

Einstein t.1 durations go as fast as 1/10,000 second while other monolights are typically in the 1/200 to 1/1000 range and typical get longer as you reduce power.

The fastest monolight available (other than IGBT controlled Einstein or Photogenic Solaire) is AB400. It's t.1 duration is 1/2000 at full power (160WS) and 1/1000 at 1/32 power. The next closest is Bowens Gemini at 1/1000 t.1 at Full (500WS) and 1/500 at 1/32 power. Third is Elinchrom RX600 with 1/666 at Full (600WS) and a1/350 at 1/32 power.
Author:  amplexis [ Mon Jan 04, 2010 9:09 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Zeus head flash duration as pack power is lowered
my dynalite uni400jr manual says that the duration at full power is 1/675, at 1/2 power is 1/1100, at 1/4 power is 1/1800 and at 1/8th is 1/2200.
does this mean that it is IGBT?
the short flash duration of the Einstein puts it at the top of my list of cool things we can expect in 2010. thanks for all the perseverance.
Author:  Technical Support [ Mon Jan 04, 2010 10:39 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Zeus head flash duration as pack power is lowered
I cant find a spec that says one way or the other, but it is possible, or it could utilize capacitor switching to achieve shorter flash duration.

TS
Author:  kenyee [ Mon Jan 04, 2010 1:37 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Zeus head flash duration as pack power is lowered
amplexis wrote:
my dynalite uni400jr manual says that the duration at full power is 1/675, at 1/2 power is 1/1100, at 1/4 power is 1/1800 and at 1/8th is 1/2200.
does this mean that it is IGBT?


AFAIK, these are at. T.5 times (the motion stopping speed T.1 number you want to see is roughly 1/3 of this IIRC).

Thanks for replying about the Zeus speed, Paul. I didn't know lowering power w/ the variator would increase flash duration but dropping power w/ the switches wouldn't. FYI, the specs on the AB site only mention flash duration at full power. It might be interesting to have a chart w/ flash duration for the lowest power level w/ switches, and lowest power level using the variator. Hoping the Einstein IGBT circuit finds its way into the Zeus ;)
Author:  amplexis [ Mon Jan 04, 2010 5:26 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Zeus head flash duration as pack power is lowered
LUAP posted this when i inquired about the flash duration of Zeus:
Flash durations depend on head configurations. Most of the info is here:

http://www.white-lightning.com/zeus_specs.html

The duration in all configurations lengthens by about 20% per f stop of power reduction performed by the slider. So at -5f on the slider, the durations are about twice as long as at Full Power. Duration at every possible step is displayed on the Cyber Commander when a Zeus is connected.
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