Elinchrom Style 600RX Review

I’ve been using Elinchrom kit in my studio (Style RX heads) and outdoors (portable Ranger system) for many years and I have been impressed by its reliability and performance. My latest outfit is based around a couple of Style 600RX heads.  These are designed with the more serious photographer in mind and boast lots 
of features that the enthusiast or professional will find important.
They’re digitally-controlled, allowing for very precise power control (1/10th increments), which is important for accurate metering when using multiple heads. It also means that you can control the heads from a computer 
(PC or Mac), although I’ve never needed to!
A useful feature is the very fast recycling time, which allows me to rattle off frames knowing that the heads will keep up with me. While speed isn’t important for normal portraits, I sometimes shoot portfolios where the subjects move around a fair bit – for instance I recently shot a portfolio for a ballet dancer who constantly changed positions.

I use the 600Ws (Watt seconds) heads, but they’re also available in 300Ws or 1200Ws version too. I’ve found that the 600RX heads are more than adequate for my line of work. If you’re thinking of buying a head, I’d recommend you try and get the most powerful you can afford, as you  need to account for the fact that attachments such as softboxes will consume some power.
As good as the heads are, they’d be useless without a decent range of attachments, and this is where the Elinchrom system shines. There is a huge selection on offer, with softboxes in various shapes and sizes, as well as a wide choice of reflectors, grids and umbrellas. In other words, whatever lighting effect I want, I know I’ll find what I need to create it. Many attachments use the Rotalux system, which makes them really easy and quick to fit, which is important when you’re setting up on your own.
One of my favourites is the Strip light, a rectangular softbox  that offers more creative lighting control than a conventional square softbox. The other is the Octa, a huge octagonal softbox that projects light much like a window, making it perfect for family group shots.
Finally, the reason I’ve stuck with Elinchrom for many years is because they’re so reliable. I’ve probably used my heads for tens of thousands of frames and I’ve never had a problem.

Specifications
Style 600RX 2-HEAD KIT
RRP: £1,260
Power range: 18-600 Joules (Watt Seconds)
Variable power (stepless): Six f/stops (Full power to 1/32);
Recycling time: 0.22-1sec;
Flash duration: 1/2050sec;
Trigger voltage: Five Volts (5V);
Build: Die-cast alloy chassis with high impact translucent body shell
Other features: Full modelling lamp control; Auto-Dump; surge resistant circuits; fan cooling; PC/Mac interface
Diameter x length: 14x21cm;
Weight: 2.6kg
Supplied kit accessories:  2x Style 600RX heads; 2x 16cm reflectors; 1x snoot; 2x ClipLock stands; 2x umbrellas (translucent & Super White); 
1x Lighting Guide DVD; 2x Sync Leads;  Hard case for heads; shoulder bag for stands;  modelling lamps & mains leads

REMOTE CONTROL:
 Elinchrom produces a number of remotes for the Style RX series. 
These include a corded hand remote, an infrared remote and the innovative Skyport wireless system.

Verdict
As someone that shoots as much in the studio as outdoors, having a decent studio kit is essential. The Elinchrom Style 600RX heads tick all the boxes in terms of speed, control, versatility and, as I’ve discovered, reliability.  They’re also very well priced, considering the specification and performance. However, I’d recommend these more for the advanced photographer than beginners to studioflash, who should check out Elinchrom’s more affordable D-Lite range.
For further details on Elinchrom, contact The Flash Centre at: 
www.theflashcentre.com or visit: www.elinchrom.com