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 “I don’t have room for a studio.” “Studio lights are too expensive.”
These are two frequently voiced reasons why photo enthusiasts don’t do studio photography. SP Studio Systems addresses both objections with its inexpensive ($200 street), small, and light Excalibur SP1600C monolights (9.3x6.8x11.8 inches, 3.8 pounds, with reflector).
What does a pair of Benjamins get you? Simplicity. A rocker switch adjusts strobe output in three steps—full, 1⁄2, and 1⁄4. Another sets the modeling light output, while a separate switch turns it on or off. Flashtubes are easy to replace, and color temperatures are consistent, varying from 5700K at full power to 5600K at 1⁄4 power. The slave trigger is sensitive enough to work with infrared triggers, and a 0.25-inch sync plug lets you trigger the flash using your camera’s PC terminal (a sync cord’s included).
 But lower cost and portability come at a price. At 160 watt-seconds (enough for wide-aperture portraits, but not narrow-aperture close-ups), they offer less power than some other portable flashes. If you’re willing to move up in weight or price, you can get a monolight with more pop. We also clocked a 4-sec recycle time at full power, 2 sec at 1⁄2, and 1 sec at 1⁄4—sluggish by pro standards. There’s no ready beep, just a light on the back of the unit. And the proportional modeling light won’t automatically match the strobe output—you must remember to change the modeling light’s power manually if you want it to match the strobe.
However, the consistent color temperature is a plus, and SP Studio Systems offers lots of accessories (umbrellas, softboxes, etc.) that attach via the strobe’s bayonet mount.
For info: www.bkaphoto.com; 800-250-8394.
What’s Hot
Low price.
Compact, lightweight strobes.
Accurate, consistent color temperature.
What’s Not
No ready beep.
Slow recycle time, moderate power.
No automatic modeling light control.
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