Studio lighting is probably the single most expensive investment that ...
Studio lighting is probably the single most expensive investment that any photographer will make for their business. By breaking down the cost of that investment specifically the "Cost per Watt second" photographers can better gauge the ROI for their individual needs. The following tables represent a break down of the "Cost per Watt second" of Studio Strobe power packs. The broad range of prices for these power packs is in some instances justifiable based on the additional options and feature sets available for each pack. However not all features and functions are needed or used by all photographers. While each manufacture has there own unique feature sets, the most common considerations when selecting studio strobe power packs are: Power output, Recycle time, Flash duration, and Weight. The selection of strobe manufactures presented here was based on the most common studio strobe packs that we have used in commercial photo studios over the past 20 years in NYC & La.. Lowest cost per Watt Second Best Flash duration at Max Power Best recycle at full power/ Flash recycle Flash duration Retail Retail Retail Cost per @ full duration @ DYNALITE Model # Weight @ min Calumet B&H Adorama watt/Sec. power Max power power
M500XL
4.6 lb.
1.5
1/1000
1/4500
$599.99
$611.60
$611.60
$1.20
M500wi
4.6 lb.
1.5
1/1000
1/4500
$944.99
$963.60
$963.60
$1.89
M1000ER
7.1 lb.
1.5
1/600
1/4200
$819.99
$875.60
$875.60
$0.82
M1000wi
7.1 lb.
1.5
1/600
1/4200
$1,169.99
$1227.60
$1227.60
$1.17
M2000ER
13.1 lb.
1.9
1/700
1/3800
$1,349.99
$1403.60
$1403.00
$0.67
M2000Wi
13.1 lb.
1.9
1/700
1/3800
$1,729.00
$1679.95
$1684.95
$0.83
Dynalite is made in the United States.
COMET
model
weight
recycle Flash Flash @ full duration @ duration @ power Max power min power
CBM1200
10 lb.
2.8 sec.
---
PMT1200
7 lb.
5.0 sec.
CS-2400t
13 lb.
CW2400Tc
22 lb.
Retail calumet
B&H
Adorama
1/450
---
$2304.95
$2295.00
$1.91
---
---
$1489.00
$1547.95
$1539.95
$1.24
3.0 lb.
---
---
---
$3129.95
$3124.95
$1.30
2.9 sec.
---
---
---
$5429.50
---
$2.26
CA-3200 28.2 lb. 3.5 sec.
---
---
$3,715.95
$5687.95
$5599.95
$1.16
BRONCOLOR
Flash duration @ Max power
Flash duration @ min power
Retail Calumet
Retail B&H
Retail Adorama
Cost per watt/Sec.
Model #
Weight
recycle @ full power
Nano 2 1200ws
11 lb.
1.7 s
1/300
---
$1888.99
$1766.50
---
$1.47
Verso A2 RFS 1200ws
7.5kg
1.0 s
1/500
1/1200
$6177.99
---
---
$5.15
Verso A2 1200ws
7.5kg
1.0 s
1/500 s
1/1200
$5699.99
---
---
$4.75
Topas A2 12.8 lb. 1600ws
1.8 s
1/300
1/500
$4206.99
$4039.95
---
$2.52
Topaz A2 RFS 12.8 lb. 1600ws
1.8 s
1/300
1/500
$4684.99
$4579.50
---
$2.86
Grafit A2 17.5 lb 1600ws
1.6 s
1/250
1/6000
$7261.99
---
---
$4.54
Grafit A2 RFS 17.5 lb 1600ws
1.6 s
1/250
1/6000
$7730.99
---
---
$4.83
Nano A4 14.3 lb. 2400ws
2.9 s
1/250
1/600
$2707.99
$2554.50
---
$1.06
Verso A4 22.8 lb. 2400ws
1.7 s
1 / 250
1/600
$7560.99
---
---
$3.15
Topaz A4 17.7 lb. 3200ws
3.4 s
1/150
1/300
$6126.99
$5832.95
---
$1.82
Topaz A4 RFS 17.7 lb. 3200ws
3.4 s
1/150
1/300
$6604.99
$6229.95
---
$1.94
Grafit A4 3200ws
24 lb.
3.2 s
1/250
1/6000
$9736.99
---
---
$3.04
Grafit A4 RFS 3200ws
24 lb.
3.2 s
1/250
1/6000
$10213.99
---
---
$3.19
PROFOTO
Flash duration @ Max power
Flash duration @ min power
Retail calumet
B&H
Adorama
cost per W/s
model
weight
recycle @ full power
Acute 2 1200w/s
9 lb.
1.5 sec.
1/560
1/3200
$1199.99
$1250.00
$1250.00
$1.00
Profoto Acute2R 1200w/s
9 lb.
1.5 sec.
1/560
1/3200
$1,549.99
$1616.00
$1616..00
$1.29
24.3 lb. 2.8 sec.
1/1400
1/3000
$3,349.99
$3429.00
$3429.00
$2.79
Pro-7B 1200w/s
Profoto D4R 1200w/s
22 lb.
1.2 sec.
1/1000
1/7500
$5,599.99
$5760.00
$5760.00
$4.66
Pro-7S 1200w/s
20 lb.
0.9 sec.
1/2200
1/12000
$5,799.99
$5980.00
$5980.00
$4.83
Pro-7A 1200w/s
20 lb.
0.8 sec.
1/2200
1/12000
$6099.99
$6325.00
$6325.00
$5.09
13.4 lb. 2.9 sec.
1/320
1/1800
$1849.99
$1892.00
$1892.00
$0.77
Acute 2R 12.9 lb. 2.9 sec. 2400w/s
1/320
1/1800
$2199.99
$2258.00
$2258.00
$0.92
D4R 2400w/s
1/600
1/4500
$6103.00
$6103.00
$6103.00
$2.54
Acute2 2400w/s
25.4 lb. 2.2 sec.
Pro-7s 2400w/s
27 lb.
1.6 sec.
1/1600
1/8000
$6,699.99
$6992.00
$6992.00
$2.79
Pro-7A 2400w/s
27 lb.
1.5 sec.
1/1600
1/8000
$7299.99
$7581.00
$7581.00
$3.04
29.8 lb. 4.4 sec.
1/350
1/2700
$8699.99
$8882.00
$8882.00
$1.79
D4 4800w/s
Speedotron
Flash duration @ Max power
Flash duration @ min power
Retail calumet
B&H
Adorama
model
weight
recycle @ full power
405
5 lb.
1.3 sec.
1/500*
1/6000*
$479.99
$469.95
$449.95
$1.12
805
7.7 lb.
1.3 sec.
1/500*
1/5000*
$699.99
$649.95
$649.95
$0.81
1205cx
15 lb.
0.9 sec.
1/400*
1/5000*
$1,189.99
$1119.95
$1099.95
$0.92
24.8 lb. 3.5 sec.
1/825*
1/1700
$1,799.00
$1799.50
$1729.95
$1.15
Explorer 1500
2401sx
27 lb.
2 sec.
1/225*
1/3570*
$1,624.95
$1529.95
---
$0.64
2401sx FanCooled
27 lb.
2 sec.
1/225*
1/3570*
$1,629.99
---
$1549.95
$0.64
2405cx
23 lb.
2 sec.
1/225*
1/3570*
$1,669.99
$1649.95
$1614.95
$0.67
2403cx
28 lb.
2 sec.
1/225*
1/3570*
$1,669.99
$1649.95
$1619.95
$0.67
4803cx
42 lb.
4 sec.
1/175*
1/2000*
$2,299.99
$2268.95
$2250.00
$0.46
* Speedotron Flash durations vary depending which model # flash head is used. Speedotron is Made in the U.S.A. Speedotron price list can be found here: http://www.speedotron.com/BlkPrice.htm All images copyright of the respective manufacture. All data collected from the respective manufactures web sites and current as of 02/25/2008 All prices collected from the listed retailers web sites and current as of 02/25/2008 This document created 02/25/2008 for PhotoAssistant.Net web site and is to be used as a reference guide only. All information is subject to change with out notice.
James Sullivan
Digitally signed by James Sullivan DN: cn=James Sullivan, o=Toy Boxx Productions Inc., ou=PhotoAssistant.Net, [email protected], c=US Date: 2008.02.27 00:45:20 -05'00'
M500XL
4.6 lb.
1.5
1/1000
1/4500
$599.99
$611.60
$611.60
$1.20
M500wi
4.6 lb.
1.5
1/1000
1/4500
$944.99
$963.60
$963.60
$1.89
M1000ER
7.1 lb.
1.5
1/600
1/4200
$819.99
$875.60
$875.60
$0.82
M1000wi
7.1 lb.
1.5
1/600
1/4200
$1,169.99
$1227.60
$1227.60
$1.17
M2000ER
13.1 lb.
1.9
1/700
1/3800
$1,349.99
$1403.60
$1403.00
$0.67
M2000Wi
13.1 lb.
1.9
1/700
1/3800
$1,729.00
$1679.95
$1684.95
$0.83
Dynalite is made in the United States.
COMET
model
weight
recycle Flash Flash @ full duration @ duration @ power Max power min power
CBM1200
10 lb.
2.8 sec.
---
PMT1200
7 lb.
5.0 sec.
CS-2400t
13 lb.
CW2400Tc
22 lb.
Retail calumet
B&H
Adorama
1/450
---
$2304.95
$2295.00
$1.91
---
---
$1489.00
$1547.95
$1539.95
$1.24
3.0 lb.
---
---
---
$3129.95
$3124.95
$1.30
2.9 sec.
---
---
---
$5429.50
---
$2.26
CA-3200 28.2 lb. 3.5 sec.
---
---
$3,715.95
$5687.95
$5599.95
$1.16
BRONCOLOR
Flash duration @ Max power
Flash duration @ min power
Retail Calumet
Retail B&H
Retail Adorama
Cost per watt/Sec.
Model #
Weight
recycle @ full power
Nano 2 1200ws
11 lb.
1.7 s
1/300
---
$1888.99
$1766.50
---
$1.47
Verso A2 RFS 1200ws
7.5kg
1.0 s
1/500
1/1200
$6177.99
---
---
$5.15
Verso A2 1200ws
7.5kg
1.0 s
1/500 s
1/1200
$5699.99
---
---
$4.75
Topas A2 12.8 lb. 1600ws
1.8 s
1/300
1/500
$4206.99
$4039.95
---
$2.52
Topaz A2 RFS 12.8 lb. 1600ws
1.8 s
1/300
1/500
$4684.99
$4579.50
---
$2.86
Grafit A2 17.5 lb 1600ws
1.6 s
1/250
1/6000
$7261.99
---
---
$4.54
Grafit A2 RFS 17.5 lb 1600ws
1.6 s
1/250
1/6000
$7730.99
---
---
$4.83
Nano A4 14.3 lb. 2400ws
2.9 s
1/250
1/600
$2707.99
$2554.50
---
$1.06
Verso A4 22.8 lb. 2400ws
1.7 s
1 / 250
1/600
$7560.99
---
---
$3.15
Topaz A4 17.7 lb. 3200ws
3.4 s
1/150
1/300
$6126.99
$5832.95
---
$1.82
Topaz A4 RFS 17.7 lb. 3200ws
3.4 s
1/150
1/300
$6604.99
$6229.95
---
$1.94
Grafit A4 3200ws
24 lb.
3.2 s
1/250
1/6000
$9736.99
---
---
$3.04
Grafit A4 RFS 3200ws
24 lb.
3.2 s
1/250
1/6000
$10213.99
---
---
$3.19
PROFOTO
Flash duration @ Max power
Flash duration @ min power
Retail calumet
B&H
Adorama
cost per W/s
model
weight
recycle @ full power
Acute 2 1200w/s
9 lb.
1.5 sec.
1/560
1/3200
$1199.99
$1250.00
$1250.00
$1.00
Profoto Acute2R 1200w/s
9 lb.
1.5 sec.
1/560
1/3200
$1,549.99
$1616.00
$1616..00
$1.29
24.3 lb. 2.8 sec.
1/1400
1/3000
$3,349.99
$3429.00
$3429.00
$2.79
Pro-7B 1200w/s
Profoto D4R 1200w/s
22 lb.
1.2 sec.
1/1000
1/7500
$5,599.99
$5760.00
$5760.00
$4.66
Pro-7S 1200w/s
20 lb.
0.9 sec.
1/2200
1/12000
$5,799.99
$5980.00
$5980.00
$4.83
Pro-7A 1200w/s
20 lb.
0.8 sec.
1/2200
1/12000
$6099.99
$6325.00
$6325.00
$5.09
13.4 lb. 2.9 sec.
1/320
1/1800
$1849.99
$1892.00
$1892.00
$0.77
Acute 2R 12.9 lb. 2.9 sec. 2400w/s
1/320
1/1800
$2199.99
$2258.00
$2258.00
$0.92
D4R 2400w/s
1/600
1/4500
$6103.00
$6103.00
$6103.00
$2.54
Acute2 2400w/s
25.4 lb. 2.2 sec.
Pro-7s 2400w/s
27 lb.
1.6 sec.
1/1600
1/8000
$6,699.99
$6992.00
$6992.00
$2.79
Pro-7A 2400w/s
27 lb.
1.5 sec.
1/1600
1/8000
$7299.99
$7581.00
$7581.00
$3.04
29.8 lb. 4.4 sec.
1/350
1/2700
$8699.99
$8882.00
$8882.00
$1.79
D4 4800w/s
Speedotron
Flash duration @ Max power
Flash duration @ min power
Retail calumet
B&H
Adorama
model
weight
recycle @ full power
405
5 lb.
1.3 sec.
1/500*
1/6000*
$479.99
$469.95
$449.95
$1.12
805
7.7 lb.
1.3 sec.
1/500*
1/5000*
$699.99
$649.95
$649.95
$0.81
1205cx
15 lb.
0.9 sec.
1/400*
1/5000*
$1,189.99
$1119.95
$1099.95
$0.92
24.8 lb. 3.5 sec.
1/825*
1/1700
$1,799.00
$1799.50
$1729.95
$1.15
Explorer 1500
2401sx
27 lb.
2 sec.
1/225*
1/3570*
$1,624.95
$1529.95
---
$0.64
2401sx FanCooled
27 lb.
2 sec.
1/225*
1/3570*
$1,629.99
---
$1549.95
$0.64
2405cx
23 lb.
2 sec.
1/225*
1/3570*
$1,669.99
$1649.95
$1614.95
$0.67
2403cx
28 lb.
2 sec.
1/225*
1/3570*
$1,669.99
$1649.95
$1619.95
$0.67
4803cx
42 lb.
4 sec.
1/175*
1/2000*
$2,299.99
$2268.95
$2250.00
$0.46
* Speedotron Flash durations vary depending which model # flash head is used. Speedotron is Made in the U.S.A. Speedotron price list can be found here: http://www.speedotron.com/BlkPrice.htm All images copyright of the respective manufacture. All data collected from the respective manufactures web sites and current as of 02/25/2008 All prices collected from the listed retailers web sites and current as of 02/25/2008 This document created 02/25/2008 for PhotoAssistant.Net web site and is to be used as a reference guide only. All information is subject to change with out notice.
James Sullivan
Digitally signed by James Sullivan DN: cn=James Sullivan, o=Toy Boxx Productions Inc., ou=PhotoAssistant.Net, [email protected], c=US Date: 2008.02.27 00:45:20 -05'00'
