UK flash manufacturer Bowens will use the PhotoPlus Expo to launch its new range of Generation X flash heads in the USA. The new range has a completely new design and features a portable model that is powered by an in-body rechargeable battery.
There are four heads in the new range: the XMT 500, XMS 500, XMS 750 and XMS 1000, all of which offer radio controlled triggering and control via new on-camera transceiver XMSR Trigger. The XMS mono-block heads are designed for indoor and in-studio use while the XMT 500 takes a removable lithium ion cell that the company claims delivers up to 500 full power bursts per charge. This portable head also offers TTL control for Canon, Nikon and Sony users.
All of the new heads have a high speed sync mode that allows shutter speeds as short a 1/8000sec, and the XMSR radio remote allows such high speed shooting with any brand of camera. The XMT 500 has a minimum flash duration of 1/10,309sec, and the XMS heads have shortest durations of 1/5180sec, 1/4800sec and 1/4400sec, which makes them all suitable for freezing action and moving subjects.
The XMS 500 has 7 stops of adjustable power, while the XMS 750 and XMS 1000 offer 8 stops. The XMT can manage 9 stops and has a lowest output of just 2Ws. The battery-operated head has recycle times of between 0. 01 and 2 seconds, and the XMS 1000 can also recover from a full power burst in 2 seconds. Bowens claims each of the heads has a flash-to-flash consistency of +/-30°K and +/-0. 05 stops.
Bowens is particularly proud of a new adjustment lever that allows the heads to be tilted very quickly without the user having to wind open a bolt. The new lever just flips open to allow the angle of the head to be adjusted and then flips back to lock the head in position.
XMT 500 $1,799. 99/
XMS 500 $1,099. 99/
XMS 750 $1,299. 99/
XMS 1000 $1,499. 99/
XMSR Trigger $ 289. 99
For more information see the Bowens website.
Press release
Bowens Launches Game Changing Generation X Flash Range
Upper Saddle River, N. J. (October 5, 2016) – Manfrotto Distribution, Inc. , distributor of Bowens products in the United States, proudly announces the launch of the new Generation X flash range by Bowens. These innovative units will debut in the U. S. at PhotoPlus Expo in New York City later this month and mark a renaissance for the legacy lighting manufacturer.
Generation X comprises two new flash systems: XMT – an all-in-one battery unit for location lighting and XMS – engineered to be the go-to system for photographers who need a function-rich and completely reliable flash in the studio.
Announcing the launch, David Hollingsworth, Marketing Manager, said, “Generation X is just the first step in relaunching Bowens to the imaging world. These barrier-breaking new products combine state-of-the-art technology and cutting-edge design and are the result of many months of very intense market research and product development. They will be the vanguard of our plans for ongoing and regular new unit roll-outs in coming months and years. ”
Added Hollingsworth, “We believe these are simply the best lights in their class available on the market today. New-look Bowens is creating beautifully designed and engineered products, tailored to our customers’ needs. ”
John Gass, Technical Director said, “Generation X is the result of highly-focused analysis of our customers’ feedback through the years. These new units are revolutionary products which we believe are absolutely unbeatable in their class in terms of functionality, aesthetics and cost. ”
He added, “For decades, customers have frequently described our products as ‘workhorses’ in the studio and on location. Now the workhorse has been transformed into a stallion; we tested the XMS at full power every five seconds over consecutive days and we couldn’t force this product to overheat. ”
Generation X – at a glance:
The all-new 500Ws XMT boasts TTL and high speed sync functionality (up to 1/8000s) compatible with Canon, Nikon and Sony cameras: 9-stops of flash power adjustment; flash durations as short as 1/10309s: faster recycle times than ever before (as rapid as 0. 01s): easy swap lithium-ion battery provides up to 500 full power flashes per charge: rear curtain sync; sync delay and strobe mode allow creative set-ups on the move.
The XMS, available in 500,750 and 1000Ws models (all fully controllable via the XMSR 2. 4 Ghz radio control and trigger) features multi-voltage operation. These units offer outstanding specification with faster recycling times and flash durations. The XMSR model includes groundbreaking Bowens ‘Sync Offset’ functionality, enabling photographers to embrace any brand of camera to shoot at high sync speeds – up to 1/8000s.
The following models will be available this fall:
XMT 500 $1,799. 99
XMS 500 $1,099. 99
XMS 750 $1,299. 99
XMS 1000 $1,499. 99
XMSR Trigger $ 289. 99
For additional information or to learn more about Bowens products, visit: https://www. manfrotto. us/bowens.
2016-10-7 21:58