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Bye bye Bowens

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Posted by jk: Wed Jul 19th, 2017 09:25

1^st Post

Another old favourite bites the dust.

https://www.dpreview.com/news/4986224561/bye-bye-bowens-the-94-year-old-lighting-company-is-going-into-liquidation

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Posted by amazing50: Wed Jul 19th, 2017 17:45

2^nd Post

They should have gotten into flash systems for smartphones. :lol:

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Posted by Eric: Sat Jul 22nd, 2017 14:15

3^rd Post

Have to say I got rid of my Bowens studio lights some time ago.

The low noise high ISO capability of most modern DSLRs has meant low light flash photography is less of a challenge. Right from the days of the D3 I was using strobes and an SU command unit ...instead of lugging my lights around.

The power output of the newer SB 800/900 strobes combined with higher ISO settings and the capability of the D3 were more than enough for my interior shoots of kitchens, bathrooms, bedrooms and meeting rooms.

Far more mobile and flexible.

Sorry Bowens. o.O

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Posted by jk: Sun Jul 23rd, 2017 09:52

4^th Post

I have moved to Goddox and Neweer as they may be lower quality but very much cheaper.
My Bowens Quad 2000 units that I had are slowly dying and are not replaced as new smaller lighter strobes provide better options.
Weight and portability are key these days!

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Posted by highlander: Mon Aug 21st, 2017 05:13

5^th Post

I think a lot of Bowens problems was price. I trained using Bowen's systems both in the studio and power packs for location shoots. I remember them being big and huge and the bulbs costing a fortune so we had to be really careful with them especially on location shoots.

When I set up my own studio I went for Elinchrom because they seemed to have a very similar level of reliability and quality but were a lot cheaper, both to purchase and in consumable items. I had a couple of Bowens soft boxes for them that I acquired from kindly donations to my start up, and a made an adapter to fit them to the Elinchrom light fittings.

It wasn't pretty but it worked.

I think there has been a huge move now towards portability. I regularly see photographers using multiple speed lights rather than semi portable studio flash. And of course the every increasing usuablility of high ISO's does mean that we really now only need a little fill-in often which can be done with speed lights.

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Posted by jk: Mon Aug 21st, 2017 07:54

6^th Post

I still have a pair of Bowens Quad 2000 units that work after 30-40years of use. I used to have a third unit but it died! No need to repair as the new Chinese units cost £150 and are tiny and are only about one stop less powerful.

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Posted by Eric: Mon Aug 21st, 2017 13:06

7^th Post

jk wrote:
I still have a pair of Bowens Quad 2000 units that work after 30-40years of use. I used to have a third unit but it died! No need to repair as the new Chinese units cost £150 and are tiny and are only about one stop less powerful.
When one of my Bowens units failed, I sent it back. They replaced it free of charge.... despite it being 3years old.

No wonder they went bust. :lol:

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