New kind of flashgun: a stroke of genius?
Increasingly, manufacturers are looking to bridge the gap between mains studio flashes and portable battery-powered speedlights. The latest innovation comes from Dison, a Chinese maker of lighting equipment.
The Dison Genius X-series are a range of IGBT flashguns powered by AAs, lithium batteries, the mains or a car cigarette lighter. They feature LED modelling lamps, hotshoe mounts, LCD control panels and a built-in radio triggering system.
There are three models in the series, codenamed X-806, X-807 and X-808. All have LED modelling lamps, some powerful enough for use in video as well as stills. The casing can be in one of four colours, for any style-conscious photographers out there.
Specifications
| Model | X-806 | X-807 | X-808 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flash Energy | 200J | 200J | 250J |
| Guide Number | 42 | 42 | 50 |
| Recycle Time | 2.0 - 5.0 seconds | ||
| Flash Duration | 1/800 - 1/1500 seconds | ||
| Colour Temperature | 5500 ± 200K | ||
| Barndoors | No | Yes | Yes |
| Modelling Lamp | 3W | 18W | 18W |
Optional accessories available with all three lights include an AC mains adapter, a car socket adapter and a high capacity lithium battery. An umbrella bracket, radio trigger and AA battery box are included. There is a 6V DC power input and a mono sync jack on the underside of each flash.
No reviews have been published yet, but you can already find the Dison Genius series on eBay. The X806 (X200) goes for US$134.99 while the video-capable X808 (D250) costs $190.00. Click here to see the listings. Any early adopters? Thoughts? Let us know in the comments.
Update: The Dison Genius X-808 is now also available from DealExtreme.
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GN 42? Seriously?
I think it is a positive step forward. Though the ‘bronze’ look is not my style. I’ll be buying a test model.
I don’t see a bayonet for modifiers, which could be limiting. Otherwise, excellent! Should make useful hair or separation lights.
Well, if you use umbrella-type modifiers like Westcott Apollo and similars it should be fine. I use those type of modifiers when I use my speedlight or when I don’t want to carry my heavy studio strobes.
I think everybody is waiting if what they claim is true.
I’ve been saying for a long time that somebody should be making small DC flash units with “strobist” use in mind. I guess somebody finally has!
PS – If that’s a standard camcorder battery on top of the unit in picture one, that really IS genius.
Is that recycle time correct. Isn’t it 0.5-2s ?
The manufacturer’s site says one thing and the eBay listings another, so it’s hard to tell which is correct.
Wow, looks really nice for the price!
Will buy one and test it
For those who can read Chinese or trust google translate, here is a review in Chinese:
http://goo.gl/az9zY
You can find more photos there including a close-up of the LCD screen.
Thanks for the link!
First impression : Some interesting ideas, some major features missing.
The good :
Speedlight power
Runs off LIthium batteries as well as other sources… I’ve been suggesting this for years, as others have
LED video light in some models – though Canon and others offer this too
The bad
Speedlght power, not a monoblock flash in any real way
No speedring and unusual shape for a speedlght makes fitting many accessories difficult or impossible
No TTL
30m trigger range suggests old tech 433MHz which can be unreliable
Forget the form factor, its basically a YN560 with and LED light that can run off Lithium batteries.
250 Ws is not speedlight power, speedlights normally go into GN 42-58 with 100-105 mm zoom only to 25 degrees.
Speedlight is 25 degrees and this is may be 90 degrees, you need 16x more power to cover this area, so you need 750Ws studio strobe to go into GN 58 at 90 degrees.
Speedlights put out 50-80 Ws at best.
.
GN42 in meters or feet?
In metres.
David:
I found the X-808 at DealExtreme
http://www.dealextreme.com/p/250w-5500k-white-led-video-light-for-dslr-camera-113584
Greetings, José.
These look to be missing from eBay now – did they sell out, or pull them for another reason (New year?)
It is Chinese New Year so many sellers have nothing listed until near the end of the month.
It appears that on the same day this rumour was posted, these lights jumped 10% ($20 USD) in price.