‘there are some jobs better lef_t to power packs’
I
was on the phone the other
2000 in the mid 70’s. They went on to
power department. This pack is a
day, talking to a chap about build the Quadmatic series that ran
tough little cookie, well built and
power. You know the from the early 80’s through to the mid
designed to take a bit of hammer.
conversation; “what power do I 90’s. All great packs, mostly with four
need?” On one hand he wanted to head sockets although you very rarely
As the name suggest, the pack has a
be able to shoot anything. On the
saw them being used with more than
maximum power of 2400Ws that you
other he didn’t want to spend any
two heads.
can channel through one head. This
money (no change there I thought).
is one of the key reasons to use a
And nearly every studio you went in
pack, having that much power to
“This guy wants to shoot big product at that time seemed to use a pack
drive the largest soft box, ideal for
stuff”, he says. “Up to a full size car, system to shoot everything. I
shooting big stuff.
would you believe?”. And there we remember photographers telling me
were talking about whether he should that they never wanted to turn down You need a degree in computers to
buy 500’s or 750’s! I said to him a job, so having that extra power in work some packs on the market
“don’t just think monoblocs, think the studio was a must have. these days, but not the Quad 2400, it
packs”. “Packs”, he says, “why couldn’t be simpler to use. Its design
would I need a pack”? We don’t seem to use packs as much harks back to the good old days of
these days, but I really don’t know the Quadmatic when you could just
With that conversation still ringing in why. Having one head that you can look at a pack and understand how to
my ears, I thought it was worth channel all your power through can work it in seconds!
sharing a few facts about power be a real bonus and take the pain out
packs with you. For years we’ve of having to set up and balance lots
bought monoblocs and for most of of smaller monoblocs.
the time they do a great job. However,
there are some jobs better left to One of my favourite packs
power packs. in the Bowens range is the
Quad 2400, a power pack
Bowens have made some great that’s been around for a few
packs over the years and I remember years now, but still a bit
when they brought out the first Quad underrated in my opinion,
though certainly not in the
Steve Aves has been in the photographic industry
for over 30 years and is an expert on studio lighting.
He runs a lighting consultancy advising on studio
design, running training programmes for beginners
as well as writing articles and reviews about lighting
equipment. steveaves@tiscali.co.uk
04 www.bowens.co.uk
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36