Flashpoint Studio 400 Monolight with Built-in R2 2.4GHz Radio Remote System - Bowens Mount (SK400II)

I bought 2 right off the bat and one was failed right out of the box, however, Adorama was great to deal with. Anyway, the unit need the flashpoint r-2 transmiter for your camera hotshoe to get the best results but you can use it with any plug in receiver with the right jack but you have to change the settings manually at that point. So, with the R-2 transmitter on your camera, you can change the output right from your camera with the transmitter OR with my Canon 80D, you can go into the flash settings right from there as well but no need to because the transmitter works well. I have used it for outdoor shots and indoor shots and I really like the mono light. It is 400ws (they stay) which is enough for me. although I don't have a way to test that. Keep in mind..it is really beginner level. Read the adjustments that can be made. It only goes down to 16 but it does it in 1/3rd from 1-1 to 1/16. so if you're learning OCF,or doing portraits with one light or a couple, it works very well. I am impressed enough to buy more..when money is available. I can't afford Ab's or Einstein's or the top dog yet that can be adjusted with pocket wizzards etc. so this system, for the price. Does just fine for me. Attached shot is a quick shot of the grandskids so I could test the light.

It didn't come with a manual, so I had to search online to determine whether or not I had set up the slave mode correctly. After some camera adjustment, I was able to get it working ok with the Canon 80d. The Preflash rejection doesn't work unless auto WB is turned off. I contacted Adorama for support, but they were unable to assist at all with this, even after talking with 3 separate people by phone, chat and email. One even told me that they couldn't help me because this model isn't released yet. ??? Kind of disappointing given I'd heard good things about their CS reputation, which was a factor in going with this over Godox.Despite the trouble, I upgraded from 2 to 3 stars. It's an ok product if you don't rely on the camera's optical trigger. I didn't want or need to spend the money on wireless, so I got a hot shoe PC adapter. (PC sync cable was included with the flash)The limitation of 1/16 is a minor bummer, but one that I felt needed to be addressed in buying a second light.Purchased a Godox GS II as a second light instead of another Flashpoint. Not available through Amazon for some reason, but for only slightly more money the GS II has 1/32 power, which is a benefit to me.

I have had this product for over a month already, and it has not dissapointed me! I am not an expert in terms of photography and strobes, but I upgraded from Youngnuo and Flashpoint flashes to this strobe because I needed more power in my Studio setup, and most of the time I use the strobe at minimun power or 8/16. It works great with the R2 transmitter and with other flashes brands setting them to slave mode.I would love this strobe to be rechargeable, but the ones that have that feature cost 3, 4, 5 times more than this light.Button line is... For the price, the power, compatibility I give 5 stars to this light.There is something else to mention, though. It has happened like three times that I set my camera and the flash exposure and it looks well exposed. Then when I take the next shot, the picture exposure is different to what the previous one is. I don't know wheter it is my camera, the flash or may technique, though.I will update this review if something weird happens to it.

These are very reliable and powerful for studio use. I have 4 of these units and they have not failed me yet. I don't use TTL for my studio work as I often use multiple lights and various set ups. I always manually meter each light. These lights are an excellent buy for the beginner to pro photographer. I am a pro, yet I like to stretch my dollars and buy quality products not for the name but for the compatibility with one another and quality. I have the xplor 600 strobe and I can control all of them from one controller from Flashpoint. Not much at all to complain about especially for such a very reasonable price with such a powerful strobe. The only 'nice to have' is I wish it would allow for more light intensity control. I can go all the way to 1/256 of power on my Xplor 600 but only 1/16 power on these. That sometimes causes a minor hiccup when I'm adjusting power and have to remember that these don't go further than 1/16 power despite my controller going way below that. Not a big deal. Just important to know. Have fun and good luck.

I ordered a very similar light from a different manufacturer and it arrived with an E1 overheat "brick" error right out of the box. I sent that one back and ordered this one from Adorama. Very powerful flash. It had no problem lighting the room I used it with in my home. In fact, I used it on it's lowest setting (1/8) and I still have to move the light back from my subject because it was so powerful. FYI- I was using a double-filtered lightbox with it. At the lowest setting, the recharge rate was less than a second so, it provided for some very snappy photography work. I didn't use the modeling lamp much but, it doesn't allow it to be used at a static output or at a fraction to the flash bulb. Optical sensor worked easily enough. I used paired it with transceivers so I wouldn't have to be tethered to it the whole time. I'm excited to use it again.

I thought this would be a nice value add for my studio. I have been using AD600 and AD200's which work great, but thought a corded option would be nice to not have to worry about batteries. It is a nice flash it does not recycle as fast as my battery powered flashes (which I found odd). I find myself waiting a extra 1/2 second for it to catch up, thru my rhythm off at first

I am in love with this light. Very nice power and the recycle time is nice and quick. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is that the modeling light isn't very strong. Unless you have the ambient light very very low you won't be seeing the modeling light very well. I love that I can use this with my Godox XPro flash triggers. Flashpoint and Godox are the same thing so you can use Flashpoint lights with Godox triggers and vice versa.