The ExplorerXT Rocks!

Just a short update to mention that I shot some pretty girl pics last night using the ExplorerXT as my power source. It was my first time using the gear since receiving it from Innovatronix.

I plan to write a full review of the product soon but, for now, I just wanted to say how impressed I was with the gear.

I hooked up with model, Jessica Vaughn, after driving back from attending the Model Showcase Event in Torrance, California. We shot at my pal, Rick Head's, house. Besides the opportunity to shoot Ms. Vaughn, which was a lot of fun, I wanted to use the opportunity to try out the ExplorerXT.

It was cold and Jessica was a real trooper in front of the camera, exposed to the chilly elements, only wearing that skimpy, sexy blue ensemble. I decided to use the ExplorerXT, coupled to its aux battery, to power two, Novatron, monolights. (An M500 and an M300, both fan-cooled.) I gotta say I was impressed with Jessica as well as Innovatronix's portable power gear! I shot about 150 pics over the course of nearly and hour, never changing how quickly I was snapping the shutter from my usual rate of capture. There seemed to be no noticeable difference in recycle time (from using A/C) for either monolight and, even towards the end of the series, I could detect no change in the recycle time. Because of the cold, coupled with Jessica's scant attire, I didn't shoot more: I Would have liked to have seen at what point the batteries started wearing down. I'll save that for the next time I use Innovatronix's gear.

It was liberating not having to shoot with lights tethered to A/C, still able to use the power of studio strobes as opposed to speedlites!

Anyway, just wanted to say that I think Innovatronix's portable power equipment rocks!

Since it was a dark night and very little ambient light was available, the monolights were powered up fairly high but this didn't seem to have had any (noticeable) effect on the strobe's recycle times.

I'll write more about Innovatronix's ExplorerXT in a future update. Just wanted to take a moment to report my initial reactions.

Jessica lit with a Novatron M500 modified with a Mola 33.5" Euro (for my mainlight) and a Novatron M300, boomed over her from the front of the old Ford pick-up, modified with a small, Chimera softbox. Canon 5D, 28-135 IS USM, ISO 100, f/5.6 @ 125th.