It is always best when I write about a product that is part of my domain of expertise. Actually, it's brilliant when that happens, because I can relate if the specifications are just bluffs or real. This following product, or better said product pack, comes from Lastolite and is a dual softbox lighting kit, recently announced as being available by JP Distribution.

Named Lastolite Lumen8 SV 400W, it comes to provide enthusiasts and prosumers with a two-head softbox kit. The package contains two regular 60 x 60 cm soft boxes, as well as the strobe heads needed to pump light through the modifiers. Sadly, the manufacturer does not mention whether the 400W tag in the kit's name is the total power or if each of the strobe heads are rated for 400W.

That's why I will just have to assume that, like the majority, 400W is the total power, giving 200 watts per second for each head, which, come to think about it, is more than enough knowing that an external camera flash has about 40 watts per second, 60 watts per second at most. Another thing that the manufacturer (intentionally, probably) forgot to mention is the power adjustment for the heads, if it's 1/3EV stepping, 1/2 and how low one can turn the power down (ie. 1/16th), so these just might have only full power option, therefore having to use neutral density filters if you want to shoot a wider aperture, or they only go between 1/1 and 1/4 of the power.

With the technical specifications unavailable, the only thing left to say is that the kit comes complete with two light stands, as well as two carrying cases, namely one for the light stands and one for the strobe heads. I could also tell you that you can use this kit for both cross-lighting, with or without the softboxes, as well as employing one light as a key, and one with the softbox off for a kicker. Pricing for this comes at a way too high point of $769.


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