The Definitive Guide to the Flashpoint eVOLV 200: Part 1

Written by Jim Lafferty
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Published on April 10, 2018
eVOLV 200
eVOLV 200
Jim Lafferty
Adorama ALC

In the latter half of 2016, rumors emerged of the new light being released — not just a new model or brand, a new kind of light. It seemed promising, but at the time we weren’t quite sure what to make of it. In a short while since its release mid-2017, it has become clear: a single eVOLV obliterates the speedlight category of lights in output, while packing in a similar weight and volume.

eVOLV 200
The eVOLV offers two creative approaches. At left, as a solo unit. The high efficiency reflector shown here is not included with the standard eVOLV package but can be had cheaply — it offers a 30-degree spread, clean shadow edges, capable of metering at about f/9, ISO 100 from 10ft away. At right is the eVOLV in its twin bracket configuration — used this way, you either gain a stop of output, or remain at the same output while halving your recycle times. (Photo by Jim Lafferty)

Doubled up, with the addition of a twin head adapter, you have a powerful single light that functions as a monolight with a respectable 400ws output, complete with the bonus addition of a decent LED modeling light; and with a second bracket you can play the two eVOLVs off each other separately for key and fill lighting, fantastic for location headshots and portraiture.

eVOLV 200
At left, the eVOLV, with the included fresnel head, is only a bit larger than a classic SB-800 speedlight, yet packs 2x-3x the output power. At right, the eVOLV’s li-ion battery, like a blocky D cell, promises up to 520 full power discharges — working at half or quarter power, I’ve found the battery lasts 2-3 commissioned jobs per charge. The entire unit is self-contained, with an integrated receiver, requiring no cables or dongles, and near zero setup time. (Photo by Jim Lafferty)

The packing size, integrated wireless receiver, ease of use, small-yet-powerful battery all make for a fun package, returning photography to a more liberating creative rhythm, rather than an exercise in frustration. The eVOLV’s approach has kicked off a new wave of portable strobe lighting, the form factor is so wildly appealing it has even forced premium brands into the fray, looking to get their cut. This article series is my introduction to the first, and for now best of the world’s smallest studio strobes.

In this three part series I’ll be giving you the lowdown on the original “pocket studio” flash, and show you how I use it to deliver high end studio results on location.

eVOLV Overview

The eVOLV is a 200 watt-second light, but disconnected from context this number can be deceptive. Speedlight manufacturers have long taken advantage of the fresnel bulb design to inflate output numbers of their products, which usually hover in the 70-90 watt-seconds. The fresnel creates a concentrated output that, when metered at the center, creates the impression of a light that seems to punch well above its weight.

However, in practice, when coverage is factored in, placing a speedlight inside a proper modifier and dispersing the fresnel output across a useful area, the anemic quality of a its output becomes apparent. For years it has been common strategy to gang up two or three speedlights in a specialized-yet-awkward bracket, add a high speed recycler, and call the whole mess “portable”. In short time, the weight advantages that drew some of us to work with speedlights shrinks considerably (to say nothing of cost). Never mind the setup times or finicky nature of the brackets and modifiers required to get the job done, given the right strategy and patience, we’ve been coaxing great results from this gear.

The eVOLV, in a single, streamlined move, acts as a corrective to all of these headaches:

eVOLV 200
Pictured here is a comparison of the modifier filling capabilities of a single eVOLV, with its bare bulb option attached (left), versus a typical speedlight, at its broadest 24mm zoom (right). Both were placed inside a 7ft silver umbrella with diffusion. While it is true that a good image can be created in either instance, the speedlight has effectively turned the 7ft umbrella into something resembling a 36” octa. In addition to filling the modifier more consistently, the eVOLV’s output – ISO200, f/10 – came in at a full stop over the speedlight. (Photo by Jim Lafferty)

The eVOLV seeks to be the ideal compact location light in two ways: it puts more power behind each discharge of the light, at a factor of 2-3x relative to a speedlight (modifier depending), at a recycle speed which ranges from an acceptable 2.1 seconds at full power, to downright amazing at powers ¼ and below; it also offers the option of an included bare bulb head. The short of the bare bulb is that, when employed properly, it can move from very high efficiency (using this reflector), to broad coverage (entirely bare), filling space at your location or a large modifier like this 7ft umbrella and its diffuser with the kind of flattering, consistent light we hope to work with using a soft source. At just over two pounds, and almost the same size of a typical speedlight, packing, traveling and working with the eVOLV opens up new creative possibilities.

eVOLV 200
When you purchase a base eVOLV kit, included are: 1) the standard fresnel head, 2) this light stand mount and umbrella bracket, 3) the bare bulb head, 4) the eVOLV body, 5) not pictured – the li-ion battery embedded inside the body, 6) the charger, 7) and finally, a small carrying case with a molded foam divider. I highly suggest in addition to the base kit, that you buy at least this compact, high output reflector, and the twin bracket. Even if you intend to just work with the eVOLV in its solo configuration, the bracket, at just $40 more than the standard Bowens S bracket, includes a decent LED modeling light, and of course, room to grow with a second eVOLV added to your kit sometime down the line. (Photo by Jim Lafferty)

 

Keep an eye out for Part 2 of this series, where I will go deeper on the eVOLV’s capabilities, and expand the information about the Twin Head Adapter. Part 3 will demonstrate using the eVOLV in three distinctly different lighting scenarios.

Jim works to fuse technical savvy with a love for spontaneity. He is a regular contributor to Dance Magazine, Pointe, and Dance Teacher, where his photo stories capture unrehearsed and fleeting moments. In Jim’s Brooklyn studio he crafts iconic images, drawing on a decade of experience in the photo industry. To see more of his work, visit http://jimlafferty.com, or follow him on Instagram @jimlafferty.