Hensel Contra-E

Excellent and reliable lights at a reasonable price. Bought them because they are used by many professionals and big studios in Europe plus they are inexpensive compared to competition.

powerful modeling lights one can turn the slave on or off large array of accessories

accessories are a bit expensive and soft box is quite difficult to assemble

Daylite; Strobo

have not needed it

I bought the 2 light set almost 2 years ago when Hensel just started to bring them into the US. Everything I could find out about them was good, including Hensel''''''''''''''''s reputation in Europe. None of the available monolights here in the states could match them for value and packaging. I also order a third light which I wanted to fit into the case. The Hensel setup allowed me to do that. I had some trouble with the first set of lights. Hensel had to make some modifications to the original design. They have now made the modifications and the lights are performing as expected with excellent reliability. Throughout my trouble with the lights, Hensel (and Samy''''''''''''''''s),stood behind them 100% and provide overnight replacement when necessary. They really stood behind the product!!! I still haven''''''''''''''''t figured out how to compare 500ws from one manufacturer to the next. But I can say that the 500ws lights have plenty of power and operate over at least a 5 f-stop range. The controls are simple and effective, easy to learn. Light output is consistant from shot to shot. Recharge times are as advertised. The case is nicely made and has enough storage for a third light and some extra ''''''''''''''''stuff'''''''''''''''', (half a dozen clamps and other misc things). The umbrellas are Vinyl. I wasn''''''''''''''''t too keen on this, but the light is nice and they are very durable. The light stands are portable light stands, say no more. But they do what they are intended to do.

Great light Truly portable Nice case

None after my initial problems

These are my first monolights

Excellent

I just bought these lights and I am very very impressed. I wanted to upgrade from my Novatron equipment so I called B&H and asked them for suggestions. They guy recommended these Hensel lights. They just started to sell over here in the USA. He told me that they were big in Europe, and are just starting to get popular in the US market. The price seemed very reasonable for the price they were asking. It was $900 for the two Monolight heads. Honestly I was very reluctant because I had never heard of Hensel before and I figured the salesman was just trying to get rid of them. But I decided to take a chance and see them for myself. To say the least, I was very happy when I opened the box. They are powerful, rugged, and easy to use. It’s a huge step up from my old Novatron gear. I don’t know how I ever got by without them. The only downside is many of the accessories are not in stock at B&H. I usually have to wait about two weeks to get them. It’s well worth the wait though. But lately it seems that they are carrying more stuff, so this is not as big an issue anymore. Here is a link to the Hensel Website: http://www.hensel.de/Englisch/Index.htm

German Durability Price Ease of Use Powerfull

Many accessories have to be specially ordered because they are not in stock.

Novatron

The Hensel monolights for sale in the US are known as the Integra line which for most practical purposes are the same as the Contra-E which is sold elsewhere in the world. These are GREAT LIGHTS that I feel are "sleepers" in the US photo strobe market.

1. Well built all metal, German made light; Price/Quality ratio is VERY High. A set of two Integra 500''s with case, stands(made for Hensel by Manfrotto) and umbrellas will run about $900-$1100 new. 2. 300w color corrected user replaceable Osram bulbs which can be used by themselves as a lower powered hotlight, most of the competing monolights use 250w max. If you change the modeling lights out I''d suggest using the Osram replacement and not the Ushio. 3. The photo-electric slave tube has a disable switch so that the unit won''t fire on it''s own unless you want it to. 4. Can be used overseas since the units are switchable 110V/220V. Note: a fuse will need to be changed as well for overseas use, not for the flash unit but for the modeling light. 5. Control panel will glow in the dark so that the settings are visible when the modeling lights are not in use. 6. Power output is handled by a detented power out knob rather than an infiniate slider which I state as a strenght since each detent will replicate 1/10th of a stop. I have checked this out with my meter at length and it is Very reliable. Helps to duplicate lighting conditions if the set is torn down and

Even though Hensel is highly respected and well known in Europe it is not as well known in the US.

1. Various Photogenic Powerlights and powerpack/lighthead systems. (I still own some) 2. White Lightning Ultra''s 3. Various Norman equipment 4. Speedotron Brownline/Blackline 5. Novatron

Hensel keeps their lights costs down by owning "Performing Light", who markets Hensel lights in the US and not using a independant US distributor. All correspondence that I have had with Performing L

The Hensel monolights for sale in the US are known as the Integra line which for most practical purposes are the same as the Contra-E which is sold elsewhere in the world. These are GREAT LIGHTS that I feel are "sleepers" in the US photo strobe market.

1. Well built all metal, German made light; Price/Quality ratio is VERY High. A set of two Integra 500''s with case, stands(made for Hensel by Manfrotto) and umbrellas will run about $900-$1100 new. 2. 300w color corrected user replaceable Osram bulbs which can be used by themselves as a lower powered hotlight, most of the competing monolights use 250w max. If you change the modeling lights out I''d suggest using the Osram replacement and not the Ushio. 3. The photo-electric slave tube has a disable switch so that the unit won''t fire on it''s own unless you want it to. 4. Can be used overseas since the units are switchable 110V/220V. Note: a fuse will need to be changed as well for overseas use, not for the flash unit but for the modeling light. 5. Control panel will glow in the dark so that the settings are visible when the modeling lights are not in use. 6. Power output is handled by a detented power out knob rather than an infiniate slider which I state as a strenght since each detent will replicate 1/10th of a stop. I have checked this out with my meter at length and it is Very reliable. Helps to duplicate lighting conditions if the set is torn down and

Even though Hensel is highly respected and well known in Europe it is not as well known in the US.

1. Various Photogenic Powerlights and powerpack/lighthead systems. (I still own some) 2. White Lightning Ultra''s 3. Various Norman equipment 4. Speedotron Brownline/Blackline 5. Novatron

Hensel keeps their lights costs down by owning "Performing Light", who markets Hensel lights in the US and not using a independant US distributor. All correspondence that I have had with Performing L