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JTL Versalight 300 Monolights

2.4/5 (5 Reviews)

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Product Description

  • 300 watt seconds output
  • Guide no: 200ft/60m @ ISO 100
  • 5600k
  • Recycle time: 2-4 seconds
  • Flash duration: 1/600-1/1000 second
  • Built-in slave
  • Power settings: 1/4, 1/2, 3/4, full
  • 150 watt modeling lamp


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    Reviews 1 - 5 (5 Reviews Total)

    User Reviews

    Overall Rating:4
    Value Rating:4
    Submitted by Anna Cascio a Intermediate

    Date Reviewed: November 14, 2008

    Strengths:    Reliability
    Ease of operation
    Smooth, no jagged edges or sharp corners like some other lights
    Light weight
    No problem being strong enought to hold 6foot softbox

    Weaknesses:    Expensive bulbs
    Can't dial the lighting down far enough

    Bottom Line:   
    I have been using the versalight 300 for about one year, always with a softbox for portraiture. It has been extremely reliable. I only wish that I could dial it down, since I can't move it far enough away from my subjects at times due to my studio size limitations(no problem if I could go below my sync speed!) Thanks for the info re: shocks- I am astounded. Thank goodness I was standing on an area rug when I did a shoot on a cement floor. I always use it as my main light, with either white lightnings or alien bees (second year photography student, so don't want to invest in more strobes until I figure out which ones are better for me). I was leaning towards buying two more versalights until I read about the shock issues.

    Expand full review >>

    Duration Product Used:   2-5 years

    Price Paid:    $330.00

    Purchased At:   camera store, pa

    Similar Products Used:   White lightings
    Alien bees

    Type of photography:   People

    Overall Rating:1
    Value Rating:1
    Submitted by motophoto a Expert

    Date Reviewed: April 12, 2004

    Weaknesses:    Poor customer service and denial of the problem even though I read here where others have had the same issue before. AVOID THIS COMPANY

    Bottom Line:   
    The flash itself works well and I have not had any serious failures. However there is one serious design flaw. When used with a sync cord the flash head leaks almost 30 volts through the cord to the camera and to you if you touch anything metal on the camera and ground yourself. Such as touching anything metal or concrete. Thus it shocks you.

    Expand full review >>

    Duration Product Used:   2-5 years

    Price Paid:    $350.00

    Purchased At:   online photo store

    Type of photography:   People

    Overall Rating:1
    Value Rating:1
    Submitted by TLPhotography a Professional

    Date Reviewed: November 14, 2003

    Strengths:    Works well when working

    Weaknesses:    Too many problems with the light not working

    Bottom Line:   
    I have owned the JTL 300 monolight for just over a year and have returned it to the factory for repair twice. I feel that the light is not dependable and that the quality control at the factory is lacking.

    Expand full review >>

    Duration Product Used:   21+ years

    Purchased At:   Garland Camera

    Similar Products Used:   None at this point

    Type of photography:   People

    Overall Rating:1
    Value Rating:3
    Submitted by John Steven a Professional

    Date Reviewed: October 20, 2003

    Strengths:    Compact, fair price

    Weaknesses:    ELECTRICAL HAZARD! Not as full featured as the Versalight 800 or the Calumet Travelight 375.

    Bottom Line:   
    It was a choice between the JTL and the Calumet, in terms of cost, features and accessories. I felt that the JTL was a good deal, and had just what I needed in terms of the 3-head kit. Overall, this monolight worked well, but I was dissapointed in the features when compared to the 800WS units. The real kicker, though, was that I discovered that all three JTL monolights (Versalight series) are electrical hazards. CAUTION: you may get shocked quite severely if you use these lights. I found this out by getting a good shock when doing a portrait session in a studio with a concrete floor. I was wearing shorts and knelt down to get a better angle on the subject and as soon as my knee touched the floor, I felt a strong electrical current run through my arms via the camera. I measured 85 volts AC between the sync cable outer connector and earth ground. THIS IS NOT NORMAL!! I tried contacting the JTL company twice but did not receive a response.

    Expand full review >>

    Duration Product Used:   11-20 years

    Similar Products Used:   Calumet Travelight

    Type of photography:   People

    Overall Rating:5
    Value Rating:5
    Submitted by adamrendon a Intermediate from San Antonio, TX

    Date Reviewed: April 30, 2003

    Strengths:    Craftsmanship, and versatility are stand- outs right out of the box. JTL lights come with many extra features that serious photographers with need, like the internal slave sensory, cooling fan, strong modeling lamp and more.

    Weaknesses:    I see no weaknesses yet, only time will tell.

    Bottom Line:   
    Although I've only owned my JTL Versalite 300's for less than a month, I've had many opportunities with my modeling shoots to see just how well they would hold up. And thus for I'm impressed with it's full features and power. These lights are professional grade at a very reasonable price.

    Expand full review >>

    Duration Product Used:   2-5 years

    Price Paid:    $589.00

    Purchased At:   EBay

    Similar Products Used:   All my old stuff doesn't even come close.

    Type of photography:   People


    Reviews 1 - 5 (5 Reviews Total)

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