Walimex any good?

[RalphLambrecht]

I'm tempted by what I read about the Walimex Newcomer Pro Monolights. Can anyone share their experience? I'm looking for durable and simple

 

[AgX]

Walimex is a pure importer. Aiming at a pricesensitive clientele.

If you have a good look at their products you will recognize same flashes sold under different brands elsewhere in the world. So you have more tradenames to look for. Walimex products seemingly mostly are sold to the german market.

 

[AgX]

I got a Walimex monoblock set myself. Got it used for cheap, knowing about its current condition, thus I can't complain.

In case of having it bought new I would say it is shit. Monoblocs and reflectors were painted in that soft-touch varnish that deteriorated into a sticky layer in a few years up to the flashes not usable any longer.


But we know this issue even from Nikon...


Also some cables from the remote control units need repair.
I do not know the current version. My advise: do not buy anything even new until at least having all at hand before.

 

[AgX]

But to put things into perspective:
Bowens cancelled their operations. Even having their flashes manufactured in China too, did not safe them.
Multiblitz, one of the founders of electronic flash photography, the inventor of the guidenumber, and with manufacture and service in Cologne, has gone bancrupt.

 

[RalphLambrecht]

I bought expensive high-quality from Hensel in the past and got unreliable junk. Might as well try Walimex and see...

 

[AgX]

What was wrong with the Hensel flashes? The electronics?

 

[RalphLambrecht]

What was wrong with the Hensel flashes? The electronics?

the battery of the rechargable 'Porty units was always empty or dead.

 

[RalphLambrecht]

Ijust got a Walimx Newcomer150 and I'm impressed with its simplicity

 

[RalphLambrecht]

I'm tempted by what I read about the Walimex Newcomer Pro Monolights. Can anyone share their experience? I'm looking for durable and simple

I bought one now and I am extremely happy with it made in China is a new meaning to me now.

 

[RalphLambrecht]

I bought expensive high-quality from Hensel in the past and got unreliable junk. Might as well try Walimex and see...

I'm 6months into it now and so far the Newcomer Pro unit is nothing but excellent and reliable;best flash unit I ever had!

 

[RalphLambrecht]

I got a Walimex monoblock set myself. Got it used for cheap, knowing about its current condition, thus I can't complain.

In case of having it bought new I would say it is shit. Monoblocs and reflectors were painted in that soft-touch varnish that deteriorated into a sticky layer in a few years up to the flashes not usable any longer.


But we know this issue even from Nikon...


Also some cables from the remote control units need repair.
I do not know the current version. My advise: do not buy anything even new until at least having all at hand before.

I've got mine for about a year now and it still looks ad works perfectly.

 

[fs999]

I use since 10 years 4 Walimex Pro VC 300 and 400. One of them doesn't work after 8 years. Cannot complain.
I have 2 soft boxes, a beauty dish (very important for portrait), a snooze and a spot.
The problem of the entry level Newcomer is the modelling lamp : 75 Watt. The VC and VE have 150 Watt lamps.
The only advantage of VE is the integrated radio control. I use an Apurture Trigmaster to trigger one flash and the other are triggered by the first flash light.