The Generation X flash series, the first new lighting products from Bowens since its recent acquisition by Aurelius, will come in two branches; XMT, suited for on-the-go location shooting, and XMS, built for studio work. The battery-powered XMT will be compatible with Canon, Nikon and Sony mounts. The off-camera XMS, meanwhile, will make use of Bowens’ Sync Offset system that will reportedly allow it to be used with any brand of camera without issue.
The XMT system will come in a 500 watt model, featuring TTL and high speed sync functionality (up to 1/8000s), 9 stops of flash power, fast recycle times and flash durations of 1/10309s. It’ll hold 500 full power shots per charge and rear curtain sync, sync delay and strobe mode allow for good shooting on the go. The XMS, meanwhile, is available in 500, 750 and 1000 watt models will feature multi-voltage operation and faster recycle times and longer flash durations.
The XMT 500w is £1,199, and the XMS 500 is £799, the XMS 750 is £899, and XMS 1000 is £999.
XMT 500
XMS 1000
Full press release
Bowens International has launched the first tranche of products in its new Generation X flash range.
The innovative units, described as ‘revolutionary and game changing’ by the company’s technical director, will debut at photokina and mark a renaissance for the legacy lighting manufacturer that was recently acquired by Aurelius – a leading pan-European investment organization.
Generation X comprises two new flash systems: XMT – an all-in-one battery unit for location lighting, and XMS – engineered to be the go-to system for photographers who need function-rich and completely reliable flash in the studio.
Announcing the launch, David Hollingsworth, marketing manager, said: “Generation X is just the first step in relaunching Bowens to the imaging world. These barrier-breaking new products combine state of the art technology and cutting edge design and are the result of many months of very intensive market research and product development. They will be the vanguard of our plans for ongoing and regular new-unit roll-outs in coming months and years.”
John Gass, technical director said: “Generation X is the result of a highly-focused analysis of what our customers have been telling us they need. These units are revolutionary, game changing products which we believe are absolutely unbeatable in their class in terms of functionality, aesthetics and cost.”
He added: “For many decades Bowens has been renowned for quality, reliability and value for money. Customers frequently describe our products as their ‘workhorses’ in the studio and on location. Now the workhorse has been transformed into a stallion; and our ‘all-day long at full power, testing the XMS flash every five seconds’ – programme, executed over consecutive days, provided evidence that we couldn’t even force this product to overheat.”
Generation X – at a glance:
The all-new 500Ws XMT boasts TTL and high speed sync functionality (up to 1/8000s) compatible with Canon, Nikon and Sony cameras: 9-stops of flash power adjustment; flash durations as short as 1/10309s: faster recycle times than ever before (as rapid as 0.01s): easy swap lithium-ion battery provides up to 500 full power flashes per charge: rear curtain sync; sync delay and strobe mode allow creative set-ups on the move.
The XMS, available in 500,750 and 1000Ws models (all fully controllable via the XMSR 2.4 Ghz radio control and trigger) features multi-voltage operation. These units offer outstanding specification with faster recycling times and flash durations. The XMSR model includes groundbreaking Bowens ‘Sync Offset’ functionality, enabling photographers to embrace any brand of camera to shoot at high sync speeds – up to 1/8000s.
Retail prices for the XMS series: XMS 500: £799, incl. VAT: XMS 750: £899 incl. VAT: XMS 1000: £999 incl. VAT.
Retail price for the XMT 500: £1,199 incl. VAT.
Added Hollingsworth: “We believe these are simply the best lights in their class available on the market today. New-look Bowens is creating beautifully designed and engineered products bespoke-tailored to our customers’ needs.”
