Bowens Esprit Gemini 200 home studio flash

Photo answers review

Photo answers rating

This ‘Studio in a box’ kit is comprehensive but easy to use. It’s a clear winner when it comes to build quality – as solid as they come – and this inspires confidence if you’re intending to take the units out on location or just want a kit that’ll last.
Controls are spot-on, too – very easy to use and setting the standard to which affordable lighting kits should aspire. Users control the power via a single rotary dial, which allows you to quickly change output from full to 1/4 power during a shoot. The one downside of having the dial is that it doesn’t give you pinpoint control over your power settings.
In terms of portability, the whole kit (heads, stands and brollies) fits into the supplied bag but unless you get it in perfectly, the zip has a tendency to split open after a while. The other problem is that the bag is fairly long (at 91cm) so you may struggle to fit it in your car boot.
The high standard of build quality, both for the heads and the supplied accessories, is top notch and easy-to-use from the moment you unpack it first time. The kit also produces excellent light too, making this a great all-round kit for beginners and advanced photographers alike.

Kit includes
2 flash heads (200W each; 5250k)
1.3sec recycle time
2 stands
2 umbrellas
1 padded bag big enough for whole kit