Photo answers review
Photo answers rating 
The BXRi range differs from previous Elinchrom systems by featuring built-in Skyport triggering and control. The system was actually introduced by Elinchrom a few years back as a plug-in accessory for both the RX series lights and also any other heads via the sync cable. The basic principle of Skyport is that you can fire and control the lights from the top of your camera. This is achieved by using the Skyport transmitter that sits on your camera’s hotshoe. From here, you can increase and decrease the flash power, modelling light and, of course, fire the flashes. The system allows lights to be grouped so that you can control them as sets or individually. Before BXRi, you would need a receiver for each flash head, but the new heads have it built in.
The kit is available in a few combinations, utilising the 250w and 500w versions of the BXRi heads. The 500/500 kit contains the two 500w heads, a pair of clip-lock stands, two portalite 66cm square softboxes and carry bags for both. You also get the Skyport transmitter and optional sync cables.
Quality is really obvious in the flash heads, as they are made from high impact-resistant plastic and feature a rubberised handgrip with neat built-in fuse storage. For temperature control, the heads offer fan cooling that automatically regulates, so the flash can be used for longer periods of time. The fan is quite loud compared to the previous flash head designs, but you soon get used to it.
Other features on the BXRi heads include a Proportional Modelling lamp Setup (PMS), that gives better visual proportionality so you can get an idea of what effects you will achieve from the flash. If you are firing the flash heads with your camera’s built-in flash the new Eye-Cell technology can identify and filter out any red-eye reduction pre-flashes that are commonplace on built-in flashes, and so prevent premature triggering of the heads before the shutter opens. Visual Flash Control (VFC) is another new feature of BXRi. This switches off the modelling lamp when the flash is recharging so you can see when it is ready to shoot again. You can also use charge-ready beep set-up, enabling you to set the length of time the lights’ ready beep sounds for.
The two Portalite 66cm square softboxes are basic but great accessories. They are quite versatile and well made, considering that they are a budget product. These are the only head accessories supplied with this kit, which is a real shame because it would have been really useful to have a pair of reflectors included. This would allow for more variations in lighting, when you don’t want to use a softbox.
PerformanceWe found the BXRi kit really easy to use thanks to the simple control layout, which will be familiar to Elinchrom users. Setting up the Skyport was a great deal easier than we expected it to be, and credit should be given to Elinchrom for including a quick set-up card with the instructions. It took a little while to get used to controlling the lights from the top of the camera, but once you’ve had a play it comes naturally. Putting two or three of these kits together would create a truly brilliant studio set-up, with control from the one transmitter. For home use, the two-head kit is more than capable though. We used the set to take a whole range of images, all of which were captured with nothing more than what comes in the box, and of course a background. Recycling times are fast but if you like to shoot quickly then at just over 1 second it may appear slow. Colour temperatures are very accurate with these flash heads, so you can expect good whites and balanced skin tones.
VerdictAt near on £1000 (SRP), the BXRi 500/500 kit features some excellent technology and is very easy to use. It delivers a superb performance, the only downside is the lack of reflectors in the kit.