Profoto D1 Compacts are here

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Archive 2009 · Profoto D1 Compacts are here

cineski
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p.2 #1 · Profoto D1 Compacts are here

Okay, I think I might have dug up an answer to these questions. On the Profoto website, there's a picture of a sync input (3.5?) near the handle. Apparently the salesman was wrong about this, thankfully, and I was blind when snooping around the strobe, because I don't remember seeing this at all (I'll blame it on my fiancee who was with me, she wanted to get outa there fast ;-). Check it out on page 3, #19:

http://www.profoto.com/D1/pdf/Profoto_D1_EN.pdf

There's also an "Optional Glass Cover" for more spread (#13). But it seems Jammy, you have a good point, much of the light is wasted this way because it's going through the built in reflector before hitting the glass cover, rather than the bare strobe bulb hitting it directly on all sides. However, I don't know how deep the bulb sits in the reflector. It may be right at the surface. I might have to make another trip to Samy's and see if they have a Glass Cover to add and if it effects light output. Hopefully these concerns will be proven to not be concerns at all.

Feb 23, 2009 at 06:55 PM

cineski
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p.2 #2 · Profoto D1 Compacts are here

Also looks like they have 3 glass covers. Normal, -600K, -300K. It would be great to see a 3200K glass cover. Also a Sync Cable D1. I have to say, without going back to Samy's yet, it looks like these strobes might just be 100% for me.

Feb 23, 2009 at 07:22 PM

PeterBerressem
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p.2 #3 · Profoto D1 Compacts are here

I predict that, not so many moons from now, Profoto will come out with a D1 version without the built-in flash tube...aka with the actual protruding style.
It will be marketed as "the studio option", opposed to "the travel option". Yeah, Profoto listens to their customers

Feb 23, 2009 at 07:37 PM

Carmen Miranda
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p.2 #4 · Profoto D1 Compacts are here

cineski wrote:an "Optional Glass Cover" for more spread (#13).

...doesn't sound like a standard protective or warming glass cover.

If it is designed to increase "spread" then it has to be a diffusion cover, in which you can expect a substantial loss of light if is to be evenly distributed throughout the box.

That's good news on the PC connect, but I'm still a bit flabbergasted by the reflector design.
So unlike Profoto.

Time and meter will tell.

Keep us posted.

Good luck.

Feb 23, 2009 at 07:43 PM

cineski
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p.2 #5 · Profoto D1 Compacts are here

I just called Profoto (very nice people) and they are calling me back with regards to how much wider the throw the dome cover will give. Confirmation that there's a PW input, and confirmation that there's a dedicated battery coming up, although the units will work with second party battery units.

Feb 23, 2009 at 09:49 PM

williamcarter
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p.2 #6 · Profoto D1 Compacts are here

What about wireless metering with a Sekonic meter? In other words, do we know if one can trigger the Air system with a pocketwizard (built into the Sekonic meter)? I'm assuming so, but it'd be nice to know for sure.

Feb 24, 2009 at 01:41 AM

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p.2 #7 · Profoto D1 Compacts are here

williamcarter wrote:
What about wireless metering with a Sekonic meter? In other words, do we know if one can trigger the Air system with a pocketwizard (built into the Sekonic meter)? I'm assuming so, but it'd be nice to know for sure.

Consider Profoto and PW a closed book. PW syncs with PW and no other radio system. I would be flabbergasted if the Profoto Air synced with PW because that is HIGHLY unlikely. Shame that they had to go the Air route, built in PW would have made these so much better.

Feb 24, 2009 at 06:03 AM

williamcarter
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p.2 #8 · Profoto D1 Compacts are here

But presumably there's going to be some way to do wireless metering, yes? I'm not clear on what that way will be. Are the folks currently using the new Profoto Pro 8 Air using their meters with a sync cable?

(I realize this isn't a huge deal; I'm just trying to get a fuller picture of the details).

Feb 24, 2009 at 03:02 PM

cineski
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p.2 #9 · Profoto D1 Compacts are here

Probably hitting the test button on the air to pop the flash? Maybe Air will have a Sekonic meter module?

Feb 24, 2009 at 03:05 PM

williamcarter
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p.2 #10 · Profoto D1 Compacts are here

That wouldn't work; the light could be in a position where pushing the test button on the back of the light is impossible to do while trying to position the meter where it needs to be (e.g., if the light is 10 feet away from the model's face).

I guess the logical hack would be to use the test button on the Air Remote to fire the strobe while standing in the position from which you want to meter. But that requires you to have the Air Remote as opposed to, say, running the Profoto software on your laptop to control the lights wirelessly (which is what I would do).

cineski wrote:
Probably hitting the test button on the air to pop the flash? Maybe Air will have a Sekonic meter module?

Feb 24, 2009 at 05:07 PM

cineski
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p.2 #11 · Profoto D1 Compacts are here

I was talking about pushing it on the air transmitter. Not the strobe itself. Even taking a look at the video on the D1 page shows the photographer popping the strobes with the air transmitter, interspersed with shots of metering with a Sekonic.

Feb 24, 2009 at 05:39 PM

cineski
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p.2 #12 · Profoto D1 Compacts are here

Oh, I forgot, Profoto called back and nobody seems to have an answer to the glass bulb and how it effects spread. It does spread the light out, but as to how much there's no answer. They said for most uses, the standard setup is fine. Can't really imagine that. He's trying to find out a definitive answer and said he'd let me know.

Feb 24, 2009 at 05:44 PM

rico
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p.2 #13 · Profoto D1 Compacts are here

I downloaded and perused the D1 pamphlet. They are certainly coy about that inbuilt reflector: barely a mention, no closeups. In contrast, the back end gets plenty of attention. They do mention the use of modifiers, including their BD (god knows how that's going to work). Not selling my packs yet.

Feb 25, 2009 at 05:13 AM

Carmen Miranda
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p.2 #14 · Profoto D1 Compacts are here

cineski wrote:
Oh, I forgot, Profoto called back and nobody seems to have an answer to the glass bulb and how it effects spread.

I was somewhat perplexed at Profoto's reasoning for the built-in reflector, but figured they must know what they are doing. To now hear they have no explanation is not reassuring.

The most plausible explanation I've heard so far is that they were designed after Broncolor's sexy little Picolite. But those lamps were designed for "table top and mobile work" and needed adaptors to work with many modifiers.

There are a few guys here that have used or owned Picolites, maybe they can speak to the limitations of a built-in reflector, if any.
I have not used them myself but I have to admit the resemblance is striking:

Feb 25, 2009 at 06:13 AM

bka20d
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p.2 #15 · Profoto D1 Compacts are here

Carmen Miranda wrote:
cineski wrote:
Oh, I forgot, Profoto called back and nobody seems to have an answer to the glass bulb and how it effects spread.

I was somewhat perplexed at Profoto's reasoning for the built-in reflector, but figured they must know what they are doing. To now hear they have no explanation is not reassuring.

you do have to remember that when you call profoto here in the u.s that you are actually talking to a distributor (mac group) ....there is often a lag in when information is announced and released from profoto and when the distributors is given all the information. this is not meant to be an excuse (my experience has been that the mac group folks are very helpful and responsive with repsect to all the products they rep) but rather a possible reason that there appears to be "no explanation."

Feb 25, 2009 at 09:00 AM

snook
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p.2 #16 · Profoto D1 Compacts are here

My Compact profotos Have been the WORST lights I have EVER owned.
Hopefully the newer ones will have been totally rethought.
Have 2 600s and 1 300 just collecting dust b/c I was sick of repairing them every couple of months.
They would just die when shooting fast..
Let some rental houses test them out first...:+}
The remote controlling is a BIG selling point and will be my next purchase. Then I can just get rid of my assistant..:+]
Just kdding, could not live with out him...
Snook

Feb 26, 2009 at 08:34 PM

bacilonur
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p.2 #17 · Profoto D1 Compacts are here

The biggest plus to a built-in reflector is hopefully it'll save you some dough in the long run once you've dropped a few heads and have a slightly banged up front end instead of broken bulbs and glass covers each time. Michael mentioned the Picolite heads a while back, he said they weren't too bad in a softbox IIRC.

Feb 26, 2009 at 08:50 PM

mmurph
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p.2 #18 · Profoto D1 Compacts are here

bacilonur wrote:
Michael mentioned the Picolite heads a while back, he said they weren't too bad in a softbox IIRC.

I have a bunch of Picolites, they are great heads. Very small and light, about the size of a can of soda. Great for hair, accent, etc.

But I also use them anywhere that I use a regular head, except the largest modifiers - like the Photoflex 7' Octo. They are they same heads that I also use with my portable Broncolor Mobil and Visatec Litepac kits.

But the Picolites have a 120 degree or a 130 degree spread (on the newest version.) That is as wide as Bron's widest modifier.

If I remember correctly the D1's have a 77 degree spread?

It would be interesting to see what kind of spread they claim with the matte covering dome. I don't think the dome will suck up too much light, but not sure how much they will help the spread?

FWIW, I still intend to try to fit the Profoto modifiers to the Litepac LP1 heads - just like the Picolite - some day. The Litepac is a 600 Ws unit portable battery unit with 2 head outlets, weighs about 12 pounds. They have been selling lately for $800 or so.

Best,
Michael

Feb 26, 2009 at 09:44 PM

Deezie
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p.2 #19 · Profoto D1 Compacts are here

At this site: http://blog.profoto-usa.com/?tag=profoto-air there's a photographer who shows that the Pro-8 packs work using both the Profoto Air and Pocket Wizards. Additionally, there are some photos at the bottom that show some reflectors attached to the D1's.

In the Profoto videos (Tony Corbell and Profoto D1 Monoblocs) you can see him using a Beauty Dish and a gridded reflector, as well.

Feb 26, 2009 at 10:21 PM

williamcarter
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p.2 #20 · Profoto D1 Compacts are here

Deezie wrote:
At this site: http://blog.profoto-usa.com/?tag=profoto-air there's a photographer who shows that the Pro-8 packs work using both the Profoto Air and Pocket Wizards.

Thanks for that. I see he's using his Sekonic meter because he's attached a pocketwizard to the powerpack. (That would be less than ideal with a monolight. Plus you have to have an "extra" pocketwizard.)

Feb 27, 2009 at 05:30 PM

Carmen Miranda
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p.2 #21 · Profoto D1 Compacts are here

mmurph wrote:
But the Picolites have a 120 degree or a 130 degree spread (on the newest version.) That is as wide as Bron's widest modifier.

If I remember correctly the D1's have a 77 degree spread?

That's a big difference.

Good info, Michael. Thanks.

Feb 27, 2009 at 06:05 PM

cineski
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p.2 #22 · Profoto D1 Compacts are here

Just stopped by Samy's in Hollywood again to hook up a D1 500 to my Vagabond II. It works, albiet at a slower recharge rate. The recharge rate goes up exponentially with near max strobe power. At 8 power, it recharges under a second. 9 it takes 2 seconds. 10 power takes almost a full 3 seconds to recharge. Not sure why that is, considering this was the 500 w/s unit? Anything under 8 and the recharge is almost instant. Just curious about the 1000 w/s unit with the Vagabond, but they didn't have one to play with. The guy I spoke to didn't have the frosted glass dome so I couldn't play with one (he didn't even know about it). One thing I do know, you don't put the dome over the flat frosted glass already in place. You remove that and then put the dome on, so I wouldn't think the light loss would be much if anything (unless the glass itself on the dome is very thick?). The salesman seemed to think the Profoto battery for this unit would be around $1300 with one outlet. Not exactly a cheap setup with 4 strobes w/ 4 batteries.

Feb 28, 2009 at 12:10 AM

Deezie
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p.2 #23 · Profoto D1 Compacts are here

I was also at Samys today and checked out the D1. Not a bad light. Still, it's a little long in size, I wish that they had found a way to make it more compact. I couldn't find a socket for the synch cord. If it's there, it well hidden. I hope it's just my bad eyesight.

Feb 28, 2009 at 02:21 AM

williamcarter
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p.2 #24 · Profoto D1 Compacts are here

cineski wrote:
There's also an "Optional Glass Cover" for more spread (#13).

I see the image of this "optional glass cover" in the PDF, but does anyone happen to know the product number? I just have a feeling that if I call a dealer and ask "do you have the optional glass cover" they won't have any idea what I'm talking about.

Mar 17, 2009 at 01:42 PM

OlivChauvignat
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p.2 #25 · Profoto D1 Compacts are here

Glass covers :

10 15 61 Standard Pyrex Cover (110 € in France)
10 15 62 -600°k Pyrex Cover (125 € in France)
10 15 63 -300°k Pyrex Cover (125 € in France)

Mar 18, 2009 at 04:35 PM


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