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 p.1 #1 · Einstein Design Solution/Suggestion | |
If I may be so bold, I have a design suggestion for the mostly designed PCB Einsteins.
The story so far-
According to Paul's posts (as I understand them), the Einstein hit a wall when the contracted electrical design engineer failed to come up with a switching power supply design that included 12v supply. The results were either a) too physically large, or b) small enough but too expensive. This lead to the project being put on hold, with Paul indicated he now plans to learn the necessary technology himself, and personally find a design solution.
I understand that physically large monolights don't have much sex appeal, and of all people PCB is very conscious of keeping the end price very affordable. But perhaps there is another option!?
Imagine the Einstein design (ie super accurate, totally digital power level and color temps) running as a portable power pack with a tiny Elinchrom Quadra sized head, a 60-sec-to-swap 3.6ah SLA battery, and the ability to run directly from mains power.
Having trouble? OK, image something similar to a Profoto 7B that had similar power, was 2/3 the size (a guess), 1/3 the weight (same size battery as Quadra), 1/10 the cost, had 2/3 the recycle time, and came with a matching head that's smaller than Profoto's. (OK, but not as drop proof, and no rarely-used second head output.)
Or, imagine the extremely popular Elinchrom Ranger RX Speed, but again, 2/3 the size (a guess), 1/3 the weight (same size battery as Quadra), had virtually the same power, had a head that was almost as small as the Quadra, 2/3 the flash recycle time, faster flash durations, more consistent color temps, a sport's ultra short flash duration mode, and was approx 1/4 the cost! Plus, you could run directly from mains power, something the Ranger will not do. Add splash resistance, and a 60 sec to change standard SLA battery, and what's not to like? (Presuming it could be built?)
Advantages to the Einstein-
1) Much greater sex appeal, due to small, light strobe head.
2) Small head can be fit into cramped places.
3) Small head blocks less reflected light when using PLM, general brollies, and brolly boxes. Using normal sized monolights with brolly boxes never "looks" right, regardless of how critical the amount of blocked light actually is/isn't.
4) Small head could have brolly holder closer to the flash tube (ie through the 7" PLM Umbrella Reflector) meaning Paul's new parabolic system would work more perfectly.
5) Final design and production could occur reasonably quickly, becuase now Paul doesn't need to keep to monolight size goals.
Advantages to PCB-
1) Greater product differentiation. What will the differences be between the ABMax & the Einsteins? Well at the moment, both will be monolights, but one will be larger, heavier, and have some sort of extra tricky stuff in it that I don't know if I need or not.
2) By making the Einstein a pack & head system, with built in 12v battery, one is obviously location capable out of the box.
3) Appeal to an even wider range of potential customers. A separate head and pack system shouts "serious photography tool" in the way that only packs do. Cash in on this genuine perception.
Please comment on whether you would potentially find such a product, if it were built, appealing ??
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