Answers and info from Buff and others

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Archive 2009 · Answers and info from Buff and others

gkayacan
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p.7 #1 · Answers and info from Buff and others

great thanks for the tip

i will reply later on this thread about my opinions about the gear i bought

thanks for all, its been at least one year i know about bees... always wanted some

Oct 24, 2009 at 10:49 PM

TezM
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p.7 #2 · Answers and info from Buff and others

Paul,

I got a 47" Octobox along with the silver beauty dish (the one with the scratches

), and I'm wondering something:

Would it be possible to attach a handle or something similar onto the octobox outer shell/lining? When you're alone and trying to swap modifiers it's a pain in the ass to get on. I tried it with the octobox on the floor (face down) and put the light onto that, but if I'm outdoors on a band shoot or whatever, it'll get covered in crap.

If there was a handle at least then you could squeeze the antennae thing with one hand and position the box with the other instead of doing some weird knee-balancing, elbow-mambo that I was doing last night. But hey, at least once it's on, it stays on.

Oct 25, 2009 at 02:39 AM

Paul Buff
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p.7 #3 · Answers and info from Buff and others

Unfortunately, putting a handle on it would be a complete redesign and would cost us a fortune and raise the price. They're mush easier to put on the Einstein thanks to the glass dome and improved attachment system. It is tought - I know - but laying the softbox face down on the floor is the easiest way.

Oct 25, 2009 at 06:23 AM

Deezie
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p.7 #4 · Answers and info from Buff and others

Tez,

Pick up a small fabric drop-cloth from Home Depot and set your Octa on that. They tend to have small drop-cloths that are portable and easy enough to carry around on a set.

Oct 25, 2009 at 03:30 PM

E-Vener
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p.7 #5 · Answers and info from Buff and others

+1 on Deezie's suggestion . I tend to use frosted shower curtains for this as well as they are easy to wash off and can do double duty as a primary or secondary diffuser when needed.

Oct 25, 2009 at 03:51 PM

Sean Baker
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p.7 #6 · Answers and info from Buff and others

FWIW Paul, the 7mm switch for the PLMs will have you selling a few more of those when the new ones begin to ship. I look forward to being one of the first.

Oct 26, 2009 at 08:46 PM

Kanobi44
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p.7 #7 · Answers and info from Buff and others

Josh Evilsizor wrote:
paul isn't the only vendor who has members on this board. I think there's a guy from B&H on here too, and I know I've seen a couple of others.

I for one do not own any PBC equipment, but I do enjoy(sometimes) the info paul gives on his products. It's more in depth info that you will find on his site and generally can be just good technical info as a whole.

I don't see any problem unless he starts making threads announcing sales, or launches of new products.

+1

Paul has developed great products that are affordable to everyone. His customer service is the best I've experienced and he generally seems like he cares about what we as consumers/photographers want. His products are great and imho he is a valuable poster here. Its obvious Paul cares about what this community thinks and is not here for sleazy self promotion.

Besides, I feed my family with Paul's stuff and plan on buying a lot more of it as soon as possible. The Beauty Dish is calling my name for Christmas!

Shaun

Oct 27, 2009 at 08:18 AM

CreV
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p.7 #8 · Answers and info from Buff and others

Now when Einstein uses IGBT unit, will it be possible to get quick 2 flashes out of 1/2 power in action mode?
4 flashes with 1/4 power etc..

Oct 28, 2009 at 09:01 PM

Two23
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p.7 #9 · Answers and info from Buff and others

I think the ability to ask Paul Buff technical and other questions directly is a tremendous plus. I also wish he'd restart his own forum too. Maybe he'll have the time after Einstein's ship.

Kent in SD

Oct 29, 2009 at 01:46 AM

Paul Buff
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p.7 #10 · Answers and info from Buff and others

CreV wrote:
Now when Einstein uses IGBT unit, will it be possible to get quick 2 flashes out of 1/2 power in action mode?
4 flashes with 1/4 power etc..

2 very rapid flashes at 1/2 power can be done, but the second flash will have considerable exposure/color error because the capacitors won't have time to replenish. Now say eight real fast pops at say 50WS should work well - but still with some progressive deterioration depending on the frequency of pops. The same would apply to a Grafit or speed light or any other IGBT flash.

Oct 29, 2009 at 04:18 AM

Beni
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p.7 #11 · Answers and info from Buff and others

After some thought I have to say that I agree with the new rule not selling AB's abroad.

I bought 4 AB800's over the past few years. Shipped them to the UK, paid all the import, VAT, etc.

There is a problem that the optical slave cuttoff switch when you plug a cable in dies after a year or so. I have 3 lights with this problem. Had to open them and cover over the optical cell with electrical tape. One of the buttons just fell out of one of my units. My latest AB800 shipped with a non functioning modelling light socket (bit annoyed about that actually). I have a AB800 with a cracked casing and a broken power slider (that one was due to a 8ft fall). If I was in the US I could take advantage of the apparently incredible customer service and have all my units fully repaired and up to spec. As I live in the UK the cost of shipping, repair and return shipping is a few dollars less than a brand new unit. I asked for parts to do the repair myself (new casing, new button assembly, new power slider) but they don't sell the parts.

Buying AB's out of the states was not an intelligent decision in retrospect. Now if my units weren't all in bad condition I could sell them and invest in the Bowens 400 units I have my eye on. No one however is going to buy my units with non functioning features, be they a modelling light or optical slave. I can't fix them myself without the parts. Just going to have to live with my bad decision. Pro's should not invest in anything where there is not considerable and accessible local support. However cheap.

Oct 29, 2009 at 11:09 AM

Paul Buff
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p.7 #12 · Answers and info from Buff and others

Our company was built around the concept of direct sales to the USA. The elimination of middlemen has kept our prices down and our customer support up. Had we designed our marketing plan to include middlemen the price would be 30 to 40% higher for all. We have never solicited international sales . . . the international sales we have made have come from international customers saying "Please sell to me". So we have complied with these requests with the best methods available to us. The world is pushing at us to become a global giant, but our US customers would suffer if we succumbed to this, as would our company. As they say "There ain't no free lunch".

Most of our US competitors have suffered from this situation and ended up with their sales all being made through the NYC super stores. Local camera stores have simply dried up to a large extent, so customers end up buying online from giant retailers and the manufacturers can't afford to provide great service because a large portion of their profits are going to middlemen. They try to keep their prices as low as possible to compete and the customer ends up with higher costs and less service and the manufacturers, like the camera stores, are drying up and failing. Meanwhile our company continues to grow and innovate. So don't expect Paul C. Buff to become another global giant with the same problems that most global giants are now facing.

Oct 29, 2009 at 06:36 PM

Beni
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p.7 #13 · Answers and info from Buff and others

But will you sell me a new yellow casing for my AB800 please pretty please?

Oct 29, 2009 at 07:45 PM

Paul Buff
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p.7 #14 · Answers and info from Buff and others

Beni wrote:
But will you sell me a new yellow casing for my AB800 please pretty please?

Probably- because you are an existing customer. We don't usually sell just cases because changing cases can require some wire disconnection, etc. Take it up with Lori at customer service. Maybe she'll have mercy on you.

Oct 29, 2009 at 08:06 PM

Beni
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p.7 #15 · Answers and info from Buff and others

Question while I'm here, the new einsteins, as they will work multi voltage, and the charger for the vagabond is multi voltage, does that mean that I can buy an einstein, bring it over to the UK and finally be able to use the vagabonds (been green with jelousy) with the einstein? Until now as I've had my lights converted to 220V the vagabonds have been out.

Oct 29, 2009 at 08:36 PM

Paul Buff
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p.7 #16 · Answers and info from Buff and others

Beni wrote:
Question while I'm here, the new einsteins, as they will work multi voltage, and the charger for the vagabond is multi voltage, does that mean that I can buy an einstein, bring it over to the UK and finally be able to use the vagabonds (been green with jelousy) with the einstein? Until now as I've had my lights converted to 220V the vagabonds have been out.
Short answer: Yes. You can run Einsteins from your 240V mains or from the 110V Vagabond. Hopefully by the time Einsteins are available we will have a German service center and representative set up.

AU partner will be announced tomorrow and is all set up.

Oct 29, 2009 at 08:57 PM

Two23
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p.7 #17 · Answers and info from Buff and others

Paul--

I am one of those people who research products for many months before I make a purchase. I'm definitely not an impulse buyer, and a few glowing posts on an internet forum don't sway me. I'm a careful buyer. That said, I've been very pleased with the performace of the seven Buff monolights I now own, along with the five Vagabond batteries and nine or ten (not sure how many,

!) CyberSync triggers I now have. I haven't needed your customer service often, but when I did it was excellent. I am a customer who's not looking for the cheapest thing, but the best value. You deliver. Whatever it is you are doing, keep doing it!

Kent in SD

Oct 29, 2009 at 11:23 PM

StinkyDaddy
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p.7 #18 · Answers and info from Buff and others

I'm a long time White Lightning user. I bought my WL 10K back in the early 90's. I carry it to every location shoot, in a soft duffle bag, wrapped in a towel. I just toss it back in the duffle bag when I'm done. It's not high powered, it only has 3 power settings but it works every time. It's with me at almost every wedding I shoot and tomorrow I'll have it with me when I shoot a newborn portrait.

I also have CyberSync remotes, which work very well.

As for Paul's customer service, I've never had to use it.

I appreciate his posts on FM and hope that he continues.

Have Fun,
Wm.

Oct 30, 2009 at 02:22 AM

hoangcong
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p.7 #19 · Answers and info from Buff and others

Paul, do you know how long the testing of new products will undergo in USA before we can get them in Australia?
I am interested in the cyber commander and the upcoming einstein light and I was wondering how long does it usually take before you allow it to reach our shores? Or maybe now that you have representatives you won't need to hold back anymore?

Cheers
Tony

Oct 30, 2009 at 11:02 PM

CreV
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p.7 #20 · Answers and info from Buff and others

Can you show me the difference in light coverage between 8.5" Reflector and the existing 11R (45º). Maybe the 28º too?

Nov 01, 2009 at 06:14 PM

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