Hi all,

Seeing that the original thread about the PCB PLM system shipping is a little nutty...sort of lost its way....just my opinion.... how about a review thread?

Spencer mentioned he would have one delivered today... several of you have purchased the PCB PLM system or are thinking about it.

So how about mini reviews with some shots... to keep the thread on target. I'm not really in the market for one of these... but... I do find it interesting.

The Quadra thread was helpful...I think?


So...

First impressions...

Your testing methods (distance to subject...flash head used...meter readings...etc)

What you like?
What could be improved upon?
What you dislike?

Conclusion and a rating... say on a scale from 1-5.... 5 being a killer product.... 1 being... I will use it in the rain to shelter the family.


Just thought I would put this out there.
Hatch

The packaging is excellent.

I wish the velcro wrap-around strap was sewn on, rather than being loose to fall off and get lost.

Might be a few days before I get to test.

Right now I am in the playing stage that I always go through before starting a serious review. My ful l review will be in PPA's professional Photographer Magazine. Whether it will be in the print or the on line version (http://www.ppmag.com ) or both, I do not know.

One thing I do know is that becasue of it's light weight I'm going t odo some shooting with the the thing high up on a boom. With the Broncolor and Profoto that proposition is a little dicey without a very large, very heavy weight cinema class stand like a Matthews High Roller / Crank-O-Vator and lots of sandbags. I'll still be using a good size stand and sandbags of course (safety 1st!)

E-Vener wrote:
Right now I am in the playing stage that I always go through before starting a serious review. My ful l review will be in PPA's professional Photographer Magazine. Whether it will be in the print or the on line version (http://www.ppmag.com ) or both, I do not know.

One thing I do know is that becasue of it's light weight I'm going t odo some shooting with the the thing high up on a boom. With the Broncolor and Profoto that proposition is a little dicey without a very large, very heavy weight cinema class stand like a Matthews High Roller / Crank-O-Vator and lots of sandbags. I'll still be using a good size stand and sandbags of course (safety 1st!)


Looking forward to your review.
Hatch

I'll have to get some sample shots of my setup and write a little more about my first impressions. Don't expect a $1500 modifier for $80. Expect a decent modifier at a great price.

Had a chance to do some output tests to find the ideal distance from the bulb, here are the results. I got 1'' gaffers tape and measured off every other inch, starting from the end of the pole (furthest from the ribs). Measured with a Minolta VI at roughly 8 feet. Took measurements in a 3' diameter and averaged the results.

If you want the quick answer: Use the 42 12''-14'' away from the end for max output, and the 64 13''-14'' away for max output.

The greatest anomaly I found was .3 stops difference in some of the settings. I set each position to exactly where the bulb was on an AB400 with no reflector. X1600 gave +2 stops, as expected. I'll try it with an Acute2 when I can shave the end a little.

Silver 42'' PLM:
7'': 5.6 6/10
8'': 5.6 8/10
9'': 8 3/10
10'': 8 6/10
11'': 8 9/10
12'': 11 2/10 (the recommended "neutral" position parallel to the umbrella tip)
13'': 11 3/10
14'': 11 3/10
15'': 11 1/10
16'': 8 7/10 (bulb couldn't get any closer due to the ribs)

Silver 64'' PLM:
9'': 8 5/10
10'': 8 7/10
11'': 8 9/10
12'': 11 0/10
13'': 11 1/10
14'': 11 1/10
15'': 11 0/10
16'': 8 9/10 (neutral, recommended setting)
17'': 8 7/10
18'': 8 5/10
19'': 8 1/10

If someone wants to do this with a silver 86'', that'd be great. I expected these results due to the shape and size of the parabolics: The smaller one works better when you're in a little bit more, letting out less spill, while the larger one works a bit better when you're further out, so the light spread is more even between the far edges and the center.

And Paul, it'd be really nice if you could come with some sort of flush sticker along part of the shaft with some writing like "Max output, dark center, 40º", "Medium output, even center, 60º", "Medium output, even spread, 80º", etc., kinda like Profoto heads have. Gaffers tape gets stuck when you open it or fold it up, and it's sorta clumsy to have to figure out where you're at in relation to the PLM edges with a 64'' or 86''.

bacilonur wrote:
And Paul, it'd be really nice if you could come with some sort of flush sticker along part of the shaft with some writing like "Max output, dark center, 40º", "Medium output, even center, 60º", "Medium output, even spread, 80º", etc., kinda like Profoto heads have. Gaffers tape gets stuck when you open it or fold it up, and it's sorta clumsy to have to figure out where you're at in relation to the PLM edges with a 64'' or 86''.
Logical suggestion but hard to accomplish. Maybe in the future.

Balicour,

try using a sharpie pen to mark the shaft.

I posted my review of the PLM Parabolic Umbrella. It is in 2 parts and shows some sample images from the shoot. At times you may see an image that would benefit from a bit of post processing (to make the image either lighter or darker) but I posted the images into the video without doing any post processing.


Part 01:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=IlQXB8omtyo

Part 02:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=feFATdwkLUk

John, would it be possible for you to post a few photos or a gallery from that session someplace for a closer look?

John Ricard wrote:
I posted my review of the PLM Parabolic Umbrella. It is in 2 parts and shows some sample images from the shoot. At times you may see an image that would benefit from a bit of post processing (to make the image either lighter or darker) but I posted the images into the video without doing any post processing.


Part 01:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=IlQXB8omtyo

Part 02:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=feFATdwkLUk

Great review!! Yeah. Full-res pics would be nice - just like what you did on the Elinch-Octa.

John Ricard wrote:
I posted my review of the PLM Parabolic Umbrella. It is in 2 parts and shows some sample images from the shoot. At times you may see an image that would benefit from a bit of post processing (to make the image either lighter or darker) but I posted the images into the video without doing any post processing.


Part 01:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=IlQXB8omtyo

Part 02:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=feFATdwkLUk

Good job John. These things are hard to do quickly with any great degree of technical attention. But I believe you captured the essence of the silver PLM in comparison to the other modifiers.

If you analyze the results I think they show a similar coverage evenness to the others, but at significantly higher light output.

Some technical observations: The modeling lamp on the Profoto head sticks way out in front of the flashtube. So the modeling lamp is positioned more or less as a bare bulb, but the flashtube is focused a lot more by the reflector, which appears to be around a 50° reflector. Such a reflector is never suitable for proper use of any umbrella.

This is resulting in the PLM not being "filled" by the flashtube. Thus the flash is likely filling only about 1/2 of the PLM surface, resulting in around a 36" source size instead of 75". This produces less wrap around effect and more pronounced shadows than would result with the proper bare-bulb with 180° back plate.

Another note: Had you moved the lamp in toward the PLM a few inches you would have gotten a wider coverage angle along with a slight reduction of output - about 1/2f.

But all in all I think you did a good job.

Thanx

Nice quick review John and nicely done.

One caveat: using Profoto's Disk Reflector should, theoretically, yield more even results

http://www.profoto.com/products/profoto/lightshapingtools/reflectors/disc-reflector

E-Vener wrote:
Nice quick review John and nicely done.

One caveat; using Profoto's Disk Reflector should , theorectically, yield more even results

http://www.profoto.com/products/profoto/lightshapingtools/reflectors/disc-reflector
I totally agree.

Good review John. Some really good tests.
Thanks

I've never seen that reflector. Since its a Profoto it shouldn't set me back more than 4 or 5 hundred dollars

I did use the umbrella in barebulb mode in some of the shots, btw.

As for images, here are some from the PLM as well as one from the Octabank.

(I really hate posting images from my video shoots, because my focus was on making the video and not on taking pics, so sometimes I'm not too proud of the pics themselves.

BTW, the 2 PLM photos on white have had a slight levels adjustment to compensate for my shooting them a bit overexposed).

Profoto Disk Reflector: new @ B&H: $86.00

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?Ntt=[PROFOTO%20DISC%20REFLECTOR]&N=0

You can probably rent one at Fotocare.

Paul, would you consider your PLM a good option for a wedding photographer looking to light group formals and a good option for shots of just the couple? I know that each tool can be used differently for each job, but I like the idea of one tool for easy use during a wedding day.

What are your thoughts? Is there a particular size you'd recommend for this application?

Also, I'll be using SB-900s with the light modifier.

Thanks so much,
Andy

I have never used the White version of the PLM, but my guess would be that the White version with the diffusion panel would be good for group wedding shots.

I don't think I'd use the Silver without diffusion for group shots at a wedding.