Thanks for your thoughts, John, and thanks for the video, very cool.

I forgot to mention that I use SB-900s to light my formals. Would this change your thoughts at all?

I wouldn't buy the PLM if my only light source were on camera strobes.

NikonAndy wrote:
Thanks for your thoughts, John, and thanks for the video, very cool.

I forgot to mention that I use SB-900s to light my formals. Would this change your thoughts at all?

I'm not Paul, but will take a crack at your question:

I think it would depend a lot on what ambient light levels you're working with. If it's full sunlight then my feeling would be that you'll be limited by the power of the SB-900 in a white PLM or umbrella. It seems the real benefit of the PLM for lower power units is with the silver material. So far there haven't been many reviews or much information coming from those with the white units, at least in terms of light output vs. standard umbrellas. Perhaps Paul can offer some facts?

So far I've been reading the reviews here and on POTN and it seems to me that the PLM would be a good option for bride & groom shots, individuals and maybe small groups. You'd probably want to light fairly head on as the light quality seems to be quite directional, but if done right could look like a beauty dish. The issue you'll run into with the silver PLM is light spread for large groups from one light source, especially the smaller PLMs. As many of the tests so far have shown, the PLM maintains a pretty even spread of light roughly similar to the diameter of the unit. But beyond that light seems to fall off quite rapidly.

What's also been discussed is just how effective, or rather, ineffective, a hotshoe type flash is in the PLM. This modifier is really designed to best take advantage of bare bulb capable units, such as studio strobes, but also the Q Flash or the now discontinued Sunpak 120J. Typical hotshoe flash units aren't able to illuminate the entire PLM when positioned at the focal point and the light quality suffers somewhat.

That's pretty much my take on the PLM in regards to your question, based on the information I've gathered over the past few days.

Ron

Hmm, you're probably right about the bare bulb issue, I didn't even think about the fact that the SB-900 wouldn't cover the area of the PLM.

Seems like it may not work.

Still, I'd be interested in what Paul has to say.

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


John,

Thanks for the review. My question is you use Profoto heads. I heard you need to file the PLM rod to fit the Profoto heads. Is this true?

Thanks,
John

John Ricard wrote:
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.


Agreed, although if you were careful how you aimed it, the natural fall off might make the people in the center , the B&G, pop out a bit more.

NikonAndy wrote:
Thanks for your thoughts, John, and thanks for the video, very cool.

I forgot to mention that I use SB-900s to light my formals. Would this change your thoughts at all?

Depends on the size of the PLM. If you basically surrounded the shaft with 4 SB900 or 580 EX II or simialr units (the fourSquare from http://www,lightwaredirect.com ) and set them to wide angle coverage you can pretty much fill the big PLM. For the small PLM two might do.

NikonAndy wrote:
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 would practice a bit first, but yes - I would use a silver PLM for weddings - but probably not with an unmodified speedlight. Should be great for lighting large groups at a distance and outdoors. If you want much wider angle you can put the front diffuser and be assured of very even coverage and no unevenness whatsoever. The real advantage is the size of the light source in eliminating hard shadows,

John Ng wrote:

John,

Thanks for the review. My question is you use Profoto heads. I heard you need to file the PLM rod to fit the Profoto heads. Is this true?

Thanks,
John

I have 4 Profoto monolights and 1 Profoto head. I'm not sure which head it is and I am not sure how old it is. When you slide the PLM into the head, it stops about an inch from the end of the head and does not go through. However, the mechanism that is stopping it is a little metal bump that can be pushed in by slaming the umbrella shaft into the head to allow the shaft to slide through.

Perhaps on new heads it is hard for the blunt end of the umbrella to move the little metal bump. On my head, I just slammed the umbrella past the bump and all was fine. Think of the bump as a tension device that stops the umbrella shaft from sliding out of the head.

For me it wasn't an issue using the umbrella with the head. I'll to try the umbrella with the monolights to see if it is easy to slide the shaft through on those units as well.

Glad to see this thread grow.

Thank you John for the Youtube videos. Very cool to see the modifiers in action.

Hatch

I've had time to take a few quick test shots with the only willing subject in the house right now!

Nice catchlights, smooth shadow structure, evenness and contrast, IMHO.

I have been following this thread with interest, I just ordered all three sizes in silver.
I live in the Netherlands so there will be some shipping time.
But I will be happy to post my findings with the PLM's once they are in.
I use Elinchrom, so I will have to take off a bit of the shaft thickness, if they are to fit in the Elinchrom Quadra and Ranger heads. I'am aware of the extra mount on the Ranger and RX units, but it is far more off center than the
regular one.
I'm anxious to do my own testing how the largest PLM compares to the large Octa.

Erik

I don't see this product getting much use from commercial photographers, but it would seem to be a good choice for photographing little league baseball teams, prom-night pictures, capturing large groups of people - such as company staff pictures, and the like.

For the price, it would seem to benefit most photographers to have this in their bags, and based on personal reviews it appears to be well-made and rather durable for its low cost. Kudos to Paul.

PS - John Ricard, enjoyed your video. Thanks for taking the time to post it.

Deezie wrote:
I don't see this product getting much use from commercial photographers,

Just in the opposite, as I see it. It makes for a great sunlight source (e.g. on stills), covering a much larger area than fresnels etc on typical distances (studio / interior set ups).

PeterBerressem wrote:
Deezie wrote:
I don't see this product getting much use from commercial photographers,

Just in the opposite, as I see it. It makes for a great sunlight source (e.g. on stills), covering a much larger area than fresnels etc on typical distances (studio / interior set ups).
Peter, as usual I agree with you for exactly the reasons you mentioned. The primary purpose for silver PLM is for lighting all sorts of things at a distance from a very large source instead of have to move the light up close to the subject and use gigantic power packs in order to compete with the sun.

In the studio, there are many creative uses for the raw silver PLM, but if soft, lower output light is needed it only takes a minute to put on the front diffuser. Of course, the white PLM used as bounce yields a super large perfectly even, essentially round source. Too bad it's so inexpensive . . . people might think you're an amateur

f1.2 wrote:
I have been following this thread with interest, I just ordered all three sizes in silver.
I live in the Netherlands so there will be some shipping time.
But I will be happy to post my findings with the PLM's once they are in.
I use Elinchrom, so I will have to take off a bit of the shaft thickness, if they are to fit in the Elinchrom Quadra and Ranger heads. I'am aware of the extra mount on the Ranger and RX units, but it is far more off center than the
regular one.
I'm anxious to do my own testing how the largest PLM compares to the large Octa.

Erik
You wont be able to easily reduce the shaft size since it's hollow. The best approach, if necessary, would be to saw of the end and insert a 7mm solid shaft somehow.

Just in the opposite, as I see it. It makes for a great sunlight source (e.g. on stills), covering a much larger area than fresnels etc on typical distances (studio / interior set ups).

I didn't say "no use." I said it won't be getting "much" use on a commercial set. Budgets allow for a Bron or Profoto para and/or frenel if needed. If a photographer's not paying for it, he's going to elect to use what's tried and true. Other than lighting wide areas, I don't find it particularly useful for what I shoot, especially indoors. But I do think it's an excellent product to have in your bag, and photographer's with monolights or lower power strobes might find this particularly beneficial under certain circumstances. Like all modifiers, this product also has its limitations.

f1.2 wrote:

I use Elinchrom, so I will have to take off a bit of the shaft thickness, if they are to fit in the Elinchrom Quadra and Ranger heads. I'am aware of the extra mount on the Ranger and RX units, but it is far more off center than the
regular one.
I'm anxious to do my own testing how the largest PLM compares to the large Octa.

Erik
I am also using the Quadra with the big and smallmodel PLMs.


Don't file down the shaft for the Quadra! Use a clamp ( iuse the Lowel Lobo clamp) and a 5/8" stud to attach the Quandra head to the shaft and then a manfrotto Umbrella/ standa adapter to mount the rig to the stand

I was thinking to drill out the umbrella hole on the Quadra head, I very seldom use regular elinchrom umbrellas. I think it will be easier to add a very small wedge(toothpick?) if needed.
Thanks for the advice.

Erik