I am looking for a little advice. I would like to know if any of you have powered an Acute2R 1200 with any of the below options, or if there is something else you'd recommend instead, or advise I completely avoid. The reason why I am looking to find a solution to make the Acute2R 1200 work is that I've made a rather substantial investment in Profoto modifiers, so I'd like to be able to use those if possible.
So far it seems the options are:
Dynalite XP1100
Hensel Visit MPG 1500
Tronix Explorer XT
Vagabond II
Of course I am aware of the Profoto 7b and Profoto B2 as well, but frankly that's where I draw the line for a hobby since none of my Acute/D4 heads will work on either pack... lol.
I use Vagabond II's with my Acute2 1200's, works great. You just have to set recycle on the pack and the battery to fast or it shuts off for a fraction of a second every time you pop it.
alanwarp wrote:
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Woot...Buffalo Tom, saw them a number of times back in Providence and few in Philly...sorry don't know the answer
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Ha! Good to see another BT fan around. Sometimes I think I am the only one... lol. I was fortunate enough to see BT about 20 times and never got tired of them live.. great show! I'm really not a fan of their latest CD, however I still listen to their older stuff on a weekly basis.
Thanks so much for all the input, I really appreciate it. I think I'll give the Vagabonds a try. At $300 it's certainly worth giving it a try and in the unlikely event I don't care for it, I think it will be easy enough to unload in the buy/sell forum... lol.
The only thing you may want to do it somehow dye the cover black, or take it all out and store it in a Peli permanently. As far as performance, it's better than most, if not all.
p.1 #10 · Powering an Acute2R 1200 w/o electricity
, yeah I must admit that fugly cover is what made me avoid the Vagabond for as long as I could (yeah I am that shallow...lol). Now I feel like I have no choice but to embrace it in all it's blaze orange glory... lol.
p.1 #13 · Powering an Acute2R 1200 w/o electricity
I will add I had the tronix XT on my acute21200R, I noticed the PW feature was real buggy with it, sometimes it popped, sometimes it did not-but have never had an issue when using my generator OR AC power.
So, I would avoid the tronix.
p.1 #14 · Powering an Acute2R 1200 w/o electricity
Thanks again to everyone who replied and stiksandstones, thanks for that little tidbit as well. That is actually about the third time I have heard of people having problems with the Tronix / Acute2 / PW combo. I decided to throw in the towel and purchase an Elinchrom Ranger. It just doesn't sound like I would be thrilled with the performance of the Acute2 1200 "out in the field" so I've decided to leave it where it belongs.
p.1 #16 · Powering an Acute2R 1200 w/o electricity
Thanks Justin. I decided against the Vagabond II as the type of shooting I am doing is typically trying to overpower the sun a great deal. I received some feedback that indicated that trying to use an Acute2 1200 whilst trying to overpower the sun at maximum or close to maximum output was beginning to push it leading to extremely slow recycle times. At $300 for a Vagabond II I tempted to try it out myself as I think it would be easy to unload the VBII if it wasn't quite what I was after. If I decide to still do that I will make sure to post my results.
I am aware of the Profoto special and was quite tempted by it. However two things swayed me. The first was that the 7B2 was $4600 w/ a free Pro Head once you placed it in your cart @ B&H the moment the special was announced. That same exact item is now $6100 when placed in your cart. Soooo, is it a free head or is the base price of the 7B2 inflated to reflect the "free" head? No idea, but I am not going to pay the $6100 when it was $4600 last week. Also, B&H (nor does anywhere else I can find) doesn't seem to be openly offering the 7b with a free head. If you put the item in your cart at both B&H and Adorama there is no free head included. I guess you could trust it will arrive with the pack, but at that price I would like some assurance.
p.1 #18 · Powering an Acute2R 1200 w/o electricity
Thanks CD, I did see what Profoto says about the free head, but since I am the one paying for it, I would prefer to have the free head actually in my cart before I click proceed to check out... lol. Calumet also doesn't show the free head when you put the B2 in your cart and if you add the Pro Head it's not free. Errrr! Oh well. Maybe it's a sign I really don't "need" one... lol.
p.1 #19 · Powering an Acute2R 1200 w/o electricity
Give them a call, order over the phone. Or e-mail one of the preofessional support reps.
I have always had good sucess working with Calumet, especially once you get to know specific individuals there. At that price level they have a little more of a professional, boutique-type service that I am really coming to appreciate.
I can send you a name if you would like to e-mail.
, yeah I must admit that fugly cover is what made me avoid the Vagabond for as long as I could (yeah I am that shallow...lol). Now I feel like I have no choice but to embrace it in all it's blaze orange glory... lol.
I still have your's by the way . . . don't think I'll ever sell it again!