I am not sure how they calculated the spread of light coming out of the D1. I suspect the measurement may be conforming to an ISO standard where you only measure the angle from axis in one direction. I reviewed the D1 system for Professional Photographer (August 2009 issue) and in the real world the standard D1 beam pattern (withthe the little glass diffusor in place) is certainly a lot wider than that, more like about 140 degrees. Any non diffused hard reflector you add to the D1 is only going to narrow that spread.
Umm...I don't think "customers" and "testers" are quite the same thing.
I'm not a "tester".
As a technical editor for Professional Photographer Magazine ( the web version is at http://www.ppmag.com but the web version is different from the print version) I strive to be both neutral and honest in my assessments. That at least is my position as far as my personal ethics go.
I believe most working professionals have really good b.s. / hype detectors and are conservative when it comes to the money they spend on gear. I know I do. I know Rob Galbraith and I know this is true for him as well.
I work hard at fairly and honestly reporting what I find works and doesn't work from the point of view of a working commercial and editorial photographer because that has been my day job (portfolio: http://www.ellisvener.com ) since 1984.
shatterkiss wrote:
Y'know what, I changed my mind: I'm not so interested in having anyone bring one by the studio so we can shoot tests after all. And c.d., if it's too late to not have that unit ship to me I'll just reship it to you on my dime. I'm really not interested in a product whose maker clearly doesn't want me as a customer.
Simon, I won't send the 86" PLM and diffuser. Caught me just in time.
Deezie, are you still interested in testing all three of the silver PLMs? or do you want to cancel too? Let me know.
Josh Evilsizor wrote:
looking forward to seeing how this turns out....
i too am anxious to see more examples from real photographers who know what they are doing. it's the only way i'm going to learn how to use these things.
That's pretty much what I've done for a whole load of my Wescott umbrellas. Cut 4" of the shaft off the end and replace by a 7mm rod. Works like a charm.
I just had the pleasure of checking out your Flickr site. Thank you so very, very much for all of those behind-the-scenes images!
What an education!
Thanks for sharing!
If you ever need studio space and/or a free place to spend a few nights when you're in Atlanta, let me know. My wife, soon-to-be one-year-old son, and I have a home in Buford, which is located approximately thirty-five miles north of Atlanta and one mile from the Mall of Georgia.
Brent Ward wrote:
I'm sure he'll take that as a compliment given your taste in branding.
The light quality doesn't look much different from a normal umbrella, but more testing is definitely required. I'd say the jury is still out, but people can't really expect it to perform as good as the broncolor, profoto, or briese can they?
I would really like to see some shots at similar distance and angle from similar size Broncolor, Profoto and Briese, as well as the exposure value, ISO and WS used. Should I expect some entirely different result? Why?
Also, I don't quite understand why a PLM would expected to be any less usable outdoors in wind than the above. Can someone explain all this?
Also, the above, as well as PLM are focused parabolic reflectors. The notion that one would act as a laser - i.e. not follow the inverse square law while the other would is out of line with the laws of physics. Granted one would have to compare beam spread at distances considerably longer than the source diameter, but none of the above are coherent light sources thus both will follow the inverse square law.
Also, would someone who has spent the money for one of the above deep parabolics please measure and state the exposure obtained from a given number of wattseconds at a suitable distance such as 30-40 feet, at maximum focus?
One must understand that "parabolic" is not a specific shape having a specific width to depth ratio, and that the depth of a parabolic photo reflector depends on where the desired focal point and the nature of the beam formed by a specific parabola.
Also, I don't understand "I'm sure he'll take that as a compliment given your taste in branding. "
I have never expressed a taste in branding nor suggested that my brand is better than another brand. Most photographers I know of use whatever brand best suits the results they want to achieve, the cost, reliability, service, etc.. Branding does not a photographer make, though spending huge amounts of money on a particular brand might offer some level of personal ego and status within a certain group of shooters.
Regarding "but people can't really expect it to perform as good as the broncolor, profoto, or briese can they?" Why is this? Or is this merely an assumption?
Oh, and my apologies to Rob and Ellis - your names aren't in my spell checker - sorry. Just call me Mr Butt or Bluff.
Paul Buff wrote:
I would really like to see some shots at similar distance and angle from similar size Broncolor, Profoto and Briese, as well as the exposure value, ISO and WS used.
You might want to contact Stephen about that - he has or has access to all you're asking for comparison with.
Paul Buff wrote:
Oh, BTW - it's called a "diffuser dome". A defuser is for taking fuses out of your electrical panel if you live in a really old house.
Hey Ace, you had better check your own spelling before throwing any rocks. Makes you look kinda silly.
The 86" (silver lining) PLM is lighter than I expected it to be. Construction isn't flimsy just light weight. The 8mm diameter shaft is shorter than the the rib length . There are 16 panels so the perimeter is closer to a circle than an eight panel umbrella, "brolly box" or the Octalight. It looks like a giant but shallow umbrella.
First test: (efficiency):
Tools:
Sekonic L758dr in incident mode
Light source: Elinchrom Quadra + a Quadra A head (no reflector) in the A channel. Output set to 400 watt-seconds. (Just because Elinchrom's management chose to go with a non-industry standard umbrella shaft size doesn't mean there aren't ways to easily solve the problem with out resorting to having the shaft replaced or machined down --but more about that in another post). Flash triggered by Skyport.
3) fired flash 10 times with 6 seconds between firings
Results:
On axis: f/16.0 @ 10 feet , meter set to IS0 100 and 1/125th second.
Off-axis: (@ 10 foot distance aand meter located approximately 3.5 feet from axis) f/11.8 to f/16) the variation is likely do to the characteristics of the room ( 9ft ceiling, dark floor, mid tone walls, white ceiling)
By comparison , turnign the Quadra head around so it pointed directly atthe meter and adding the standard Quadra reflector, the on-axis reading was 11.2 , but that reflector is a wide angle design intended for use with an umbrella.
Just for grins I turned the reflector equipped Quadra head back around pointing into the Paul C. Buff PLM. This only added 0.2 stops to my non reflector equipped Quadra + PLM readings.
Paul Buff wrote:
Also, I don't quite understand why a PLM would expected to be any less usable outdoors in wind than the above. Can someone explain all this?
I can't find weights on the profoto one, but the broncolor 220 is 15lbs and the 330 is 20lbs. I would guess that because they're so heavy, you'd need a hefty stand with a total weight above 50# and probably more like 75# after you sandbag them. That'd make them at least harder for the wind to push around
Someone said the 86" PLM is only 2 lbs? If so, you'd be tempted to use a lighter stand outdoors and you get an instant sail
E-Vener wrote:
Light source: Elinchrom Quadra + a Quadra A head (no reflector) in the A channel. Output set to 400 watt-seconds. (Just because Elinchrom's management chose to go with a non-industry standard umbrella shaft size doesn't mean there aren't ways to easily solve the problem with out resorting to having the shaft replaced or machined down --but more about that in another post). Flash triggered by Skyport.
I'll be anxious to see that post as well as any light tests of the pattern the Quadra is creating for you, should you be so generous / inclined.
If someone doesn't understand that setting up any 75" diameter umbrella , bounce panel or softbox outside at close to a horizontal angle even under the calmest conditions requires a heavy stand and a pretty fair amount of ballast , then I think we can agree that is a case of "user error".
Someone said the 86" PLM is only 2 lbs? If so, you'd be tempted to use a lighter stand outdoors and you get an instant sail
