Version Two will not look like any umbrella frame you have seen and will have a whole bunch of serious improvements and innovations. I will be filing patents. It won't come at any significant cost increase. All of China goes on National Vacation for about ten days around Feb 14. I'm trying desperately to get Version Two into limited production before that date - but this is a very tight schedule.
Aw shucks, doesn't sound like it will be ready when I drop by your place in January.
Thanks for the update on V2 Paul.
p.s., Chinese New Year starts Feb 14th. In HK, it's a week long celebration and most people are on holiday (except for restaurants which are probably packed)...if you schedule a factory visit near the start of it, the area should be pretty festive
RDKirk wrote:
Aw shucks, doesn't sound like it will be ready when I drop by your place in January.
I believe if you stop by in January we will have a fully functional Einstein to demonstrate to you. If you want to meet with me you'll have to let me know when because I work from home 95% of the time. I'll be happy to accommodate.
Oh . . . typing too fast again - you were referring to PLMV2, not Einstein. At a minimum I can show and tell exactly what PLMV2 is all about by then.
kenyee wrote:
Thanks for the update on V2 Paul.
p.s., Chinese New Year starts Feb 14th. In HK, it's a week long celebration and most people are on holiday (except for restaurants which are probably packed)...if you schedule a factory visit near the start of it, the area should be pretty festive
Kenyee, I hope my comments haven't offended you - that is not intended. You've been a good contributor here and have presented a lot of helpful info. I just get a little ruffled when rigid lines are drawn between amateurs and pros. We're all amateurs in the final analysis and we're all people, and hopefully, all learning daily. Pro/amateur discrimination is the same thing as racial discrimination and serves only to degrade knowledge and harmony rather than advancing it.
Brooke Clyde wrote:
Sorry. Not complaining, or even asking for specs, etc. It's just that I ordered the "new" model in November and was just told today it would be shipping at the end of the year.
Something not in production yet is probably not shipping in two weeks, thus I'm wondering ...
Figured it out. The improved version of the original PLM is being called "2nd Generation". Shorter shaft (but still 8mm diameter) and better diffuser. That is what I was told is shipping in a couple of weeks.
What Paul is talking about is Version 2, which it looks like we'll see in the Spring.
Paul Buff wrote:
I believe if you stop by in January we will have a fully functional Einstein to demonstrate to you. If you want to meet with me you'll have to let me know when because I work from home 95% of the time. I'll be happy to accommodate.
Oh . . . typing too fast again - you were referring to PLMV2, not Einstein. At a minimum I can show and tell exactly what PLMV2 is all about by then.
Paul Buff wrote:
Kenyee, I hope my comments haven't offended you - that is not intended. You've been a good contributor here and have presented a lot of helpful info. I just get a little ruffled when rigid lines are drawn between amateurs and pros.
Paul: no they haven't (I think your response refers to the fashion studio thread). Misunderstandings are easy in the somewhat terse environment of text forums. Hope the OP wasn't too scared off by it and will post pictures of his setup. By no means am I a pro, so I wouldn't be drawing those lines
More on topic, I'm looking forward to V2 of the PLM
Brooke Clyde wrote:
Figured it out. The improved version of the original PLM is being called "2nd Generation". Shorter shaft (but still 8mm diameter) and better diffuser. That is what I was told is shipping in a couple of weeks.
What Paul is talking about is Version 2, which it looks like we'll see in the Spring.
My bad. Sorry for the confusion.
Sorry for the confusion. I believe it may have been Rob Galbraith who referred to the next shipment of PLMs as second generation. These are essentially the same as what has been shipped to date, except shorter shaft and improved diffuser. I have never called them anything but Version 1 with some small improvements. Call them V1.1 if they must have a designation.
Version 2 is entirely my frame design and is dramatically different. I should be able to release complete info on it by mid Feb, with shipping likely late Feb.
Version 2 is entirely my frame design and is dramatically different. I should be able to release complete info on it by mid Feb, with shipping likely late Feb.
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4051/4208356126_3de7d1b546_o.jpg
X1600 into 86" silver PLM at lowest power setting (1/4 power activated) cam right above eye level
X1600 from 45 degrees right rear of model, around 1/8 power (1/4 power activated)
Silver reflector left of model for just a very slight specular kick..
Can it be used with other manufacturer's lights? I read somewhere that u have to shoot with a bare bulb structure. My lights (Impact) have a removeable reflector...
Also, almost every review I've read says they used a 320w light at 1/2 power or a 640w light at 1/4 power. So my question is - how well will it work with a 160w light at full power?
matthewallenme wrote:
Can it be used with other manufacturer's lights? I read somewhere that u have to shoot with a bare bulb structure. My lights (Impact) have a removeable reflector...
Also, almost every review I've read says they used a 320w light at 1/2 power or a 640w light at 1/4 power. So my question is - how well will it work with a 160w light at full power?
Yes, I use mine with Profoto. The only problem is if the shaft is too large, like with Elinchrom.
I've modified several of my favorite umbrellas to work with my Elinchrom lights by chopping off part of the umbrella shaft and inserting a length of 7mm stainless steel rod. Like this:
Unfortunately, not all "standard" umbrella shafts have a great enough diameter to allow this mod to work. Photogenics are easy to mod; Lastolites less so.
I was wondering if anyone might have tried to perform this operation on a PLM shaft. I realize 7mm versions will be coming but the ETA seems to have become rather indefinite. If my simple mod can be applied to the PLM shaft, I think it would be worth doing while waiting for the genuine article from PCB.
I was wondering if anyone might have tried to perform this operation on a PLM shaft. I realize 7mm versions will be coming but the ETA seems to have become rather indefinite. If my simple mod can be applied to the PLM shaft, I think it would be worth doing while waiting for the genuine article from PCB.
If you look around these threads, Paul Buff himself has suggested it right here, I believe.
RDKirk wrote:
If you look around these threads, Paul Buff himself has suggested it right here, I believe.
No kidding? I'll try to track that down. Thanks for the tip!
EDIT: I located the post (https://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/832297/0#7750759). Paul says some PLM users have inserted 1/4" rod, not 7mm. I've used 1/4" rod with my Lastolites and found it to be a bit too small in diameter for the Elinchrom's locking mechanism to grab onto. Did these folks use 1/4" because it's readily available in the U.S. or because 7mm rod wouldn't fit? I'd *love* to get a sample of the PLM's shaft material.
It's 8mm OD (.315") with 0.020: walls. That makes the ID .275". 7mm is .2756" so would pretty much have to be hammered or pressed in. It's pretty difficult to fond 7mm steel shaft material in the US.
