RDKirk wrote:
When I say "China," I'm talking about the policies of the government, for which "da peeple" have less say even than in the US. When I say, "Playing us for chumps," I'm not only speaking of economic issues, but issues across the board.
The Chinese government has no issues with controlling what they want to control. If a corporate official embarrasses them sufficiently, they have no problem putting a bullet into his head. If the Chinese government wanted to curtain copyright and patent infringements, they could do it, and they make it happen within days.
Agreed. But we are heading in this direction here. Look at the bullets fired at FOX News and Tea Party by the administration daily. Oh, I forgot, you can't see these bullets unless you watch Fox because they are invisible to the rest of the media who are complicit in firing them. They just have a different type of bullets and delivery systems.
again with the politics Paul? BROKEN RECORD...this is a lighting forum...as being who you are you really do have a responsibility to act in a professional manner...let's start talking about studio lights again...leave the politics for other places on the web
Paul, in the USA, Politicians and partisan media have been taking really nasty verbal potshots at each other since Thomas Jefferson's first election (I wrote a senior thesis on that election for Dean Elspeth Rostow at the University of Texas.) .
And Obama gets plenty of crap thrown at him from the real left in this country, read huffingtonpost.com some time or get the perspective on him from a REAL socialist like Amy Goodman's "Democracy Now" program. Goodman, Chomsky and their slimy ilk like Obama even less than the more extreme elements of the far right and they are even moreself-rightous about it.
photomarvin wrote:
again with the politics Paul? BROKEN RECORD...this is a lighting forum...as being who you are you really do have a responsibility to act in a professional manner...let's start talking about studio lights again...leave the politics for other places on the web
Hey . . I didn't start this one . . . I responded. But every time my name comes up you come off like a broken record. ( I actually think I found a compliment in one of your recent posts . . . Buff applauds) Ya'll better start paying attention to politics if you don't want to loose your country.
Cut the crap Paul. You may not start something but you'll take the vaguest provacation and run with it. You have an amazing platform for your wonderful product and an attentive audience. Don't switch them off or drive them away.
Paul - YOU JUST DON'T GET IT...there is a time and place and this is not the time or place for political discussion. Please be respectful to everyone.
And yes, I think I did pay you and your products a compliment...I just wish you would stay focused on lighting and photography related discussion. I'm sick and tired of the way these posts go off on political tangents...If I want that I go somewhere else...plain and simple.
Now, back to lighting...any idea when Rob might be posting his sports shots with the Einsteins? Not sure I care for them for studio stuff, but would really like to see how they handle a gym for sure.
I do buy what suits me...for most of my work it has been Profoto...but I always look at what is out there...my need for various modifiers is less when shooting sports, so I think Einsteins would be a good piece of kit to have.
Bryan (from Canada) and Photomarvel . . . let's see if I have it correct. Ellis, a distinguished Technical Editor can offer political opinions, as can RD KIRK, Mardel, Kenyee and Kent - who all contribute valuable lighting info here regularly, yet I am out of line and ripe for attack from PhotoMarvel over just about anything I have to say and who rarely contributes much beyond I LUV Profoto and Paul Buff stinks on ice. Just who did you say you work for? Then again, you threw me a token compliment so I guess you're not all bad.
I surmise the phrases "CUT THE CRAP PAUL" and "PAUL YOU JUST DON'T GET IT" demonstrate great mastery in the art of persuasive communications, perhaps worthy of a Pulitzer Peace Prize.
And speaking of off and on topic, I'm curious why you had no comment to the below very topical post from https://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/896750/1#lastmessage and chose to instead continue attack regarding politics instead. You make a statement about a vague term like "The overall experience" and ignore what it is that forms that experience:
photomarvin wrote:
E- Vener - The Profoto Compacts I use on a regular basis recycle approximatley .9 second at full power 600 w/s. Not sure about D1 times though...but My Compacts recycle noticeably faster than any of the AB400, AB800 or AB1600s we have in our studio...no question. But like I said the issue about what light is better isn't black and white, for me it's all about the overall experience.
Luap Responds:
My Compact 300 cycles in .8 seconds to 300WS, AB800 cycles to 320WS in 1.0 Second, Einstein does 320WS in 0.85 Second.
Compact 300 adjusts from Full to 1/4 . . . 2f real range, AB goes Full to 1/32 . . . 5f real range, Einstein does Full to 1:256 . . . . 8f real range.
Measured Compact 300 color at full power and at 1/4 power . . . with Sekonic Color Meter . . . got a -230°K shift at 1/4 power. Same test, same meter yielded 220°K shift at 1/4 power on AB800. Einstein in color mode has +/-50°K color shift at any power from Full to 1:256 power. (Color meters are finicky . . . . past RAW tests (mine and independent testers) have shown Profoto Compact, Elinchrom RX and AB/WL (and just about every other monolight except Solaire and Einstein) all drop following the same curve of about -80°K per halving of power. (Note the discrepancy between color meter measurements and actual camera result using RAW . . . I always defer to the camera in the end).
Compact Modeling lamp is not voltage regulated (nor is any other monolight I'm aware of). All our products are. When I dropped Compact 300 from Full to 1/4, the flash was reduced by 2f but the "proportional" modeling lamp only dropped 1f . . . a 100% error. AB and WL track flash within 1/4f over the 1:32 range, Einstein tracks within +/- 1/10 f over the entire 256:1 power range.
With the supplied standard reflector, Compact 300 consistently had a relatively dim pattern center and brighter periphery. I'll do some flash tests at different focus point and see what that looks like. The modeling lamp is about 1 1/8" forward of the flashtube (about the same as AB/WL).This means when you focus using modeling lamp the flash pattern will be considerably wider or narrower than the flash pattern. Einstein model lamp is on the exact same focal point as the flashtube, so flash and model patterns are absolutely identical.
Don't even talk about flash duration - haven't measured Compact 300 yet but I believe it to be about 4 times as long as AB800 . . . I'll get back one that one.
I never stated AB was better, worse or equal to Profoto Compact, or even competitive . . . AB detractors insist AB is crap and Profoto is godly. My results say otherwise. Glad you like the Profoto accessory mount.
I'm with Paul on this. I agree with his right to dissent, to say disagreeable things and make off topic remarks until the owners of this house w are playing in say "that's enough". This is their house so it is their rules that rule.
Alright Paul talk politics all you want. If Fred allows it so be it.
BTW Our studio uses your products every single day. I just prefer other brands most of the time.
I work for myself since you asked.
E Vener - I would just hope someone with Pauls stature would have the common decency to behave professionally and stay on topic. But your comment is correct.
OK everybody, I'm going to try to do a little leadership and personal responsibility here. What I mean is this:
Since my company is in Nashville and since we supply, by my best estimates, better than 50% of the studio flash units sold in America, I thought it appropriate to let people know the extent of the one and a half billion dollar flood in Nashville and how it is/was affecting our operations here and what effect it has on our customers. I did this in part because there was practically no media coverage of this historic event until many days after it occurred. With a bit of disgust with the media I uttered the words "It must be Bush's fault". Political . . . I suppose, but certainly not directed toward any forum members or demeaning to same . . . just a rehash of what I hear daily in the media aimed at the Katrina disaster.
Then the subject of China suppliers and their impact on our industry came up and I offered what I felt were intelligent and pertinent conversation on this subject. Others followed, several with much less balance and tact than I had offered. So far I believe the majority of readers would find these conversations pertinent to the topic under discussion and of interest.
From there it degraded into a series of tactless and demeaning attacks on the part of some as to my character, my responsibilities as a manufacturer, ad infinitum, as if I had a different set of responsibilities with regard to decorum and civility than others here. Through it all, I continued to provide a very large amount of information regarding the topic under discussion, as did Ellis and several others. Most of the technical conversation came from me in the form of answers to questions posed to me. To clear the air, I have never met Ellis and he, in his position of Technical Editor of PPA magazine, has no special relationship with my company and indeed, has the same non biased relationship with every one of my competitors.
As a male with normal testosterone levels, when I am demeaned, and told what "should be doing", I respond and do my best to retain a degree of civility in my responses. since civility is everyone's responsibility here.
So here's what I mean by leadership: Ask me a question and I'll tell you no lies. I will refrain from calling people names and insulting attacking or demeaning them, and will never tell anyone here what they should do.
Perhaps it's a hard concept for some here to accept a manufacturer here, but I personally think this might be a bit misguided. Who is better positioned to comment of the technical aspects of lighting systems than someone who spends his entire body of work to designing and manufacturing same? I can't help it if others in my position don't come on these forums to discuss and the physics an philosophy of their work as well, and to debate the opinions and philosophy of their competitors, peers and customers. Nothing would please me more than to discuss some of this with my peers, and forum members would certainly benefit from such discussions.
Of course, it's a given that using such a discussion to hype, market or shill for one's products or slam one another has no place here.
So why don't we all try to play nice and leave the insults and putdowns at the door? Use the forum for what it's for - to disseminate and share constructive information.
On the internet Paul; good luck with that. I have never owned any of your stuff; but have owned Photogenic, Calumet/Bowens, and Norman. I have shot the WLs of different vintage; recent stuff and those that looked like Folger coffee cans.
I am very inrtrugued by the Einstein. It may be what I add to my Profoto 7B.
From what I have seen it looks excellent and quite wonderful for the money.
Hope we can gain some decorum; from most probably all; unlikely.
The best to you and being in Atlanta; very suprised the mega-rains did not receive National attn; we heard about it here every night.
Have had my Einteins for about a week now and have been playing around with them and am quite impressed. I bought the Cyber Commander and transceivers to go with them and it's a real joy of a package. Total control of the lights straight off the camera or hand held. The CC has a built in flash meter so you can setup your lights where you want them, set each to the same flash output and meter each and the CC will tell you what fstop is on your subject. Then you can adjust one at a time or all at once and the CC will show you the fstop, w/sec. of each. Also you can control modeling lamp output and power one at a time or all at once. Just set your lights were you want them and never have to touch them. I also have my D300 teathered to my Dell XPS M2010. This has turned out to be a great product setup that I never dreamed possible awhile back.
Paul, on every occasion but my last remarks I had sided with you. I have on several occassions complimented you and always called for reason when people attacked you. (in this and other forums) In fact you thanked me a few days ago for my support. Today i guess i could see that you may be guilty of stirring the pot just a wee bit.
I have watched both sides play cat and mouse and people like myself, with no axe to grind are getting tired of the slamming regardless of direction.
I'm here to listen (read) and learn not to get my blood pressure pumped up.
Discussing politics, religion and women in public will always get you in trouble.
Thanks, Paul. I really appreciate the time you take to give us this information. It's been invaluable to me. I have to say that I absolutely love that you actually address customer suggestions and requests, often stating why something is not economical, reasonable, or possible to do. For example, that you actually were willing to tell me (us) that the reason there isn't an Einstein ~1280/2560/ZeusenStein is that it would require a fairly large reworking of the design and that expected volume is very low on such a light - too low to justify the expense. Getting information like this (rather than a complete lack of response that is more typical) is both amazing and wonderful.
So, striving to be on-topic: I've been using my Einsteins/CC setup for just over a week now. Flawless power adjustment of lights 20 feet up on booms and stands is amazing. I didn't actually realize just how much of a change it would be.
Last weekend I fine-tuned the output of a hair light that was ~18 feet up using the Cyber Commander, while other people were using the multiple light setup concurrently. This allowed this high-volume, large-lineup commercial service shoot to go on uninterrupted, but with subtle improvements as time went on. Really much more of an improvement than I expected.
One thing that I hadn't quite realized is just how easy it is to set up for a specific power setting - by f/stop, rather than by watt-seconds. I had anticipated getting full WS setting control from the CC, but to be given the ability to meter a light, get f/16, and then set the light simply to f/8 rather than setting it to 1/4 power makes things so simple. I'm going to be lending/renting out my setup, and while I had previously thought that the Cyber Commander would never go out due to its expected complexity, I'm pretty sure I can write up a 1-page document to send out with it that will make things very, very simple for people to use.
The new mount-holding method is great. Quite impressive grip ability once closed. I can't see having an issue with it at all except in one odd circumstance: When using a large asymmetric softbox, with a lot of weight off to one side. This will cause the entire ring to slip and spin. I think in that admittedly rare circumstance I can easily resign myself to using a little tape to hold it in place.
My only issue with the CSXCV module is the exposed pins when not attached to the Einstein. This is a fairly minor issue, but I was hoping for a connection design more similar to Secure Digital, where contacts touch, but there are no pins to be bent. It isn't likely to be a major issue to me, but I do anticipate eventually bending a pin or two.
Overall light quality is wonderful. Very, very even coverage with all the modifiers I use (softboxes/octoboxes up to 7'/various reflectors/BD). It's very nice to not bump the flash tube and modeling light, and instead simply leave a small streak of skin oil on the frosted dome that safely burns off.
I'm going to have to see if I can repair and try out my Balcar Quad-Fiberoptic unit with these.
I see that the Retro Laser reflector http://alienbees.com/22rlr.html is available and the Baby Boomer Offset Arms http://alienbees.com/mba.html will soon be available. I'll definitely want to pick up a couple of each as soon as the new PLMs are available.
There. Hopefully that helps steer this back on topic.
Edited for fixing link formatting and clarification.
I actually don't care for PCB products but I do appreciate his ingenuity and I am on his side politically. However, I think this type of forum should be reserved to photography, product, and technique issues and that's it.
Thanks Neuffy. Regarding the Transceiver pins - they are very durable and similar to the socket side pins on a Compact Flash card, but stronger. We don't expect any field problems with the connection unless you park your car on the CSXCV. If a pin ever gets bent for any reason, it can easily be visually straightened with near zero chance of breakage. Putting a more sophisticated connector would add to the cost and size and IMHO would not be justified.
Regarding the rotation of the speedring, this can be a plus and a minus. On the plus side it makes orientation of rectangular softboxes really easy, but can allow self rotation as you say. I am currently working on minor future modifications to the accessory attachment, including reshaped fingers for even more grip and slightly more spring. The present spring tension is quite sufficient . . . try to push the fingers in . . . the physics of the cam design prevents this. But a bit more tension and reshaped finger will probably stop your softboxes from turning.
At the request of some users, I am also working on CC firmware to allow setting ISO and exposure time in 1/3f steps instead of full steps and a couple of other improvements. We also have some frosted domes in the works that drop the color temperature about 400°K for users that want to use Einstein to produce around 5200° to match up with some lights that use this color range as their standard instead of 5600°K. Under $15.
Gregg and Bryan,
You won't ever see me pushing any religious position and sure aren't going to make any comparison of men and women (though I tend to hire females because the ones I have do such a great job). But sometimes some degree of politics, whether global or local, tends to creep into these forums and indeed stirs controversy. But I agree it can be explosive, certainly in these times. I think the real test is does what creeps in have any relevancy to the thread, and can posters avoid tantrums and bad behavior. This tendency is not limited to politics . . . my very presence here is considered controversial or political by some, but a recent poll stated 89% want my input and that of my peers on FM.
BTW, here is a dictionary idiom for the word politics:
"To deal with people in an opportunistic, manipulative, or devious way." Any of that here? Is this OK with members? I think we all know the answer and all engage in this on occasion. Just as distracting and disruptive as governmental politics - perhaps worse IMHO.
