Hm...yeah, the transceiver pins do appear to be relatively thick. Glad to know it shouldn't be an issue.
Yep, for virtually all uses the speedring rotation is what it should be. I'm quite happy with it, and the cam design is highly effective. [I did try pushing the fingers in, heh. Not happening. Well, not happening with the amount of force I'm willing to exert. Last week I saw a Nikon D3S and Nikon 70-200 VRII that had destroyed mounts from somebody trying to twist the lens into place in a clockwise fashion with _way_ too much force. The metal eventually sheared, the mount distorted, etc. Nasty airline security - must have not known or realized that Nikon twists on counter-clockwise.] I personally have no issues with it (I don't even use asymmetric modifiers), but that was the one circumstance I could think of that might have any issue at all.
Color Correcting Frosted domes are interesting. CTO-equivalent would make my life happier, as would CTB and Full+Green.
Also (and this is purely an observation, not a complaint), shipping those Retro Lasers up North is going to be brutal. Significantly more than the cost of the modifiers themselves, but that's just part of the deal. Total price shipped and delivered is still great. Any chance of ever getting grids for them? Say...5'?
On politics: I've come to conclude that two things that initially appear to be mutually exclusive are true: 1. Nobody outside a situation or circumstance can properly understand it - they're too far away, and lack perspective. 2. Nobody immersed in a situation or circumstance can properly understand it - they're too close, and lack perspective. We're always too close or too far, always trapped within our own skins and condemned to never truly understand. Huh, that sounds way too much like emo poetry (sad, depressing, self-involved expressions of teenage angst), but I still believe it's true.
I'll have to have my peeps check on the cost of shipping Retro Lasers up north. The are the same size as a 22" BD and both have a high dimensional weight (a high shipping weight relative to the actual weight due to large size box required). We do pass on most of our shipping discount to customers and shoot for zero profit or loss on shipping . . . it's a tough game.. We make initial shipments of stuff like this by air freight from China and really have to fight costs ourselves. Because of the dimensional weight issue we ship the reflectors "nested" in plywood crates and assemble the pieces here.
Coating the domes is done here by our flashtube vendor . . . not sure if they are capable of CTO type coatings.
On politics: I've come to conclude that two things that initially appear to be mutually exclusive are true: 1. Nobody outside a situation or circumstance can properly understand it - they're too far away, and lack perspective. 2. Nobody immersed in a situation or circumstance can properly understand it - they're too close, and lack perspective. We're always too close or too far, always trapped within our own skins and condemned to never truly understand. Huh, that sounds way too much like emo poetry (sad, depressing, self-involved expressions of teenage angst), but I still believe it's true.
It's possible, but it usually takes training or uncommon astuteness in the ability to view the situation from an opposing position without necessarily accepting it. A good intelligence analyst or a really good political strategist can do it.
Paul Buff wrote:
Transceiver pins 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.
Hi Paul - how about a plastic cap, for when it's not in use - something like one on the marker pen. Just to keep it safe in the bag.
I have not seen this in a forum yet but could Paul or someone that has them please comment on the Einstein's construction. Plastic, how thick is the material, does it seem rugged, etc..
gjacob wrote:
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.
Got mine last week and I will second Gregg's comments. I have owned AB's in the past and I am very impressed with my Einsteins. Keep up the great work Paul as I for one appreciate it. And for anyone who has never dealt with Paul's company they are second to none in customer service. A real joy to work with especially in the photo business where if you buy from some of the big online NY photo shops customer service is not part of their business model.
onetrack wrote:
I have not seen this in a forum yet but could Paul or someone that has them please comment on the Einstein's construction. Plastic, how thick is the material, does it seem rugged, etc..
Thanks,
Scott
The case is lexan. My guess is a around 3/16" to 1/4" think. The front plate is metal. The stand mount and support is the best I've seen on a low cost light, at least the functional equal of the more expensive Profoto, Dynalite, Elinchrom, Speedotron, etc. My one complaint about the construction is the pcover that protects the diffusion dome, flash tube and modeling light assembly is a little too long. Reflector/Modifier clamp mechanism is very strong.
And the mount arms, at least on mine, don't feel very spring loaded, so you have to consciously pull them back after mounting a modifier. I also had one open and release the protection cap when it was in a Pelican, simply from being moved around.
bacilonur wrote:
And the mount arms, at least on mine, don't feel very spring loaded, so you have to consciously pull them back after mounting a modifier.
I noticed that as well w/ mine when I tested the 7" reflector on it. Felt loose until I figured out you had to lock it in position. Still a bit worried about hanging a BD off it which I used on a WL so far...
kenyee wrote:
I noticed that as well w/ mine when I tested the 7" reflector on it. Felt loose until I figured out you had to lock it in position. Still a bit worried about hanging a BD off it which I used on a WL so far...
In the glass of water Series I did last week (see the other threads) I was using one of the HOBD's with a grip on it and it was pointing nearly straight down. If you are having trouble with the release mechanism, call the Buff mothership.
if it fits a balcar head you can use it. But the Balcar optical spots might be designed for the flashtube location and shape Balcar uses. I used to own a lot of Balcar gear (still own a couple of the weirder and wacky Balcar modifiers in fact -- one which the current Balcar management apparently has never heard of) but never the two spotlights you asked about. While both have a fresnel lens option those are just options. They seem to be hybridized ellipsodial and fresnel spots
I know zip-o-la about the Bowens. if there is a way to make it fit ona Balcar/White Lightning/Alien Bees/Zeus/Einstein head I don't see why you could not use it. Check with Calumet as they handle Bowens in the USA under the Calumet name.
beatdownvictim wrote:
Hey guys,
I've got some b800's right now and I'd like to add an einstein
If i mix the two together will I have issues with different color temperatures?
Thanks in advance guys!
Full Power color temperature of AB and Einstein match AB - 5600°K. At lower power, AB/WL (as well as Elinchrom and essentially all other mono flash units) drops a about 80°K per f stop of power reduction. This thing about some Euro models having less color shift is a myth . . . the ones that have less color shift (IE Profoto Compact) simple have less power control range.
We do now have available a color coated Einstein glass dome ($14.95) that drops the color by 400°K to 5200°. It will be up on our site is a few days.
E-Vener wrote:
I know zip-o-la about the Bowens. if there is a way to make it fit ona Balcar/White Lightning/Alien Bees/Zeus/Einstein head I don't see why you could not use it. Check with Calumet as they handle Bowens in the USA under the Calumet name.
Bowens has their own stuff in the USA as well, the site is www.bowensusa.com.
Paul Buff wrote:
Coating the domes is done here by our flashtube vendor . . . not sure if they are capable of CTO type coatings.
I do hope you continue to look into this. Even a choice of just 3 or 4 of the most common correction gels would be huge. I'd gladly pay $100 for a 3-pack of 1/4, 1/2 and 1/1 CTO.
I got my pre-order email on Friday and will be calling today to place my order! I'll see if I can get one of those 400K domes in on the same order as well, that might be a nice amount to add a little warmth to skin tones for daylight portraits.
