Paul Buff wrote:
... There will be no pre orders for these because there is no anticipated shortage of supply. ....
I think the "issue" is the 10% discount on accessories you offer on 2-light packages. With so many folks queued up for Einstein packages, I'm sure many would like to include the new Retro-Laser reflector while they're eligible for the discount. However, with the reflector going up on your site next week, I suppose relatively few Einstein early adopters will miss out. I know my number won't be coming up for several weeks.
tetrode wrote:
I don't think that's correct. Yes, the PLM will have to attach to the shaft of the new mount but the question remains, how? I would direct your attention to this post by PCB on his tech forum in response to my question regarding the PLM V2 and the Elinchrom adapter:
You'll note that he states the shaft of the V2 PLM will be long enough to extend out the back of an Elinchrom light's umbrella mounting tube. If it's long enough to extend out the back of the Elinchrom, one would think it's too long to attach to the front of the Retro-Laser reflectors on-axis mount. Maybe the PLM V2's shaft is collapsible or segmented (like a Photek Softlighter's shaft) but then that's really my question. How?
PLM V2 will ship with both a conventional (off center) adjustable 7mm shaft and the speedring assembly The comments about the shaft extending to the back of the flash unit were in reference to the 7mm shaft.
c.d.embrey wrote:
Must be great to be a personal friend of Paul C. Buff
To clarify:
I'm not a personal friend of Paul C. Buff. I have never met him nor have I ever spoken with him. However he and I have communicated multiple times via e-mail in conjunction with my job as a Technical Editor at Professional Photographer magazine, PPA's monthly magazine and it's publicly accessible website http://www.ppmag.com .
In point of fact I have closer relationships on apersonal level with people at Bogen (Elinchrom's USA distributor), various people at Profoto and Profoto's USA distributor MAC Group ltd., Dynalite, Nikon, Thinktank Photo, and Canon among other photo manufacturers, and USA distributors, and their PR companies.
I treat any company I deal with as an editor the same -- I keep them at arms length. I also have no connection with the advertising department at Professional Photographer so what I choose to write about is uninfluenced by any ad buys.
Ron Galbraith, David Hobby (http://www.strobist.com) and I all have all been getting regular Getting notifications about new products that are not publicaly announced yet.
If you have any questions about this feel free to write me
y
Luap wrote:
...PLM V2 (about 6 weeks away) actually uses a speedring to put the flash dead-on-axis and the focus is more controllable. An Elinchrom speedring is also being made, and it has an adjustable 7mm shaft that doesn't protrude behind the light (if used without the speed ring.) I will be filing a patent on this design...
Please note that he said: ... put the flash dead-on-axis and the focus is more controllable ... and it has an adjustable 7mm shaft ...
and:
Not at all. The new design allows the 7mm shaft to go as far into the light as you want, or even poke out the back if you like. The on-axis speedring mounting has definite advantages - keeping the light on the centerline of the PLM and making aiming and overall performance easier and better - especially in the smaller sizes.
How can the light be dead-on-axis and still poke out the back through the Elinchrom umbrella hole It can't so the umbrella shaft has to mount to the speedring/cage. Must have something to do with that it has an adjustable 7mm shaft.
So my guess is that it mounts the PCB PLM dead center using something like the Profoto mount. I'm sure that it will be somewhat different, but the same basic idea. How else are you going to mount it to an on-axis speedring ?
That's my interpretation -- yours may be different.
I'm not a personal friend of Paul C. Buff. I have never met him nor have I ever spoken with him. However he and I have communicated multiple times via e-mail in conjunction with my job as a Technical Editor at Professional Photographer magazine, PPA's monthly magazine and it's publicly accessible website http://www.ppmag.com .
In point of fact I have closer relationships on apersonal level with people at Bogen (Elinchrom's USA distributor), various people at Profoto and Profoto's USA distributor MAC Group ltd., Dynalite, Nikon, Thinktank Photo, and Canon among other photo manufacturers, and USA distributors, and their PR companies.
I treat any company I deal with as an editor the same -- I keep them at arms length. I also have no connection with the advertising department at Professional Photographer so what I choose to write about is uninfluenced by any ad buys.
Ron Galbraith, David Hobby (http://www.strobist.com) and I all have all been getting regular Getting notifications about new products that are not publicaly announced yet.
If you have any questions about this feel free to write me
y
Jeez, Ellis, don't you have a sense of humor? Haven't seen the Buff shirt ?
" ... with “BUFF” written boldly across the chest. The back has the line, “I Know Paul C. Buff Personally.” ... " Found at: http://www.alienbees.com/shirts.html
BTW How could I NOT know that you work for the PPA magazine, you mention it when talking about the tests you do for them.
Paul Buff wrote:
I was not aware of the Profoto product mentioned - thus was not inspired by it. Not a big deal . . . parallel thought . . . not uncommon. If I can get spiritual for a second, thought travels between people, often unknowingly, via the mechanism theologians have tried for ages to name and identify . . . transcendental communications. Was Profoto inspired by dental and operating room lights and satellite dishes that long proceeded their products and mine?
It only makes sense to put the light on-axis. I'm sorry that you read a compliment as criticism. It makes sense to only copy from the best. Doesn't matter if it is a dental/operating room light or or a good idea from where-ever.
c.d.embrey wrote:
It only makes sense to put the light on-axis. I'm sorry that you read a compliment as criticism. It makes sense to only copy from the best. Doesn't matter if it is a dental/operating room light or or a good idea from where-ever.
I didn't really take it as any form of criticism. Sorry if I came off that way.
Actually, I pay little attention to what the rest of the world is doing and just do my thing. When I built a recording studio at age 21 in 1957 I had never been in a "recording studio" and never bothered to for the 8 years or so I operated it. My credo was "I don't know what a real recording studio is supposed to look like, but I know what's supposed to come out." I'm still pretty much the same . . . don't go to conventions any more and have very little contact with other manufacturers.
There are no totally new inventions and the same with music and art . . . everything is some form of adaption of earlier minds. I do credit Bron and whoever else is doing IGBT power packs . . . but of course that is an adaptation of speedlights that preceded them. At the time Bron introduced this technology the IGBTs used probably cost 20 times what they do today. It takes eight of them for an Einstein and they're still not cheap.
tetrode wrote:
No, actually he was talking about the PLM. The adjustable PLM V2 shaft is where the magic happens. How it happens still hasn't been explained.
Dave F.
I had to completely rethink how an umbrella is made, and got no help from the umbrella factories . . . they only know how to make one thing and don't adapt well. I can't even give them a desired shape and ask them to make it . . . I actually had to plot the fabric cutting templates, rod lengths and allow for stretch factor and the physics of how a rod bends. A whole lot more to getting this right than meets the eye. My work area is so full of samples and prototypes I can't walk through it!
Paul Buff wrote:
I had to completely rethink how an umbrella is made, and got no help from the umbrella factories . . . they only know how to make one thing and don't adapt well. I can't even give them a desired shape and ask them to make it . . . I actually had to plot the fabric cutting templates, rod lengths and allow for stretch factor and the physics of how a rod bends. A whole lot more to getting this right than meets the eye. My work area is so full of samples and prototypes I can't walk through it!
Should be done real soon, then I'll post it all....Show more →
So Paul (Luap) I just ordered a PLM silver today and if you're going to modify the shaft do you have a timeframe on when this will be in prototype??
It's been in prototype for some time and all the molds and dies are done. The big problem is getting the Chinese sewing factories to understand the requirements for exact fabric shape and to control it. You wouldn't believe how much time and how many CAD drawings I have invested in this. Not to be down on Chinese, but if they haven't done something before they can't figure out what to do. My work space is so full of samples I can't walk through them all.
In case that someone from the old world feels like shopping for a parabolic umbrella...well, here's a source: www.viewfinderphotography.co.uk/product.php?cid=75
How about finding a quality American sewer and charging more for it? You might not sell as many but I'm sure they'll be made better and you won't get as many back. Plus you can control production better form here.
Gregg Heckler wrote:
How about finding a quality American sewer and charging more for it? You might not sell as many but I'm sure they'll be made better and you won't get as many back. Plus you can control production better form here.
First, there are hardly any US sewing factories. Second, an umbrella this size is very labor intensive to make. US labor - if it existed plus shop profit = $30/hour. Chinese labor = $.50 per hour and they sew real fast. Third, the fabrics aren't available in the US, and cost 5 times as much if you buy through a US distributer - again, if you can find one. US made would probably have to sell for $500+ and I would sell 1/20 the number I can at $75.
I've tried to get local sewing shops to make prototypes and they say "are you kidding?"
True, Paul. The ready-to-wear area on 7th Avenue here in NY has been eviscerated. Designers remaining in the area have to source outside to obtain samples to show.
It can't so the umbrella shaft has to mount to the speedring/cage. Must have something to do with that