Cheers Neuffy. The thing is i like to shoot more and more darker now.
Before that i liked A LOT to shoot overexposated images from the start to have a good base to have that "european advertising look" ... but i got kinda bored with that and i want more drama/mood into my images now.
Glad you like it really.
The Large PLM is a killer, i tweaked mine a bit - basically the white shaft cannot be removed from the PLM anymore ;p - and i like to use it now...
geez, reading some of these posts is stressful. it's kind of ironic how the negative posts seem to outweigh the positive posts.
alexi's post was extremely condescending.
"Paul, have you ever used both Nikon & Canon camera systems?? I have and that really made me think. Canon cameras layout/operation are as if they were designed by an engineer, Nikon cameras seem like they were designed by a photographer. "
really? he's been around long enough to understand these systems.
Paul is coming up with very innovative products that turn almost any monolight into a more efficient lighting system at a relatively low cost. No other lighting manufacturer would gamble on such small profit margins relative to the industry.
Don't get me wrong, feedback is great. But as E-verner stated: all products aren't immune to failure.
c2thew wrote:
geez, reading some of these posts is stressful. it's kind of ironic how the negative posts seem to outweigh the positive posts.
alexi's post was extremely condescending.
"Paul, have you ever used both Nikon & Canon camera systems?? I have and that really made me think. Canon cameras layout/operation are as if they were designed by an engineer, Nikon cameras seem like they were designed by a photographer. "
really? he's been around long enough to understand these systems.
Paul is coming up with very innovative products that turn almost any monolight into a more efficient lighting system at a relatively low cost. No other lighting manufacturer would gamble on such small profit margins relative to the industry.
Don't get me wrong, feedback is great. But as E-verner stated: all products aren't immune to failure.
c2thew, I completely & respectfully disagree with you. I don't think my post was condescending at all nor was it meant it to be. It was just the honest truth and how I honestly feel. I don't think you understood my point at all btw the difference in using a Canon vs Nikon system. Have you had a chance to use them both??
Yes, I understand that Paul does come up with "innovative products" but my point is that they are often missing something and the trend lately has been to follow them up with a version 2.0 after problems are found with the initial release. This is followed by Paul stating that "I always eat the cost for my clients & no other company does that" and also "other companies have mistakes on their products too..." etc.
He has a lot of great ideas but it's one thing to have something on paper & a concept and another thing to actually have a working product out the field. If he were to get working photographers that are actual photographers and not fanboys to give him honest feedback on his products it would take things to the next level.
Here's two quick examples:
1) the battery cyber syncs have no on/off switch. Something small, but would be useful. The auto shut off... okay, but the button stuck out some much it would always turn on when stored in a bag. Then, the new one got changed & the button was changed. Another small thing that was missed was including or leaving a little hole for a lanyard to hang it from the light. Paul's solution "it's best if you just leave it dangling from the sync. cord" which is NOT the best solution IMO.
I know people find work arounds but instead of saying that, Paul could have just said "it was our mistake & we overlooked that" or that could have been suggested by a tester. But now, if that were to be changed and/or fixed the respond from Paul would be "it would cost 200k to have new molds made.." etc. or something along those lines.
2) the Zeus power packs. They have a handle but it only works when the unit is closed. when you have heads plugged in it's cumbersome to move around. Not a big thing but something that can be really annoying.
I'm not telling him how to run his business, just making an honest suggestion that I think would help everyone. He doesn't have to listen to anyone & regardless, I'm sure he'll still make tons of money & have much success.
1) the battery cyber syncs have no on/off switch. Something small, but would be useful. The auto shut off... okay, but the button stuck out some much it would always turn on when stored in a bag. Then, the new one got changed & the button was changed.
Well, I have a differing opinion on that. I had the old Radio Remote One sync system (predated the CS system) which did have an on/off switch. Most often, I failed to remember to turn the doggoned things off, so the batteries were run down by the next day. I considered an auto-off capability to be a major improvement.
RDKirk wrote:
Well, I have a differing opinion on that. I had the old Radio Remote One sync system (predated the CS system) which did have an on/off switch. Most often, I failed to remember to turn the doggoned things off, so the batteries were run down by the next day. I considered an auto-off capability to be a major improvement.
I would say both switch and auto-off. But aren't we offtopic atm since I can't see the resemblence between an umbrella and radiotrigger.
Paul, just a thought, have you ever considering selling internationally through eBay?
I realize that it cuts some of your profits, and wouldn't be feasible for all products, but something like the PLM could be sold over it. It would probably also limit the rip-offs a bit when the genuine article would also be available.
I figure it will be 11 years before I start"Getting older".
Zappa died at 52 not because he was getting older but because his doctor didn't do his job. I learned from this and demanded my Dr. do complete CT scans and MRI to make sure nothing was lurking undiagnosed. Turns out my instincts were correct and I had two life threatening conditions that needed immediate attention.
If I can offer some advice for any age, listen to your instincts and don't procrastinate.
Check out my super 85 year old friend Art Laboe. to put things in perspective..
Having personally experienced balloon angioplasty, including the wonderful catheter inserted via the femoral artery, I have a small inkling of what you've survived. While I wouldn't wish your experience on anyone, I'm very glad you're emerging whole and able to resume your lead at PCB.
Great vision, great products and great prices. Thank you for bringing quality photographic tools to the masses.
Jonraty wrote:
Paul, just a thought, have you ever considering selling internationally through eBay?
I realize that it cuts some of your profits, and wouldn't be feasible for all products, but something like the PLM could be sold over it. It would probably also limit the rip-offs a bit when the genuine article would also be available.
eBay - no way. If I feel ambitious I may one day set up Buff owned and operated n select countries.
Thanks . . . I know a lot of men have bee through this and it's quite safe. But I can safely say femoral heart cath is a walk in the park compared to going through the elbow! The worst part was the sloppy hospital left me with 11 lbs of around my heat/lungs, near death dehydration and gigantic bacterial infection they didn't know how to treat..
thank God I'm back to my "Country Doctor" internist who treats me with respect and and ten tome the expertise than all three Gold Chain and portfolio specialists that damn near killed me and treated me with as much dirt as medical care.
On another note, i've got one shoot showing up next week in a huge studio in Brussels, they're Profoto/Broncolor only... But i'd like to show up with my camera... AND my PLM.
Any luck it can fits one of the following brands heads w/out too much stress?
gkayacan wrote:
Any luck it can fits one of the following brands heads w/out too much stress?
You adapt about any flash head to the cage by removing the AB or Eli mount and drilling three matching holes in a insert. Then you would just mount the new insert to the three cage rods.... Pretty straight forward Mod and if your handy should only take a few minutes.
Still waiting on my friend to come by for a model shoot. so.... some more self portraits! The goal this time was to see how the 86" plm behaves when used as a backdrop. This is similar to using the octabank to get a quick white background.
One aspect that I struggled with the silver plm was that it tended to give such a concentrated spotlight due to the flash not having a diffuser in front of it like the einstein does. This tends to give a blown out "earring" effect. So if your model had earrings and you wanted to emphasize the ears, then standing directly in front of the silver plm will give this effect. My previous metering test emphasizes the hot spot.
and now back to school stuff.
conclusion: elinchrom users should absolutely get a diffusion cover when using the silver plm. It will give you the desired softness that you need, though it eats up some light. I think einstein users are able to get away with not needing a diffusion fabric for the silver plm because of the pyrex glass that diffuses the strobe.
Ssssssso anyways, you guys get the email? End of November for the silver? Looked like no date on the white, but apparently it's further out than the silver...blast.
corndog wrote:
Ssssssso anyways, you guys get the email? End of November for the silver? Looked like no date on the white, but apparently it's further out than the silver...blast.
Actually I heard end of Nov for *new* orders.
