Paul Buff wrote:
It's not that I mind comments but I do mind comments that tell me I should change the design after spending tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars inventing/developing/and having parts made because a customer would prefer I had designed it a different (and more expensive) way.
You could just supply a 10 cent China thumb screw.....
Thanks for sharing this Dave. Based on appearances, it'll be a bit slower on location than I'd expected, but certainly not unusably so.
Can you tell us whether that locking screw has a drilled destination point, or are you just opening the umbrella until it 'feels' right and then tightening it down? I'm wondering if a hole could be drilled out at the destination point and a spring-loaded pin used as a replacement locking mechanism for quicker assembly.
As for the other thing - water off a duck's back. My suggestion to move PLMs to a 7mm shaft and thereby expand the market received a similar reaction. I still plan to buy one or more as stock becomes available, because the price / performance ratio is still there.
Paul Buff wrote:
So go ahead now, you few that are unpleased with everything I do or say - fire away as usual. I'm up for a good barroom brawl if that's what this forum is for.
I'm not looking for a barroom brawl. I'm simply asking that you be more respectful, and when someone doesn't like a particular design feature....deal with it like an adult, instead of throwing sand at the other kids in the sandbox.
It's no longer just about who to buy from.....it's now a case of spoiling this forum. Seems to me that most people on here are able to utilize the manners that their mother taught them....are you excluded because you own a company? I think not.
So far I haven't read anyone complain about the PLM v2. All I read was a review that is still subject to change as time passes and a whole bunch of questions. This is in a span of more than ten posts. In two posts, you've bitched two out of two, Paul. Why?
Is the suggestion of a thumbscrew so bad? Does it take shots at your design? Does it make it that much more expensive? Or do you just hate reading unbiased reviews that isn't even negative? Your defensiveness is nothing like I've seen anywhere before.
Paul Buff wrote:
Personally I'm amazed at comments from "professional" photographers who think the world is falling because they must install one screw one time and, OMG, I don't have a screwdriver. Are photographers really that challenged?
who said the world was falling? It was simply a question, didn't know if there was any specific reason.
I was under the impression I could easily use this on location. Something that is a little faster and cheaper than a soft box. And yes, sometimes I may not have a screwdriver. We have enough things we can loose or get misplaced or "borrowed" and adding a screwdriver to the list would be nice to avoid.
WIth that said, if the PLM's are good, I wouldn't mind it much. I'll adjust. Not a big deal. BUT, if there's no technical reason for me to buy my own thumbscrew, I would rather just do that.
Paul, I have a question regarding something you wrote in a post to this thread:
Paul Buff wrote:
.... If you only want to use the "standard off-center umbrella" mode (7mm rod) there is a set screw on the back that can be tightened to secure the center rod in place. Then you can open and close it like a normal umbrella...
I do not see how this is possible. Here is a photo of the internals of the PLM V2 with the 7mm rod in place:
According to your post, when using the 7mm rod, the PLM can be closed like an ordinary umbrella once the locking thumbscrew is loosened. I believe this is incorrect or, at the very least, misleading. As can be seen in the photo, that single thumbscrew is responsible for holding the PLM's fixed shaft, adapter rod (positioning adapter), and 7mm rod in place. In order to collapse the PLM, the thumbscrew must be backed out far enough to release the umbrella's fixed shaft. As the thumbscrew is loosened, it releases first the 7mm rod and then the adapter rod. Both of those pieces are then no longer attached to the fixed shaft and are free to slide out of the fixed shaft if the PLM shaft is tilted downward. Remember, too, that the PLM's fixed shaft comes entirely free of the sliding collar when the umbrella is collapsed. Reassembly requires repositioning and securing the fixed shaft, the adapter rod (positioning adapter), and 7mm rod.
How is this in any way like opening and closing a normal umbrella?
I actually see a benefit of being able to detach the shaft from the umbrella. It makes the setup a whole lot less longer and storage much more manageable.
Kacey wrote:
You could just supply a 10 cent China thumb screw.....
Jerry is a thumb screw even that much
Truthfully I'm kinda speechless at the moment reading this thread.
I think Paul is taking some of the constructive criticism as a personal attack. I love seeing innovative products and the PLM v2. seems like an interesting product.
Tetrode's informative description with diagrams certainly is an eye opener regarding the review of the V2. I am amazed how well Tetrode explains crucial potential improvements and CC will just make a product even better.
Paul just listen openly rather than taking offense.
Kacey wrote:
You could just supply a 10 cent China thumb screw.....
Good idea . . . any customer that wants a thumbscrew can go buy one at a hardware store any time they want. As I have stated, there is no need to remove the screw unless you are switching back and forth between speedring mount and 7mm shaft mount. It's a one-time operation unless one is swapping the PLM back and forth between light types. For the extremely few number of users who would do this the better solution would be a spare center rod . . . one with speedring attached and one without. We can provide this.
The hole is molded in, not drilled, and could not come out of the mold anything but straight. Each PLM is hand inspected by our staff. I have never seen a unit with the screw slanted like this nor can I see how it is possible in production. But a picture is a picture. I have no explanation for this picture and would have to physically examine the PLM in question to answer this. How about a picture with the screw threaded into the slider so we can be sure the screw is not just sitting loose on the tip of the thread for the picture.
tetrode wrote:
Paul, I have a question regarding something you wrote in a post to this thread:
According to your post, when using the 7mm rod, the PLM can be closed like an ordinary umbrella once the locking thumbscrew is loosened. I believe this is incorrect or, at the very least, misleading. As can be seen in the photo, that single thumbscrew is responsible for holding the PLM's fixed shaft, adapter rod (positioning adapter), and 7mm rod in place. In order to collapse the PLM, the thumbscrew must be backed out far enough to release the umbrella's fixed shaft. As the thumbscrew is loosened, it releases first the 7mm rod and then the adapter rod. Both of those pieces are then no longer attached to the fixed shaft and are free to slide out of the fixed shaft if the PLM shaft is tilted downward. Remember, too, that the PLM's fixed shaft comes entirely free of the sliding collar when the umbrella is collapsed. Reassembly requires repositioning and securing the fixed shaft, the adapter rod (positioning adapter), and 7mm rod.
How is this in any way like opening and closing a normal umbrella?
This is neither incorrect nor misleading in any way. Might I suggest your statements are the incorrect and misleading ones? This info is being added to the manual now and I believe the required allen wrench is no being added to the PLM package for customer convenience..
If you look at the back side of the PLM you will see a set screw. If you tighten this self- locking set screw in a few turns this will lock the center shaft in position. Once you do this all you need to do is open the PLM, position the 7mm shaft to the length you want, and secure it with the front knob. If you only use the 7mm shaft mounting, this is exactly what you ought to do.
I have an idea . . . why doesn't someone actually use the PLMV@ on this forum instead of picking on every detail of how it's made? You know . . . take some pictures.
Seanzky wrote:
So far I haven't read anyone complain about the PLM v2. All I read was a review that is still subject to change as time passes and a whole bunch of questions. This is in a span of more than ten posts. In two posts, you've bitched two out of two, Paul. Why?
Is the suggestion of a thumbscrew so bad? Does it take shots at your design? Does it make it that much more expensive? Or do you just hate reading unbiased reviews that isn't even negative? Your defensiveness is nothing like I've seen anywhere before.
If this were a "review" I would not have a problem. A legitimate review of any product includes first, how well it works, the picture quality, the advantages over other products, followed by the likes and dislikes or performance, construction and so forth. What would one expect if a car "reviewer" did nothing but complain about how the hood opened, but never bother to drive it?
Paul Buff wrote:
This is neither incorrect nor misleading in any way. Might I suggest your statements are the incorrect and misleading ones? This info is being added to the manual now and I believe the required allen wrench is no being added to the PLM package for customer convenience..
If you look at the back side of the PLM you will see a set screw. If you tighten this self- locking set screw in a few turns this will lock the center shaft in position. Once you do this all you need to do is open the PLM, position the 7mm shaft to the length you want, and secure it with the front knob. If you only use the 7mm shaft mounting, this is exactly what you ought to do. ...Show more →
Perhaps products shouldn't be shipped until proper documentation [and tools (hex key) and accessories (fabric sleeve)] can be provided? The "manual" that accompanies the PLM V2 says nothing about configuring it for fixed 7mm shaft usage. I actually figured this out myself (see http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showpost.php?p=10810915&postcount=42). Unfortunately, I didn't have the required 2mm hex wrench and mistook the set screw for a rivet.
Now that I'm armed with a 2mm Allen key, I am still having difficulties. When you say "If you tighten this self-locking set screw a few turns this will lock the center shaft in position", what exactly do you mean? What "center shaft"? Do you mean the positioning adapter? That has a hole near one end that matches up nicely with the setscrew. However, tighten the setscrew and it will travel right through the hole and drop inside leaving nothing secured. If the 7mm rod is slid inside the postioning adapter, the setscrew will still come loose inside the tube when tightened. Incidentally, that setscrew is apparently secured in place with thread locking compound. Once moved, the setscrew turns very freely in its threaded hole.
In any case, you state that the PLM must be opened before positioning the 7mm shaft. In other words, the 7mm shaft is NOT intended to remain in position (nor can it) all the time. This seems to contradict your earlier statement that the PLM can be opened and closed like an ordinary umbrella when configured with the 7mm shaft. Here's a constructive suggestion: Replace the setscrew at the PLM's tip with a thumbscrew identical to the one used internally and supply the PLM with a slightly longer 7mm rod. It would then be a simple matter to insert and lock both the positioning adapter and 7mm shaft using the thumbscrew at the PLM's tip. The 7mm shaft could then be left in position permanently if desired.
And, since you asked, here's a photo of the off-kilter thumbscrew screwed most of the way into the collar:
I'm following this thread for a while now, and I have to admit: I'm exited. It works the same way I imagined, and it looks a lot more solid than I expected. Can't wait to get mine.
You all should keep in mind, that it is still quite cheap, when you compare it to the German original and the Swiss and Swedish made rip offs.
I'm wondering if anyone ever used the V1 umbrella with the ABR.... Seems like a logical choice to center a flash without even needing the "cage". Also wondering if there is a special way some measure umbrella's. Dave stated the 51" one he ordered is 42" across the face.
