Хорошо, учитывая что вы хорошо разбираетесь в этом процессе, подскажите тогда какие примущества я получу от HSS в B1?
Например меня интересует какую все таки яркость я получу при HSS c выдержкой 2000, 4000, 8000? Хотя бы примерно. Поможет ли мне HSS при съемке на солнце полностью отказаться от ND фильтра и будет ли B1 в режиме HSS хотя бы с трех метров от модели полностью пересиливать солнце, так что бы тени на модели были только от вспышки а тени от солнца были устранены (что бы не было двойных теней)? Или может для этого необходимо иметь две B1?
Какие рефлекторы стоит использовать для утопленной лампы дающей пучок 77 градусов, магнум, телезум, что еще?
Человек тестировал вот такие насадки с 25 feet и получил как по мне не очень впечатляющие результаты, что с этим делать?:)
Например я с анштайном с 25 feet (7.62 метра) на 500 джоулей получил вот такие результаты:
Ретро лазер рефлектор 64.8
18 рефлектор - 45.5
11 рефлектор - 45.6
8.5 рефлектор - 32
7 рефлектор - 22.3
Портретная тарелка серебро - 22.5
Портретная тарелка белая - 16.5
51 зонт серебро - 22.2
51 зонт серебро с диффузором - 16.1
47 октабокс - 16.5
И что теперь делать? Как прикажете поступить? Как после этого отдавать 2000 штуки за профото имея таки сравнительные результаты?
При том что как вы написали с анштайном такие результаты дает дешевая жестянка, фольга за три копейки, а крутые долговечные и продуманные профотовские рефлеторы на хренову кучу денег не могут соревноваться с фольгой, печально:)
Не, ну я серьезно, что с этим делать, уповаться на то что это все потому что профотовские рефлекторы дают лучший, правильный, более кошерный, потому более слабый свет?:) И что я обязательно увижу эту разительную разницу на снимках?:)
Или может быть вы скажете что топовый производитель не должен мне в рефлекторах за три копейки( 300-750 долларов) вкладывать все фичи?:)
Печально все это..
More complete tests of reflectors and modifiers for the Profoto B1 Air
In our quest for a more efficient light modifier for the Profoto B1 Air, we have been testing every modifier we can get our hands on. There were a few we hadn't thought of, and a few we wanted to explore a bit further. So today we ran them through their paces in Studio B here at SOPHA.
As has been the case in the past reflector tests, we started by measuring off 25 feet on the studio floor - this is the distance between the light and the light meter. Yes - that does seem like a long distance to worry about throwing light, but as it happens this is a fairly standard distance for me when shooting art in nature.
We tested a number of light modifiers including none, the Profoto Zoom reflector, the Paul Buff 8.5", 11", and 18" reflectors and their 64" extreme silver PLM, and finally, the Elinchrom 27.5" Octa (Deep). There were variations on some as they might have had diffusion socks over the front, or inner diffusers.
The results were compiled in this chart. You might have to stare at it a bit to see the significance.
Lighting Modifiers on the Profoto B1 Air
Profoto Zoom Reflector
The B1 Air with the Zoom Reflector (Version 2)
This is the reflector that everyone touts as the coolest thing since sliced bread. It isn't, honestly. If you had a Profoto head that had a protruding flash tube like the Pro or Acute series, it would work well, but on the B1 it isn't very helpful, and not worth the $230 price tag. It only adds 2/3rds of a stop of power at 25 feet!
Paul Buff Reflectors
We reported on these earlier this week. They don't fit on the B1, so we just held them in front. They work very well. Surprisingly well. So well we ordered a few parts and widgets yesterday so we can try to hack together a Profoto mount on an 11" reflector more permanently.
The B1 Air with a Paul Buff 11" Reflector taped on.
Laugh all you want: it works.
We also tested the 18" Omni more carefully and got the same results we did previously. We also tested the diffusion sock, and found it ate a lot of light. No shock there.
Paul Buff Parabolic Light Modifier (PLM)
We love the PLMs. Their low price point and amazing efficiency makes them the best value in lighting modifiers on the planet. We tested the more reflective Extreme Silver (it is) in the smallest size, 51" (it is huge). This thing is the lighting equivalent of a rocket. (Reminder: Buff makes two larger PLMs but they are very hard to use outdoors as they catch even the slightest bit of wind.)
The B1 Air with the 51" Extreme Silver PLM. Pow!
There are quirks to using a PLM however - the biggest being that alignment is crucial. Truly important. Ultra important. I am at a loss for words in saying just how important it is that you place the PLM in just the right spot in front of your B1 Air. If you insert the rod just 3/4" too far or too short, you can lose a stop of light output. Yes, seriously.
In the case of the Profoto B1 Air and the PLM, it seems that you want to have it about 3/4" out from being flush from tip-to-tip. See the image below for a hint of how it should go.
Note that this is in contrast to how it should be with an Alien Bee - in that case it should be exactly straight across.
In both cases the "focusing" of this modifier is easy to see in a big room with a light colored wall - dim the room lights, turn on the modeling light and watch the pattern on the wall. You will be able to see exactly what I am writing about easily.
Correct: The B1 is out from the PLM by about 3/4".
Wrong: The B1 is in too far - losing about 3 stops of light!
The Elinchrom 27.5" Rotalux Octa Deep
I fell in love with this little octagonal softbox when someone loaned it to me. Elinchrom is the big competitor to the Profoto in the "expensive as hell" monolight market. The SOPHA Member who loaned it to me is an Elinchrom guy, but loved the B1. He bought an adapter to put this Elinchrom modifier on his new B1. I did too, and it was the most extravagant thing I have ever bought like this. There were lots of cheaper ways to do the same thing, but I just loved this little softbox.
The Elinchrom 27.5" Rotalux Octa Deep on a B1 Air. Beauty.
We tested it with and with out both the face and the inner diffuser.
The Rotalux without the front face but with the inner diffuser installed.
I should point out that we also tested it with nothing - letting it act like a big reflector. It worked as well as it did because this softbox has a silver interior. It worked better than I thought.
The Rotalux without the front face nor the diffuser installed.
Note the silver interior and reflector-like shape.
Conclusions - For Now
None of these tests consider the relative hardness of softness of the light - something that also matters.
If I wanted a hard light and had to throw it distance, I would have to consider wind. If there was no wind and I had someone to hold (firmly) on to the light stand, I would pick the Silver PLM in a heartbeat. Plus you can throw the sock in the bottom of your camera bag and have what is essentially a medium softbox too.
But if I couldn't use the PLM because of size or wind considerations, I would use the 11" reflector from Paul Buff. Yes, I would tape it to the front. Oh well.
I love the Elinchrom, and when I don't need quite all the light, it remains my favorite modifier for this light - again - assuming I didn't need to throw light long distances.
I stress again that this is all an ongoing process. I don't have access to the full line of Profoto Reflectors - and I truly wish I did. There is no place to (reasonably) rent them locally - at all. I doubt Profoto is going to pop out of thin air and loan me them either.
Update on the Profoto B1 Air and the Telezoom Reflector
Ah, the power of the internet. But more on that in a moment.
If you have been following by love affair / addiction / love / hate tangle with the Profoto B1 Air, you know that I love many of the light's features. I won't go through it all again here, but I will say that there is a hole in their line up of modifiers. Specifically, I think that the B1 needs a boost of output by way of a hard reflector.
Now, I realize that not everyone wants a hard-looking light. But in my case, one of the challenges I face output is critical. There are times I need to "throw" light a longer than normal distance. The usual answer is to use a reflector that keeps the light in a tight, focused beam.
The SOPHA Reflector Saga Unfolds
I first bought the Zoom Reflector, but it didn't gain much power. In fact, I cannot recommend that anyone buy the Zoom Reflector for the B1 Air. It was meant for a light with a strobe tube that protrudes out of the the housing, unlike what is found on the B1, which is flush. That is $230 I am not getting back.
The Paul Buff Silver PLM works very well and the price point is wonderful. The problem with the PLM is that it isn't very wind-resistant. For $50 it is ALL bang for short bucks.
The Narrow Angle Travel Reflector was another option, which I tried, and it didn't work at all. At least B&H was kind enough to let me return that one, saving me $254.
I have had my eye on one other Profoto reflector that I felt might work. It is the Telezoom reflector. Now, we should get this out of the way first: I will never buy it. At $730, it is a steal: from me. It is a metal reflector that is worth, at best, $200 retail. I have no problems with Profoto selling it at this price, as I believe in capitalism. In capitalism, the consumer votes with dollars - either for or against.
But that didn't stop my curiosity. I am part of a Profoto B1 Air users group on Facebook and I posted there to see if anyone had both the B1 and the Telezoom. It took a few weeks as the group grew in size to find someone, and it was worth the wait.
Telezoom reflector on the Profoto B1 Air. Beefy!
(Image courtesy of Jeffrey Beebee. See notes.)
Jeffrey Beebee is a photographer in Omaha, Nebraska specializing in commercial, architectural, and portraiture photography. He is a B1 user and has the Telezoom - and more importantly - he was willing to run a few tests with it. Fantastic!
Jeff reports that the Telezoom is a big reflector: it is 16.5" from the neck to the front and the diameter is 13 5/8". It weighs in at 1.87 lbs. This is a big reflector folks. BIG.
Front of the Telezoom reflector on the Profoto B1 Air. (Image courtesy of Jeffrey Beebee. See notes.)
He was kind enough to test it using my "Standard" test - measuring the output at 25 feet at full power (ISO100), the bare strobe was f/5.6 (which matches my consistent results to within 1/10th - yay!) and he was able to get f/8.9 with the Telezoom.
Nice. That is what we were looking for!
I updated the running chart of light modifiers with this data, and here it is:
Lighting modifier data on the Profoto B1 Air
So, let's summarize a few points here
First, please don't think I am bashing Profoto. Not at all. I am bashing the price of one reflector. But that aside, the reflector does what it should do.
At f/11 (we can safely round up that one tenth), the Telezoom puts out more than the Paul Buff 11" reflector would (at f/8.6) but less than a silver PLM (at f/11.5).
So, if you don't mind the price tag, the Telezoom is a nice piece of kit. But I can't miss the opportunity to ding that $735 price tag, comparing it to the $30 and $50 price points of the Paul Buff gear.
I was encouraged that Profoto came out with their Off Camera Flash (OCF) line of accessories - grids, lightweight softboxes, etc. But I think they are missing a crucial opportunity to spread the Profoto love: they need a small, efficient, lightweight reflector for the B1 and B2 product lines.
