Got to see the Profoto B1's in action today!

MOREGONE · Dec 11, 2013

Wow is what it really boils down to.

The B1's are Profotos brand new battery powered, 500ws TTL monolight.

Aside from their price ($2,000 + $500 for the TTL trigger) these are pretty much a no compromise solution.

The speed, portability and ease of use is what was most impressive.

Check our Mark Wallace get a pretty great shot in ~30seconds

Mach0 · Dec 11, 2013

They are awesome! However, a bit much for one light IMHO. Cool features though. I just can't see how two lights will run you almost $4,500 lol.

MOREGONE · Dec 11, 2013

Mach0 said:
They are awesome! However, a bit much for one light IMHO. Cool features though. I just can't see how two lights will run you almost $4,500 lol.

I know, they are awesome by all accounts. But I just could not see dropping so much coin on lights. The whole time I was thinking in my head "you better not #$%^ing drop this"

Derrel · Dec 11, 2013

Terribly expensive, but Profoto was DESIGNED as a brand to be overpriced. The very name of the brand was conceived as a way to dramatically ream the public.

I almost want to laugh at TTL flash control on a monolight. But hey, it's a marketing gimmick, designed to fool people with more money than experience in OCF, so hey...with a $500 transmitter...it can do TTL flash control.

My favorite Profoto accessory is the $600 globe flash diffuser...the thing that costs $5.99 at Home Depot....you know, the front porch light cover thing...overpriced only one-hundred fold. lol.

runnah · Dec 11, 2013

They can't even spell "photo" right!

beachrat · Dec 11, 2013

Derrel said:
My favorite Profoto accessory is the $600 globe flash diffuser...the thing that costs $5.99 at Home Depot....you know, the front porch light cover thing...overpriced only one-hundred fold. lol.

Had to replace one of those on my garage this summer and the first thing I thought was,"I wonder what the hell this thing will look like on top of an SB-80dx"? I bought 2 of them.

tirediron · Dec 11, 2013

He took 30 seconds.... I'm betting one of my beat-to-heck Speedotron M11 heads & Innovatrix inverter packs & a couple of PW +IIs could do the same thing in 2 minutes for <$500! I can live with that!

Derrel · Dec 11, 2013

The Profoto globe has gone up another $75...it is now priced at $675 at B&H Photo.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/141168-REG/Profoto_100673_Pro_Globe_and_Ring.html

http://strobist.blogspot.fr/2012/04/home-depot-homebrew-of-643-profoto.html

MOREGONE · Dec 12, 2013

Derrel said:
I almost want to laugh at TTL flash control on a monolight. But hey, it's a marketing gimmick, designed to fool people with more money than experience in OCF, so hey...with a $500 transmitter...it can do TTL flash control.

I would have to disagree considering they have battery packs and are for those who need power out in the field. People probably aren't buying these for 100% studio work. Their getting them for working on sight where conditions change. The TTL is very good btw. With a model in black shirt on a black background it nailed exposure first try. The only time it got confused was using a large softoax as the background for a pure white exposure, it did under expose as you would expect in that situation.

Plus, using TTL you can change the properties of the light without changing the exposure. Like the exposure but want harder light? Move the unit away form the subject. Want to soften the light and keep the exposure the same, throw a softbox on and get the light real close, same exposure with out changing anything, but softer light.

But another thing I really liked is that when you go from TTL to Manual, it stays at the last power setting. Unlike Speedlights which go back to the last Manual setting you used. this Hybrid mode as they call it allows you setup your key light in TTL for example, flip it over to manual, then add in your rim lights etc as not to confuse the TTL (which is not super easy to do)

Derrel · Dec 12, 2013

TTL flash control and studio flashes. Again...that's basically an appeal to the novice buyer. Sorry, but I can determine the proper exposure myself, without needing a flash to try and out-think me, and coming up with shot-to-shot variability. I actually KNOW what it is that "I wish to achieve", so the idea that I would allow an automated system to determine my flash exposure and how that relates to my ambient light exposure...is pretty ridiculous.

Sorry...I just spent three days watching Tony Corbell's monolight flash course called "the Power of Control",and I've been a studio flash shooter since 1986...I don't actually WANT TTL yo-yo-ing my flash power up and down and up and down and up and down, depending on the color of a woman's blouse, or which AF point happens to be active.

TTL flash control in multiple light setups is a joke. But is is a neat way to sell a $19 CONTROLLER for $500, which does fatten up the profit margins for dealers and Profoto, by yet again, another obscene amount. Like Profoto's $675 front porch globe light accessory. Pshaw.

MOREGONE · Dec 12, 2013

It's apparent the light is not for you, and your uses. Thats cool. But doesn't mean its for novice and in fact I would wager few novices will buy these.

If price was not a consideration, I really doubt people would turn them down in favor of old school lights. But to each their own..

Some people are so resistant to advancement.

Mach0 · Dec 12, 2013

MOREGONE said:
It's apparent the light is not for you, and your uses. Thats cool. But doesn't mean its for novice and in fact I would wager few novices will buy these. If price was not a consideration, I really doubt people would turn them down in favor of old school lights. But to each their own.. Some people are so resistant to advancement.

It's a cool light. I can see it having it's quirks.

tirediron · Dec 12, 2013

I have to agree with Derrel on this; I really don't see the point in TTL capable monolights. When I get my lights set up the way I want, the last thing I want is the results to to change because the computer decided that something had changed.