Something that was always missing from the Profoto Clic lineup was hard reflectors. Being very low-powered while also aimed to be used outside, the A series was a bit of a mystery to me. After all, can you really work in harsh sun with a light that can't do anything about it? Well, now you can. Your 100-watt light becomes 1.7 stops more powerful, making it suitable for more location work.
I love the A series lights, most notably the A2. It is a light that comes on a lot of shoots where I can only pack a small bag. Where the A1 lacks, the A2 makes up. Great both on and off camera, I always had a feeling that it could be much more than that. Just with a bit more power, it could be an excellent replacement for the much larger B10x or even B2 250, which I own and love. But making a light small and powerful is simply impossible. The more power, the larger it has to be, defeating the reason for having a small light. One way to overcome this problem is by adding reflectors.
My requirements for a good reflector for location work are quite simple, but few brands manage to achieve that. It has to be small, lightweight, make the light way more powerful, and be durable enough to take a beating. Let's see how the Profoto Clic Magnum does with these criteria in mind.
Build Quality
First things first, let's talk about build quality. I was pleasantly surprised when I got my hands on the Clic Magnum. Expecting it to be thin like the OCF Magnum, this one instead had a hard and solid shell and housed a highly reflective interior inside. This carries a lot of benefits, as it immediately tells me that even if this reflector falls down, it won't bend and deform, negatively affecting light output. In comparison to the OCF Magnum, which is quite beat up now, the Clic Magnum feels solid and high-end. Having had the OCF Magnum for a few years, one negative thing I noticed is that it got deformed fast, and the light output decreased as a result. Because of the solid construction of the OCF Magnum, I don't see this being a problem with the Clic Magnum. One thing worth improving, though, is making the outer shell metal. While this will make the reflector heavier, it will further improve the durability.
On the note of durability, I want to comment on the grid. While it is fantastic to have a grid included in the kit, the quality of the grid is substantially worse than the reflector itself. The grid deformed very easily and appeared to be far more used than it actually was. It would be worth considering making the metal of the grid stronger, like in the reflectors made for ProHeads.
As a way to improve portability, it would be interesting to explore the idea of making the reflector collapsible in one way or another. While it won't be as efficient as the metal version, it will take up even less space in the bag.
Light Quality
Next, let's talk about the light this modifier produces. The biggest difference that you can notice right away is how well the Clic Magnum concentrates the beam of light in one spot. Profoto says it makes the beam about 35 degrees. This is fantastic for adding extra punch to the face of the model, filling in the harsh shadows from the sun, and so on. With a Magnum on your light, you can now place the modifier further, meaning more options for composition and framing. Without the Magnum, getting full-body images with the A2 was a struggle. Of course, placed far enough, this reflector won't do much, so you need to figure out the sweet spot by yourself. The light is fairly even, with a super quick falloff at the edges, meaning that it has to be aimed directly at the subject, and they won't be able to move as much.
If you want to make the image circle even tighter, add the 20-degree grid. The light output will be identical in the middle, but the light stamp will be reduced, and the light falloff even more dramatic. I would not advise using the grid on location; however, in the studio, it proved to be very useful, as it allows you to have the light closer while being able to accent the focus of the image.
What I Liked
- Light output
- Mount security
- Grid
What Could Be Improved
- Make it collapsible
Closing Thoughts
Having had the Clic Magnum for a few months on loan, I think this is a modifier I will purchase and use. If you have the A2 and work on location, I think you should strongly consider purchasing it as well. Priced just below $200, it is not a hugely expensive investment, and it gives the A2 (or A1) much stronger performance both in the studio and on location. Considering that the only other way to focus a beam from the A2 is to place Clic grids on it, the Clic Magnum is a no-brainer.
What do you think about this new modifier? Does it sound like something you would spend money on? Let us know in the comments below!
I own alot of Profoto, and I understand why they're more expensive. But $200 for this is a bit rich, even for me.
Funny enough, I built one of these myself about 4 years ago using a Nikon lens hood, spray painting the inside with silver, and hollowing out the redundant wide-angle reflector the A1 came with and supergluing it to the lens hood.
Had the idea of a "clic magnum" 4 years before the release of this, and it works just about as good. Great for on-camera when you want to bounce off a wall, need some extra oomph, but also want a bult-in flag so you don't get spill onto the subjects.
Amazing!