Quite possibly the most exciting product announced within the last year comes from lighting company Profoto with the announcement of the Profoto B1 studio strobe. Promising TTL within a 500 watt/sec studio strobe is exciting all on its own, but they also announced that this device is cordless, with a built in battery pack. But does the light live up to its hype?
In short, yes. The Profoto B1 studio strobe is the best studio strobe I've ever used, and I've used quite a lot. Paired with its battery powered design and solid build that you've come to expect from Profoto, there is no better light on the market today. The Profoto B1 has managed to set expectations to a high and seemingly impossible levels, and meet each one with ease and grace.
Build & Design
Not much separates the Profoto B1 from the Profoto D1 in terms of the design. Both share the same elongated build, snub noised front with a digital back featuring dials, buttons and a handle. However, Profoto took the already simple controls design of the D1, and rebuilt it from the ground up with the B1, making it even easier to use and even more form friendly.
And the build is exactly what you'd expect. Like most Profoto lights, you can rest assured that it's going to withstand a beating. While cheaper brands like AlienBees work, they have a habit of breaking. The only thing I would worry about breaking with the Profoto B1 is the ground I've dropped it on.
Make no mistake however, this light is light. Weighing only 6.6 lbs, the Profoto B1 feels no different than any other studio strobe on the market. It's exceptionally lightweight, despite holding 220 full powered flashes in its contained battery pack armed on its side.
Features
One of the most sought after features is also contained in the unit, which is TTL. That is right, this professional strobe designed for professionals, also has a mind of a professional contained within it, assuring your settings will be right, even if it means the light has to set them for you. For those unaware, TTL stands for "Through The Lens." In simple terms, it's used by on-camera flashes to assure your lighting is correct, by metering the ambient light with a short pre-flash. It then uses the data collected to make sure your image is properly exposed. Never has a feature been put into a studio strobe, restricting the luxury of TTL mode to those who work with speedlights.
But does it work? Yeah, kinda. I pride myself in understanding lighting well, and have always set my flashes to manual mode, despite the features of TTL contained within them. Never have I had TTL work perfectly for me, but the Profoto B1 does TTL every bit as good as a Speedlight can. While TTL mode is only available when paired with the Profoto Air TTL-C remote, a $400 remote in itself, the remote itself is every bit as good as a PocketWizard, or any other radio transmitter. The Profoto Air TTL-C lets you go above and beyond in fact, allowing you to individually adjust power settings of up to 24 lights (by my count), all while firing from up to 1000ft away (330 ft in TTL mode). Its LCD screen, simple controls and low profile make it the remote you want your camera to have attached to it - it's just sexy. While other systems work, they're often bulky, and not nearly as feature friendly. Currently the Profoto Air Remote TTL-C does not work with Nikon cameras, but promises to add capabilities to the system soon.
Also contained in the unit is a modeling lamp. By using LEDs, Profoto has managed to allow a modeling lamp within a battery powered system. Certainly using the modeling lamp drains the battery far more than not, but far less than using a modeling lamp on a traditional strobe with a battery pack. The modeling lamp is brighter than expected, pumping out plenty of power rather than heat, so no more burning your hands on a speedring attached to a modeling lamp for an hour or two.
Perhaps the thing that surprised me the most was the speed of the units. The battery powered units reach full power and recycle very quickly, much quicker than any other battery pack system I've used in the past. Perhaps this is one of the underlying features of having the battery attached to the unit, rather than plugged in using a DC power cable. While the 2 second full power recycle time is fast, like all battery powered lights, you can expect a slowdown on recycle when the battery is low. Still, I found myself not having to wait for the light to power itself back up, a luxury I hadn't experienced on location before.
The Most Asked Question
Now I'm a photographer, not an engineer. Most everything I've ever built has been held together by wood glue or duct tape. But one can't look at the design of the Profoto B1 and think, "Why can't they add a DC Adapter to this thing?" Sure, we might be asking too much for something like that. The recycle rates on this light are blazingly fast, and the battery is far from obtrusive. Even still, the design does leave you wanting more. The ability to clip in a battery of a power adapter seems genius, and so simple to implement. The only explanation I can come to on why not is that it might hurt the sales of the Profoto D1. But where the Profoto D1 is a nice BMW, the Profoto B1 is the Ferrari. One can only hope that an adapter will be built, and soon we'll have a battery powered strobe, that can plug into your outlets as well. Til then, we dream, we wonder, and we scratch our heads asking "Why not?"
Who Is This For?
The price tag on this light is enough to make many run away scared. At $1,995 a piece, the Profoto B1 is designed for those with a bank account larger than mine. However, I truly believe the features out weight the price. The ability to set this up at a wedding, put in TTL mode, and just shoot is something not to overlook. No cables for people to trip over, no constant setting up and adjusting. You set it and it works, plain and simple. I personally use it for all on location work. While editing out extension cables to my Vagabond Mini took only a few moments with the clone stamp tool, the ability to have a clean set without any orange cable distractions is nice. $1,995 nice? Maybe not...but admitting nice nonetheless.
What I Liked -
- Very Well Constructed Unit
- Battery Powered Strobe at 500 w/s - What's Not To Like?
- TTL Worked Well and As Expected
- Very Fast Recycle Times
What Could Be Improved -
- No DC Power Option
- ~$2,000 Price Tag
Conclusion
Profoto refuses to call the Profoto B1 a speedlight or monolight, but rather, an off-camera flash. What I like to call it, however, is exceptional. I was beyond excited when this light was announced back in November, and I'm only more excited now. I truly believe that the Profoto B1 is the best product to come out for photographers in the last year, and only makes me excited that wall powered studio strobes can someday be a thing of the past.
The Profoto B1 can be purchased at B&H Photo for $1,995. The Profoto Air Remote TTL-C is also available for purchase for $395.
HEY. Where are some sample images? :)
Light is light. Sample images don't really make any sense in a review like this. It would be like providing sample images I took in a tripod review.
I have never fully understood the need to buy gear as expensive as the Profotos, Broncolor etc. To be honest I haven't really had the opportunity to shoot any of them either. But like you said "light is light" and surely the placement and understanding of said light must be more important than what the brand is named?
Please Fstoppers can't you guys do a thorough comparison with like the cheapest Chinese copy (Visico or similiar) and some top shelf Profotos. Just to see if there really is a reason to shelf out that ridiculous amount of money.
At the end of the day, light really is just light. The reason you'd buy a light for $2000 is because it'll last you forever, and it'll be consistent in what it does. A $500 chinese light might do the job just as well, but it'll do the job just as well for 6 months, and then you'll need a new one. Buying a light like this B1 means that you're pretty much set for the foreseeable future.
Disclaimer: I don't even own a light like this. I do 100% of my work with speedlights. But I see the value.
Sure I've heard the build quality argument being tossed around before. But I what I want to see is that argument really being put to the test.
Like for example Bowens (which is not a cheap knock off) make awesome wellmade lights for like 500 bucks. Is the difference really worth it? That's all I wanna know. Like I said I've never shoot with any really high end strobes so maybe it's one of those things you really have to try out in person to understand.
But you have to agree with me that it'd be a fun review to read. :)
The difference between Bowens/Elinchrom/PCB and Profoto/Broncolor, aside from build and reliability, is shot to shot stability.
Most people agree that the premium to move from a mid tier to a top end system probably isn't worth it, unless you are getting paid Vogue money.
A $500 chinese light won't do the same job in most cases anyways. It will have stupid inconsistent color from shot to shot, crappy durations, hit and miss radio transceivers and break in the middle of your $40 craigslist portrait job. And you won't be able to get parts for it.
That's not to say that you can't get good results from cheap equipment.... it's just that this is one area you really get for what you pay for.
The car analogy earlier is apt, but rather than 'Ford vs Audi', its more '1982 Lada Riva vs Audi'.
Exactly as Ett Venter said.
I can take a photo with this light and then use an offbrand light and you probably wont see the difference. The difference is in the build. I have Einsteins as well, and while they work well for me, I've had to send them in to get repaired and replaced a couple times now. I have full faith in these lights, and know they'll work regardless of what I throw at them.
You can go out and buy a Ford Focus and have a great car for under $30K....but there is a reason why premium brands are still in business and selling cars for twice and three times that price. They both do the same thing on a practical sense...
Why? You are paying for the latest technology and conveinance for this light..Nothing to compare..This is the best out there right now
"Light is light. "
Not really. There is good and bad light If your color temperature and exposures are all over the place, then your images will not be consistent - and that's before you consider recycle times, flash durations and build quality/reliability.
That is why the heavy hitters pay ten times as much for Bron and Profoto.
I agree. A good comparison would be between this and Profoto's exposed tube heads, like an Acute2, filling a reflector, beauty dish, softbox, etc. I've been harping on the design of the D1/B1, it doesn't equal the quality of a protruding flash tube.
Mark Wallace did a great video review of this light...
Kaethe, we talked the other day...you know I'm avoiding editing photos like its the plague :-)
AND now I feel like I got punk'd.
Completely agree regarding the lack of a DC power option. Look forward to seeing comparisons between this and the Elinchrom Quadra (along with other portable strobes)...
The Quadra and similar options are great...there is just something special about having a built in battery pack on the unit itself. No worries about forgetting a cable or having anything to trip over.
As someone who owns and loves Quadras... the B1 is sexy as hell.
Elinchrome is a good choice, equal quality as Profoto. Same price range. Would like to see the comparisons.
I've got to see these things in action and they are amazing. I too wish they were cheaper and wouldn't be too surprised if someone released a battery pack that was really a DC adapter.
Hopefully. Just looking at the design it looks entirely possible to implement. If someone or Profoto is able to come up with something, we have a huge game changer on our hands.
No better light on the market? It looks more like an effective tool for certain jobs.
Damn you, Zach. Damn you.
I've recently realised that I need to invest in a decent studio light or two, for on-location work. The Profoto is the one I've had my eye on, but it's pricey (+- $2700 here in South Africa). I was hoping to read about how crap it is in this review, but alas, I want it even more now :/
+1 on the lack of mains power, it was the first question I had about the product. I don't care how good it is, at that price point it's a key feature you expect to be there.
my review: 3 x lights + remote = $6400. end.
Or roughly 2 wedding gigs.
The B1s sure look very tempting. Thanks for the review.
I would like to know, how it compares to the new Priolite Hot Sync Kit.
http://www.priolite.com/en/news-details/articles/priolite-hot-sync-studi...
Also curious about Broncolors response.
Just discovering this ! Sounds really nice on the paper !! 1/8000 flash speed !!! around the same price range than the B1 ... hope there will be a VS review from both of them !
These look interesting! which of the Priolites would be comparable to the B1?
MBX 500 - HotSync
http://tinyurl.com/pw3jgjq
I would have loved to see a comparison between the B1 and the Acute B2. I'm still not sure how both units compare to each other.
Hell yeah, guess I'm heading towards a B1 next season. Need something lightweight, portable, durable with power to kick. Thought about Ranger (Not the Quadra) but now this is way more awesome. Any Takes on Ranger vs this one except for the obvious cable and battery difference?
The Ranger gives more than one stop more light and with a second head attached, still provides more power and a second fill light.
Think about it. If the B1 renders the Ranger obsolete, then it also renders the Pro-B4 obsolete.
I'm quite enthusiastic about the B1, but this article seems so Huber-enthusiastic, that I just wonder if it could be possible that the author could be sponsored by profoto ?
( if so I would be more than happy to do a positive review to, to be able to pay my this Ferrari ;) )
No sponsorship here. I assure you.
If you look through my previous posts and behind the scenes video work, you'll see that I use an extensively diverse list of lighting equipment. If I had a sponsorship deal, I'd have an exclusivity clause per standard agreements.
Ok, so it's make me even more enthusiastic to have one ... as soon as I'll be able to pay for it ...
I'm thinking about a mix between the B1 and a few speedlight to have a full set of wireless flashes ... the speedlight dedicated for the ambiances ...
So if anyone already have this kind of setup, I'll be happy to read about their review ...
I can't wait to see some adventure folks use this to their advantage where lugging gear up a rock wall is the main problem. Rock climbing photographers, etc.... Profoto should be throwing a few at some of those guys.
In most of the videos I've seen so far photographers used assisting people to hold the flash. No tripods used. What brings me to the question: Is the flash to heavy?
Yes, it is. i have one, and consider returning it. You need an assistant or sandbags, which defeats its purpose.
Something that is worth mentioning is that the battery comes of real easy. Push of a button and it pops of, and sometimes thats not a good thing when you are in a hurry. Ive already seen one battery hit concrete pretty hard. But then again. I didn't break anything. :)
I've had studio lights & speedlites over the years. The B1 is the first system that looks to be reliable, durable & produce color consistency and one that can be used anywhere. If you factor this in along with the use of TTL for event work (including weddings) the price is not out of line. The "light is light" argument dismisses the complexity & rush of a shoot. I used to build and race off road motorcycles. When cheap tools broke I would miss a race if repairs could not be completed. That is, a 17mm wrench just turns the same bolt argument doesn't work. I ended up buying Snap-On at 5X the price of Craftsman or big box store tools. Not one failure since then. My photo clients demand results. I am contractually bound to deliver them. I need several extra speedlites to assure that with failure (breakage, failure to flash, OC-3 cord ends snap off) I can get the job done. That should not be a worry with any strobe you have and the more durability you have the more likely your job will end successfully. What would a re-shoot cost?
I wish there could be a stroboscopic mode and set the hz of the strobe like speedlites. The flash shoots fast enough for stroboscopic...
Used this light on a shoot a week ago. It was awesome. I was blown away with how well it worked. Great recycle time, battery life (lasted entire shoot), and portability.
I've used both the D1 and the B1, both are incredible but I would lean towards the B1 just for the ease of use (lack of cables, etc...). The battery lasts long enough but I think from a pricing stand point a full kit compromised of these would be really a big investment if you're not using it on a daily or weekly basis.
As with all photo equipment, responsible individuals who are interested in buying should know their budget and not over extend themselves just to have "the best" gear all the time.
it is a quite nice unit, but there some huge hick ups:
the model light is super flickery and let's the flash meter go off, so you can't use a light meter, expect for cable mode. ähem cable mode? isn't this product advertised for not needing cables?
then the setting for the trigger is: Air remote OR Photocell OR nothing.
So you need to go the unit and change setting everytime, besides as soon as you go for "photocell", the remote will not even work to set power on the unit, common profoto: you can do better at this price.
I have the same question as Kaethe... While it's a nice light and all, I'd like to know what it can do... The high speed sync in daylight is a nice feature... what pix can I take w it freezing motion in full light?
does anyone know if the b1 could be used with an elinchrom 74" octa?
Looking to explore off camera flash a lot more, and would like to know really the difference between the D1 and the B1