New Paul C. Buff Vagabond Lithium Extreme

New Paul C. Buff Vagabond Lithium Extreme

Paul C. Buff recently released a brand new Vagabond battery pack, the Vagabond Lithium Extreme. With a price tag of $399.95 this might be the next product you end up buying tonight. There are a few great improvements from their older Vagabond models, and overall, it is exciting to see a new product release from Paul C. Buff.

The first thing I noticed when looking at this new product was that they FINALLY updated the clamp that connects to the light stand. I can't even begin to explain the amount of embarrassing stories I have trying to carry around the older battery packs connected to my stands by throwing them awkwardly over my shoulder or just watching them fall off and hit the ground. Thank you Paul C. Buff for finally changing this! Even though I think the price tag is a bit much on the battery pack, being able to have a (hopefully) more reliable battery pack holder on it would make my life a lot easier. When doing outdoors shoots, the last thing I want to worry about is whether of not my battery will fall and die any second.

The new VLX (Vagabond Lithium Extreme) is the fourth-generation battery for the Vagabond portable power line. The pack will offer a pure sine wave power source for use with AC powered studio flash units for those times when you don't have access to AC power. I use my older Vagabond Mini for every outdoor shoot when my studio flash, the Alienbee B800, gets used. I have loved my Vagabond, minus the clip, and if this product is truly a large improvement, I might just be adding it to my gear pack soon. Though, I may want to paint it a different color.

"A most important part of the design is the quick-change 26.4V 6.4Ah 170Wh LiFePO4 (Iron Phosphate) battery system. This is the latest, and far and away the safest and most durable Lithium made today. All other systems mentioned use either Sealed Lead Acid (SLA) or LiCoxNiMnzO2 (NMC) Lithium batteries. Depending on battery sizing and recycle speed, these battery types offer typical storage life of about two years and as few as 100 battery recharge cycles before depletion."

Product Specs

  • current-controlled true sine wave portable power source
  • operates flashes from internal lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) battery
  • reliable power for multiple flashes (up to 3200 Ws)
  • offers increased capacity, longer battery life, and faster recycle
  • 120 VAC for use with all standard Paul C. Buff™ flashes
  • complete system arrives with inverter and battery connected
  • 3-hour rapid charger (supplied) quickly recharges battery
  • compact and lightweight design (6 pounds total weight)
  • can be connected to a light stand with built-in stand clamp
  • NOT intended to power modeling lamps
  • 60-Day Absolute Satisfaction Guarantee
  • 1-Year Factory Warranty

vlx right vlx closed on stand vlx face vlx on stands vlx with new omni reflector

You can view more info on this product by visiting the official Paul C. Buff Product Listing Page

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John White is a photographer from Northwest Indiana. He specializes in individual portraiture. Outside of photography, John enjoys building websites for fun, doing graphic design, and creating videos. Also, he really loves Iron Man. Follow him on his social media profiles to keep up to date with what he has going on!

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84 Comments
Previous comments

Yeah. Heard some of the horror stories. There is a really nice custom bracket out there for the VML but it's priced in line with it's build quality. This one although not as nice. Seems to me will get the job done.

I just need them to take this tech and make a Profoto B1 clone with an Einstein or AB800.

I wonder if the USB outlet will finally charge an iPhone....my Vagabond Mini won't.....will charge other USB stuff, but not an iPhone....

I was surprised to not see it on the list of features, but the USB port on the VLX does indeed say "2A" on in, as opposed to the 0.5amps with the VML

Vagabond Easter Edition.

I would like to lock PCB and Jonathan Ive into a room for a few hours just to see what happens.

Blood would definitely be shed.

Daaaang that's HOT! Can't wait to Bedazzle mine!

Ah I knew I'd have use for all the paper bags I've collected over the years. Bag it and tag it boys, this thing is FUGLY

my mini already lasts a really really long time so i wont be upgrading just based on that. it looks rather large compaired to the mini as well, portability is key for me as i shoot in the mountains (nearly twice as heavy, 3.5 vs 6lbs). but holy crap that color... barf.

people buy those, I've just made my own.

Here is a vid on how

www.youtube .com/watch?v=7g17KuAGexM

I always find it interesting how many guys are obsessed with how something looks rather than how it works. It's a BATTERY!!! Who cares what color it is? Are you going to show someone your shots and have them say "Hey, these look like they were shot with a flash plugged into a pastel colored battery pack"?

"The first thing I noticed when looking at this new product was that they
FINALLY updated the clamp that connects to the light stand."

I'm going to go out on a limb and guess that the clamp was NOT the first thing you noticed about the Vagabond...

If I end up buying this... which I'll probably will, I'm going to have to take it apart and spray paint it matte black.

We are not in the 80's people!

Great, let me get my kids' toys and go do some serious business.

Honestly I don't care what it looks like, I care what the photos look like

Haha who cares how it looks like. All these comments on the look of it makes me think of Lee Morris hipster review on the Nikon DF

@AlvinToro : I'm with YOU, friend. I dumped a rather large kit of DynaLites when I saw how well PCB performed.....and never looked back....so I, too, eat because of his dedication to the craft. That said...uh....I only buy his stuff in BLACK ( sorry-"deep space black"!). I will own a few of these as well as good can of plasti-dip...in BLACK.

oh, and Veldask, stop calling me "bro".

I don't get it - "I use my older Vagabond Mini for every outdoor shoot when my studio flash, the Alienbee B800, gets used. I have loved my Vagabond, minus the clip, and if this product is truly a large improvement, I might just be adding it to my gear pack soon."

Um, why? What happened to your vagabond mini?

This thing is almost double the weight of the past model! 6 pounds against 3.5? And yes, the color is awful

And I know exactly what to wear when I shoot with this Vagabond Lithium Extreme, lol

http://www.champssports.com/product/model:209444/sku:74412/adidas-origin...

How does this compare to the Photogenics sine wave? http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/917729-REG/photogenic_956055_ion_p...

Not much aside from the color. According to PCB they are made by the same manufacturer.

Really? Good to know, thanks! I use Dynalites and I do not want to go into another system. Plus the flash and model lights are way less $$$ to change out than Bron, Profoto and the others.

ION went to our vendors and uses the same inverter - less our proprietary improvements and the same battery from the same battery vendor. A flat out copy, less speed improvements.

Just remember that spray painting the case will cancel your warranty... Never, never, NEVER open a PCB product!

BUFF warranty policy is far more customer friendly than others. Been that way for 33 years now.

I've had similar complains about the light stand clip on the VML, but this new one looks really terrible too. It seems overly complicated. Maybe I'm missing something, but a simple, strong, rubberized clamp doesn't seem like too much to ask for. And a basic black options would have been nice too...

I really like the design...my clints woudl feel again like in 80's and 90's, vivid neon colors, huge cell phones...just great

Color scheme circa 1994

This should answer all questions and comments above https://www.youtube.com/user/paulcbuff
And, Oh, the stand clamp is rubberized and holds very well.

Paul

I just got this product, it died and started smoking after 2 half power pops !!!! DO NOT BUY....I am going back to my older solid products I have owned for years Elinchrom or Speedotron

Just purchased the VLX unit this week. Very pleased but am concerned about the attachment bracket. It is the same bracket that's shown in the photos with this story. Has anyone had a serious issue with the units coming off a lightstand unexpectedly? I feel I could twist it off with a bit of effort. Does anyone know of another way of attaching? I know someone will suggest duct tape (jokingly). Any serious hardware options to upgrade the attachment?

Does anyone know if the lithium extreme would work with the Elinchrom 500 BRX lights? Shipping to canada is not cheap and I would hate to buy this and have to return it later. I called their support and apparently it works with the BX and RX series, but they didn't have any information with the BRX.