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Anyone mix Profoto B1 and speedlight(s)?

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MadDog31

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I just picked up the Profoto B1 Location Kit for use in a number of applications. This question stems to my planned headshot setup -- I want to use:

- The two B1's as main lights;
- Two speedlights hitting my backdrop;
- Occasionally use a speedlight as my third main light (triangle shape).

I'd love to have a third B1, like everyone else in this room, and would love to keep it simple by using Profoto's Air remote on the speedlights, but the budget can't handle it right now. I own three Yongnuo YN-622N transceivers and would like to put those to use if possible. I have read others doing it on Canon bodies, but can't seem to get it working on my setup.

I have one 622N on my D800 hotshoe with my Profoto AirTTL remote on top of the 622N (a sandwich). I have an SB-910 on top of another 622N. The 910 fires every time, but the only time the B1 fires is if I hit the 'test' button on the D800's 622N. I've tried TTL, I've tried manual, I've tried setting both lights to TTL and manual. Can't seem to get it to work.

Thoughts? And sorry this was so long...

Ian
 
Well, upon further review it's looking like some people are having similar issues after a firmware update on the AirTTL. Appears as though now the only way I'll get this to work is through a clunky PC sync cable. Not what I was hoping for, but for the rare instances I'll need it I guess it may have to work...

Any other suggestions, I'll be glad to listen!
 
I had tried asking this question before soon after I bought the B1 Kit. I am using (3) 600EX-RT speedlights and having the same issue. The 2 systems are definitely not user friendly.

I got a suggestion of using YN-622 triggers and stack with the 600EX-RT and Profoto TTL-C but never tried it. I have put the B1's in slave mode and used the Canon ST E3-RT with a 600 EX-RT as the master but this is not completely efficient.

I even thought about optical slaves but never tried that either.

I don't use these in a studio so I either use the 600EX-RTs or the B1's separately. It does the job for my needs.

Ideally as you mentioned, another B1 or perhaps the B2's for compatibility would be the solution. $$$$$
 
I am in the same situation and I'm really hoping more people can respond as I am sure there are people mixing speedlights and B1s. I am looking to purchase 1 B1 and make it work with three 600EX-RTs. I would like to keep full functionality like HSS.
 
I shoot Canon. My main bodies are the 5DSR & the 7D MII. I just received my B1's a few days ago. I was testing this very thing last night. My YN22C on the shoe with the Air TTL remote on top. Everything fired in TTL & Manual. I couldn't get it to fail. Not sure about the difference. Since mine are brand new and I'm not sure how long you've had yours, I would try a firmware update. If you are updated, post and I'll see if there's anything I can dig up. I have D1's on the way as well, so I have to do the same tests in manual mode with those when they arrive.
 
When Profoto sent me an early version of the B1 to work with a couple of years ago, i had a chance to speak to both their excs and to an engineer,

I had three suggestions for them which I think are still valid

Open up the Profoto Air TTL to work with non--Profoto speedlights.
(Not going to happen according to Profoto)

Add an AC powersource adapter for working in the studio.
(Not going to happen according to Profoto)

Make a cable so the battery doesn't always have to be attached to the B1 body to make it easier to switch batteries if the light is up high, on a boom, or mounted remotely.

(Profoto's team said that is an interesting idea that they had mot considered)

Dont get me wrong, I think that Profoto gear is terrific, but those are three critical strategic and tactical flaws with the B1 and the Profoto Air TTL system, Especially considering that Phottix solved
all issues with the Indra 500TTL.
 
Last edited:
Ellis Vener said:
When Profoto sent me an early version of the B1 to work with a couple of years ago, i had a chance to speak to both their excs and to an engineer,

I had three suggestions for them which I think are still valid

Open up the Profoto Air TTL to work with non--Profoto speedlights.
(Not going to happen according to Profoto)

Add an AC powersource adapter for working in the studio.
(Not going to happen according to Profoto)

Make a cable so the battery doesn't always have to be attached to the B1 body to make it easier to switch batteries if the light is up high, on a boom, or mounted remotely.

(Profoto's team said that is an interesting idea that they had mot considered)

Dont get me wrong, I think that Profoto gear is terrific, but those are three critical strategic and tactical flaws with the B1 and the Profoto Air TTL system, Especially considering that Phottix solved
all issues with the Indra 500TTL.
Click to expand...
Did the subject of the air remotes not showing the current level of each lite come up? Trying to remember each lite is set at is near impossible with more than 1 or 2 lights.
 
At the time , no. Also this was prior to the first of the updates that allowed for High Speed Sync. My take is that if you are shooting in TTL mode the output floats as needed and that the display on the Air remote will she what ever the previous shot required, now if your lights are doing this and your shots are under exposed that's a different matter.
 
It may not be the answer you are looking for but this is part of the reason I stuck with the Air Remote. It doesn't offer you TTL but it will either act as a be a reliable trigger for or reliably trigger pocket wizards. I use it a lot with speedlights if I need a lamp lit or a tiny amount of gel and it is completely reliable if manual remote control fits in with your workflow.
 
Last edited:
I use B1's and SB910's together sometimes, with the air ttl remote and air sync remote hooked on the sb910, works like a charm. (obviously not in ttl)
 
PNad said:
I use B1's and SB910's together sometimes, with the air ttl remote and air sync remote hooked on the sb910, works like a charm. (obviously not in ttl)
Click to expand...
I still haven't tried the Canon 600ex-rt's with the B1's yet. I do have the air remote for Canon. What air sync remote are you using for the 910's? How are you attaching them with the profoto ttl air remote?
 
Hi,

nearly same problem here. My system setup: Nikon d800/D4s, PW MiniTT1, Profoto Air Remote TTL-N, PW- TT5 with SB 910 or 7b Generator. TTL is not the most important thing - but i Like hss. Newest firmware on all devices. I can`t do it with PC Sync because mini tt1 and air remote don`t have a sync chord and I also don`t like cables on the camera.

So now I can`t work with my whole profoto setup with reliable sync (i don`t trust the slave).

Now I´m frustrated because of paying such a lot of money for a lame duck.

Please Profoto, make a firmware update to get the things work.

thx
 
cpharm86 said:
PNad said:
I use B1's and SB910's together sometimes, with the air ttl remote and air sync remote hooked on the sb910, works like a charm. (obviously not in ttl)
Click to expand...
I still haven't tried the Canon 600ex-rt's with the B1's yet. I do have the air remote for Canon. What air sync remote are you using for the 910's? How are you attaching them with the profoto ttl air remote?
Click to expand...

Loading…

profoto.com

This is pretty much a pocket wizard, but works with anything air. You hook it up on the speedlight via the pc sync jack, just like you would do with a pw. You can now use your air ttl remote to fire the speedlight via air.
 
nikonius said:
Hi,

nearly same problem here. My system setup: Nikon d800/D4s, PW MiniTT1, Profoto Air Remote TTL-N, PW- TT5 with SB 910 or 7b Generator. TTL is not the most important thing - but i Like hss. Newest firmware on all devices. I can`t do it with PC Sync because mini tt1 and air remote don`t have a sync chord and I also don`t like cables on the camera.

So now I can`t work with my whole profoto setup with reliable sync (i don`t trust the slave).

Now I´m frustrated because of paying such a lot of money for a lame duck.

Please Profoto, make a firmware update to get the things work.

thx
Click to expand...
how can you not work with my whole profoto setup with reliable sync? just hook a pocket wizard on your 7b ? you can even use a standard pw2 or 3.
 
PNad said:
cpharm86 said:
PNad said:
I use B1's and SB910's together sometimes, with the air ttl remote and air sync remote hooked on the sb910, works like a charm. (obviously not in ttl)
Click to expand...
I still haven't tried the Canon 600ex-rt's with the B1's yet. I do have the air remote for Canon. What air sync remote are you using for the 910's? How are you attaching them with the profoto ttl air remote?
Click to expand...
http://profoto.com/int/products/air...-control/air-camera-tranceivers/item/air-sync

This is pretty much a pocket wizard, but works with anything air. You hook it up on the speedlight via the pc sync jack, just like you would do with a pw. You can now use your air ttl remote to fire the speedlight via air.
Click to expand...
Thank you, I just wish the B1's had better compatibility. Great set of lights though.
 
cpharm86 said:
PNad said:
cpharm86 said:
PNad said:
I use B1's and SB910's together sometimes, with the air ttl remote and air sync remote hooked on the sb910, works like a charm. (obviously not in ttl)
Click to expand...
I still haven't tried the Canon 600ex-rt's with the B1's yet. I do have the air remote for Canon. What air sync remote are you using for the 910's? How are you attaching them with the profoto ttl air remote?
Click to expand...
http://profoto.com/int/products/air...-control/air-camera-tranceivers/item/air-sync

This is pretty much a pocket wizard, but works with anything air. You hook it up on the speedlight via the pc sync jack, just like you would do with a pw. You can now use your air ttl remote to fire the speedlight via air.
Click to expand...
Thank you, I just wish the B1's had better compatibility. Great set of lights though.
Click to expand...
what do you mean better compatibility? so elinchrom have bad compatibility because they use skyport? so einsteins have bad compatibility because they use cybersync?? Your post dosent make sense. Profoto sync with either air or slave.

If you want to sync a speedlight with your B1, set it to slave and let the B1 fire up the speedlight, if you are indoor, it will work basically anywhere since the light will bounce. If you are outdoor or the speedlight is too far away/hidden, use the air sync remote (not the air remote, this is basically the same as the air ttl, but without ttl, the air sync is a bare transceiver)
 
PNad said:
cpharm86 said:
PNad said:
cpharm86 said:
PNad said:
I use B1's and SB910's together sometimes, with the air ttl remote and air sync remote hooked on the sb910, works like a charm. (obviously not in ttl)
Click to expand...
I still haven't tried the Canon 600ex-rt's with the B1's yet. I do have the air remote for Canon. What air sync remote are you using for the 910's? How are you attaching them with the profoto ttl air remote?
Click to expand...
http://profoto.com/int/products/air...-control/air-camera-tranceivers/item/air-sync

This is pretty much a pocket wizard, but works with anything air. You hook it up on the speedlight via the pc sync jack, just like you would do with a pw. You can now use your air ttl remote to fire the speedlight via air.
Click to expand...
Thank you, I just wish the B1's had better compatibility. Great set of lights though.
Click to expand...
what do you mean better compatibility? so elinchrom have bad compatibility because they use skyport? so einsteins have bad compatibility because they use cybersync?? Your post dosent make sense. Profoto sync with either air or slave.

If you want to sync a speedlight with your B1, set it to slave and let the B1 fire up the speedlight, if you are indoor, it will work basically anywhere since the light will bounce. If you are outdoor or the speedlight is too far away/hidden, use the air sync remote (not the air remote, this is basically the same as the air ttl, but without ttl, the air sync is a bare transceiver)
Click to expand...
My post makes sense to me. I don't like using optical slave. Also to use ttl I would need to use pocket wizards or something similar to use (3) Canon 600-ex-rts with lets say 2 profoto B1's. I can't just use the profoto TTL-C to trigger the speedlights.

I should have been more specific, it is compatible but not without make shift modifications.
 
cpharm86 said:
PNad said:
cpharm86 said:
PNad said:
cpharm86 said:
PNad said:
I use B1's and SB910's together sometimes, with the air ttl remote and air sync remote hooked on the sb910, works like a charm. (obviously not in ttl)
Click to expand...
I still haven't tried the Canon 600ex-rt's with the B1's yet. I do have the air remote for Canon. What air sync remote are you using for the 910's? How are you attaching them with the profoto ttl air remote?
Click to expand...
http://profoto.com/int/products/air...-control/air-camera-tranceivers/item/air-sync

This is pretty much a pocket wizard, but works with anything air. You hook it up on the speedlight via the pc sync jack, just like you would do with a pw. You can now use your air ttl remote to fire the speedlight via air.
Click to expand...
Thank you, I just wish the B1's had better compatibility. Great set of lights though.
Click to expand...
what do you mean better compatibility? so elinchrom have bad compatibility because they use skyport? so einsteins have bad compatibility because they use cybersync?? Your post dosent make sense. Profoto sync with either air or slave.

If you want to sync a speedlight with your B1, set it to slave and let the B1 fire up the speedlight, if you are indoor, it will work basically anywhere since the light will bounce. If you are outdoor or the speedlight is too far away/hidden, use the air sync remote (not the air remote, this is basically the same as the air ttl, but without ttl, the air sync is a bare transceiver)
Click to expand...
My post makes sense to me. I don't like using optical slave. Also to use ttl I would need to use pocket wizards or something similar to use (3) Canon 600-ex-rts with lets say 2 profoto B1's. I can't just use the profoto TTL-C to trigger the speedlights.

I should have been more specific, it is compatible but not without make shift modifications.
Click to expand...
well in this case, no other flash brand will have "better compatibility", this as nothing to do with profoto.
 
PNad said:
cpharm86 said:
PNad said:
cpharm86 said:
PNad said:
cpharm86 said:
PNad said:
I use B1's and SB910's together sometimes, with the air ttl remote and air sync remote hooked on the sb910, works like a charm. (obviously not in ttl)
Click to expand...
I still haven't tried the Canon 600ex-rt's with the B1's yet. I do have the air remote for Canon. What air sync remote are you using for the 910's? How are you attaching them with the profoto ttl air remote?
Click to expand...
http://profoto.com/int/products/air...-control/air-camera-tranceivers/item/air-sync

This is pretty much a pocket wizard, but works with anything air. You hook it up on the speedlight via the pc sync jack, just like you would do with a pw. You can now use your air ttl remote to fire the speedlight via air.
Click to expand...
Thank you, I just wish the B1's had better compatibility. Great set of lights though.
Click to expand...
what do you mean better compatibility? so elinchrom have bad compatibility because they use skyport? so einsteins have bad compatibility because they use cybersync?? Your post dosent make sense. Profoto sync with either air or slave.

If you want to sync a speedlight with your B1, set it to slave and let the B1 fire up the speedlight, if you are indoor, it will work basically anywhere since the light will bounce. If you are outdoor or the speedlight is too far away/hidden, use the air sync remote (not the air remote, this is basically the same as the air ttl, but without ttl, the air sync is a bare transceiver)
Click to expand...
My post makes sense to me. I don't like using optical slave. Also to use ttl I would need to use pocket wizards or something similar to use (3) Canon 600-ex-rts with lets say 2 profoto B1's. I can't just use the profoto TTL-C to trigger the speedlights.

I should have been more specific, it is compatible but not without make shift modifications.
Click to expand...
well in this case, no other flash brand will have "better compatibility", this as nothing to do with profoto.
Click to expand...
I bought the Profoto because I felt it was one of the best for my non-studio needs. The only other alternative that I looked at was the Phottix Indra500 as a 2nd choice. I guess I didn't articulate that well with my comments.
 
I have a variation of the OPs question. I’m using Profoto B1+ B2 (two heads) + AirTTL-N and mixing in a Nikon SB 910. Considered buying the Profoto AirSync for the flash but now question whether I really need it since Optical Sync seems to be working…but it really shouldn’t based on my understanding of TTL.

Here's my set up in a studio:

B1 --> Key light

B2 --> Fill light

B2 --> Rim/Hair light

Nikon SB-910 --> Background light

The Profoto lights are all triggered by AirTTL in TTL Mode; the SB-910 is triggered by Optical Slave, SU Mode, Manual. Surprisingly it works! I can adjust lighting ratios between the Profoto heads via remote; I just have to adjust the SB-910 manually.

QUESTION: I thought TTL Mode would cause the Profoto heads to emit pre-flashes that would be picked up by the Optical Slave sensor on the SB-910 and trigger the flash prematurely? I guess I should be happy that my SB-910 is firing in sequence, but really I'm confused. Why is this working?
 
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