EINSTEIN from Paul Buff

[Ellis Vener]

I will take my Elinchrom in a Octabank any day compared to a light that has a house bulb for a modeling light.

You mean like this :



and this?

 

[Joseph S Wisniewski]

I will take my Elinchrom in a Octabank any day compared to a light that has a house bulb for a modeling light.

You mean like this : http://www.whatdigitalcamera.com/imageBank/e/ElinchromD-lite2twinhead1.jpg

and this?

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c9/Elinchrom_D-Lite_4_showing_bayonet.jpg

Exactly.

Mr. lock and load has made several arguments as to why Elinchroms are better than Paul C. Buff products...

• The Alien Bees come in silly colors, like Elinchroms. (but no transluscent cases, like Elinchroms)
• The Alien Bees use household bulbs for the modeling light, like Elinchroms.
• The Alien Bees are lightweight because they don't have good transformers (they have voltage multipliers, like Elinchroms).

All his arguments hinge on differences that don't exist.

--
Rahon Klavanian 1912-2008.

Armenian genocide survivor, amazing cook, scrabble master, and loving grandmother. You will be missed.

Ciao! Joseph

http://www.swissarmyfork.com

 

[Ellis Vener]

Funny. I've used Armatar, Alien Bees Zeus, Balcar, Broncolor, Canon, Comet, Dynalite, Elinchrom, Hensel, Luz, Metz, Nikon, Norman, Profoto, & Speedotron Blackline, and Vivitar and I've never ever had a single client in over 25 years of professional photography who said word one about what my lighting gear looks like beyond "you sure carry around a lot of equipment, do you use all of it?" (answer: When necessary, yes -- but I try to use only what is necessary.)

Cameras get asked about all the time (So you like Canon/Nikon instead of Nikon Canon?" (Answer: "I like both. Like any tool they both have their strengths. Before you buy either go in and handle one and see which suits you best."). Apple computers get commented on sometimes. Lighting and grip gear? Never.

Clients only care about what the finished photographs that I deliver look like and that the photos make them or their product look good. If you are a working professional you know this.

 

[lockandload]

It would be hard to be worse. I've noticed that most European companies are not at the top of their game when it comes to user interfaces.

If we only could get Apple to make strobes, I think we all would be happy!

 

[Paul.R.Lindqvist]

Is all this overselling / overpromising and under delivery something which is common practice throughout the Americas? There seems to be a lot of it around, apart from a few companies who do perform well whilst sticking to their core values.

I would suspect that has to do with the fact that in Europe (in most countries) companies simply cant get away with it, they probably would if they could

--
Regards
Paul L.

 

[lockandload]

Thanks for the link, I think it proves my point nicely. A flash you can use anywhere in the world, that is easy on the eyes, has consistent color (altho I have never tested this model), and doesn't look like someone made it in their basement with leftover coffee cans and parts from the local Radio Shack. I think Paul Buff could learn a lot if he could maybe hang out with Steve Jobs over at Apple, maybe some class would rub off on him and make a product that doesn't have amateur written all over it!

You guys are getting all worked up over a crappy drawing that he is trying to presell. What is he doing, seeing if someone would actually buy one before he tries to make it.
--
http://www.pbase.com/ronkeele

 

[CUclimber]

Perhaps you missed the photographs of the Einstein that are linked from the pre-order page. He's not so daft as to try to initiate pre-orders with renderings.
--
http://www.camera-blog.net
http://www.franzen-online.com

 

[Ho72]

Thanks for the link, I think it proves my point nicely. A flash you can use anywhere in the world, that is easy on the eyes, has consistent color (altho I have never tested this model), and doesn't look like someone made it in their basement with leftover coffee cans and parts from the local Radio Shack. I think Paul Buff could learn a lot if he could maybe hang out with Steve Jobs over at Apple, maybe some class would rub off on him and make a product that doesn't have amateur written all over it!

You guys are getting all worked up over a crappy drawing that he is trying to presell. What is he doing, seeing if someone would actually buy one before he tries to make it.
--
http://www.pbase.com/ronkeele

This is almost beyond belief.

 

[Ellis Vener]

Doesn't Ron's choice of pseudonyms tell us something about his online personality? He's just trolling for a fight.

 

[thegreatj]

It just cracks me up there is so much talk about the asthetics of the lights as opposed to performance/features.

Even when I had chepo 150ws savage lights off of ebay. I never once had someone i was shooting say or even act like they would levave the studio because of my cheap plastic lights. In fact i would say the 90% of the people thought i was a pro becasue i was using lights, 5% could care less, and 5% would say they have some AB that blow those things out of the water.

Ryon

I am very humored by this as well, no matter what I used to take the photograph only the final image is important.
--
My Flickr:
http://www.jsmith-photography.com/

 

[Joseph S Wisniewski]

Doesn't Ron's choice of pseudonyms tell us something about his online personality? He's just trolling for a fight.

Indeed. Like I said earlier, anyone can lock and load, but not everyone can hit the target.

Here's his blather about the Elinchrom "D-Llite"

"A flash you can use anywhere in the world, that is easy on the eyes, has consistent color (altho I have never tested this model), and doesn't look like someone made it in their basement with leftover coffee cans and parts from the local Radio Shack."

I guess he couldn't understand what you, I, and a few others wrote about color constancy (we didn't write entirely in monosyllables?)

• Elinchroms use the exact same method of controlling power that Alien Bees and the particular Photogenics that he tested so exhaustively do.
• The "anywhere in the world" Elinchrom needs its modeling light changed to operate from 110v, but uses a European base bulb difficult to find in 110v.
• The handle at the back of Elinchroms is notorious for breaking. They're so "easy on the eyes" all taped up, like most of the ones you see in actual use...

--
Rahon Klavanian 1912-2008.

Armenian genocide survivor, amazing cook, scrabble master, and loving grandmother. You will be missed.

Ciao! Joseph

http://www.swissarmyfork.com

 

[Joseph S Wisniewski]

Thanks for the link, I think it proves my point nicely.

Ron should "think" a bit harder, before he posts.

A flash you can use anywhere in the world,

• The Elinchrom D-Lite does not have a shield (a metal mesh grid or Pyrex dome) over modeling lamp or flash tubes, as is required (by law and by insurance underwriters) for commercial use in many countries. It uses 220V bulbs for its modeling light. It does not have an up-converting power supply, you need to switch to 110V bulbs for use in 110V countries. It uses Edison E27 base bulbs, a socket normally only used for 220V bulbs, 110V bulbs use E26 sockets, so you don't swap 110V and 220V bulbs accidentally. This works against Elinchrom users who need to be able to swap bulbs to change voltages.
• Paul C. Buff Einstein (this thread is about the Einstein, remember) has a Pyrex dome over the flash tube and modeling light, for use anywhere, even in European countries with strict codes. It uses a 110V bi-pin bulb that is easy to get anywhere in the world. It downconverts (PWM is so easy when you're reducing voltage) automatically when used with a 220V supply.

Of the two flashes under discussion, it is the Einstein, not the D-Lite that can be used anywhere in the world. Ron is simply wrong. I won't say whether it's an innocent mistake (lack of research) or an outright lie.

Added bonuses, Ron keeps on bringing up Apple and usability. The Einstein trumps the D-Lite in usability of that modeling light...

1. the Einstein can take a 250W modeling lamp while the D-Lite is limited to 100W. 2.5x the power, 1.3 stops more modeling light. If you don't want that much modeling light (product photography working very close to the subject, baby photography, food photography where the modeling light can melt you subject) you can compensate the modeling light downward in 1/10 stop increments.
2. the Einstein has a quartz halogen light, 400K cooler than orange light of the UK household tungsten bulb in the D-Lite.
3. the Einstein has the modeling light filament in the plane of the flash tube, not 2 inches in front of it like the D-Lite. Combine that with the frosted Pyrex dome, and you've got modeling light that has exactly the same pattern as the flash. No more surprises because your pattern with a beauty dish, snoot, or grid is different with the modeling light and the actual flash.

that is easy on the eyes,

That's a matter of taste. As far as I'm concerned, the not quite black, tapering to the rear plastic case of the Elinchrom "D-Lite" screams "this is the lowest possible cost injection molding we could get". I wonder if that cheap looking case is also the reason the D-Lite is limited to 100W modeling lights: does it melt if you use a higher wattage?

But I can tell you, from personal experience with three different series of Elinchrom (R, RX, S, and Style) that the "trademark" handle at the back of the Elinchrom is one of the weak points in the system. They break quite easily: MPW isn't the only studio in town with the handles on its Elinchroms all taped up. Not what I call "easy on the eyes". Heck, that handle is rather vestigial even when it's not broken.

We won't even get into other usability issues, like the ugly light pattern from the short, straight sided Elinchrom stock reflector. Or the way large soft boxes to tear off the Elinchrom speedring unexpectedly.

has consistent color (altho I have never tested this model),

• Elinchrom D-Lite does not have "consistent color". It uses the same sort of charging voltage control that the Photogenic model Ron mentioned earlier uses, as well as most other Elinchrom monolight series from the last 10 years (R series, S, Style, etc). So, just like Ron's Photogenics, Elinchrom R or S monolights, Novotrons, Paul Buff Alien Bees, the color temperature of the Elinchrom D-Lite will drop some 700-800K over its power range.
• The Paul C. Buff Einstein uses IGBT time control, like the Photogenic Solaire that Ron doesn't have, or the Broncolor Grafit and Scoro (which we can assume Ron doesn't have, either).

So, the Einstein has more consistent color than

• Anything Elincrom sells.
• Anything you can buy from Photogenic unless you spend twice the price of the Einstein. Solair 500 Radio is the closest thing Photogenic sells to an Einstein. Einstein is a bit more powerful, and the Einstein CyberComander lets you control everything (power control, modeling light compensation, action mode) while the Solair just has a radio trigger and a totally flaky IR power control system.
• Anything that Ron apparently owns or has conducted his "extensive tests" on.

and doesn't look like someone made it in their basement with leftover coffee cans and parts from the local Radio Shack. I think Paul Buff could learn a lot if he could maybe hang out with Steve Jobs over at Apple,

Such as how to make a flash with more usability based features than his competition? Paul Buff seems to be shredding Elinchrom...

maybe some class would rub off on him and make a product that doesn't have amateur written all over it!

It appears that Paul C. Buff Einstein and Alien Bees products are already either inspired by Apple, or actually styled by Apple.

Behold, the Apple Cube!



And the Apple Mac Mini. Stick a reflector on it, and you've got an AB 400.

You guys are getting all worked up over a crappy drawing that he is trying to presell.

Oh look, real pictures of the real product.

http://www.paulcbuff.com/pcb2009/einstein.html

wizfaq

--
Rahon Klavanian 1912-2008.

Armenian genocide survivor, amazing cook, scrabble master, and loving grandmother. You will be missed.

Ciao! Joseph

http://www.swissarmyfork.com

 

[Joseph S Wisniewski]

... The extrusion has dovetails on top, bottom, and sides so that you can unlock the light mount from the bottom and move it to the top of the light so that the controls are all right-side up when it's on an overhead rail. Put the mount on the side and it's properly oriented for a boom arm.

Bowens Travellers do/did that with automatic voltage switching too from back to 1986.

and hope the interface is better than Elinchrom’s.

It would be hard to be worse. I've noticed that most European companies are not at the top of their game when it comes to user interfaces.

I've not had any experience with PCB's products, but if user interfaces can be likewise generalised throughout America - judging by the Quantum Trio which still doesn't work yet, I wouldn't want to hold out much hope for any other successes.

Is all this overselling / overpromising and under delivery something which is common practice throughout the Americas?

You don't really want a list of UK products that were oversold or overpromissed, do you?

As far as the American vs. European user interface issue, that can be settled in one word: "iDrive".

There seems to be a lot of it around, apart from a few companies who do perform well whilst sticking to their core values.

The problem with such parochial views is that there's always someone with global market experience around to dismantle them on you.

--
Rahon Klavanian 1912-2008.

Armenian genocide survivor, amazing cook, scrabble master, and loving grandmother. You will be missed.

Ciao! Joseph

http://www.swissarmyfork.com

 

[Paul.R.Lindqvist]

The problem with such parochial views is that there's always someone with global market experience around to dismantle them on you.

Given how you pass off your opinions and experience in this thread i assume you see your self as that person ?

--
Regards
Paul L.

 

[UKphotographers]

It would be hard to be worse. I've noticed that most European companies are not at the top of their game when it comes to user interfaces.

I've not had any experience with PCB's products, but if user interfaces can be likewise generalised throughout America - judging by the Quantum Trio which still doesn't work yet, I wouldn't want to hold out much hope for any other successes.

Is all this overselling / overpromising and under delivery something which is common practice throughout the Americas?

You don't really want a list of UK products that were oversold or overpromissed, do you?

Since you were the one making generalisations and cross Atlantic comparisons, and we're talking about photographic equipment, sure, why not? Substantiate your claim.

I'll give you some examples of the American products - RadioPoppers, Pocketwizards, Quantum and Alien Bees. All don't work the way they are suposed to and all are promised to be delivered yet are not. That last one sure knows how to do it, especially on the promising side. Didn't they even invent their own effective WS to make them appear good ? And then... LOL ... even blamed an European company when HIS promises weren't fulfilled.

There is equally some great stuff coming from these companies, it's such a pity that there's so much BS and trumpet sounding supplied as well.

There seems to be a lot of it around, apart from a few companies who do perform well whilst sticking to their core values.

The problem with such parochial views is that there's always someone with global market experience around to dismantle them on you.

I was thinking of Lumedyne. They're in Port Richey, Florida FYI. Now what could a small town boy like me be doing using them - yet alone, even knowing about them ?

--
Ian.

Samples of work: http://www.AccoladePhotography.co.uk
Weddings: http://www.AccoladeWeddings.com
Events: http://www.OfficialPhotographer.com

Theres only one sun. Why do I need more than one light to get a natural result?

 

[UKphotographers]

Didn't they even invent their own effective WS to make them appear good ?

From May '08

'He has called them Einstein because, along with real W/S and effective W/S he has decided to add 'relative W/S' to his marketing.'

LOL.. Was that for real or was it a joke ?

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/readflat.asp?forum=1025&message=27926207&q=einstein&qf=m

--
Ian.

Samples of work: http://www.AccoladePhotography.co.uk
Weddings: http://www.AccoladeWeddings.com
Events: http://www.OfficialPhotographer.com

Theres only one sun. Why do I need more than one light to get a natural result?

 

[Kokopelli_Rocks]

Paul will have no problems using the word Einstein. Now if he put a picture of Albert Einstein on his products or used things related to Albert Einstein then he would have a problem. Use the internet and search for the number of products and companies that use the word Einstein.

Ed

 

[Voyager13b]

Thanks for the link, I think it proves my point nicely.

Ron should "think" a bit harder, before he posts.

A flash you can use anywhere in the world,

• The Elinchrom D-Lite does not have a shield (a metal mesh grid or Pyrex dome) over modeling lamp or flash tubes, as is required (by law and by insurance underwriters) for commercial use in many countries. It uses 220V bulbs for its modeling light. It does not have an up-converting power supply, you need to switch to 110V bulbs for use in 110V countries. It uses Edison E27 base bulbs, a socket normally only used for 220V bulbs, 110V bulbs use E26 sockets, so you don't swap 110V and 220V bulbs accidentally. This works against Elinchrom users who need to be able to swap bulbs to change voltages.
• Paul C. Buff Einstein (this thread is about the Einstein, remember) has a Pyrex dome over the flash tube and modeling light, for use anywhere, even in European countries with strict codes. It uses a 110V bi-pin bulb that is easy to get anywhere in the world. It downconverts (PWM is so easy when you're reducing voltage) automatically when used with a 220V supply.

Of the two flashes under discussion, it is the Einstein, not the D-Lite that can be used anywhere in the world. Ron is simply wrong. I won't say whether it's an innocent mistake (lack of research) or an outright lie.

Added bonuses, Ron keeps on bringing up Apple and usability. The Einstein trumps the D-Lite in usability of that modeling light...

1. the Einstein can take a 250W modeling lamp while the D-Lite is limited to 100W. 2.5x the power, 1.3 stops more modeling light. If you don't want that much modeling light (product photography working very close to the subject, baby photography, food photography where the modeling light can melt you subject) you can compensate the modeling light downward in 1/10 stop increments.
2. the Einstein has a quartz halogen light, 400K cooler than orange light of the UK household tungsten bulb in the D-Lite.
3. the Einstein has the modeling light filament in the plane of the flash tube, not 2 inches in front of it like the D-Lite. Combine that with the frosted Pyrex dome, and you've got modeling light that has exactly the same pattern as the flash. No more surprises because your pattern with a beauty dish, snoot, or grid is different with the modeling light and the actual flash.

that is easy on the eyes,

That's a matter of taste. As far as I'm concerned, the not quite black, tapering to the rear plastic case of the Elinchrom "D-Lite" screams "this is the lowest possible cost injection molding we could get". I wonder if that cheap looking case is also the reason the D-Lite is limited to 100W modeling lights: does it melt if you use a higher wattage?

But I can tell you, from personal experience with three different series of Elinchrom (R, RX, S, and Style) that the "trademark" handle at the back of the Elinchrom is one of the weak points in the system. They break quite easily: MPW isn't the only studio in town with the handles on its Elinchroms all taped up. Not what I call "easy on the eyes". Heck, that handle is rather vestigial even when it's not broken.

We won't even get into other usability issues, like the ugly light pattern from the short, straight sided Elinchrom stock reflector. Or the way large soft boxes to tear off the Elinchrom speedring unexpectedly.

has consistent color (altho I have never tested this model),

• Elinchrom D-Lite does not have "consistent color". It uses the same sort of charging voltage control that the Photogenic model Ron mentioned earlier uses, as well as most other Elinchrom monolight series from the last 10 years (R series, S, Style, etc). So, just like Ron's Photogenics, Elinchrom R or S monolights, Novotrons, Paul Buff Alien Bees, the color temperature of the Elinchrom D-Lite will drop some 700-800K over its power range.
• The Paul C. Buff Einstein uses IGBT time control, like the Photogenic Solaire that Ron doesn't have, or the Broncolor Grafit and Scoro (which we can assume Ron doesn't have, either).

So, the Einstein has more consistent color than

• Anything Elincrom sells.
• Anything you can buy from Photogenic unless you spend twice the price of the Einstein. Solair 500 Radio is the closest thing Photogenic sells to an Einstein. Einstein is a bit more powerful, and the Einstein CyberComander lets you control everything (power control, modeling light compensation, action mode) while the Solair just has a radio trigger and a totally flaky IR power control system.
• Anything that Ron apparently owns or has conducted his "extensive tests" on.

and doesn't look like someone made it in their basement with leftover coffee cans and parts from the local Radio Shack. I think Paul Buff could learn a lot if he could maybe hang out with Steve Jobs over at Apple,

Such as how to make a flash with more usability based features than his competition? Paul Buff seems to be shredding Elinchrom...

maybe some class would rub off on him and make a product that doesn't have amateur written all over it!

It appears that Paul C. Buff Einstein and Alien Bees products are already either inspired by Apple, or actually styled by Apple.

Behold, the Apple Cube!

That was beautiful. It said it all, and not a single letter in excess. You have far more patience to make an attempt at unraveling the Gordian knot of a brand centric-Madison Avenue owned mind than I have, and I salute you!

--
Voyager

 

[Peter Berressem]

The licence holder sees it different. It's not just the image but also the name is protected. From Greenlight (dept. of Corbis) :
http://einstein.biz/licensees
But as we say "where there's no judge there's no hangman"
--
cheers, Peter
Germany

 

[lockandload]

Whoa, slow down there cowboy, them there are a lot of big words in there.
Maybe you two should get a room.

That was beautiful. It said it all, and not a single letter in excess. You have far more patience to make an attempt at unraveling the Gordian knot of a brand centric-Madison Avenue owned mind than I have, and I salute you!

--
Voyager

--
http://www.pbase.com/ronkeele