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Now reading: Profoto's $17K Pro-11 flash pack gets AirX connectivity 95 comments

Profoto's $17K Pro-11 flash pack gets AirX connectivity

Published Mar 1, 2021 | Damien Demolder

Flash manufacturer Profoto has introduced a new version of its Pro flash pack that includes its smartphone-connected wireless control system. The new Pro-11 is nearly identical to the existing five-year-old Pro-10 but comes with the company’s AirX wireless module built-in that allows remote operation via a smartphone app.

The company says the inclusion of AirX will help to prepare the flash pack for the future rather than deliver its maximum benefits now, hinting that there is more to come from this system. AirX will allow users to control the pack and the lights attached to it from a smartphone running either Android or the Apple OiS, in much the same way that output can be controlled remotely in the A10 and B10 series of lights.

The company says the pack also has some minor design updates and that the display panel is now brighter and more straightforward to read.

The Profoto Pro-11 is available for pre-order and costs $16,995/£10,829.17. For more information see the Profoto website.

Profoto Pro-11 - The ultimate flash

Profoto adds AirX connectivity to their flagship flash.

The latest evolution of Profoto's top of the line flash generator is the addition of AirX connectivity. "This really is a breakthrough," enthuses Göran Maren, Product Manager at Profoto. "With AirX inside, we’ve ensured the Pro-11 will oer the latest and best user experience for years to come. We are making it future proof”.

Profoto had previously introduced AirX for their A10 and B10 lights, at the time focusing on the ability to connect and use the flash with smartphone cameras.

“With AirX you can do this with Pro-11 too,” says Göran. “But for the most part, we are not adding AirX as a feature for today - we are adding it as a cornerstone for connectivity that will grow over time.” Göran continues, “The connectivity between cameras, lights and apps will define how professional images will be created going forward. With AirX inside, we’re ensuring that we can maintain seamless compatibility and connectivity with both current and future devices. Whatever comes down the line, the Pro-11 will compliment it perfectly - ever-broadening your access to the Profoto ecosystem today and tomorrow, so the potential is enormous."

When shooting with the Pro-11, one instant benefit of having AirX inside becomes clear. The smartphone app control simplifies workflow for photographers and assistants by mirroring all the flash settings in the app. “It is so easy, it’s like the Pro-11 comes to you, instead of you having to go to it”, remarked a photographer’s assistant who experienced the Pro-11 in action at a recent shoot.

Should you prefer to adjust directly on the flash, you'll notice a new brighter high-resolution display with an emphasis on simplicity. The Pro-11 might be top of the range, but it's just as intuitive and easy to use as any other flash in the Profoto family.

"Beyond the added AirX connectivity," adds Göran Maren, "Pro-11 remains the powerful workhorse that’s lightning fast and utterly reliable - everything you´d expect from Profoto's flagship”.

Record-breaking flash durations of up to 1/80,000 of a second lets you freeze any action and recycling is so fast that you can even set the fastest cameras on motor drive and let the flash follow. You’ll never miss a shot.

All of this comes in our most durable and rugged package yet; tested to extremes. It looks tough, and it is tough - more than ready to meet the most arduous challenges of any high-end studio shooting.

"Could the Profoto Pro-11 be the ultimate studio flash?" Asks Göran. "We'd like to think so."

Tags: air-x, flash-pack, profoto

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Oldest first

pahnson

They keep calling this "flash" but its only the power outlet, am I wrong?
Which is ridiculous. Seriously, what the hell can be wrong with the less expensive models? Its just outputting voltage, isnt? How unreliable can the other products be, to justify this kind of money? What kind of features does this power outlet offer, that others cant?
And smartphone control is a joke. Its ultra annoying to keep you phone connected. just a dedidacted remote with a display and buttons is all that any professional working photographer wants on set. To dial 2 knobs, I REALY dont need a touch interface with unreliable bluetooth.

Mar 5, 2021permalink

Teila Day

Title of Article: "Profoto's $17K Pro-11 flash (watch for it...) P-A-C-K"

Q: " what the hell can be wrong with the less expensive models?"
A: The same thing that's 'wrong' with far less expensive cameras, strobes, cars, and baby strollers. It's one of those thing where if you have to ask.... then the product most likely isn't marketed to you.

Q: "What kind of features does this power outlet offer, that others cant? "
A: Perhaps you mean "don't"... either way, just use your favorite search engine

You: " just a dedidacted [sic] remote with a display and buttons is all that any professional working photographer wants on set."
A: Please stop presupposing what other professionals want.

You: "To dial 2 knobs, I REALY dont need a touch interface with unreliable bluetooth"
A: That's great. I don't need a mirrorless camera, gps, etc., but I understand how it benefits many others. A significant number of working photographers DO like having an interface on their phone/iPad.

Mar 6, 2021*permalink

pahnson

1) Your comparison between a less expensive camera and a less expensive flash outlet is COMPLETELY off. A camera that costs 3x as much (!) offers SIGNIFICANT better features and quality. I may know this, since I own the R5, 1DX II, S1H... Its ridiculous to indicate I wouldnt know or understand the difference between good and bad hardware, just because I criticize this crazy overprized outlot.

2) An App is just WORSE than a remote. It blocks your phone. It got no haptic feedback. Its much less reliable. Its MUCH slower since you have to reconnect you phone every single time. I am pretty sure that most professional users which actualy work on set (and dont create influencing youtube videos for products) will agree.
Oh, and btw, english is my second language. I am happy so see how well you write your second language, arrogant pr*ck.

Mar 7, 2021permalink

pahnson

Crazy, why do people decide to defend a COMPLETELY overpriced device? Why? Why? there is simply NO reasonable thinking behind that, other than "showing that I am so super duper professional, I totally need this ridiculously overpriced device and you cant understand why".

There is just NO reason to spend this kind of money on something that is literaly offering the same that any other competitors product. Its insane.

There is a BIG reason to buy more reliable, better products, even if they are more expensive and the difference isnt that big.

But defending a 17k power outlet because it offers an app control rather than a dedicated remote is just crazy.
Its just the worst option. MAYBE you like it better. but defending this kind of price difference is not reasonable at al.

Mar 7, 2021permalink

Teila Day

1. I defend business / commerce .. if people are willing to pay a price, then in general, it isn't overpriced. I neither defended this Profoto product nor did I give any indication that I was.

2. You asked questions that have obvious answers.

3. You made an obvious untrue statement, "all that any professional working photographer wants on set..." Actually, many working professionals like having controls on their phone and iPad. You're too quick to presuppose.

4. Why on earth are you even mentioning your 1st or 2nd language. How is that relevant? Who had an issue with your English?

5. Curious. What products do you know of that are considerably cheaper, but offer the same (a) warranty, (b) service, (c) features, (d) professional availability and (e) professional compatibility world over? ... because few businesses and or people would pay a premium for a product that offers no practical advantages over a far lesser option. Please educate me.

Mar 7, 2021permalink

pahnson

4. "just a dedidacted [sic] remote"

Mar 7, 2021permalink

Teila Day

[sic] = "The Latin adverb sic inserted after a quoted word or passage indicates that the quoted matter has been transcribed or translated *exactly* as found in the source text"

Which has absolutely nothing to do with your English and everything to do with letting the reader know that you were quoted accurately/verbatim. Again, you're assumed that you were being attacked and you clearly were not. Perhaps now you can discern the difference between arrogant and accurate..

Now that's cleared up.... what about #5?

Mar 9, 2021*permalink

jjconstantine

It's a generator - yes, it is insanely expensive (so is phase one camera) but worth it - not only is it faster than any monolight, but also there are huge benefits in having just a light flathead (not limited to but including use of modifiers which cannot be used with monolights) - not to mention that they are workhorses. Will you get a benefit from having one unless you are high volume professional studio? Probably not, but people who spend close to 100k on phase one or hasselblad systems will not think twice about it.

Jul 1, 2021permalink

Felix Wu

My mate orderred 2 of these for his rental house. But i wonder how many packs can profoto sell around the world.

Guess pro10 will drop slightly but most people are unlikely to upgrade.

There may be more older pro8s on the 2nd hand market but again they would still perform.

Mar 4, 2021permalink

jjconstantine

I'm eyeing out 10's if I can get 2-3 used units for around 10k each it would be great.

Jul 1, 2021permalink

johnvr1

I don't think this is aimed at people who have time to browse DPreview.com. When you have your PhaseOne camera, this looks relatively cheaper than for us poor folks with our Canons and Leicas.

Mar 3, 2021permalink

jjconstantine

Leica is expensive, but you are right, Phase One will make you reassess what you see as expensive (oh, I want to upgrade my iq3 trichromatic to iq4 150 😭😭😭 - or most likely just get monochrome version of it)

Jul 1, 2021permalink

trebledee

wow.
That's a wad of drinking vouchers.

Next week Godox release their version, for 1700?

But hey, you know what they say about a fool and their money. <shrug>

Mar 3, 2021permalink

jjconstantine

Yeah, Godox didn't release generator yet and they will not, as generators are expensive to make and carry way more patents. Plus, people who buy equipment like this make money with it and rely on the quality equipment - but go ahead, call top 5% of photographers around the world fools 🤣🤣🤣🤣

Jul 1, 2021permalink

trebledee

I make money from my work, I haven't needed one. I don't have Godox stuff either.
There's a healthier middle ground than a top 5% :D

Jul 5, 2021permalink

nataphoto

The specs look amazing but wouldn't you rather have a Honda Civic?

Mar 3, 2021permalink

Teila Day

No. I wouldn't even remotely want to be in a position where I'm trying to make money with/using a Honda Civic.

Mar 6, 2021permalink

Terrible Photographer

ANYONE who thinks this is better than a 25 year old Grafit pack, is an idiot. TOTAL MONEYGRAB. I own 5 D1's, 2 Acutes, 2 B10's, and an A1, so I've drank the Kool-Aid, but GODDMNMN this is ridiculous.

ALSO, Profoto measures their flash durations in T.5, NOT T.1, so in real-use unless you're going to run it at minimum power and gang up a bunch of them, they'll be slower than a Broncolor Scoro, Grafit, Siros, even a Paul C Buff Einstein at the equivalent output.

Shark. Jumped.

The Ultimate Pack...for iPhone.

Mar 2, 2021*permalink

Felix Wu

You haven't been keeping up with the latest with profoto i guess. Since pro10, b1x and d2 they have been publishing t0.1 flash durations. And pro10 had surpassed scoro in terms of speed.

As for the pricing. Its rediculous. I still use my trusty b4 lol.

Mar 4, 2021permalink

msstudio

Profoto always was more expensive, just use a Pro pack and any other company and try to shoot jumping rope in a room, that brings out the issues.
A couple of numbers from broncolor Scoro 3200 S and the Pro11:
f-stop, 2m, full power: Scoro normal (3200Ws) f90 2/10, speed (2400Ws) f64 9/10; Profoto f128, flash duration t0.1, normal: Scoro 1/132-1/10.000, Profoto 1/400-1/6.500, Freeze/speed: Scoro 1/285-1/10.000, Profoto 1/600-1/17.500, recycle time Scoro 0,8-1,3sec, Profoto 0,7sec.
These are the numbers from the websites, no Kool Aid.
So Profoto is a bit quicker, more power efficient; can do TTL and has HSS.
Bron does not publish color temp variation over the range, but gives you the ability to adjust.
For speed, the Profoto Pro-11 is brilliant. It makes entry to more powerful flash solutions easy and quick with TTL, and opens it up to HSS compatible cameras.
The Scoro can't do any of this and having 3 lamp outlets, effects like strobo, interval, alternating, etc. are unique to Scoro.

Mar 7, 2021permalink

jjconstantine

No, profoto lists both t.5 and t.1 - fastest t.1 is 1/17500s - fast enough and honestly, there is a reason people shot t.5 - at higher f stops, which require higher power, light below t.5 no longer registers in your capture

Jul 1, 2021permalink

msstudio

As far as I understand t.5 describes the illumination time while the strobes output is above 50% and t.1 while it’s above 10% of max output. I would argue that at 10% there’s still light reaching the sensor/film, especially visible with rapidly moving subjects, aka jump rope.
Please elaborate a bit on how to shoot at t.1 or t.5?

Jul 3, 2021permalink

mmeerdam

$17k pro gear to put your camera down, whip out your phone, unlock it, tap the app, find your light, tap to see where your fill light head is at and decide to up the power 2/10ths, pick up your camera test, put your camera down, up it another tenth, pick your camera up and your done. Why don't you hire an assistant you ask? Right, let's have the assistant put the just changed lens down, whip out his phone, when he's done you yell: up filllight 2/10ths. Test, yell again & continue to shoot. Meanwhile I'm looking at insta manny, looking at his good 69 dollar remote, tapping the + button twice, take a testshot, tap it once more and continue to shoot. Profoto gear just is prettier en sturdier to work with, but man how hard is it to make a 400 dollar remote display some power levels. no one wants even more whipping out phones on set... I sold 1 Profoto head to got 2 new equivalent godox heads half the size and weight as a travel kit. And it's got remote power readings. no phone. done.

Mar 2, 2021*permalink

lauma

Ah, the obligatory "but Godox" post... it's always been like that, people who don't need that level of performance don't get why it exists. That is totally fine. But why complain about it then? Obviously you don't need Profoto Performance. Good for you. But why do you complain than? Do you wish you'd be at the level where this is needed? Then go improve yourself. Or are you comfy with where you are, then there is zero reason to defend you workflow. This system is not aimed at photographers that have 3 heads in a studio standing at the same spot for the same setup at all times and it's not even Profoto but Hensel which introduced such an App. For those who need it it works miracles. And no a remote is not getting close to it, way too much of a hassle and slow to control whole and ever changing light setups, alone the group and channel switching on the remote takes too much time. Can the Godox Remote save settings of whole groups and reset them to that setting weeks later?

Mar 4, 2021permalink

pahnson

Hahaha, you are SO right. App controlled stuff is THE WORST. Just a simple remote I can clip in my hotshoe with knobs/buttons for every flash-group and its perfect.
An App for something so straightforward is nothing but ridiculous. Also, bluetooth isnt always reliable (even a simple phone update can break compatibility). A dedicated, simple remote is 100% more reliable.
It also always looks bad in front of your client if you hussle with your found. He cant see if you check instagram or if you modify your light. Which is, again, ridiculous to do over a phone :-D

Mar 5, 2021permalink

lauma

@phanson I see you never worked on big sets and never did jobs that require you to rebuild exactly the same lightsetup multiple times over the timeframe of a few weeks. It's ok, only a few work on that level. But only those who are unhappy with their own situation do ridicule the others for something they don't understand.. Oh and if your client thinks you are not working because you have the smartphone in your hands... come on what are we talking about here? If you get charge 50k $ for a shot that are different kind of clients, nobody gives a darn if you post on instagram or not as long as it doesn't violate the contract that actually is expected because that's how advertisement works these days.

Mar 5, 2021permalink

pahnson

@lauma jeah sure, and why exactly would a freaking app (which blocks your phone) with 2 knobs (which got no tactile feedback) be ANY kind of better for this task than a dedicated remote with a dedicated connection, which is reliable and offers tactile buttons? ANY reasons to go for a freaking app?

Mar 7, 2021permalink

lauma

Why would you need tactile feedback? That's not a camera, that's used for the setup which is done before the shooting. Now as I told a remote is slow and can't save settings. With the remote it is usually faster to go to the flash and set it, with the app it's so much easier to have an overview and change settings fast, you can update the firmware with it, and so on, it's just great especially for complex sets. Plus you can use the Profoto flash with your smartphone wich is great as on location instagram is usually fed by smartphone pictures.

I too didn't like the App Idea but reality proved me wrong.

Mar 8, 2021permalink

mmeerdam

@lauma: actually I'm a creative director who hires the people and productions you talk so pompous about. I'm not the production man, I'm the strategic creative who decides who gets the job. You're clearly in the money talks and bigger is better camp. Well I would not hire you for free with that attitude. I'm actually the one who pays the people you think are so worthy of Profoto gear. So no I don't aspire to anything. I'm very grateful for all the cool stuff I get to make together with great friends / artists. Renowned photographers actually. Who do command 50k for a shoot day, not including the production. On topic: My actual gripe with Profoto is that it's turning more into a consumer/influencer brand than a truly pro focussed brand. The photographers I work with are leaving Profoto for the same reasons. Profoto is only still the standard because of their widespread rental presence. Not because their current lineup is the actually the most innovate ultimate for pro's.

Mar 24, 2021permalink

mmeerdam

Also I still own 6 Profoto heads, for my autonomous work. I would have upgraded all heads for sure if they just made a new remote. (fyi: there is/was a usb dongle that works and shows power settings over air ttl) so it's already in the protocol, why oh why Profoto would you not just update the damn remote. just put bluetooth in and be done with it. you can charge 400. I don't care about the price I care a bout the lack of choice how I like my creative proces to work. godox can do it for 69 bucks, it's not rocket science apparently :P

Mar 24, 2021permalink

lauma

So you are simply too special in your demand and therefore not a significant target group. That's bad for you and I know the feeling, it happens to me all the time. Only this time I totally go with profotos decision, why why do an remote with suboptimal interface if you can just make an App and use the smartphone you have anyway? I prefere to have a program for Windows though as on the computer it works even better and faster. Then I need the remote only to trigger the flashes and of course for events but there the TTL remote does it. I'd say I wish for you Profoto brings out an updated remote for you but I doubt the'll do. But hey, write them an e-mail maybe they listen? At least with Hensel that works great I can just call there and talk straight to the responsible guy.

Mar 24, 2021permalink

mmeerdam

I already had contact with profoto. Several times actually. So did some of my photographer friends. Profoto is not saying no, they remain vague. That is another thing that really annoys me. I'm an existing customer of a professional system, with a future request. They should just answer straight up: No it's not coming to the airttl range,or it's not coming with backwards compatibility. Or no we don't believe in that at all. It's not hard to be straight. I can then make an informed decision investing in this system, or not. If it's such a hot topic for Profoto they feel the need to keep so secretive there is something going on other than my request is just a one off. It's what apple did with the Mac Pro. Focus on another market and keep their pro users waiting, and waiting...

Mar 24, 2021*permalink

jjconstantine

I don't think they are targeting people who own pro-10 units. This is for people who like me maybe upgrading from pro-7A

Jul 1, 2021permalink

lauma

oh @meerdam, totally oversaw your last reply, thanks jjconstantine for bringing this up again.

Well I learned that I just don't go in with the attitude of being important enough. I am just one customer who spends 100-200k on equipment from a flash company over 2 decades. They have to make millions.
Companies sometimes don't know what they are going to develop next, and sometimes don't want anybody to know so the competition has no headstart. It was the same with Hensel, I talked with the head of development and he said "all I can say is we develop something that is not yet out there" yes I'd love to know more to plan but I understand their situation too. If you dislike Profoto that much maybe get in touch with the Hensel brand?

Yes I remember Apple, how could anybody who had a MacPro forget? And I have to admit you are partly right with Profoto there, excluding a 3.5mm jack for backup synchronisation, not cool! But it's not like Apple, they still do live from Pros. Apple didn't.

Jul 3, 2021permalink

mmeerdam

You are right, but from the what Profoto is communicating it's clear they focus on a new generation of smaller production-team creators (a 17k flash generator pack doesn't need a iPhone camera app). Profoto indeed needs that volume to remain the most important lighting brand. In the light of smaller teams: My sentiments about clear power control from the on camera trigger are not just mine, semi-pro/pro blogs, colleagues all indicate they would all find such a feature very convenient. It's clear to me Profoto sees more profit in selling the air-x stuff which is fine. But whipping a phone out while holding a camera with a dedicated remote already in your hand is just really dumb ergonomic/workflow design. I have two hands, one of which is dominant, and it's holding the camera. A trigger like the fusion TLC shows what can be done in mixing automation and manual control from a simple interface even with older Profoto heads, an app will never do that. Apple would do this better for sure.

Jul 3, 2021permalink

Razor512

This is why people need to stop eating fentanyl by the by the bucket load. Before it used to be companies like Broncolor price gouging at $13,000 for a 3200Ws power pack, now you have Profoto charging $17,000 for a 2400Ws power pack.

1-upping price gouging from another company by price gouging a lower end product to astronomical proportion does not make foe a good business decision.

Mar 2, 2021permalink

Teila Day

"Price gouging"? (chuckle) You can get a new Broncolor 3200ws pack for less than 10k (2 outlet).

Please let us know... What packs do you know of that are as good as the current years-old Scoro packs, that have 3 outlets, and 3200ws?, where you can plug a 3200 ringflash into it, etc...

People used to whine about Photoshop (suites) costing well over $1,000.... but no other product compared and many whining were using the product as a primary tool to help them make money. When Godox or you make a better and more reliable mousetrap with the same amount of modifiers, etc.., then people will stop paying what they feel are exuberant prices for lights and packs.

... but until then... all I hear are people whining. If you can buy better, more reliable, more expansive system, from somewhere else.. do it. However I think it's common knowledge that you can't.

Mar 6, 2021permalink

jjconstantine

Price gouging? 🤣🤣🤣 - btw, broncolor still sells there pack for a lot and their modifiers are amazing - if you don't want it or need it, don't buy it, simple.

Jul 1, 2021permalink

Paige Turner

Does it come with a free Nikon D6?

Mar 2, 2021permalink

carton

1/80000s at what power level?

The flash industry seems full of snake oil.
- in 90s, TTL used a separate mirror-up light meter collecting reflection from the film and ended the flash pulse when enough light had accumulated. That could still be done but isn't. Now TTL does. . . I can't figure out what. Sometimes a "metering flash" (no thanks), sometimes I can't tell it from manual mode. must be holding it wrong.
- "HSS" causes most of the flash output to fall on the shutter curtain. It's sold as a way to shoot outdoors and compete with the sun without a leaf shutter, but I don't see logically how it can be more than about a stop better than an ND filter.
- freeze times waffle between T0.5, T0.1, or are given (as I'm sure is the case here) at a low power level. AA-powered speedlight has short pulse, but also low power. While I'm sure they've improved, they've no interest in an honest comparison.
- recycle time at 220V or 120V? Mains packs all recycle at the wattage of their circuit.

Mar 2, 2021*permalink

toughluck

- TTL-OTF was only possible because unprocessed film has a matte surface that reflects diffuse light (like a sheet of paper). Digital sensors are glossy and reflect incident light at the same angle that falls on the sensor. It's no longer possible to read the amount of light falling on the sensor.
And for TTL-OTF, the camera doesn't know the reflectivity of film, it only assumes it from the amount of light reflected at the beginning of the exposure, but light temperature is not measured, so it can be way off.
Preflash metering is a necessary evil.
- HSS is okay, although I hardly ever use it.
- Short flash duration at high energy would require immense power that's necessarily limited by the circuitry, otherwise you'd have wires as thick as your fist going to a huge light bulb.
- Recycle times are limited by the same circuitry. Wire thickness plays a role, but mains packs essentially imitate a battery.

Mar 2, 2021permalink

jjconstantine

Please stop - seriously, don't buy it, simple...

Jul 1, 2021permalink

Panachromic

Wow. A $17k car battery...

Mar 2, 2021permalink

Simon Barker

It's mains powered... there's no battery...

Mar 2, 2021permalink

carton

better double-check that, tho. sometimes there's a stackable $10k battery option.

good work if you can get it.

Mar 2, 2021*permalink

Felix Wu

@carton lmao

Mar 4, 2021permalink

Melindra

I thought for a second there, you said $17K.

Mar 2, 2021permalink

Ruy Penalva

Out of reality.

Mar 2, 2021permalink

MinAZ

Ah Profoto, the Leica of the lighting world. One day I might be able to afford them, and even then I might want to.

Mar 2, 2021permalink

Bigsensorisbest

The B10s are orgasmic, I've three and they've opened all sorts of possibilities. Dumped my mains elinchroms on ebay I haven't missed them for a second.

Mar 2, 2021*permalink

llamacide

...and when the studios and rentals buy these new packs their old stuff goes up for sale... I got a two Profoto 7A's (2400ws) last fall for 1200.00 bucks each... they were extremely clean, well maintained and work like champs!!

Mar 2, 2021permalink

jjconstantine

I have them too but they are aging - I'm looking to upgrade

Jul 1, 2021permalink

Arek Halusko

Post insane price, get people talking, few months later drop price 50% get people taking and buying.

Mar 2, 2021permalink

Simon Barker

That's not how it works, this isn't the latest camera and it's not aimed at your typical consumer, the biggest customers for these are rental studios and they buy in bulk.

The Pro-8A which came out in 2006 was priced at $11K (factor in inflation and this is something like a 10-15% price increase) so don't hold your breath waiting for a price drop.

Mar 2, 2021permalink

jjconstantine

???? Pro-10 units are few years old and are still going for 15k - if you ever see used units they go for around 12-13k - yeah, good equipment retains it's value

Jul 1, 2021permalink

Photoman

Needs to be limited edition at that price 🤣

Mar 2, 2021permalink

forest dream

Limited edition: Flash with pure Gold case,.which just for collection?

Mar 2, 2021permalink

Paige Turner

Yea, 2 will be sold.

Mar 2, 2021permalink

Felix Wu

I think they come in a big white cardboard box. You'd better not throw that box away XD

Mar 4, 2021permalink

AlexLF

Profoto says it's for rental houses and this thing can do 1/80000 of a sec (as far as I remember). So that's the reason for the price I guess.

Mar 2, 2021permalink

Terrible Photographer

That's T.5 not T.1

In reality, these have actually a pretty slow flash duration compared to a Broncolor Scoro, Grafit, Siros, or even a PCB Einstein.

Mar 2, 2021permalink

jjconstantine

@terrible photographer- t.1 of these are 1/17500s - still faster than siros - regardless, they are both amazing. I use profoto because my phase one has build in air remore - if I had hasselblad I would use siros...

Jul 1, 2021permalink

jjconstantine

@terrible photographer - score 1600 has t.1 speed of 1/10000 of a sec, so still way slower....

Jul 1, 2021permalink

OBI656

I have a big three pack (10 000Ws) Elinchrom system for years, and it's going strong. No need for upgrade.

Mar 1, 2021permalink

IdM photography

Too strong to shoot wide open... I prefer the ELB 500 TTL...

Mar 2, 2021permalink

sneakyracer

The price on these things is out of control meanwhile photographers are getting paid less. I dont want to turn this into a typical Leica comment section but the prices of the new profoto gear are just crazy.

Mar 1, 2021*permalink

JasonTheBirder

Then get a Godox. Pretty good value for most applications.

Mar 1, 2021permalink

SickVodka

In this pricerange, I'd say even a "Broncolor Move L" is a good value for money.

Mar 2, 2021permalink

jjconstantine

Don't buy it...

Jul 1, 2021permalink

Dixon5

Ultimate flash, don't know but Ultimate price ; it is !!!

Mar 1, 2021permalink

tinzi1

Or, you can buy a Harley/Kawasaki with its continuous headlight output. It carries itself, save on gas & insurance, and it looks cool too.

Mar 1, 2021permalink

adengappasami

Kawasaki . Ok
Harley . Now that's a joke. Continuous running it seems.

Mar 2, 2021permalink

Eric Hensel

The ad copy is entertaining...
" you can even set the fastest cameras on motor drive and let the flash follow. "

Mar 1, 2021permalink

gonzalu

Motor Drive is where it's at. You have no idea what you're missing :P

Mar 1, 2021permalink

David Franklin

To robertfel: I used to own and use 12 4800 watt second flash packs (Speedotron) and lots of high end Profoto stuff as well. This stuff was necessary when I shot 8"x10" film of cars in my studio at ISO100 at the most. Things don't work that way anymore. Cameras yielding details equal to 8X10 film work very well using ISO 800 or even 1600 (higher if you don't mind some image deterioration). There is no longer any reason to need that kind of flash power in one head. Even back then, I rarely shot any of my heads at full 4800 watt second power levels. Today's cheap flash units have almost the same sophistication and features - maybe 90% or more - of the Profotos, and the mid-size ones, say at 400 or 600 watt seconds, are so inexpensive that they easily replace separate heads for a more powerful power pack at a much lower price. Plus, they run on batteries. There's only so much one can afford - if you run a for-profit business - for the last 5-10% of a drastically shrinking difference.

Mar 1, 2021permalink

Simon Barker

Who's using flash so they can put up with some image deterioration? That would seem to be defeating the point.

If people mind the price now just wait till they realise they also need $2.7k heads to even use the pack!

Mar 1, 2021permalink

robertfel

@David Franklin
No idea why you replied here, but whatever.
"There is no longer any reason to need that kind of flash power in one head."
Failure of imagination.
I'm shooting artwork in a medium space that I have to sometimes share. I don't have the luxury or time to set up multiple lights. Luckily the pieces aren't too large, but if they were, I imagine needing that much power.
I cross polarize, so 10% of the light output is actually reaching the sensor.
But sure, I'll tell the curator and education department head that they should not mind image deterioration in the photo of their artwork that costs 10x the amount of this pack.

Mar 2, 2021permalink

herrMartin

@robertfel I did also shoot a lot of art for galleries and magazines but I even for a painting (2x3m was quite common) I had to used several flash heads to get it evenly lit.

Mar 5, 2021permalink

Teila Day

@David Franklin: "There is no longer any reason to need that kind of flash power in one head."

Please speak for yourself and stop presupposing. There are many practical reasons to have a powerful pack and a single head that can take a heavy "pop" (2400 or 3200ws rated heads/flash tubes). 3200ws divided by 3 lights or even just one light when one's outdoors can *easily* just be adequate.

Think about how far you have to be from your subject if you're stopped down to f/10 - f/14... when shooting a subject out a rocky outcrop (too precarious to take strobes nearer to the subject) while you're shooting from the beach with a 300 or 400mm lens.... now think about having a modifier on the light and a graduated filter in from of the lens.

What about shooting straight down from multiple floors up in order to illuminate/kill shadows on a wide swath of a pool area at a condominium? 3200ws in countless real-world situations is the only choice that = huge time/set up saver.

Mar 6, 2021permalink

David Franklin

It looks like Profoto, which I have always admired - and I've owned a lot of their gear in the past - has finally jumped the shark with this one. A $17,000.00 flash pack has outpriced itself in relation to its relative financial utility. No one can ever make enough MORE money, for any reason at all, than the cost difference between this flash pack and a $600.00 monolight made in China or a slightly more or less expensive one made in the U.S. It would be like trying to sell a fantastic electric pencil for $500.00, one that functions perfectly and makes the pencil much easier to use. Yes, it may be superior in some very interesting and helpful ways to a common $0,50 pencil, but the cheap pencil will do the same job of writing a note on a notepad, with only an extremely small margin of superiority left to the massively expensive unit that is easily overcome by a likewise extremely small addition of time and attention. All that, and the cheaper unit leaves a $499.50 bonus to the writer.

Mar 1, 2021permalink

Reza S Moghadam

I agree. I am not sure how many people are left on Earth who can take photos with this that can not be taken via Godox lights.

Mar 1, 2021permalink

robertfel

"No one can ever...$600.00 monolight" That's a stretch.
Maybe it applies to you, but not everyone.
I don't know of a single monolight that can put out 4,800 w/s. But you can with Profoto's Pro line up. Heck, I can do that with my much more reasonably priced Acute twin head. But again, a monolight cannot; the most I've seen is 1,200 w/s.
Profoto is in trouble, I stopped buying their kit and have purchased 3 Godox lights. But I'd never claim that no one should/would.

Mar 1, 2021permalink

sneakyracer

A friend of mine owns a rental house for lighting and grip and even for him this is not justifiable. Insane price.

Mar 1, 2021permalink

Melindra

I work in an office where we generate $250K p/year.
We have at least $100K in equipment on the racks here.

I asked the boss if we're buying these $17K packs and he laughed and laughed, right out of the room.

'Not even if we're making $1m p/a'

Mar 2, 2021permalink

Michael Long

So... with advances in high-ISO image quality and modern LED lighting... how many photographers need a $17,000 flash pack?

Mar 1, 2021permalink

The Mad Kiwi

Why would I move add noise to an image when I can just add more lights. LED will never replace strobes, because nobody in their right mind would want to work in a room with the kinds of light levels that strobes put out.

As for who needs a $17000 flash pack, probably nobody "needs" it, but there's enough high end photographers who can afford a great piece of kit like this for Profoto to keep making them. Plus it's a business tax deduction.

Mar 1, 2021*permalink

Wojti

Shooting at high ISOs and LEDs is the exact opposite of what Pro-11 aims for here ;) Not every shoot needs f/11, 1/500s, ISO100 shot at 5 fps, but some do. And some brands have the budget. Also, often it's not a photographer who buys those. It's studios and rentals.

Mar 1, 2021permalink

IdM photography

Will you overpower the sun with LED lighting? For sure not... and not shooting at base ISO is a crime...

Mar 2, 2021permalink

herrMartin

high iso might be a bit misleading. It might be more like using iso 200 instead of 100 and I cannot imagine that anyone can spot a difference in a iso200 vs iso100 image from current cameras. maybe in super high contrast situations there is a esotherik difference but never ever in a flash lit scenery

Mar 5, 2021permalink

Mortal Lion

Oh Yeah Baby!

Mar 1, 2021permalink

Horshack

"The smartphone app control simplifies workflow for photographers and assistants by mirroring all the flash settings in the app. “It is so easy, it’s like the Pro-11 comes to you, instead of you having to go to it”, remarked a photographer’s assistant who experienced the Pro-11 in action at a recent shoot."

In 1956, Robert Adler developed the first commercial wireless TV remote control, named the "Zenith Space Command". I wonder if the tagline read "It's so easy, it's like the TV comes to you, instead of you having to go to it"

Mar 1, 2021permalink

Twombly

Anyway, I absolutely and without hesitation would have to fire an assistant who complains about "having to go" to the flash.

Mar 1, 2021permalink

m_black

$17,000 strobe can be paired with a smart phone. Is the smart phone market willing to buy such a strobe?

Mar 1, 2021permalink

KjellRS

When you read about a smartphone/tablet app for a really expensive product, they don't expect people to use their personal device. What they mean is you can get a fancy wireless touchscreen remote for the price of a commodity item.

Manufacturing any kind of small volume electronic device is really, really expensive for what you get compared to something they make a hundred million copies of. Plus if someone drops the remote and it breaks you can get a replacement anywhere, that's valuable to high-end customers where downtime can cost a lot of money.

Also you're guaranteed to get replacements past the warranty/end of life period, even if they've stopped selling phones with an OS that old there's plenty to find on eBay if you don't have an old phone in a drawer somewhere. Of course that's no guarantee the main product will last but at least you won't be stuck operating it without a remote.

Mar 1, 2021permalink

m_black

Well, if you’re in the market for this kind of flash, what another $500 for a back up flash? Even less if you get the simpler one. Even less if you have a PC sync cord. Even less if you have a speed light if nothing else than to trigger the unit optically. A working pro with this level of strobe should have tertiary back up. A smart phone should be last resort. Now, if Profoto put their efforts into a remote that actually told you what the power output was set to on the remote, assistants with smartphones wouldn’t be required to remotely change the power of the strobe. They’re making it harder than it needs to be, but making it sound like they invented the wheel.

Mar 1, 2021permalink

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