Any tutorial for beginners for Paul C. Buff - Einstein E640?

Hi all, I am new in this field and learning my way through. I am planning to buy two of E640's for my small home studio setup. Are there any dvd tutorials available for these kits? or any tutorial for beginners on print or blogs? Please guide. I have seen some step by step tutorials for Elinchrom and Bowens, but dont see anything for E640's.

You really dont need a tutorial on them. I got 2 of them a few months ago and they are really really simple and straight forward in their use. Just plug them in, press the power button and go lol. The instruction manual should tall you all you need to know. Here is a video i found that explains it a bit: http://www.youtube.com​/watch?v=mq911yd2nJY

I would recommend a cyber commander with them tho, it is very useful. It is also a light meter too!

SeanWebster wrote in post #16811144
You really dont need a tutorial on them. I got 2 of them a few months ago and they are really really simple and straight forward in their use. Just plug them in, press the power button and go lol. The instruction manual should tall you all you need to know. Here is a video i found that explains it a bit: http://www.youtube.com​/watch?v=mq911yd2nJY

I would recommend a cyber commander with them tho, it is very useful. It is also a light meter too!

Thanks for your reply Sean, your reply means a lot to me, as you are the happy owner of the strobe i am looking forward to buy. I have been reading rave reviews about it, and hence my delimma. I just dont want to get stuck with a kit that is so advanced and i have no clue on how to use it.
earlier when i was shortlisting between PC Buff and elinchrom and bowens, by chance i hit upon this video on youtube.
http://www.youtube.com​/watch?v=ucCY7rBbkeE

the author in this guide was very informational on how to setup the elinchrom strobe and further more on how to use it in various conditions and placements, and how to tweak based on various needs.

I wasnt able to find something like that for the e640. But i guess more than anything else i need some instructional video on studio lighting. something that teaches the basics, and then apply them to your strobes by making changes to the settings etc. I was told that all the understanding you have with your camera will go to standby once you start using external flash and lighting, cos the concept of exposure compensation is being affected by external lightings and hence they will have to be tweaked multiple stops up or down depending on the situation.

can anyone guide me on a good video tutorial/dvd guide on studio lighting setup and understanding how it works.. settings etc. In the mean time i am placing my order for PC Buff Einstien e640 now. Along with cyber commander what else would i need.. whats a good softbox and stands?

I just bought some Einsteins with CC.

I found these tutorials helpful:
http://www.scantips.co​m/lights/setup/
https://www.youtube.co​m/watch?v=DxPkxS_ezVg
https://www.youtube.co​m/watch?v=gmmZECtP3oM
and this: https://www.youtube.co​m/watch?v=Xvj2l4lBeis. Joel Grimes has a whole series on youtube that will help you get started.

The one by sekonic was very helpful for me because I would look at a picture and say, wow, that pose is great. This video tells you why the pose looks great.

I recommend you get the cyber commander because until you learn your lights you will be running back and forth to them a zillion times adjusting them and with the cc you can do everything from your camera location except move the lights.

If you are looking for light modifiers, the Buff PLM,s are nice. They are easy to set up and take down, they don't take up a lot of storage space either. I like the ones I have. The customer service at Paul Buff, in my experience is excellent! Tech forum on their website is also very good. If you have questions about your new gear, I would say you WILL get answers from the people at Buff, I always have! This forum is also a wealth of knowledge.

I use the Buff PLMs, but they are simply not "easy to set up and take down". Inserting the shaft into the...positioning shaft? To just the right depth, then screwing in the screw, is extremely difficult.

By contrast, the Photek Softlighter II is actually quite easy.

InterMurph wrote in post #16818665
I use the Buff PLMs, but they are simply not "easy to set up and take down". Inserting the shaft into the...positioning shaft? To just the right depth, then screwing in the screw, is extremely difficult.

By contrast, the Photek Softlighter II is actually quite easy.

If someone is considering a PLM please note you don't really need the speedring mount unless you're buying the super silver version. The white and soft silver versions work just fine with the umbrella shaft.

If you do have the speedring mount just mark the depth settings with a felt pen and setup is only about 15 seconds longer than it would be with an umbrella mount.

Strobo wrote in post #16818813
The white and soft silver versions work just fine with the umbrella shaft.

Do you mean inserting the PLM umbrella shaft into the channel on top of the Einstein unit? This is a simpler mounting option, but defeats the purpose of using the PLMs in the first place.

A PLM umbrella properly mounted with the speed ring results in the the Einstein flash tube at the focus of a parabola. This is as efficient as the flash can be.

Inserting the PLM shaft into the Einstein's umbrella channel, on the other hand, results in the flash tube being offset from the focus of the parabola. This is less efficient, and makes it more difficult to get the light where you want it.

Strobist covers it here:

http://strobist.blogsp​ot.com …-ii-or-paul-buff-plm.html

InterMurph wrote in post #16818834
Do you mean inserting the PLM umbrella shaft into the channel on top of the Einstein unit? This is a simpler mounting option, but defeats the purpose of using the PLMs in the first place.

A PLM umbrella properly mounted with the speed ring results in the the Einstein flash tube at the focus of a parabola. This is as efficient as the flash can be.

Inserting the PLM shaft into the Einstein's umbrella channel, on the other hand, results in the flash tube being offset from the focus of the parabola. This is less efficient, and makes it more difficult to get the light where you want it.

Strobist covers it here:

http://strobist.blogsp​ot.com …-ii-or-paul-buff-plm.html

All true, but with that being said. I suspect few of us worry about the PLM being the most efficient modifier it can be. Its the cheapest way to get a huge soft modifier, and when you add the diffusion panel the who parabola thing goes out the window anyway. Unless you have a particular need for the parabola efficiency the umbrella shaft is a lot more practical for everyday use.

gonzogolf wrote in post #16818846
Its the cheapest way to get a huge soft modifier...

the umbrella shaft is a lot more practical for everyday use.

I hadn't checked the prices recently. Looks like the 64" PLM with an 8mm shaft is $50, while a 60" Photek Softlighter II with an 8mm shaft is $95.

And I agree that the umbrella shaft is much more practical!

And one more thing; I prefer the Softlighter's attachment system for the diffuser. The panel has a hole for each spoke of the umbrella; this makes it easy to align, and makes the panel stay on.

The PLM doesn't have any holes; you just wrap it around the outside edge of the umbrella, and pull a drawstring tight. Not as elegant.

InterMurph wrote in post #16818898
And one more thing; I prefer the Softlighter's attachment system for the diffuser. The panel has a hole for each spoke of the umbrella; this makes it easy to align, and makes the panel stay on.

The PLM doesn't have any holes; you just wrap it around the outside edge of the umbrella, and pull a drawstring tight. Not as elegant.

How old is your diffusion panel? Mine has elastic around the outside, no need for a drawstring. The only drawstring on mine is the one that goes on the hood that covers the reflector/strobe to prevent undiffused spill at the mounting point.

You're right, it's elastic around the outside, not a drawstring.

InterMurph wrote in post #16818834
Do you mean inserting the PLM umbrella shaft into the channel on top of the Einstein unit? This is a simpler mounting option, but defeats the purpose of using the PLMs in the first place.

A PLM umbrella properly mounted with the speed ring results in the the Einstein flash tube at the focus of a parabola. This is as efficient as the flash can be.

Inserting the PLM shaft into the Einstein's umbrella channel, on the other hand, results in the flash tube being offset from the focus of the parabola. This is less efficient, and makes it more difficult to get the light where you want it.

Strobist covers it here:

http://strobist.blogsp​ot.com …-ii-or-paul-buff-plm.html

What I meant was that getting the flash tube dead center with the speedring is critical with the highly reflective extreme silver; not so critical with the more diffuse soft silver (which acts more like a traditional umbrella and less like a parabolic reflector), and totally unnecessary with the white or when a diffuser is used on any of the surfaces. You can see the beam shots of the various PLMs at http://www.paulcbuff.c​om/plm-competitor.php

IMO the only reason for not getting the soft silver or white with an umbrella shaft is if a strobe umbrella mount cannot take the 8mm shaft, in which case you need to use the 7mm shaft extension that comes with the speedring version.