Silver PLM- 51 or 64 outdoors?

Shooting models on location outdoors and really interested in the new PLM's. Need something easily transportable, quick to set up, but able to shoot from full length to upper body shots. I know bigger is usually better, but wondering if the 64 is asking for trouble as I won't usually have an assistant, and will be relying on sandbags for stability outdoors. Thoughts?

Bigger is better, right up until it blows over and ruins your strobe, or it inverts and ruins itself.
I got the 64, but haven't used them outdoors yet. I've always had to revert to my softbox because of wind.

I have all three sizes and they are all sails when it comes to wind.
The nice thing about the V2s is the mount. That is also its weakness in the wind. i.e. the Balcar is not really a secure mount and wind may pull the PLM off the light. The Elinchrom version is much more secure but that puts the light at risk.

Personally, I'm not sure softboxes are really better in the wind. What does work is a lot of assistants to hold everything in place. Sandbags just keep the stands upright while the wind does its thing with the modifiers.

I have used the V1 64 inch PLM outdoors fairly extensively. it certainly can be a bit of a pain without an assistant if the wind picks up, but I have had no fear of it inverting - those composite spokes it uses are far tougher than any normal umbrella. I do have one of the V2s coming however, as the V1s dont actually belong to me, and I really like how the V2 mount centers the PLM on the light.

Forget the PLM outdoors. I have the 64", but it's for indoor use only.

There must have been zero wind when Rob Galbraith used this setup:

http://robgalbraith.co​m …m_football_04_p​review.jpg

Those are 64" PLMs.

Dave F.

i use my 64 all the time, but i use the front diffuser which helps damper the wind a bit. i just sandbag it. havent had a problem yet but i am sure i will.

Well, I have softboxes and beauty dishes for windy days, so guess I will go with the 64. Size difference between it and the 51 is probably not enough to make a diference in the wind, and the 64 will probably have more use in the studio as well from time to time. Thanks for the help!

Got the 64" PLM and tried it out and the end of a studio shoot this weekend. I LOVE this modifier! Soft and Specular at the same time, what a concept. Only problem was that the model complained that the modeling light was hurting her eyes and making her tear! That is serious efficiency of light I guess. I will be playing with this a whole lot more. Oh, and my worries about complex assembly after looking at the manual were not justified. Very fast to put together and take apart.

Getting interested in PLMs. Have a link as to where you got yours from?

http://alienbees.com/p​lm.html