Modeling Light of Profoto B1

Looking to buy my first strobe and use a speedlight as rim for outdoor and on location indoor portraits.

Just wanted impressions of the brightness of the modeling light of the profoto B1 if it was used on location indoors. I believe the specs are that it has a 20 watt Led modeling lamp which equals around 70 watts conventional modeling bulb which sounds pretty dim.

I keep comparing the Profoto D1 which has a 300 watt modeling bulb and is a few hundred cheaper even with Buff VLM battery and ND filter and the Profoto B1 which has the advantage of HSS, TTL and no cord but the modeling light that appears to be dimmer.

I have never seen in person either of these lights. If you have used or own either of these lights your impressions will be greatly appreciated. I will probably purchase either unit preowned.

Thank You!

Even 100W tungsten is darned dim. But if you think about it, high wattage, even from an LED eats up power even faster and shortens useful life while using modelling light in any battery powered unit!

Honestly, modeling lights especially outdoors are very limited.

I personally feel like the modeling light is like the DoF preview button on dslrs. Sure it does what it's supposed to do, but it's basically useless.

Just take a shot, and tweak the settings. Or use a light meter.

If you went the D1 + VLM route, how long do you think you could run the 300w modeling light for? I think the answer to that will instantly rule it out...... Just saying....

Thank you all for your replies.

I appreciate you confirming that using a modeling light outdoors might not be the most useful or using the modeling light on the D1 with the VLM might drain the battery quickly.

I was thinking the D1 if used indoors has the advantage of being plugged into a wall outlet to take advantage of the 300 watt modeling light and then if needed outdoors use the vlm battery and not use the modeling light.

Just trying to find an all around convenient solution that would work well indoors and out. I have been seeing the shallow depth of field portraits being taken outdoors that utilize HSS or a ND filter and would like that flexibility.

It appears also recently that the Profoto B1 demand is quite high and the D1 demand not so much. If I wanted to sell at some point that is a consideration as well.

D1 and a Buff portable power? Does it work?

Modeling lights wipe out a battery pack very quickly. They are designed for short bursts of power draw, not the sustained draw of the modeling ligjt. The LED might help in that regard but its not bright enough to show much outside.

PhilF wrote in post #17702990
D1 and a Buff portable power? Does it work?

Hello Phil,

Yes, I've read posts on the net where photographers were using paul buffs vlm and it worked fine. Recycle time was not near as fast as being plugged into a wall outlet but it was acceptable to some of the posters it seemed. The Profoto B1 would have the advantage here in that it's recycle time would be much quicker.

Here are two links to posts discussing the vlm with the D1

http://www.paulcbuff-techforum.com/viewtopi​c.php?f=8&t=1349
http://www.martinkaufm​ann.dk/2011/10/powerto​thepeople/


P.S. Had a member of another forum state he uses his D1 with the Dynalite Xp-1100 battery pack and the recycle time is similar to being plugged into the wall outlet.

Don't use the PCB portable batts. It's not designed for the Profoto D1s . Even PCB doesn't guarantee that and they did not really tested it.
According to that link you provided...the guy is getting 4 seconds recycling time.... I wouldn't do that to my D1s. Obviously the battery is having a hard time producing power for the monolight.

Here's another company who tested their portable family for the D1 500w/s

www.innovatronix.com

compatability chart:
http://****/FAzoNg

They even have the LifePO4 version portable batteries which is lighter and longer lasting... which is similar to the Profoto batteries in their new portable packs like the D4 and Acute B generators.

I would go for the innovatronix because they claim that their porta batts are compatible... if something goes wrong...you can go after them.

PhilF wrote in post #17704343
Don't use the PCB portable batts. It's not designed for the Profoto D1s . Even PCB doesn't guarantee that and they did not really tested it.
According to that link you provided...the guy is getting 4 seconds recycling time.... I wouldn't do that to my D1s. Obviously the battery is having a hard time producing power for the monolight.

I tested the D1 Air 1000 with the Buff VLX and I was getting consistent 3.5 second recycling times with one unit, with two D1 1000's the times were about 8.5 seconds. With the D1 500 I'd imagine the times would be under 2 seconds.

Does PCB claim that their portable power is compatible with the Profoto monolights? ...just wondering.

PhilF wrote in post #17704997
Does PCB claim that their portable power is compatible with the Profoto monolights? ...just wondering.

The last I read PCB doesnt claim any compatibility with anything beyond their own products. To do otherwise would open them to warratny issues if other lights were later found to be incompatible.

gonzogolf wrote in post #17705207
The last I read PCB doesnt claim any compatibility with anything beyond their own products. To do otherwise would open them to warratny issues if other lights were later found to be incompatible.

thats exactly the reason why I sold my PCB portable battery since I'm all Profoto now. Innovatronix, however, claims their batteries are tested and compatible to Profoto D1 500 w/s monolights. If I do get a battery for my monolights, this brand would be a cheaper alternative than those Profoto battpac.