PCB 64"PLM with 580EX

There have been questions about how the PLM performs with a Canon Speedlite.
I was doing some testing yesterday and thought I'd try it out.

The 64" sPLM was 8ft from the subject. My flash meter read F11 + 4 tenths as ISO 200.
The 580EX was at 1/1 manual mode with the zoom manually set to 24mm.

The test image was processed in LR with my standard preset which applies a camera profile, sets input sharpening using a PhotoKit Super Fine Edge preset, sets the tone curve to strong and Black Clipping to 0.

I then validated exposure by reading the white and black squares on the color checker. minus .33 on the exposure slider to get them to read 93% and 14% plus minus less than .5%

The camera was set to 1/160 at F13. 5DMII with 70-200 F2.8 IS.

First image is the test shot.
Next is a shot of the PLM to show light pattern.

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Here is a shot to show how I mounted the 580EX on the PLM.

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Thank you the setup is very educating.. I need to get one of the PLM but I may just be going for the smaller silver lined version with the diffusion cover if possible. Thank you for showing the flash setup, I needed to see that.

Mufutau

Why not set the zoom to 14mm/widest, and mount the flash directly to the light stand with the PLM pole being locked at its farthest point away from the stand?

I may do the 14mm defuser test as well.
My experience with the PLMs indicates that getting the light source close to the center line (shaft) delivers more uniform light pattern. When the 580 is mounted on the cold shoe with an RF602 trigger the flash tube is about 6 inches above the centerline.

F13 at ISO 200 and 8 feet from the subject offers a lot of possibilities.

Still think the Einstein with mini-battery pack I built will be my preferred approach though.

Here is a quote from Rob Galbraith's review of the PLM with a 580II flash.

"As you can see, the 580EX II's 24mm zoom head position hits the brightness sweet spot with the PLM 64" Silver. Zoom in more than that and brightness begins to drop. Plus, light softness is reduced. Pulling out the built-in diffuser for 14mm coverage ups softness a bit at the expense of a slight drop in brightness. Going forward we're probably going to standardize on using the 14mm diffuser, to eek out as much softness as possible, but a case can be made for either the 24mm or 14mm setting, it just depends on whether you need a bit more light or a bit more softness."

Link to review:

Evaluation of Speedlights with PLM is about halfway down the page (near the photo of the kid in the red jacket)

He also uses a Pocket Wizard AC7 to mount the flash to the light stand.

http://www.robgalbrait​h.com …p?cid=7-10046-10396-10407

Quick question. What is PLM doing in this shot that typical umbrella won't do?

mufutau55 wrote in post #9384739
Thank you the setup is very educating.. I need to get one of the PLM but I may just be going for the smaller silver lined version with the diffusion cover if possible. Thank you for showing the flash setup, I needed to see that.

Mufutau

Are you thinking of a softlighter ii?

dmward wrote in post #9384851
I may do the 14mm defuser test as well.
My experience with the PLMs indicates that getting the light source close to the center line (shaft) delivers more uniform light pattern. When the 580 is mounted on the cold shoe with an RF602 trigger the flash tube is about 6 inches above the centerline.

F13 at ISO 200 and 8 feet from the subject offers a lot of possibilities.

Still think the Einstein with mini-battery pack I built will be my preferred approach though.

Does it make a huge difference with it being 6 inches above the centerline?

bobbyz wrote in post #9385236
Quick question. What is PLM doing in this shot that typical umbrella won't do?

The design provides unparalleled efficiency. At least that's the jist of a few reviews I've read.

seanzky wrote in post #9385334
The design provides unparalleled efficiency. At least that's the jist of a few reviews I've read.

Besides that and cheap price.

For indoors efficiency is not big of a deal, just jack up your ISO, isn't it.

bobbyz wrote in post #9385409
Besides that and cheap price.

For indoors efficiency is not big of a deal, just jack up your ISO, isn't it.

Well if you crank your ISO, you're introducing other factors into the equation. The bottom line to your original question is that PLM design is way more efficient that a conventional silver reflective umbrella and it can be used to give that softbox-like look when you use the front diffusion.

"The bottom line to your original question is that PLM design is way more efficient that a conventional silver reflective umbrella and it can be used to give that softbox-like look when you use the front diffusion."

well said.

I already have something similar to that by Steve Kaiser. Thanks.

Mufutau

joosay wrote in post #9385305
Are you thinking of a softlighter ii?

Hmmm,
Hadn't thought of that, I have a couple of softliter IIs that I used before getting the PLMs.
I'll have to find them and do a comparison.

Even without the Parabolic characteristics, I have always felt that keeping the light source as close as possible to the middle of the modifier was a plus.

One reason for using the silver PLM is getting the punchier light. For soft I'd be included to go back to a shoot through umbrella.

I also have the PLM white so that may be a good comparison as well.