YIKES! Maybe another 6-8 weeks for PLM V2 ...

tetrode wrote in post #10618424
The PLMs are *very* special in at least one regard, Rob, they're dirt cheap and I think that's at least part of their allure. They're priced in impulse purchase territory, you know, like the candy bars you pick up while standing in line waiting for the cashier at the supermarket.

In all seriousness, though, some nice work has been produced with the PLMs. This set, shot almost exclusively with a PLM, has generated quite some buzz over on FM:

http://jclayphoto.com/​blog/?p=376

Could this set have been shot as well with a different modifier? No doubt. But it wasn't. It was shot with a $60 or $70 PLM. Pretty good argument for giving them a try.

Dave F.

All good points Dave, BUT...

None of that makes the PLM special to me at all. Cost is and can be an issue but I can't see buying any more dirt cheap umbrellas. I have no doubt that nice work is being generated but let's be real about this. These is also a ton of great work being done with a standard 60" silver umbrella. Could those shots be done with a 60" umbrella? Perhaps. Could you do it with ebay knockoffs? More than likely.

I know I'm being a bit harsh bet my point is simply that I'm not seeing anything special. If we want to prove that cheap modifiers can produce outstanding results we can do that all day long. If we want to prove that Alien Bees strobes can produce beautiful images we can do that all day long, and we could do the same with people that use $10 ebay umbrellas, etc.

So until someone shows me something special I'm just not convinced that there is a reason to jump on the bandwagon and buy one.

There goes my cynical self again.

86" PLM is my only remaining stock in alien bees since my switch to elimchrom. i've been contimplating shoving a 7mm shaft into it but i've also got the 74"octabank so maybe it will just be around for flashgun work

TMR Design wrote in post #10618501
All good points Dave, BUT...

None of that makes the PLM special to me at all. Cost is and can be an issue but I can't see buying any more dirt cheap umbrellas. I have no doubt that nice work is being generated but let's be real about this. These is also a ton of great work being done with a standard 60" silver umbrella. Could those shots be done with a 60" umbrella? Perhaps. Could you do it with ebay knockoffs? More than likely.

I know I'm being a bit harsh bet my point is simply that I'm not seeing anything special. If we want to prove that cheap modifiers can produce outstanding results we can do that all day long. If we want to prove that Alien Bees strobes can produce beautiful images we can do that all day long, and we could do the same with people that use $10 ebay umbrellas, etc.

So until someone shows me something special I'm just not convinced that there is a reason to jump on the bandwagon and buy one.

There goes my cynical self again.

Dave has a point here, see it this way it is a modifier that has a huge size, work as advertised and is dirty cheap, the appeal is huge that for those wanting huge light sources because it is an option that is more portable and cheaper than equally sized octa´s and it is much more easy to assemble than most octas (which are a pain in the ass if you are shooting alone as an example).

I know Elinchrom has their folding Octa´s and they are really great however the price is there and people are easily persuaded into getting a much cheaper option that is much less bulky and has more or less the same purpose.

I wouldn´t buy it because of PCB´s racial comments, you have your own reasons to not buy it, but nevertheless there are a lot of people really happy with them and there will be more people buying the new versions if the product someday leaves the vaporware status.

Unlike knock off´s at least these won´t present the color cast mayhem that is likely to come with ebay stuff, and the softligther is nice... but man they need to improve the build quality.

eduardofrances wrote in post #10620480
Dave has a point here, see it this way it is a modifier that has a huge size, work as advertised and is dirty cheap, the appeal is huge that for those wanting huge light sources because it is an option that is more portable and cheaper than equally sized octa´s and it is much more easy to assemble than most octas (which are a pain in the ass if you are shooting alone as an example).

I know Elinchrom has their folding Octa´s and they are really great however the price is there and people are easily persuaded into getting a much cheaper option that is much less bulky and has more or less the same purpose.

I wouldn´t buy it because of PCB´s racial comments, you have your own reasons to not buy it, but nevertheless there are a lot of people really happy with them and there will be more people buying the new versions if the product someday leaves the vaporware status.

Unlike knock off´s at least these won´t present the color cast mayhem that is likely to come with ebay stuff, and the softligther is nice... but man they need to improve the build quality.

I completely agree Eduardo. I'm not disputing those points. I was simply pointing out that FOR ME, there is no attraction.

TMR Design wrote in post #10620548
I completely agree Eduardo. I'm not disputing those points. I was simply pointing out that FOR ME, there is no attraction.

Yup yup , I wouldn´t buy one even if my life depended on doing it... not after the slur of racist stuff that PCB has posted :/.... I prefer Photek´s lousy costumer service to that.

eduardofrances wrote in post #10620560
Yup yup , I wouldn´t buy one even if my life depended on doing it... not after the slur of racist stuff that PCB has posted :/.... I prefer Photek´s lousy costumer service to that.

We're going to be seeing a lot of knockoff's and similar devices to the PLM. I bet that some of the other key manufacturers will develop para-type umbrellas and I'll bet that we'll also see some Chinese ebay products with a similar design.

Possibly not as cheap but that's ok. From what I hear, the build on the PLM sucks.

TMR Design wrote in post #10620681
From what I hear, the build on the PLM sucks.

I didn't have any particular complaints with mine (large, silver). The "rods" were made of fiberglass rather than the flimsy metal used on most umbrellas. I've heard reports that some have had problems with the fabric but so far I haven't seen that. The catch that locks it open could be a little more robust IMO but it's far from unusable - no worse than any of the other umbrellas I own.

OTOH, I've only used the PLM a handful of times so maybe it's a wear issue.

I'd be curious to actually see one and do some testing.

I've used a friend's PLM as well and it seems ok to me...sucks would be his 50" Westcott Apollo that ripped (the rod tip retainer) after using it only a handful of times
You probably have quite a few PLM owners in NYC...

TMR Design wrote in post #10624830
I'd be curious to actually see one and do some testing.

I'll be around this weekend, feel free to stop by central Ohio.

TMR Design wrote in post #10620681
We're going to be seeing a lot of knockoff's and similar devices to the PLM. I bet that some of the other key manufacturers will develop para-type umbrellas and I'll bet that we'll also see some Chinese ebay products with a similar design.

Possibly not as cheap but that's ok. From what I hear, the build on the PLM sucks.

Amen and amen

The design is not very good, but you just gotta take excellent care of it. I'm waiting for my 86 and 64 plm v2. Sales rep I talked to said, 4-8 weeks lol. She forgot to add forever at the end of her sentence.

paul c buff just put up a twitter saying they are expecting the first shipment of the 51" and 64" WHITE PLM's in the next few days.

I think there gunna start rolling in now anytime.

Can't wait!!

Cathpah wrote in post #10615843
Why am I not surprised?

I do wonder when the feeling of being lied-to/toyed-with/bull$%*@ed will eventually change the popular sentiment of Paul being so "honest/trustworthy/up​-front" with his customers.

In the business world, I'm a big fan of under promising and over-delivering. I don't think Paul shares that sentiment.

Mostly because his ego won't let him listen to anyone else.

JayStar86 wrote in post #10629782
paul c buff just put up a twitter saying they are expecting the first shipment of the 51" and 64" WHITE PLM's in the next few days.

I think there gunna start rolling in now anytime.

Mmm, but will they be any good? The Einsteins took forever to arrive, and they're far from trouble-free still.