PLM V2 has landed!

Honest! A 51" white PLM V2 with Elinchrom mount adapter was delivered to my house last Wednesday. I've been away so only got to open the package and assemble the umbrella this afternoon when I returned (after a 5-1/2 hour drive). These are very quick and very dirty snapshots:

I have only a few observations to offer at this point: First, the PLM is supplied without a protective sleeve or a Velcro'ed tab to keep it properly furled. One demerit right off the bat for that. Diameter across the face is approximately 42". Build quality seems to be alright especially considering the price point. The micro-rivets that fasten the internal struts to the outer ribs look a bit fragile but I'll reserve judgement until the umbrella has seen some use. Struts and ribs appear to be made of fiberglass rather than metal (potentially a good thing). Assembly is not at all straightforward nor is it quick. There are multiple parts that must be put together before the PLM V2 can be mounted using either the "cage" adapter or standard shaft. To use the dedicated Elinchrom or Alien Bee style cage, an adapter rod must be screwed to the cage hub. This requires a screwdriver (not supplied). The adapter rod is also required to mount the PLM conventionally using the supplied 7mm shaft extension. To do this, the adapter rod must be unscrewed from the cage. Whether using the cage or using the shaft, it appears that the PLM cannot be collapsed with the mounting hardware in place meaning some assembly and disassembly will be required every time the PLM is used. Bear in mind that the PLM actually consists of four parts (umbrella, cage, 7mm rod, adapter rod) that must be kept track of lest the device be rendered unusable. The supplied bolt and two lock washers must also be kept in a safe place. As can be seen from the above photos, the small PLM looks to be a very good match for the bare bulb Sunpak 120J mounted on a modified Kacey bracket.

My impression is that the Paul C. Buff PLM V2 is something of a Rube Goldbergesque design (http://en.wikipedia.or​g/wiki/Rube_Goldberg_m​achine); overly complicated considering the simple function it is required to perform. Unless there is truly some magic in the PLM's shape, a conventional 45" umbrella would be much quicker and easier to use. Remember, these are just first impressions, subject to change.

Dave F.

It had better! It undoubtedly does get "easier" but that's not the same as saying "easy". Look at this annotated image:

The first thing I want to point out is that the short fixed shaft of the PLM is free of the sliding collar when the umbrella is collapsed. So, to initially open the PLM V2, you have to insert the fixed shaft into the collar. This is done by sliding your hand between the ribs, grabbing the fixed shaft, and guiding it into the collar. This procedure is as described in the instructions that come with the umbrella.

Once the shaft is properly positioned, the collar is pushed downward forcing the umbrella open. The collar will snap into place but must be secured using the locking screw. You are instructed to tighten the screw only enough to ease it into the receiving hole drilled in the fixed shaft. If the locking screw is advanced too far, the adapter rod cannot be slid into position.

Now the adapter rod (which either receives the 7mm shaft adapter or gets screwed onto the "cage") must be attached to the PLM. The adapter has a small hole drilled in it near one end. What you are supposed to do is advance the locking screw so that it just protrudes into the interior of the fixed shaft. You then slide the adapter rod into the open end of the fixed shaft until you feel the tip of the locking screw aligning with the hole drilled in the adapter rod. You might expect an indexing mark to have been scribed on the outside of the adapter rod so you would know instantly how far to insert it into the fixed shaft but that isn't the case. This has to be done totally by feel and can be frustratingly fussy to do when in a hurry (or not in a hurry, for that matter). When the hole in the adapter rod matches up with the locking screw, the screw is advanced to capture the adapter rod and lock it in place.

If you were planning to use one of the "cage" adapters (Elinchrom or AB), you would have had to have screwed the threaded end of the adapter rod to the cage hub using the supplied screw. As mentioned in my earlier post, you'll need a screwdriver to do this. Why a knurled knob couldn't have been provided instead of a screw is a mystery to me. If, instead, you wish to use the 7mm shaft extension, then that must be slid into the adapter rod and also secured in place using the locking screw.

So, Sean, sure one can become more adept at performing these steps but the fact remains there is an irreducible minimum number of steps required to assemble and disassemble the PLM V2 and that may prove unacceptable to some (many?).

Dave F.