Please advise: Profoto D4, Acute 2R, Pro7
I do mostly portraits, glamour, and fashion, and until recently, used mostly hot lights. I now work with two monolights--a Profoto Compact 300 Special and a Compact 600 Special--and am now looking to add more light!
I'd like to stick with Profoto, and am currently trying to decide between the D4, the Acute 2R, the Pro-7a, Pro-7B, the Pro-7s, and the Pro-B2. I've already invested in some Profoto light modifiers for the Compacts that will work with the Acutes: honeycomb grids, softlight reflector, but will they work for the 7 series?
Which pack reigns supreme?
I'm trying to find a sweet spot for price-performance. It is a major investment, and I really want to make sure I'm buying something that will last and hold a desirable upgrade path. Can some of you out there shed some light on this critical decision? My budget is scalable--I'm willing and able to shell out for the best if it also costs the most, but I'm a bargain shopper at heart and would like to hear from owners and users of Profoto.
Answers
I've already invested in some Profoto light modifiers for the Compacts that will work with the Acutes: honeycomb grids, softlight reflector, but will they work for the 7 series?
Yes they will.
Unless you do a lot of work on location away from electricity I'd rule out the battery powered units. probably what you want is the Pro 7s units if you shoot really heavily (fast, a lot and for a multi hour sessions); if your work is generally less demanding, and you go on location a lot you proabbly want the Acute 2R packs. then the Acute 2R will be a better purchase. The D4 units are also great and offer more control per channel and are really good if yo ureally think you need 1/10th of a stop output control per channel.
for fashion, glamour, and fast paced work the pro-7a. they are extremely fast and durable. the pro-7a has asymmetrical power regulation, the pro-7s only has symmetrical power output. both have 6 stop regulation with 1200Ws or 2400Ws. the 7b is a battery pack. the acute packs are slower (than the lighting fast 7 series) and less expensive but are very versatile with 7 stop asymmetrical power output. the pro-7 and acute strobe heads are also compatible with the d series packs, so if you need big time power with lots of control you can add or rent a d4 pack to your arsenal.
if i were you, i'd rent an acute and put it to the test. if it's up to your pace of work (it's up to mine and i'm very happy with it), then there is no other reason NOT to get the acute. they are well built, small, powerful, versatile and are always the best deal price wise.
It comes down to your budget. The Acutes are a great value and I have both Acute pack and Compact in my studio. I've seen the used 7B kits on the B&H website for $2500. and would seriously consider them.
You mention portraits, glamour, and fashion, in your portfolio, in that case, the assymetric packs, whether you choose one of the Acutes, or a higher end tank, might be the way to go, particularly since increasing or decreasing the power/bracketing while keeping your lighting ratios the same without having to re meter is a snap w/the assymetric packs.
Good luck.
www.imageandartifact.bz
Thanks for the advice so far! The Acutes are starting to sound like the ones to get for best price/performance. Now the question is, do I go with the 1200R or 2400R? Would I be better off getting two 1200s?
The obvious advantage of the 2400ws pack is when you have more than one head connected up to the pack, I would suggest(if you can afford it) that you get the 2400ws pack, then eventually, a 1200 pack that will act as both a back-up and supplemental pack during a shoot that demands plenty of power.
This is what I have only I worked this in reverse, I got my 1200ws Alfa pack first, then acquired the 2400R, there are always promotions on Profoto gear, nobody that knows better pays the retail suggested price, dealers will discount to move their Profoto gear, some dealers will even open the box, close it back up, and sell the pack as a demo, so if you take your time and shop around, you can save bigtime.
As I've mentioned before, Profoto packs undergo an 'R' test before they're sold, they undergo 360 maximum power flashes in one hour and then the gear is examined to see how it held up.
The Acutes are well made packs, if you want to compare the packs, the Acutes are armoured personnel carriers, the higher end Profoto packs are M1 Abrams tanks, put together to handle anything, anybody throws at them, for any length of time, I've shot all day with my Acutes, and at the end of the day, the only thing worn out was me.
Good luck.
www.imageandartifact.bz
Tidak ada komentar:
Posting Komentar