Paul C. Buff, Inc. Technical Forum

Last night I ran a workshop with using a bunch of the latest stuff and I wanted to share how everything worked.

It was an outdoor shoot and the lighting was pretty simple - one Einstein with a CSXCV powered by a Vagabond II mounted on a LS3900 light stand. The retro laser reflector was mounted on the Einstein and gel'd with 1/2 cut of CTO. (I used a speed ring as a template and cut a hole in the CTO then taped the gel to the reflector with tons of gaffer tape.) It was a windy day - ~15mph - but the Vagabond kept the lightstand stable even with the large reflector acting as a sail.

The Cybercommander failed to communicate with the Einstein as some people have been reporting and as Paul has indicated he's been working on. This was no big deal - I just set the flashpower manually.

Here's where things get really cool - due to the efficiency of the retro laser reflector, I was able to position it about 20 feet from the model and fire it at ~100 watt seconds to get f/11 at ISO 200. Remember, the 1/2 cut CTO has 73% efficiency so 27% of the light was being gobbled up by the gel.

I had four shooters and three CST's for them to use. I handed out the transmitters and these guys start firing away - bang, bang, bang. For the most part, they were able to share a single light/battery without much coordination among them. Everyone was amazed at how the efficiency of the retro laser reflecor allowed the group to use a lower flashpower setting to get really fast recycle times. I didn't time it but it was easily under a second. I was cracking up as the flash would go off and the Einstein would "beep-beep" its "ready" audible almost immediately.

I had first set the retro laser to be very focused thinking I would need a super-high level of efficiency out of it but I really didn't - so I adjusted its position so it would have a slightly larger spread.

Bottom line - for location work, this reflector is a huge enabler of gorgeous, even, transparent light.

Paul, I know you're working your butt of to work out some kinks and get out some new stuff - be sure to take a moment and give yourself a pat on the back. You're really putting out some innovative products that allow the average Joe photographer to do some great things with ease. Thanks!

Tim

Pat Pat . . . . back to work. Thanks.

Can you share any images taken with it? I'm really interested in this reflector but would like to see some more images to see the fall off.

We're working on demo shots of all reflectors, but it takes precious time. See:

http://www.robgalbraith.com/bins/conten ... 0050-10630 for now.

Paul along with Demo shots mind posting an output chart of light that shows how much light possible from 10ft away with say 640 watt (einstein power), 320 watt (B800 power), and 160 watt (B400 power) for each reflector. (I'd do 15ft away with the Retro Laser though because its best used at a minimum of 10ft away.)

We are working on that right now.

Glad to hear you guys are working on "official" shots & charts. I was actually hoping that Tim could share his.

ready for some images with the retro?

Sorry for the delayed response - I lost track of this thread.

Tim