Paul C. Buff, Inc. Technical Forum

I have completed testing of 25W 100VAC modeling lamp for use with Einstein and Vagabond Mini Lithium. By running this bulb at slightly higher than its rated voltage, it produces the Lumen equivalent of a 35W lamp and actually draws about 30W of power. We have been life testing two samples and both are now over 1000 hours and still burning.

Einstein users who replace their standard 250W lamp with the 25W lamp can expect about 3 hours of continuous modeling at Full lamp brightness from a fully charged VML, using a single Einstein per VML, and will see only slight lengthening of the recycle if the model lamp is left on during recycle. Of course, if the Einstein is fired during this time, the three hour time will be reduced proportionate to the number of flashes and the flash power setting. If the Einstein is set such that the model lamp goes out during recycle, there should be no lengthening of recycle time and battery life will be increased.

Of course, using more than one Einstein VML will reduce the burn time proportionally.

There is no provision on the Einstein or Cyber Commander to detect the lower wattage modeling lamp, so the display will still read 250W at full modeling power even though the lamp is producing 35W equivalent brightness.

This information should be on our website tomorrow.

The part designation for the 25W bulb is "25W" and the price is $7.95 per lamp.

To change modeling lamps, you must first remove the frosted dome and hold the lamps with a clean paper towel to avoid getting finger oils on the lamp. To remove a lamp, push in and twist counterclockwise. To install a lamp, use a paper towel to push in and twist clockwise.

Failure to use a paper towel can deposit finger oils on the bulb and this can cause early failure from local heating of the oils. This applies to all quartz lamps and to flashtubes.

Part available here: http://www.paulcbuff.com/pcb2009/einstein.html

Wow, you guys move amazingly fast! Not just testing, but sourcing in quantity, too. I can't imagine anyone else in the lighting industry turning something like this around so quickly -- if they can do it at all. Kudos to all.

Man, I ordered a few of these 25w lamps to just give them a try with no real 'expectations' (I don't generally used model lights anyway, when I do I keep them at about a 40-60watt max) - but I gotta say I'm impressed.

From 1/8 to Max, the lower wattage bulb is very usable in most normal conditions (brighter than I'd imagined it would be). Definitely not for super bright sunlight unless you either get in real close or can use a some sort of flag/diffuser to block the sun for a quick preview, it actually does a decent job. Plus it doesn't get very hot either. Didn't try it with the large PLM, curious to see if it's usuable with that.

Not sure about actual runtime, but I was poppin' away tests at 1/8th - 1/4 flash power with model lamp on Max for about an hour and a half before I turned it off to go do other stuff. VML still had 2 of the 3 bars left. [one E640 plugged into an fully-charged VML, about 50-60 shots total] That's pretty tight... I might just have to order a few more. Kudos Paul! :)