Profoto has been laborious at work redesigning its lineup with ultra-portability in thoughts. It has been thrilling to observe them considerably cut back on bulk and weight with the latest wi-fi choices. At this time the corporate launched the newest child to enter the scene, the Profoto A2. It appears to be like like a child B10x and is concerning the measurement of a cup of espresso. As with most Profoto lighting, you can even anticipate to pay Profoto costs for this fun-sized 100ws gentle and remotes. Shopping for into this technique begins at $995.
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The A2 may very well be an awesome addition to an present Profoto lighting equipment because it simply integrates inside the system. It’s meant to be one of the best of each worlds between the A10 and the B10x. The largest plus for the A2 is that it’s smaller than the A10. The Profoto A2 is barely extra highly effective than the Profoto A10, and also you get about 50 flashes much less per cost. Sadly, you can’t alter the 3500K shade temperature of the modeling gentle, though it’s dimmable. This needs to be an included function at this value level.
Determine in the price of an additional battery and a distant. It’s only some hundred {dollars} lower than the 250Ws Profoto B10x and the 500Ws B10x Plus. I’m in the end questioning, who is that this for?
Marriage ceremony Photographers
The e-mail announcement left me feeling perplexed. On the one hand, I can see the place just a few A2s could be good for wedding ceremony photographers so as to add to their arsenal. Two to a few of them on the dance ground mixed with an A10 could be a marriage photographer’s dream. Profoto’s consistency could be a wonderful addition to the annoying laser gentle present from the DJ sales space. Coloration correcting would even be a lot simpler and fewer photos would have to be transformed to black and white.
The price of comfort and high quality would set you again a minimum of just a few thousand {dollars}. You can all the time purchase just a few low cost speedlights or alien bees and set them to slave mode. However then you’ve got the trouble of getting to dial them in individually. That is the place investing within the comfort of the app and the Profoto system pays off, when you can afford it.
On Location
I see the perks of grabbing a Profoto A2 for on-location road photographers. It’s gentle, ultra-portable, and has lightning-fast recycle time. Nevertheless, photographers will want an additional set of fingers or pack a light-weight stand in the event that they don’t wish to handhold it. If I’m hauling gear regardless, I’d quite seize the B10x for its further energy and flexibility. It solely weighs 1.7 kilos greater than the A2 and is rather more highly effective.
Road photographers may discover the comfort of an A10 fits their wants a bit of higher. This may be very true in a thriving suburban metropolis like New York Metropolis. I’d really feel higher having an A10 on my digicam quite than needing to make the most of a light-weight stand or handhold the A2.
The 100Ws shall be nice for photographing within the shade and organically balancing daylight. Its HS may also be enjoyable for portraits and a few moody style photos when taking part in with movement. Trend photographers will nonetheless want the facility of the B10x to freeze the motion of materials. The B10x additionally supplies sufficient versatility to get one of the best of each worlds.
Count on To Pay A Premium
It’s Profoto, so be ready to shell out some money. The distant most individuals will wish to purchase is the brand new Profoto Join Professional, which is an extra $399. As soon as you work in that price plus $119 for an additional battery, I’m left questioning why individuals wouldn’t simply purchase the B10x as a substitute for $1,999?
Most Profoto customers are already closely invested within the system and have corresponding lighting modifiers. Customers might want to buy an OCF Adapter II for $199 to make use of the OCF modifiers with the A2. Or, they will put money into the brand new ultra-portable Clic model modifiers. Costs begin at $59 for Clic inventive gels and prolong to $299 for a Clic octabox. It’s going to accommodate the identical click on equipment that include the A10, nevertheless it won’t ship with it.
Though the modifiers are fairly cheap by way of Profoto pricing, they’re on par with many different lighting manufacturers’ pricing. The value of possession shortly provides up. I don’t see portrait photographers shopping for the A2 for his or her major gentle supply.
Wanting Ahead To Our Assessment
I’m assured the A2 is a high-quality flash as a result of Profoto doesn’t make crap. Though, I’m left questioning who is that this in the end for? It will likely be attention-grabbing to see how photographers add this to their workflow. Although I’d most likely not add this to my workflow, I’d like to see it in motion. I look ahead to seeing what the Phoblographer workers thinks of it once we get one in for evaluate.
And if you’re prepared for them to take your cash already, you may decide one up for your self at Adorama.
