Paul C. Buff, Inc. Technical Forum

Hi there,

I bought an Einstein a few weeks ago and I like it a lot. So I'm thinking about replacing my complete studio equipment (mainly Bowens) with PCB stuff. The only thing that makes me a litle bit nervous is the Balcar mount. I've read about the problems that early Einsteins had with large light modifiers and that it was fixed with V2. On the other hand there are threads like this one.

Okay, there is the 60 Day Satisfaction Guarantee and my unit holds my large octagon softbox firmly - right now. Nevertheless the Balcar mount does not look as strong as my Bowens mount and I'm still afraid of the danger of a large softbox falling on a model or client after using the unit for some time.

I know that most people only post on forums if they have any trouble. So I ask all the photographers out there to post some positive feedback here: are you using large light modifiers with your Einsteins for a longer period of time without the fingers getting weak and heavy softboxes dropping from your units?

Regards,
Michael

I've never had anything fall off a V2, although the springs and the overall fit of the V2 mount is still not as rock-solid as the AB's and the WL's IMO.

One week, 144 clicks and just one reply?
Nobody else successfully using large light modifiers on Einsteins?
Regards,
Michael

I've never had anything fall off the V2. I don't use any super-heavy modifiers but I've used the 86" PLM's and the PCB strip banks without problems. My impression is that the problems others have reported are related to prolonged use of the modeling lamps at high power levels and apparent melting of some internal component.

No I haven't had any modifiers fall off my Einstein. I use 36x48 softboxs and I open the top flap to vent the hot modeling lamp when used at full power.

RMS

The other thing you can do depending on what kind of big modifiers you have is get something like the Bowens Quickring.

It has a hole for a standard spigot that comes w/ an umbrella bracket like the Manfrotto ones. Mount the modifier on this speedring, then attach your Einstein to it...

Of course, this doesn't work w/ the foldable ones that PCB sells, but it'll work fine for any of the old style ones that use a speedring...

If PCB is listening, I'd love to have a spigot hole in the larger foldable modifiers (octas, giant SB)...

Thanks for your suggestion, kenyee. I've got two of these Bowens Quickrings (I love them) and I've also got umbrella brackets with a standard spigot. This means that the light modifier would carry the flash instead of the flash carrying the modifier, right? But htis would also mean that the flash unit drops to the floor if the mount gets weak. But it should be perfect in case of a large softbox being put high on a boom stand aiming down.

Regarding heat of the modeling lights: the flash unit protects itself by switching off automatically if it gets too hot. This should include a tight grip of the mount, shouldn't it? I don't wont to be afraid of using the modeling lights.

Regards,
Michael

Yep, so the levers on the strobe are really only used to hold the 5lb unit onto the Quickring (almost sold the Plume before getting a Quickring...putting it together or taking it apart involved about 20min of swearing and sweating :roll: ).
You can always run some old 20# fishing line through the strobe mount to prevent the strobe from falling to the floor if you're worried about that, but if you use the Quickring instead of hanging it off your strobe, it should prevent the spring from wearing out.

That said, you and a few others have posted recently about the fingers no longer holding so it might be a reproducible problem. If heat really is the issue, it should be a simple test to reproduce it: get the PCB Giant Softbox (can't remember if the 47" octa is heavier but the Giant probably has more torque). Mount it at a 30 degree angle (should cause more stress than a 45 degree angle). Leave the modeling lamp on for a week or two in this position. If it's heat related, it should fall down or the fingers should get weak when it's removed...