Paul C. Buff, Inc. Technical Forum

Got the Einstein today. First off, open it up the paint job is awful. Looks used. But here's the Kicker,
in all the videos I've seen and reviews, it has been mentioned that inside the stand mount is now Metal. Well I look and see plastic! Not Happy about that. I call them, spoke to the least helpful sales person ever who basically told me that they stopped making the metal inserts to save a few bucks, I guess they pass those awesome savings onto us! Look I'll buy one, just tell me where, she wouldn't. When you have a 60" heavy octobox on a boom stand, Plastic isn't going to cut it! Trust me, it doesn't work on the B800 or the B1600. I want what I've seen advertised…

I have Thousands upon Thousands of Dollars worth of Paul C. Buff equipment. This is the first time I've ever been truly disappointed to the point were I felt the need to vent online.

As for the "paint job", Please send photos to info@paulcbuff.com, and put the email to the attention of David. The units are not painted, but we will take a look at the finish to assess the problem when we get back in on Monday.

As for the stand mount, we did change the design from one that used a metal insert to a newer type of solid plastic. This was not to save money, rather it is an improved design. There are no metal insert mounts to be had, even for payment.

Would you be kind enough to explain how the new all plastic mount is an improvement over the ones with the metal insert.

I used it for the first time today. I put the Einstein on a boom stand. I then put the standard Paul C. Buff Octobox on it. Tightened it down as hard as I could. Lifted the stand and Of Course it started spinning. The plastic stand mount is not sufficient in holding a heavy octobox modifier when on a Boom stand. Plain and simple. It's not until the screw wears a grove into the top of the boom arm will it hold.

Also, I compared the finish on mine today with 2 other friends "I talked into buying the Einstein This Week" here in Nashville, the finishes were the exact same shottiness. I don't know if something happened with the molds on this batch but each looked like part of the plastic was sanded and left lighter gray/black worn looking splotches.

The light itself performed well, however the plastic stand mount that replaced the metal inserted stand mount is a HUGE disappointment! It was my deciding factor in my purchase because the Other 6 Alien Bees lights & White Lightnings I own will also Not hold an octobox on a boom C-Stand. Especially a 60" octobox. You can forget it!

Placing a light horizontally on a boom arm will usually yield a rotating light, regardless of brand. The metal insert did not affect this behavior in the same manner metal WhiteLightning (and virtually any other light I have seen) also will spin under the torque of a large softbox.

The best solution is the use of a drop down pin or a pin with a section of flat surface.

The metal insert only went into where the stand's stud goes. This left areas where the plastic could still fail. The mounts now use a new formula of plastic that perform better without the metal insert.

Please post a picture of the "paint job". I just ordered one that arrives this Thursday. I'm very curious. I have one from a few months ago, so I can compare to that one.

Thanks.

I'll provide a comment from an owner of 6 Einstein's:

- 5 are summer of 2012 vintage.
- 1 just purchased and received this week.

The plastic casing looks pretty much cosmetically identical on all 6 units. I don't see a major difference in quality between them.

The unit that I received this week is the first I've seen without the metal insert. I was curious so I carefully compared the differences that I was able to notice:

- They both hold equally as good on my light stand (Manfrotto 1005BAC) when I try to twist the unit.
- The plastic one is more difficult to tighten. The plastic seems to be touching the threads to maybe combat against it prematurely loosening due to vibrations. The main brass female threading is the same with both configurations.

My overall confidence is that the new plastic socket is as good as the metal one.

Just got in the mail and it looks fine :)

When I get a chance I'll take some photos. Mine was a big fail on the plastic trying to hold an octabox. I need to try the Metal White Lighting 3200. It has the metal stand mount...