Paul C. Buff, Inc. Technical Forum

Hi,

I have a question about the PLM. I have been using the original 86' silver PLM for the past 3 years, I am finding it to have a hot spot which is hard to work with sometimes. I am wondering if the later version still have this problem? Has the shape/fabric changed? Also if I am to replace it, which one will be the closest one, the bright silver or soft silver?

Thanks for your help.

PS. I notice profoto is putting out a very similar product...

Nelson

Current PLMs - for the past 2 years or so, have been reshaped to provide much more even coverage. The Extreme Silver (same as original "Silver") is always critical to focus exactly because it is so efficient (focused).

For most uses, I really recommend the Soft Silver. Not as focused as the Extreme Silver, so wider coverage (quite wide) an less output (still over +2f compared to soft boxes or white umbrellas. But no critical focusing at all - no hotspots

Best used direct without front diffuser. Will yield very similar shadows and wrap around as softboxes, with a bit more specularity and pop.

Adding front diffuser will drop output about 2f and widen the pattern way out and it will light like a really good softbox.

They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. Profoto has now essentially copied our Vagabond 2, Einstein™ and PLM™? On the other end, Chinese Godox is trying to copy Einstein™, but falls really short, Westcott flat copied our PLM™ and Photogenic has done the same with our VLM™. All cost a whole lot more.

See http://www.paulcbuff.com/plm-competitor.php for PLM™ comparisons.

Thank you Paul, I love the bright Silver look of the PLM, I was just getting uneven coverage and hotspot with the old one. I bought 4 of them when they first came out. Think its time to update, I'll get the new ones and try it out.

Just to double confrm, the speedring haven't changed for the new PLM?

Thanks,

Nelson

Same speedring.

For the record:

Many of the chinese knockoff vendors make false statements.

Of course, many rename their normal umbrella reflectors "parabolic" :roll:

In addition, they cheat regarding the size of their umbrellas.

Example from a vendor in Germany: a 172 cm size is actually 140 cm. They do not measure the opening with a folding rule, they measure the back side with a measuring tape :o

In all fairness, we also measure going across the arc. But that is specified in the item description.

Oops. Okay, forget it. I never measured the PLMs, the ones that I have are big enough.