Paul C. Buff, Inc. Technical Forum

Hi all,

I am interested in the soft silver PLM in either the 51 inch or 64 inch sizes, but have a few questions on how they compare to a softbox.

1) How much more stable is a large (44X32 inch) softbox when used OUTDOORS than a a PLM? Will I have to use an assistant to hold the PLM and stand? Is the softbox just as likely to blow over as the PLM?

2) How efficient would a soft silver PLM be if I have to use the umbrella mount instead of the on-axis mount, when compared to a soft box? (My old WL10,000 lights can't use the on-axis speed rings).

3) Knowing that I am using the umbrella mount, how controllable will light spill be with a soft silver PLM if I need to use it in a relatively small (15' X 20') studio with colored walls (Unfortunately I can't paint the walls white or gray).

Thanks in advance.

Any large swatch of anything will be susceptible to wind. The softboxes may be marginally less prone to blowing over, but not to the point of really making me feel more comfortable. The size of the modifier (and strength of the wind) will be the real determining factor of if the light falls. Using a larger footprint stand and sandbags will help to an extent.

The light will still be more efficient than a softbox, even off axis. However, the PLM's are ideally used with bare bulb lights, and the WL10K's are not bare bulb. The PLM will still be more efficient, but it will not be as focused or as efficient as if it were on an AlienBee or Einstein.

There is some spill control with the silver PLM's, however, it will not be as effective as a gridded softbox.

"There is some spill control with the silver PLM's, however, it will not be as effective as a gridded softbox"

Just to clarify, do you mean the soft silver has some spill control (as well as the extrememsilver)?

Also, how would the spill control of a soft silver compare to an UN-gridded softbox?

thanks again.

Yes, both silvers will have some spill control. The Extreme Silver will generally have more, but I cannot say exactly how it will work on a WL10K.

Here are examples of how each of our PLMs act (on an Einstein). There are also comparisons to other brands of Knock Off parabolics. The first three images on the left column will be our PLMs with no fabrics. http://www.paulcbuff.com/plm-competitor.php

Ungridded soft boxes will have about 130-160 degree spread of light, with significant feathering. Soft Silver is a bit narrower, but also with some significant feathering