profoto b2

Muzzieman

Muzzieman

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Andrew
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Hi guys does anyone have real world experience of the profoto b2? or recommend an alternative? thanks!
 
IMO the only reason to choose the B2 is if you have lots of other Profoto gear and want to stick to a system.

If you let us know your specific requirements I'm sure someone will recommend the best thing.
 
I use profoto in my studio yes. I'll probably use a couple of bits but the smaller stuff specifically for the b2 looks good.
 
£2000 is the stumbling block. I'm from Yorkshire spending doesn't come easy!
 
Muzzieman said:
have real world experience of the profoto b2
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Hi Andrew,

since my Speedotron dinosaur rendered it soul three years
ago, I switched to the Profoto system. No looking back! ;-)

I use daily the D1 x3, the B1 x2 and the B2 x2 heads and
have an extended range of modifiers.
Phil V said:
IMO the only reason to choose the B2 is if you have lots of other Profoto gear and want to stick to a system
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Not exactly Phil,
as the Profoto OCF is a system in itself and a darn good
one to start with. In the equation £ : ws, a far winner over
any other professional solution and the system is a dream!
 
I'd look at the Godox AD360II for a small ETTL solution, with an eye on the AD600B TTL for when you need more power.

But I don't do enough work to justify the cost of Profoto. (i don't really do enough to justify Godox TBH)
 
the godox look interesting but by the time you've bought two the price gets up there! Even though its still less than profoto's offering they don't tick the all the boxes for me. I think i'll look into hiring the b2 setup before pulling the trigger.
 
Muzzieman said:
I think i'll look into hiring the b2 setup before pulling the trigger.
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•


That's a reasonable move!

…but get ready for a severe and chronic
case of addiction! ;-)
 
Muzzieman said:
I use profoto in my studio yes. I'll probably use a couple of bits but the smaller stuff specifically for the b2 looks good.
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While it's fit for purpose I personally dislike the OCF modifiers, the softboxes are either the same or slightly worse than the smallest Chimera softboxes and the other things like the Snoot, grid set etc are very plasticky and not compatible with the rest of the Profoto range; which in my view was one of their best features.
 
simonbarker said:
not compatible with the rest of the Profoto range
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If I may correct this statement…

D1, B1 and B2 are all sharing the RFI lineup and OCF lineup goes
for both the B1 and B2 since they do not have an element bulb as
modelling light (HR series) but a diode.

The high quality construction and the light weight of the OCF tools
are properly designed for the pro on the job…
what, when, and where ever the requirements of the tasks!
 
Muzzieman said:
the godox look interesting but by the time you've bought two the price gets up there! Even though its still less than profoto's offering they don't tick the all the boxes for me. I think i'll look into hiring the b2 setup before pulling the trigger.
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Would be interesting to hear what boxes they fail to tick that the B2 does tick

Strangely enough buying 2 B2s is also more expensive than buying 1

Mike
 
IMO, the only reason to get the B2 is if you are already tied into the Air Remote system... but dang, $2k for a little 250ws strobe... There's the AD360II or the Phottix Indra 360 in this realm.
When the lights are on stands there's little benefit to TTL... unless you want/need true HSS. If not, that opens up a lot of other options.
 
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Kodiak Qc said:
D1, B1 and B2 are all sharing the RFI lineup and OCF lineup goes for both the B1 and B2 since they do not have an element bulb as modelling light (HR series) but a diode.
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It's only because they have a flat front and the OCF modifiers are designed to clamp on rather than zoom, you'd run into the same incompatibility using a D1 with a glass dome.

Kodiak Qc said:
The high quality construction and the light weight of the OCF tools are properly designed for the pro on the job… what, when, and where ever the requirements of the tasks!
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Oh well my mistake then, if they're designed for the pro then they must be good.
 
Andrew, I know a Yorkshire lad, who I think has the B2s, he loves them, especially for model shoots on location. They are definitely Profoto. They have a battery pack. Is this the ones? He has modifiers but not sure which ones, if you mail me, I can give you his email, he might be able to help you.
 
Unless you have a lot of profoto accessories that will fit the b2 you could get another system for your location work for probably less than £2000, depending on what you require of course.
 
Just out of interest, not 'cos I'm planning on buying Profoto gear.. the flat front means that they're not a true bare bulb system. Doesn't that affect the performance in softboxes - particularly strip softboxes - and beauty dishes? Or are you stuck with specially designed Profoto modifiers?

Direct comparisons or measurements will earn more house points than pure opinion :)
 
juggler said:
Just out of interest, not 'cos I'm planning on buying Profoto gear.. the flat front means that they're not a true bare bulb system. Doesn't that affect the performance in softboxes - particularly strip softboxes - and beauty dishes? Or are you stuck with specially designed Profoto modifiers?

Direct comparisons or measurements will earn more house points than pure opinion :)
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They have a little frosted dome accessory to help with this... like a glass stofen thing. They also use an LED instead of a true modeling lamp... completely useless for daylight location work. But (AFAIK) all dedicated battery pack heads use the LEDs if they have any form of modeling light at all.
 
sk66 said:
They also use an LED instead of a true modeling lamp...completely useless for daylight location work
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Even a true modeling lamp is completely useless for daylight
location work. Better use a reflector!
sk66 said:
all dedicated battery pack heads use the LEDs
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Of course, they use less juice!
 
Thank you for all the responses, I have looked into just about all the alternatives and for me the profoto fits my needs the best. i have reservations about the build quality of the Godox stuff and the fact that even their own marketing isn't in english. The bigger ad600 looks good but i am not after something that big as a lot of time using the kit i will be flying solo. I still have reservations about the price of the B2's but i know they are built to last, i am going to go down the route of try before i buy and make an informed decision from actual usage. I am aiming to hire some over next weekend so will inform you of my rating and final decision.
 
It's up to you of course, it's your money and your choice...
Although I partly agree with you when you say
Muzzieman said:
i have reservations about the build quality of the Godox stuff
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the exception is the Witstro, which is an excellent product in every way, and which is built to a very high standard. We sell it as the Atom, with a 3 year warranty, and we couldn't do that if there were problems with it. This is a product that I have been using, and which Lencarta has been selling, ever since it was introduced, and I know it intimately. If you feel that TTL matters (which I don't) then there is a TTL version, although we don't sell it.

I'm not knocking Profoto, which is a very reputable make, but I do feel that some of their products are better, and represent better value, than others, and I wouldn't put the B2 at the top of their list.
This reminds me of a friend, who is an avid collector of antique firearms. He was agonising over whether or not to buy an old Purdey shotgun until the dealer said to him "John, if it didn't have Purdey engraved on it, would you pay £2000 more for it than any of the other guns of the same design that we've got here"?
 
Muzzieman said:
Thank you for all the responses, I have looked into just about all the alternatives and for me the profoto fits my needs the best. i have reservations about the build quality of the Godox stuff and the fact that even their own marketing isn't in english. The bigger ad600 looks good but i am not after something that big as a lot of time using the kit i will be flying solo. I still have reservations about the price of the B2's but i know they are built to last, i am going to go down the route of try before i buy and make an informed decision from actual usage. I am aiming to hire some over next weekend so will inform you of my rating and final decision.
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Sorry but for me this is a really naive comment, have you actually picked up the AD360II ? If you did you would not have issue with build quality, who cares about marketing, instructions are in English and there are enough users to give you real world feedback. Get yourself down to the Photography Show and have a look before making that vastly greater expenditure and one thing the D360 has in bucket loads missing from the B2 is power, nice to have it when you need it.

Mike
 
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juggler said:
Just out of interest, not 'cos I'm planning on buying Profoto gear.. the flat front means that they're not a true bare bulb system. Doesn't that affect the performance in softboxes - particularly strip softboxes - and beauty dishes? Or are you stuck with specially designed Profoto modifiers?
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That's correct, it's probably the same reason they haven't bothered to try selling an OCF Beauty dish. In fairness it's quite well designed, you shouldn't have a problem with most of their softboxes.
 
I've never understood Profoto's design and spec with the B2 units. It's underpowered when compared to almost every oner of its competitors and hugely expensive. It's also bulky and heavy compared to the Quantum style units (ie Godox etc).
 
DemiLion said:
I've never understood Profoto's design and spec with the B2 units. It's underpowered when compared to almost every oner of its competitors and hugely expensive. It's also bulky and heavy compared to the Quantum style units (ie Godox etc).
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Agree. The Profoto B1 is a really excellent device with high spec and high performance, and worth paying more for. But the B2's only advantage is it's fully integrated into the Profoto system, and that adds hugely to its appeal to existing Profoto users. But as a standalone unit, it's just not that special compared to rivals, though still very expensive.

If you hire a B2, it will work very well, exactly as it should. And you'll not go far wrong there, but that's not the point being made by most posters here.
 
HoppyUK said:
Agree. The Profoto B1 is a really excellent device with high spec and high performance, and worth paying more for. But the B2's only advantage is it's fully integrated into the Profoto system, and that adds hugely to its appeal to existing Profoto users. But as a standalone unit, it's just not that special compared to rivals, though still very expensive.

If you hire a B2, it will work very well, exactly as it should. And you'll not go far wrong there, but that's not the point being made by most posters here.
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I wish I'd said that... :whistle:
 
I own a B2 and a B1, and really get on well with the system. I'd say for the type of stuff I do (portraits, weddings) the B2 is far more useful than the B1, simply due to it portability. TTL might not seem like a very useful function to a lot of people, but what is useful, is being able to take a tight test shot on someones face, lock down the power setting, and your good to go. Literally 1-2 seconds and your good to go. No need to bother with a light meter, no need to guess the power then adjust, then test, then adjust again etc...

I also own an AD360, which is a much more powerful light, in a similarly sized product. The thing I don't like so much about this though compared to the B2 is the build quality. The battery unit seems very cheap and plasticky, and the power cord is coiled which really seems daft, as it reduces the effective length of the cord quite considerably. The head itself seems very well built, but not the rest.

If your after the most bang for your buck, then definitely do not get the B2. If your after something that will let you underexpose midday sun, do not get the B2. If you regularly use lights bare bulb, do not get the B2 (zoomed speed lights are more effective).
If you want an exceptionally well designed and intuitive piece of equipment, that delivers consistent results, get the B2. If you already own Profoto gear, get the B2. If you want a lightweight, very portable light, that offers very reliable TTL and proper HSS with even exposures, get the B2.
 
The first thing I did with my AD360 solution was to bin the cable and get a replacement set of 5m ones (about £20 ea).

As regards the battery pack - it's light. It's designed that way. All of the capacitation and brainwork is done in the head as opposed to the B2 system which has a 'dumb' head and active pack.

PS - The AD360 II equally offers TTL and HSS.

As Hoppy said, the only real reason to choose a B2 is if you are already locked (mentally) into the Profoto system.
 
No one has mentioned portability... the Godox Witstro/Lencarta Atom win hands down.
 
Toxic said:
No one has mentioned portability... the Godox Witstro/Lencarta Atom win hands down.
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I disagree. I own both, and the b2 head is a bit smaller and lighter, has a built in stand adapter, doesn't require a usb receiver thingy, doesn't require the cable to be plugged in each time, has a longer cable, much better mounting system... Personally I think it defines the word portability.

Sure, the pack weighs a bit more, but it's still incredibly light, and isn't made of cheap flimsy plastic.

I get it, people bash the Profoto gear because it's overpriced and you can get the same results with much cheaper gear. I agree with all of that, but until you've used both systems side by side you won't really understand what the big deal is with the b2.

I originally bought the AD360 because I didn't want to invest all that money in the B2. I was hoping it would work for me so I could save some serious money. But having been used to Profoto quality (B1), I found the ad360 to be lacking, primarily in ease of setup and build quality. But you get what you pay for, I'll keep it as it's always handy to have a backup
 
matty D said:
I disagree. I own both, and the b2 head is a bit smaller and lighter, has a built in stand adapter, doesn't require a usb receiver thingy, doesn't require the cable to be plugged in each time, has a longer cable, much better mounting system... Personally I think it defines the word portability.

Sure, the pack weighs a bit more, but it's still incredibly light, and isn't made of cheap flimsy plastic.

I get it, people bash the Profoto gear because it's overpriced and you can get the same results with much cheaper gear. I agree with all of that, but until you've used both systems side by side you won't really understand what the big deal is with the b2.

I originally bought the AD360 because I didn't want to invest all that money in the B2. I was hoping it would work for me so I could save some serious money. But having been used to Profoto quality (B1), I found the ad360 to be lacking, primarily in ease of setup and build quality. But you get what you pay for, I'll keep it as it's always handy to have a backup
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But you have the AD360 and not the AD360II which makes a big difference, built in wireless, you have always been able to change the foot to allow a screw thread mount, how long a cable do you want? I find 5 metres is long enough, why do you need an armoured battery pack? actually slightly flexible plastic tends to absorb knocks.

Personally I find most people bash Profoto just to wind up the fanboys who think that because they have paid a lot they must have the best thing on the planet, just saying ;)

Mike
 
mike weeks said:
Personally I find most people bash Profoto just to wind up the fanboys who think that because they have paid a lot they must have the best thing on the planet, just saying ;)
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Well if you took cost out of the equation we'd see a lot more Profoto kit floating around but I don't think anyone's really bashed Profoto, the B2 is a bit of an odd one in the Profoto line up.
 
simonbarker said:
Well if you took cost out of the equation we'd see a lot more Profoto kit floating around but I don't think anyone's really bashed Profoto, the B2 is a bit of an odd one in the Profoto line up.
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It all depends 'how' you take cost out of the equation.

If you ask would I rather have a Godox AD600, a Godox AD360II and a selection of modifiers or a B2, then you'll find most people would go for the 'more' before the minor upgrade in build quality.

Don't get me wrong, in an ideal world I'd happily shoot with a Hasselblad and Profoto lights, I have a chest full of Snap On tools, I appreciate quality, however life is more complicated than just choosing the best of everything.

And as far as the B2 is concerned, if I was buying an addition to a B1, it's a no brainer. But sat here thinking about what to do with my hard-earned money, I'd rather invest in a system that gives me more options for my dough.
 
simonbarker said:
Well if you took cost out of the equation we'd see a lot more Profoto kit floating around
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That's kind of a silly comment. If there was no cost "difference" there would be no ProFoto. If nobody "cared" about the costs, well that would be dumb.

I can certainly see buying a B2 kit if:
I was tied into ProFoto and the AirTTL remote system, and
If the amount of use it would get/money it would earn justified the cost, and/or
If the tax write-off/depreciation offset the cost notably.

OR
If I had the money and just didn't care (not "smart," but that's my problem).

I just saved myself $8K using that kind of logic...
(for the moment anyway)
 
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