Profoto today released the first B1 off-camera flash kit. Containing 2 B1 off-camera flashes, two batteries, a Fast Charger that recharges the battery in one hour, and a Car Charger that plugs into any standard car cigarette connector and recharges the battery in two hours; the Profoto B1 Location Kit sells at £2,550 (+VAT). This represents a ~

Profoto Press Release

PROFOTO RELEASES THE FIRST B1 OFF-CAMERA FLASH KIT

May 12, 2014: Profoto releases the B1 Location Kit, making the highly portable B1 offcamera flash even easier to bring to an on-location shoot.

Ever since its release in November 2013, the B1 off-camera flash has flown off the shelves as fast as Profoto has been able to deliver it to the stores. The most attention-grabbing features have always been the B1’s TTL metering and its cordless operation. Both of these convey the same message: the B1 is not a studio flash. It is an off-camera flash designed for on-location photography.

With the release of the B1 Location Kit, the B1’s portability is taken to the next level. The kit contains two B1 off-camera flashes, two batteries, a Fast Charger that recharges the battery in one hour, and a Car Charger that plugs into any standard car cigarette connector and recharges the battery in two hours. The gear is packed and delivered in a comfy backpack with room for additional gear not included in the kit, such as stands and lenses.

The B1 Location Kit comes with a streamlined price. Sold at £2,550 (+VAT), the kit offers roughly £280 discount compared to buying the included items separately. The B1 Location Kit is the latest addition to Profoto’s growing and evolving off-camera flash concept. In November 2013, the B1 and its many accessories were launched. In April 2014, the first firmware upgrade was released, enabling TTL metering with the Canon EOS-1D X.

Profoto is now working on a firmware upgrade that will enable high-speed sync (HSS). Profoto is also busy developing the new Air Remote TTL-N that will enable TTL metering with Nikon cameras. Both the HSS upgrade and the Air Remote TTL-N are expected to be released in 2014. New Light Shaping Tools, optimized for off-camera flashes, are also on their way.

B1 500 Air TTL

 Specifications

Max energy: 500 Ws

Energy range: 9 f-stops (2-500 Ws)

Energy control increments: 1/10 or full f-stops

Recycling time: 0.1-1.9(Quick burst up to 20 flashes/second)

Max modeling light (W): 20W LED (Output eqvivalent to 70W Halogen)

Modeling light control: Off, Proportional, Free (5-100%)

Mode control: Freeze (shortest flash duration) or Normal (color

balanced) mode.

Flash duration Normal Mode (t0.5): 1/11,000s (2Ws) - 1/1,000s (500Ws)

Flash duration Freeze Mode (t0.5): 1/19,000s (2Ws) - 1/1,000s (500Ws)

Energy stability Normal Mode: +-1/20 f-stop flash to flash

Energy stability Freeze Mode: +-1/20 f-stop flash to flash

Color stability Normal Mode: +- 150K over range; +-20K flash to flash

Color stability Freeze Mode: +- 800K over range; +-50K flash to flash

Guide number @ 2 m, 100 ISO with Magnum Reflector: 45 2/10

Input power supply: Exchangeble Lithium-Ion Battery 14.8V/3Ah

Battery capacity: Up to 220 full power flashes

 Synchronization and control

Sync socket(s): 1

Wire sync voltage: Compliant to ISO 10330 standard

Wire sync connector: 3.5mm Mini-Phono

Photocell/IR-slave and switch: Yes

Radio sync & control: Yes, Built in AirTTL supporting wireless sync, control and

TTL. (Requires Air Remote TTL. Sold separately.)

Radio sync range: Up to 300m (1,000ft)

 Miscellaneous

Function display: Multifunction LCD display.

Fan cooling: Yes, thermally controlled fan speed for low noice level.

Ready signaling: Yes, ready lamp, dim and/or switchable beep sound.

Auto dumping: Yes.

USB interface: Yes, USB mini port for FW upgrading.

Quick Burst: Quick Burst capability of up to 20 flashes per second.

 Measurements

Dimensions: 31 x 14 x 21 cm (12.2 x 5.5 x 8.3 inch)

Weight: 3.0 kg (6.6 lbs) including battery.
 

Air Remote TTL-C

 Specifications

Frequency band: 2.4 GHz

No of frequency channels: 8

No of remote/TTL control groups per channel: 3 (A-C)

Operation modes: TTL & Manual

TTL camera compatibility: Canon E-TTL II

Wireless Range: Normal sync up to 300 m (1.000 ft), Remote control and TTL sync up to 100 meters (330 ft)

Battery type: 2 x AAA (Alkaline)

Typical battery lifetime: 30 hours

Antenna type: Integrated

Auto power off: Yes, 30 min of inactivity

 Mount & Connections

Camera mount/Sync in: Canon hot shoe only

FW upgrade: USB Mini

 Supported Air functionality

Sync/Trigger: Yes, triggers Air Remote &, Air Sync transceivers plus all Profoto flashes with AirS, Air or AirTTL support.

Remote control: Yes, remote/group control for all Profoto flashes with Air or AirTTL support.

TTL control: Yes, TTL group control for all Profoto flashes with AirTTL support.

 Measurements

Dimensions: 75x60x35 mm (2.9x2.3x1.4 inch)

Weight: 75 g (2.6 oz) including batteries

Your Comments