Luminous Landscape Forum

Equipment & Techniques => Medium Format / Film / Digital Backs – and Large Sensor Photography => Topic started by: paul_jones on August 06, 2011, 04:38:12 pm

Title: problems with profoto air syncs?
Post by: paul_jones on August 06, 2011, 04:38:12 pm: has any one else had problems with their air syncs?

i own 6, and four are faulty. i bought them all over the world, so i haven't bother chasing up warrantee replacements (they could be over a year old too), but i want to know whether profoto had a bag first batch.

i need to buy replacements, but may have to go back to pocket wizards..

paul
Title: Re: problems with profoto air syncs?
Post by: ChristopherBarrett on August 06, 2011, 08:55:54 pm: Hey Paul,

I have ten and they are always solid performers. I bought them over a couple years. 5 then 3 then 2 more. Lately though, the software is getting buggy. I use Profoto Studio Air on the laptop with the USB transmitter and it's begun losing connections and will crash often. I tried switching to Profoto Studio 3 which seems to maintain more solid connections, but it's interface sucks.

I don't have any issues at all with my Air Sync Remote. All strobes sync and fire with no issues. Are you having issues with the syncing, or just the software?

CB
Title: Re: problems with profoto air syncs?
Post by: paul_jones on August 06, 2011, 09:57:13 pm: hi, do you have ten separate remotes, or ten lights with triggers built in?

i just tested my triggers , all separate remotes- they replaced my pocket wizards i use with my b2 packs, one that had a faulty tape on it (from an assist), seems to work fine- so i have 3 going, three not. still 50% of these are dodgy, either I'm unlucky, or theres an issue with them.

paul
Title: Re: problems with profoto air syncs?
Post by: ChristopherBarrett on August 06, 2011, 10:34:02 pm: Ahh.... to clarify... I'm using the D1's with built in Air Sync. I have one Air Remote Transceiver on camera that fires them all. Are you using the Air system or their packs with built in PW's?
Title: Re: problems with profoto air syncs?
Post by: paul_jones on August 06, 2011, 11:09:31 pm: Quote from: CBarrett on August 06, 2011, 10:34:02 pm
Ahh.... to clarify... I'm using the D1's with built in Air Sync. I have one Air Remote Transceiver on camera that fires them all. Are you using the Air system or their packs with built in PW's?

just with pro-7 packs and b2 packs, as a separate profoto sync attached by a cable. i would like the pro8 and b3 packs with the built in sync, but its quite a premium for a little more convenience. i will look forward to buying some d1 monos for travel work- each d1 500 is as light as a pro7 head!

paul
Title: Re: problems with profoto air syncs?
Post by: Dustbak on August 07, 2011, 04:07:32 am: I have several Airsync modules that perform flawlessly. I have several Air Remotes of which 1 is a bit dodgy. This one often doesn't fire the strobes or only several of them. I tend to not use this one...
Title: Re: problems with profoto air syncs?
Post by: cunim on August 07, 2011, 09:53:40 am: This is a silly issue, but I've noticed the transievers are battery hogs. When transievers start to act up I generally replace the batteries and things are normal again - but there is usually a period of cursing before I remember the battery fix. Would be nice if there was a low batt warning on the device.

Chris, I was considering the usb key and software. Sounds discouraging
Title: Re: problems with profoto air syncs?
Post by: Dustbak on August 07, 2011, 12:23:55 pm: Yep, I just ordered the ridiculously priced USB key :( I am so spoiled with the Skyport USB module that I would not want to be without it. The Elinchrom works like a breeze, I kind of expect the same from Profoto...

The Profoto software is lame and built by nitwits, at least that was the verdict of one of my friends (who is an awfully skilled programmer).