PROFOTO – TRAVELLING LIGHTS
Profoto B10X & B10X Plus As the lighting requirements of photographers have changed over the last decade or so, Profoto has changed with them, evolving into the world’s leading maker of portable lighting solutions… and the most innovative.
While professional flash lighting was once traditionally studio based, the emphasis has now switched to more portable, battery-powered systems that can be used anywhere at any time. Swedish flash manufacturer Profoto has been at the forefront of this change, creating products that provide the flexibility and creativity of professional flash lighting in ever more compact and capable portable systems, including on-camera speedlights and even a system for use with smartphones. Back in 2014, Profoto revolutionised flash photography when it launched the world’s first battery-powered flash monobloc with TTL automatic exposure control, providing new levels of convenience and performance.
In the intervening years it has gone on to refine the concept and the latest generation of models are the B10X and B10X Plus which feature new designs with easier operation, and recognise that many more photographers now need lighting sources for both photography and videography. Both the B10X models are portable and multi-purpose, providing both flash and continuous lighting. Both are also fully compatible with Profoto’s OCF – Off Camera Flash – system light-shaping accessories which further enhance the creative possibilities when shooting on location. Currently, the OCF range runs to over 120 lighting tools.
The B10X models also compatible the Profoto AirTTL remote triggers which are available for Canon, Nikon, Fujifilm, Olympus and Sony cameras. Additionally, both models can be wirelessly controlled from a smartphone via Profoto’s AirX Bluetooth connectivity and using the Profoto iPhone app (which can also be used for firmware upgrades).
The B10X has a maximum flash output of up 250 joules with a power adjustment range of ten stops. Flash recycle times range from 0.05 to 1.3 seconds. Up to 400 full-power flashes can be delivered from the lithium-ion battery pack and recharging takes only 90 minutes. Continuous lighting is provided by an LED source (which also serves as the modelling lamp) and the maximum brightness has been increased to 3250 lumens with a running duration of 65 minutes. The brightness is adjustable, as is the colour temperature which has a range of 3000 to 6500 degrees Kelvin to enable closer matching with the ambient lighting. The B10X Plus has same continuous lighting capabilities, but its maximum flash output is 500 joules, again adjustable over a ten-stop range. Recycle times vary from 0.05 to 2.2 seconds, and the battery pack allows for up to 200 full-power flashes.
Common to both models are TTL auto exposure control, HSS high-speed sync at up to 1/8000 second and USB-C connections to allow for in-unit battery charging. Dimensions are similar to those of the typical 70-200mm f/2.8 zoom. The B10X weighs 1.5 kilograms with the battery and the B10X Plus – which is a little larger – weighs 1.9 kilograms.