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Profoto A1 (Nikon) and SL: Any experience?


Ingo

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I have my copy now. It works fine with the SL (of course in manual mode only). 

 

Thanks, Ingo. Do you know if the zoom angle of flash coverage is shown? I wasn't able to see it in the panel in my testing of the flash. Rotating the ring around the head elicited a few beeps but no angle of coverage is shown.

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You can either change the zoom angle in the menu or manual. There is an icon top left on the screen which indicates the angle when you change it. The native angle is from 32mm to 135mm (14mm - 24mm with wide lens attached).

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Edited by Ingo
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  • 3 weeks later...
  • 2 weeks later...

It works in manual mode, you can't use the electronic shutter, and need to turn exposure preview to "PAS" not "PASM", or the VF will keep blinking on and off between the two views.

 

This is my experience with the A1 for Nikon, and also the Nikon SB-900 (I guess any modern TTL nikon compatible hotshoe flash).

 

Do those things - set your power and you're good to go.

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Just bought the Profoto A1 and I am very happy with it.

Here shot on SL with Summicron-M 90 Leitz with A1 in the camera hotshoe.

 

37846837135_0c1fc70bea_z.jpg

I am impressed with the output (vs it’s compact size) and the thoughts that went into the design of the strobe. The best feature I thought was the output lock after a satasified TTL trial shot and user can freely dial up or down as manual flash.

The unfortunate part is no TTL/HSS for Leica cameras.

Can you use the Profoto wireless transmitter to fire the A1 on full manual? Are you using the Nikon or Canon version?

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I am impressed with the output (vs it’s compact size) and the thoughts that went into the design of the strobe. The best feature I thought was the output lock after a satasified TTL trial shot and user can freely dial up or down as manual flash.

The unfortunate part is no TTL/HSS for Leica cameras.

Can you use the Profoto wireless transmitter to fire the A1 on full manual? Are you using the Nikon or Canon version?

 

 

I'm definitely using the Nikon version on the SL ... Canon version would not work and could even probably damage the hot shoe.

I've used 2 x A1 and 1 x B2 lights ... all three working together. A1 in my SL hotshot and triggering the other two lights (A1 and B2) off camera using the built-in AIR trigger.

TTL is not really needed as it's easy to adjust the lights.

 

Here is an example.

 

24957454708_2750612357_n.jpg

Edited by meerec
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I'm definitely using the Nikon version on the SL ... Canon version would not work and could even probably damage the hot shoe.

I've used 2 x A1 and 1 x B2 lights ... all three working together. A1 in my SL hotshot and triggering the other two lights (A1 and B2) off camera using the built-in AIR trigger.

TTL is not really needed as it's easy to adjust the lights.

 

Here is an example.

 

24957454708_2750612357_n.jpg

 

Thank you.

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  • 1 month later...

I'm thinking of selling my SF64 because its interface is too slow - everything has to be changed through a poorly designed menu system, and the touchscreen is insensitive. I'm looking for an alternative to use on and off camera (I use PW triggers, old Nikon SB28s, and a Profoto AcuteB2 when I need power). The Profoto A1 is an option, but the price makes me think twice, so I have a couple of questions for those who have been using the SL and considered or bought the A1.

 

- What does the A1 give you with the SL that a cheaper alternative does not? Direct dial control of power? Light quality? The need to interface with other Profoto equipment? Anything else?

 

- Did you consider cheaper alternatives? Particularly those with an Auto (thyristor) mode, and with dial control of power etc. (I still find A-mode useful for quick & dirty flash)

 

- For on-camera flash, do you miss TTL or Auto mode? Or is the speed of being able to adjust power sufficient to compensate?

 

- How well does the A1 balance on the SL for on camera flash?

 

- Any other lessons learned for and against the A1 since you started using it with the SL?

Edited by LocalHero1953
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When will Leica be made available to accept the Profoto A1 and AIR wireless trigger to fully utilise the full function? Whenever it comes to using lights, I feel my leica is a third word cheap camera. Even Fuji cameras get accepted in some third party wireless triggers and Leica is none. We’re stuck with only using Leica flashes with no off camera flash avenue other than a Nikon hotshoe extension cord. So frustrating! Since Leica works with Nissin on SF40, then it is just a matter of offering Leica users the equilivlant of the Nissin i60 flash which already has built in receiver and it can be wirelessly linked to Nissin’s wireless controller ( more than TTL/HSS trigger, can also change flash settings via controller)! Can Leica work on a wireless TTL/HSS and offer us a solution soon?

Edited by sillbeers15
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I have no experience using the Profoto A1, from what I understand from the reviews and videos on youtube I see the A1 differentiates itself from other OCF speedlites with offering soft light w/o modifiers therefore simplifying the set up required and thus offering more versatility for shooters on the go.

 

With no TTL & HSS functions available when Leica users use the Profoto A1 on/off camera, how do you shoot 'fill light' outdoors with such limitation of slow sync speed?

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  • 5 weeks later...

Hello Everyone

 

 

I use my SL with Profoto B2 strobes and a Nikon compatable Profoto Air TTL - all works fine. However, when I put the Profoto Air TTL on my CL camera, it won't trigger the flash even though the pin orientation on the CL looks to be identical to the SL.

 

Can anyone offer any suggestions to get the CL to trigger the Profoto lights.

 

Thanks and Regards

 

David 

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Hello Everyone

 

 

I use my SL with Profoto B2 strobes and a Nikon compatable Profoto Air TTL - all works fine. However, when I put the Profoto Air TTL on my CL camera, it won't trigger the flash even though the pin orientation on the CL looks to be identical to the SL.

 

Can anyone offer any suggestions to get the CL to trigger the Profoto lights.

 

Thanks and Regards

 

David

Hi David,

When you say it works on SL triggering the B2 via AIR-TTL (n), you mean just manual triggering or full TTL via B2? Can you get HSS function to work this way?

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