Sorry missed your post. I hope to have my review on the new lighting modifier up in December. It's worthwhile.
Marc noted earlier elsewhere that B&H removed the Acute B600 from it's website listing---a sign of that model being discontinued. Profoto recently removed it from their website, so I guess it is finally official---and I hope a sign of better things to come. I think there is a huge gaping hole in the line-up at present. I would love to see a B2 on steroids and moreso I really would especially love to see basically a lighter B600, with maybe more power too. I'm keeping my B1, but really don't like the weight of the B1 on the lightstand, and with a large modifier and a touch of wind, it becomes a sail. I'm liking the B2 and B600 form factor more....
ken
Which mod Ken?
We were just discussing all this on Photo.net's Wedding Forum ... same opinion that the B1
*, as compact and well designed as it is, can be too top heavy for use on a stand outside with larger mods (same for most any mono-block) ... and the B2 can fall short in taming the midday sun when it's backlighting a subject, or you have a really hot background with the subject in the shade. So, you're right IMO, there is a hole in the Profoto highly portable line-up with the removal of the Acute B600 AIR Lithium pack.
Right now, the B600 as key, with the B2 as fill, is a pretty sweet set-up (850 total available W/s with no power robbing extensions necessary). I like the B600 head with glass dome, and hope the B600 replacement uses that head ... or one like it but maybe with LED patches for a modeling light like Elinchrom uses with the Quadra so it draws less energy.
Since I sold off all my big D2400 Packs and Acute 2400 heads, the B600 is the only head I'll use for boomed overhead lighting (where the B1s are too big and heavy out on the end of a overhead boom dangling on a baby drop-down pin over a model's head:shocked
. The B2 head can't handle the big mods for this sort of application, but the B600 head can.
We'll see what Profoto does next.
- Marc
*I have used the B1 AIR's as much in studio as on location so far (two 500s and one 1000). They can be placed on set with no cords running all over the place, or in the shot when placed behind the subject. They have been super useful for interior work where power outlets are hard to find or not in the right place. I've taken them to wedding receptions many times ... tuck them into a corner with no power cords for guests to snag. The B1-1000 can kick out enough to work in nuclear sun situations (assistant holding the B1-1000 light on a monopod I converted to a painter's pole type portable boom arm).