Comparing the Profoto B10 vs Profoto B1 & B2

Review: Comparing the output of the Profoto B10 against that of the Profoto B1 and B2.
neilvn.com/tan...
Also check the proper video review of the Profoto B10
• review: Profoto B10 flash
#profoto #profotoflash #flashphotography #offcameraflash

[@D-Professor]

Neil, I watched this a couple years ago and appreciated it then. I just watched it again and appreciate how valuable and relevant it still is.

[@rodriguezahr]

Thanks for this review Neil. I’m undecided between the b10 and b10 plus but For the size vs output I think I’ll take the B10.

[@Ashleyunfiltered]

This was amazing , even screen shotted the tests and it’s so clear to see the differences Officially selling my b2s for an upgrade 😩

[@RayValdezPhotography]

The b10 is still a beast even today. I cant wait to see what is next. I hope they make a true successor to the B1 yet be lighter and more powerful.

[@neilvn]

Profoto did bring out the B10+ which has the same power as the B1, but is much lighter.

[@RayValdezPhotography]

@@neilvn That light is a bit of a "side upgrade". i considered it a few times but I am holding out a bit longer for a true successor if ever.

[@Bleatzy]

@@RayValdezPhotography There is already the B10X and B10X plus :)

[@RayValdezPhotography]

@@Bleatzy I kinda answered this but another reason it isnt a successor is that they still sell both series. They got rid of the B2 instantly when the B10 came out.

[@JohnMacLeanPhotography]

Argh, I might need to put my 3 - B1's up for sale! Thanks for the testing.

[@markmackenzie4347]

This is really helpful Neil- thanks for posting. Do you know how much the output drops when in HSS? -I saw another review that found the B1 to lose 3 stops in HSS, and am wondering if the B10 loses so much.

[@neilvn]

You lose 2 stops in my experience .... however, since you open up the aperture accordingly, as you step up the shutter speed, the effective loss in flash power is around 1.3 stops.

[@rick535xi]

Great comparison Neil, thanks for the video.

[@jpdj2715]

If you repeat the test the following way it is more revealing. Set up flash and umbrella, take photo straight from behind strobe so it reveals the area of the umbrella illuminated. Adjust strobe-umbrella distance for each combination so the light circle is about 80% of the umbrella's diameter. Measure each setup at the same distance from the umbrella. Used bare, the B10 has a significantly narrower angle than the bigger units. In a modifier without baffles/diffusers, it will behave differently than the big ones. I presume.

[@RayValdezPhotography]

in rela world it doesnt seem like a big deal. I have both flashes i dont really notice a big different. I just use the b1 when i need the most power.

[@neatphoto2702]

Best comparison so far! Thanks a lot.

[@SimplestUsername]

Fantastic comparison! I've been wondering how bright the B10's continuous lighting mode is vs flash mode? I been unable to find much information regarding it's continuous lighting mode

[@neilvn]

With video light, you're usually working in the range of f/4 or wider, and at 1600 ISO or thereabouts. It isn't as powerful as flash. Also check out the proper review of the Profoto B10 kzbin.info/www/bejne/b6rblKKCi9uSnpY More techie details here: neilvn.com/tangents/review-profoto-b10-flash/

[@etjernlund]

Great test! Thank you.

[@BKapelari]

Thank you Neil! Do you now the same test with the B10 Plus? Would be superduper! 🙃

[@trondhelgehie6771]

You now you stuff, that I can see😊 But try the B10 and the B1X whit the Magnum reflector... And in a softbox, then you vill se the light “quality” is “better” from the B1X It’s not so hot in the middle, but more even. I prefer Broncolor white the flashbulb out from the flash head, its more even then Profoto. But I’m using Profoto also...

[@Mainwong]

Trond Helge Høie I’m a b1 user. I have photog friends who uses bron told me the same thing. Hmm... should try out one day

[@Molaleni]

People will be selling their perfectly good b1s and b2s now and get this new b10. Then Three months from now a new competitor light will come out to challenge the b10, then people will sell the B10. What I’m wondering is why do we doing this and extra stop of light?

[@osangulon]

Hello and thanks for the comparison. But I come to different results. I aligned the B2 with the B10, both with the standard Magnum reflector and 2 meters distance at ISO 100 exactly to the light meter. I had no daylight, only a desk lamp with 25 watts at a distance of 5 meters. Both flashes had after several measurements as result the aperture value 22 2/3! This result is also clear for me, because both flashes have an output of 250 WS each. What strikes me negatively with the B10 and also with the B10 Plus is that with both flashes the synchronous cable connection is no longer present. Very unfortunate.

[@neilvn]

Do you have photos to compare the way the light spread from either of these?

[@osangulon]

@@neilvn Hello Neil, unfortunately I only took photos directly into the magnum reflector. With both, the B10 and the B2, the light distribution in the reflector is very very similar. Many greetings, Oguz

[@davidventura1424]

I t would be Interesting to test placing the Mag Reflector on and seeing output... they claim adds a Stop of light.... into a Silver parabolic umbrella... you see where I’m going‼️‼️

[@thomaskegelmann7245]

Thanks for this nice Video. I am also interested how the power comparison would be if you use a OCF-Magnum Reflector or the 2x3 OCF-Softbox, Especially for the b2 and the b10 and a comparison between b2 and b10 in HSS-mode.

[@T-Slider]

Very informative. Thanks

[@chrishay5442]

Your voice is soothing haha.

[@jimtincher7357]

Great comparison! But I wonder if the B2 being that far off center axis had any affect on the measured output? The B10 is surprising!

[@MattFittPhoto]

_I was thinking the same thing._ Ideal testing conditions would entail placing light #1 on a stand, then attaching the umbrella at a specified distance from the front of the light, and checking the angle to ensure it's pointing directly at the subject. Next, attach the light meter to a stand to ensure that it will be at the same height, distance, and angle for each test. And then, finally, meter the output of light #1. Now, repeat those steps precisely for lights #2 and #3.

[@jaimeduncan6167]

Jim Tincher I wonder the same ( for a parabolic umbrella the difference will be negligible, that is the reason we use to use parabolic dishes for telecommunications), but in general the results are consistent with other tests. It could be that the old Profotos were not that efficient. But the B10 looks fantastic.

[@totoroutes5389]

Compared to Godox AD360ii ?

[@mavfan1]

Jakethemase buy one and send it to him so he can compare.

[@jpdj2715]

Neil, I totally respect your photography, but when you talk about "Watts per second" I have to doubt your basic knowledge of physics. Ws is not plural, nor "per second". Watt.second is the baby version of kilo.Watt.hour. 1 kWh is 3.6 million Ws. So it tells about energy consumption, not potential power. Watt.seconds is just the vendor telling how much energy is used in a full flash. It has no prediction of what light comes out, nor at what angle, illuminating what area, nor fall-off involved.

[@jaimeduncan6167]

JP dJ men it’s a photography channel not a “science grammar” one. I don’t believe you are that good at physics either: too much effort to prove that you know something basic. By the way I don’t care about his knows of physics, this is not PBS space time.

[@neilvn]

Only afterwards did I realize my mistake. Unfortunately, there isn't an easy way with a video to correct the flub. I did post a correction in the accompanying blog post: [ Correction: In the video I somehow mistakenly kept referring to Watts/second, instead of WattSeconds (Ws) to describe the flash power.]

[@neilvn]

@@jaimeduncan6167 -- no, he is correct. I should have made sure of my terminology at the time of recording the video.