Today, Profoto has officially announced the brand new B10 Plus, the second wave of the B10 product line, adding an extra stop of light in a slightly larger package. The launch of the B10 last year was notable and I have received countless emails and direct messages from people who use and love the light, and this new release just builds upon that trusted legacy.
So what do we really get when we add a stop of light? The obvious answer is the increased ability to overpower existing light, such as when shooting outside in harsh sunlight. That being said, for me, the main reason to have more power is to use bigger lighting modifiers for more coverage, and the ability to back your fixture up to give yourself more coverage and less falloff, ultimately looking more like “natural light” when working indoors.
Take for instance this shot with Nereyda, below. I’m in my studio mid-day and the sun is blazing through the windows. If I expose for the windows, she is a silhouette; if I place a lower-powered light close, I will have unnatural falloff. But by using the B10 Plus in a large source, I was able to create natural-looking light, as you can see below.
While it’s great to have the power when you need it, the B10 Plus has a 10-stop power range so in this dramatic portrait on Marisa (below), I was able to dial the light down to give me the subtle look I wanted.
I also worked to create a nice single light portrait in a large modifier, without having to wait between shots for recycling, as you can see below:
Increased power, quick recycle, the ability to charge the battery while shooting (like the B10) all make the B10 Plus a great option for studio photographers using large modifiers, as well as location shooters who want to overpower or balance the sunlight. Many of us these days fill both of those roles, so the versatility is great to have.
Like the B10, The B10 Plus works with the Profoto App and offers a bi-color continuous light for those of us who shoot both stills and video. The B10 and B10 Plus share the same firmware and will offer 20 channels (vs. 8) of Profoto Air remote capability.
The B10 Plus also uses the same stand mount and battery (and charger) as the B10, so adding this powerhouse to your B10 kit will be seamless. Of course, with double the power, the total number of full power shots goes from 400 to 200 so that is something to keep in mind if you think you’ll be battling the sun all day.
Speaking of the sun, in the B10 video last year, we made a portrait overpowering the sun at the end of the day near the Hudson River, I decided to do a similar shot, but a little after mid-day to see what that extra stop of light could do. The B10 Plus did not disappoint and we were able to make a fun dramatic shot with beautiful light during the worse time of day (see it directly below).
The B10 Plus is slightly larger than the B10; Physically it is 9.3 inches (vs. 6.9) and weights 4.2 lbs (vs. 3.3). So all in all about 2.5 inches longer and 1lb heavier. I did check to see if the B10 Plus would fit in my camera bag like the B10 and it does. I could see being able to pack a camera body, lens, and one light in my bag but would more likely carry it in the small semi-hard case that comes with the B10 Plus.
All that being said, to me the value of a lighting instrument is how it works with me on an assignment, so I decided to create a fashion spread at Early Electrics with Marisa, the B10 Plus, and a couple of A1s. I wanted to see how well it would hold up to a fast-paced location shoot.
For the first image, I fitted the B10 Plus with a Profoto 1×3 OCF strip bank and moved it back behind a wall, hidden from the view of my camera and able to light Marisa full length and dial in the exact exposure using the Profoto Air Remote we created a natural-looking shot in this cool location. Being able to adjust the power down in 10ths of stops allowed my additional light to work with the existing feel of the room.
For our second shot, I used the power of the B10 Plus to overcome the abundant natural light coming through the windows to create an image with the feel of late day or evening. I positioned the B10 Plus fitted with the Profoto 2’ OCF Octa next to a chandelier to mimic its direction and create a lighting pattern that felt right in the space.
For the final shot in the series, I wanted to duplicate the soft window light that was falling on the bench Marisa was sitting on. I chose to use the B10 Plus here (as opposed to just the window) because while the light was beautiful, it was very dim. With the B10 Plus fitted with a Profoto OCF 2×3 softbox, I created my own window with power to spare.
With this latest release, the B10 lineup is looking strong. These small, powerful lights help me get the job done without getting in my way. Just like I’ve come to expect.
The Profoto B10 Plus Air TTL Off Camera Flash Head is available now for , or as a Duo Kit for at Adorama. Both also include free overnight shipping.
To see the unit in action, check out this hands-on review with Daniel Norton on AdoramaTV:
Feature photo courtesy of Profoto
