Photography News Issue 37 absolutephoto.com
Advertisement feature Always up to speed with the Profoto D2 The newProfoto D2 is the world’s fastest monolight with TTL, with incredibly quick recycling for continuous burst shooting and amazingly brief flash durations to freeze the most frantic action. Add easy to use TTL flash, high speed sync and compatibility with over 120 light shaping tools and you have the ideal mains flash head for today’s demanding photographer
Specs
D2 500AirTTL Max energy 500Ws Energy range 10 f/stops (1-500Ws) Energy control increments 1/10 or full f/stops Recycling time 0.03-0.6sec (quick burst up to 20 flashes per second) Shortest flash duration (in freezemode) 1/63,000sec Longest flash duration 1/2600sec
Speed was top of the agenda when the Profoto design team started work on its latest mains monolight, the incredible D2. Its briefest flash duration is a stupendous 1/63,000sec, it can recharge so rapidly that it can handle bursts of 20 images per second and it will synchronise with cameras at shutter speeds as brief as 1/8000sec. Of course, speed means different things to different photographers and the D2 has the skill set to deliver whatever is required including the ability to provide ample power. The D2 is available with two outputs, 500Ws and 1000Ws, and over a power output range of ten f/stops. In the case of the D2 500, thatmeans a selectable output range of 1 to 500Ws. The ability to capture the fastest action with total detail is important to many and both D2 models allow incredibly brief flash durations. The D2 500 has a flash duration of 1/63,000sec in freeze mode, while the D2 1000 is only slightly longer at 1/50,000sec. The really exciting thing is that these very short flash durations are not just available at very low power settings, but across the entire 10EV output range so power and super-short flashdurations canbe combined to make the most of challenging subjects. Add to the very brief flash duration the ability to recharge incredibly rapidly and evenmore creative opportunities are opened up. The D2 500 recycles in 0.03-0.6sec in quick burst mode and means you can shoot up to 20 flash-lit images in a second. Being able to shoot somany shots so quicklymeans you’re sure to capture the decisive moment with a sequence of near-identical pictures. All these innovations have been packed into a compact unit very familiar to D1 owners and exhibits the same robust build quality and slick user-friendly handling. Indeed, the D2 meshes seamlessly into the Profoto system and is fully compatible with more than 120 light-shaping tools. The D2’s functions are adjustable using the rear panel and the large, high resolution display. Here power output, the modelling lamp, sync mode and mode can all be adjusted. Power output in manual, TTL or freeze mode is adjustable in a 10EV range in 1/10 stop increments, from full output of 500 down to 1Ws. How you use the D2 is up to you. If you prefer to take control and know how much light each unit is delivering fully manual operation is available using the Profoto Air Remote that lets you wirelessly trigger and adjust light output from up to 300m away. If you prefer to use the sophistication of the D2’s TTL circuitry and still enjoy wireless operation from up to 300m that is just as simple. In this case you need an Air Remote TTL trigger and Canon, Nikon and now Sony compatible models are available. Want to try it for yourself? You can with Try Before You Buy. Find exactly how on the website, or ask your nearest Profoto dealer.
The D2 has the skill set to deliver what is required, including ample power
Specs
D2 1000AirTTL Max energy 1000Ws Energy range 10 f/stops (2-1000Ws) Energy control increments 1/10 or full f/stops Recycling time 0.03-1.2s (quick burst up to 20 flashes per second) Shortest flash duration (in freezemode) 1/50,000sec Longest flash duration 1/1600sec
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