I strongly doubt that. The Profoto A1 / A1X is a toy, but not for professionals.
The attachments with magnets fall off easily, especially at events, and the head is not good fixed if you quickly switch to portrait format.
The only good thing is the battery.
The A1 and A1X are not compatible with the latest Canon DSLR cameras, and only to a limited extent with the mirrorless R-series.
I expect the new Canon flash will be much better than the A1X.
You doubt it wrongly imo. Marking A1 / A1X as toys is quite strong statement to say the least. But OK, maybe we are not professionals and we don't know, what we are doing at all
A1 had some problems with keeping the angle in case of fast moves - fixed with the A1X. Magnets on attachemens is the sole problem of those attachements. They have now new version. We have both and the new magnets are much more stronger - problem fixed again.
What you call the only good thing on them, the battery, is absolutly crucial for us. No more freaking AA batteris. We have tried so many brands, chargers and in the end it was always a mess. You will realise that, once you switch to something like the A1 / A1X. We have A1 for 3-4 months, so only a limited experience (in comparison to over a 10 years with the Canon speedlites), but our A1 never ever missfired so far. It fires so fast, that I really regard it being a small and portable studio mini strobe, not a speedlite.
As we ideally want our strobes to cooperate, our A1 can work with our B10. So unless whatever-Canon-comes-up-with does cooperate with our studio strobes including TTL, there is no way back for us.
For me, that only gripes with the Profoto is, that the price is really high. Well, especially for modifiers, we have stayed with Elincrhom ones so far.
Yes a good list. For sure Canon could bring alot of improvements to their flashes.1: AI bounce technology from the 470EX-Ai (it is awesome).
2: LP-E6N batteries.
3: Much bigger and better resolution screen that shows all Groups at the same time.
4: Much more intuitive menus.
5: Wider zoom without needing the diffusion panel.
6: Faster recycle time.
7: Cost realignment, flashes shouldn’t cost $500 and more considering the competition, choices and options.
P.S.
8: Remote changing of functions, most other systems you can change the power, Groups, sync mode etc from an app or another controller or the remote flashes themselves.
9: Second curtain sync, others can do it even within the Canon RT system!
I was doing some housekeeping today (making sure batteries were charged up for my strobes and battery packs) and I remembered something that I really wish they would fix. If you are using multiple speedlites in a single group (for example, three lights in an modifier all set to group "B") and just one of the speedlites starts to lose power and the recycle time slows down, the other two speedlights won't fire until the third light is ready.1: AI bounce technology from the 470EX-Ai (it is awesome).
2: LP-E6N batteries.
3: Much bigger and better resolution screen that shows all Groups at the same time.
4: Much more intuitive menus.
5: Wider zoom without needing the diffusion panel.
6: Faster recycle time.
7: Cost realignment, flashes shouldn’t cost $500 and more considering the competition, choices and options.
P.S.
8: Remote changing of functions, most other systems you can change the power, Groups, sync mode etc from an app or another controller or the remote flashes themselves.
9: Second curtain sync, others can do it even within the Canon RT system!
Yes, battery indicators!I was doing some housekeeping today (making sure batteries were charged up for my strobes and battery packs) and I remembered something that I really wish they would fix. If you are using multiple speedlites in a single group (for example, three lights in an modifier all set to group "B") and just one of the speedlites starts to lose power and the recycle time slows down, the other two speedlights won't fire until the third light is ready.
I've had to stop the shoot, take the cover off the modifier and try to figure out which light is not recycling, then either change the batteries in the single light or shut it off.
After a desolate Nissin MF 18 experience (compatiblity with 5 D IV, randomly under-over exposing), I'd "happily" pay the price for a Canon macro-flash next time...$1300 for the mt26-ex
Ditto. Three 600 EX-RTs. Good, but the A1X is better in the shape of the light and the very elegant means of attaching diffusers (love the Soft Bounce!), grids, and filters.Profoto A1X is the new standard. Round headm, magnets, one battery that recharges. i stopped using all my canon flashes. I had 5 600 rts
That's right. But what use is a flash if it is not compatible.Ditto. Three 600 EX-RTs. Good, but the A1X is better in the shape of the light and the very elegant means of attaching diffusers (love the Soft Bounce!), grids, and filters.
Another assessment from one who does not own the gear he’s criticizing. The A1X has stronger magnets than the A1. An “event” for me consists of research-grade field nature photography, especially macrophotography* (thus making the A1X a “pro” flash). I’m using filters, grids, and the Soft Bounce in rough country, and I have not had anything fall off. The battery is just one good feature.I strongly doubt that. The Profoto A1 / A1X is a toy, but not for professionals.
The attachments with magnets fall off easily, especially at events, and the head is not good fixed if you quickly switch to portrait format.
The only good thing is the battery.
The A1 and A1X are not compatible with the latest Canon DSLR cameras, and only to a limited extent with the mirrorless R-series.
I expect the new Canon flash will be much better than the A1X.
Where are you getting this information? Which new Canon cameras? I use my A1X on my EOS RP and my EOS R5, and my associate uses his A1X on an EOS R.The A1X is currently not compatible with the new Canon cameras.
Another assessment from one who does not own the gear he’s criticizing. The A1X has stronger magnets than the A1. An “event” for me consists of research-grade field nature photography, especially macrophotography* (thus making the A1X a “pro” flash). I’m using filters, grids, and the Soft Bounce in rough country, and I have not had anything fall off. The battery is just one good feature.
I can’t address the 1 DX Mark III, but I know from personal experience that the A1X is fully compatible with the 5D Mark IV, the EOS RP, the EOS R, and the EOS R5. That includes the Air Remote TTL-C radio trigger.
I have no doubt that the new Canon flash(es) will be good; my three 600 EX-RTs were good. But not likely Profoto good.
Due to the cost, Profoto strobes are not for everyone, and Profoto does not represent them as such. But those who use Profoto appreciate their long-term reliability and consistency of light output and color after years of use.
* See iNaturalist, the Maryland Biodiversity Project, the Maryland Plant Atlas, Maryland Moths and Butterflies, The Encyclopedia of Life, 2019 Maryland Department of Natural Resources Grand Prize Winner, The Kaufman Field Guide to Nature of New England, etc.
Yeah, tough luck. But they didn’t do that to spite you.A few weeks after I invested 1000 bucks, Profoto reduced the price to 500 bucks.
Old news. They fixed that with the A1X. While there is nothing wrong with noting that the first edition of a product had issues, it makes no sense to harp on the matter. My grandpap told me that his Model T lacked AC, windows, ABS, power seats, GPS, and a roof, but he moved on.The magnets are very bad...
You keep saying that, while the A1X keeps working on and off my RP and my R5. Can you specify where the incompatibility manifests?And mirrorless cameras have limited compatibility. The R5 and R6, same the 1DX III, are also not in the compatibility list.
I'm not sure what more a light can do. More powerful, great.
But then I almost always use them on manual.
it works for me. what is wrong?That's right. But what use is a flash if it is not compatible.
The A1X is currently not compatible with the new Canon cameras.
So I'm looking forward to the new Canon flash