review: Profoto B10 flash
As promised in the First Look review, here is the proper video review of the Profoto B10 flash (B&H / Amazon) – putting this versatile flash through its paces during a photo shoot with a model in New York. Hopefully the video shows just how elegantly versatile the Profoto B10 is – it’s a powerful little flash, and is also a powerful video light. The video light capability should excite any wedding photographer. During this photo shoot, we tried the flash as well as the video light aspect of it. I didn’t run through the dry specifications in this video review. Instead, I wanted to show just how easy (and even how much fun) it is to use this flash.
As always with these types of video reviews, I want to make it interesting for every one, even those with little interest in the specific item – hopefully there is something to gain in watching how I direct a model, for example.
A few other things I need to add about the video:
- Here is the Profoto B2 review photo shoot that I refer to in this video.
- In the video I said that it was a 2-ft (24″) octabox – it was actually the Profoto OCF Beauty Dish (24″) (B&H / Amazon) .
- During section where I photograph Kelly standing on a barrier outside, I go to high-speed flash sync. For brevity, I cut out a longer sequence where I explain about high-speed flash sync (HSS). The gist of it is that we lose approximately two stops of light from our flash the moment we go into HSS. However, in practice this turns out to be only one stop. The reason is, as you go over max flash sync speed by as little as one click (1/3rd stop), you lose 2 stops of light on your flash. However, if you were shooting at 1/250 @ f11 …. and you go to 1/500 @ f/8, you gain a stop of light because you opened your aperture for the equivalent ambient exposure. From there on the shutter speed is a linear control of your flash power. In other words, you have the same flash power at 1/500 @ f/8 as you do when you go to 1/2000 @ f/4 (which is also the same ambient exposure.
- If the above is too concise an explanation, and you need more info, check out these tutorials:
– tutorial: High-speed flash sync (HSS)
– When to use high speed flash sync (HSS)
– tutorial: Maximum flash sync speed
With the rest of this accompanying article, I want to run through some of the images shown, to give a bit more detail about them.
Specifications of the Profoto B10 flash
- 250Ws, 10-Stop Power Range
- 7″ Length, 3.9″ Diameter
- Full TTL Auto Exposure Control Plus HSS
- 0.05-2.2 Second Recycling
- Duration t0.5 Freeze Mode: 1/50,000 Sec.
- Li-Ion Battery: 400 Full-Power Flashes
- 3000K – 6500K LED Modeling Lamp, CRI 90-96
- 300 ft Wireless Triggering with Air TTL
- Smartphone Connectivity with Profoto App
That 250Ws power spec there makes it sound like the B10 is a full stop less powerful than the Profoto B1, but in a test in the studio, I found the Profoto B10 to be only 1/2 stop under the Profoto B1 — Profoto B10 review: Comparing the power of the Profoto B10.
#profotoUSA #profotoglobal #profotoB10 #powerofsmall
- 1/15 @ f/4 @ 400 ISO – with the profoto B10 as flash
- Nikon D5 (B&H / Amazon)
- Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8E VR (B&H / Amazon)
- Profoto B10 flash (B&H / Amazon)
- Profoto OCF Beauty Dish (24″) (B&H / Amazon)
I made sure we worked in a spot where there was little ambient light on Kelly, so that the flash would freeze the action even at this slow shutter speed. For more about that: Will flash freeze movement at slow shutter speeds?
I didn’t use any special flash mode. No rear curtain flash sync. Just everyday, regular flash. The effect is purely because I zoomed in during the slow exposure … while Kelly whipped her hair around. It does take numerous tries to get it just right.
- 1/2000 @ f/2.8 @ 100 ISO – with the profoto B10 as flash
- Nikon D5 (B&H / Amazon)
- Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8E VR (B&H / Amazon)
- Profoto B10 flash (B&H / Amazon)
- Profoto OCF Beauty Dish (24″) (B&H / Amazon)
This is the section where the additional articles might be of extra help in explaining what was happening in terms of the flash exposure and high-speed flash sync (HSS):
– tutorial: High-speed flash sync (HSS)
– When to use high speed flash sync (HSS)
– tutorial: Maximum flash sync speed
- 1/160 @ f/3.2 @ 1600 ISO – with the Profoto B10 as video light
- Nikon D5 (B&H / Amazon)
- Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8E VR (B&H / Amazon)
- Profoto B10 flash (B&H / Amazon)
- Profoto OCF Beauty Dish (24″) (B&H / Amazon) – with the diffuser removed
This and the next two images where with the Profoto B10 as a video light. In two of the images, I used the beauty dish without the deflector plate or the diffuser. In the bottom image, where I photographed Kelly leaning against the restaurant window, I use the B10 as a bare light, no modifier.
In all three images, I had the WB of the video light set towards the warmer white balance … which means the daylight areas go blue.
One thing to note about the WB setting of the B10 – it is on an unmarked scale from warm (incandescent WB) to daylight. There are no numerical values – you have to adjust it by eye to match your surrounding light.
- 1/100 @ f/3.2 @ 1600 ISO – with the Profoto B10 as video light
- Nikon D5 (B&H / Amazon)
- Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8E VR (B&H / Amazon)
- Profoto B10 flash (B&H / Amazon)
- Profoto OCF Beauty Dish (24″) (B&H / Amazon) – with the diffuser removed
- 1/1250 @ f/4 @ 1600 ISO – with the Profoto B10 as video light
- Nikon D5 (B&H / Amazon)
- Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8E VR (B&H / Amazon)
- Profoto B10 flash (B&H / Amazon) – bare; no light modifier
Order the Profoto B10 flash
The Profoto B10 basic kit also includes:
Summary
My enthusiasm for this little flash should be obvious – it is compact, yet powerful. You have a video light built in with a variable WB setting. You can charge the battery while shooting! You can control it remotely with an app on your phone. This app also handles the updating of firmware. All things considered, I can not find fault with the design and use of this flash – it is obvious Profoto listened to their users and addressed complaints about the B1 and B2.
Related articles
- review: Profoto B10 flash – a first look
- Comparing the power of the Profoto B10
- Photo session with the Profoto B10 flash / video light
- Profoto B10 flash – Creativity Unleashed
- review: Profoto A1 flash – video review
- review: Profoto B2 Off-Camera Flash
- For more videos, follow me on Vimeo / YouTube
1Frank Rodrick says
Want one! I mean, I want a photo session in New York City with you teaching me to do all these cool things. And I want a B10, too. Great sales pitch—Profoto owes you!
2Trev says
Damn! Very cool shots Neil, but fav is of course the zooming/flash-freeze shot.
B10, yeah, want one badly.
3Travis Harris says
Nice work Neil!!
I just got my B10 Duo kit.. and am blown, BLOWN away. There really is no need after all for the B1X, and so I returned my B1X kit LOL. I am very happy so far on the fashion shoot that I did with them!
I wanted to ask you.. now that I have the light weight lights, I need to find a smaller boom for my assistant. In the past I was using the California Sunbouce one.. but, its massive. (more for the B1). What was the smaller boom pole you used in your video?
Thanks so much!
3.1Neil vN says
The boom you see in the video is the 75″ tall Gitzo monopod to hold up the light.
The B10 is for location work – and then it is either a monopod held by an assistant, or a simple light-stand.
In the studio I use the Profoto D1 500 W/s flashes – and I won’t be changing those out anytime soon. They just work.
4Mike Gorman says
Thanks for the review – the video light feature is such a game changer
5SB says
Awesome images, Neil – love the zoom / hair swirl.
6Jonathan Pearson says
Thanks for this, just got the twin pack had to sell my Leica to afford it! They’re beautifully made I just wish the flash tube was user changeable. You make it look like you cant carry on with photography without one which is reassuring for me
7Lou Recine says
They are having a demo event here in Toronto , Im stoked to see and hold some real B10s , I have so many questions about them .
Lou Recine
8Darla Aniline says
Excellent video and review!
9Steve says
Are you going to use these at weddings instead of your B1’s Neil?
9.1Neil vN says
Depends on the logistics. The B10 fits neatly in my main camera case. The two B1 flashes are in their own smaller roller case. This means I will always have the B10 with me … and it will therefore be my main off-camera light.
For faster recycling and shooting faster, I will fall back to the B1.
I will have my B1 flashes with me anyway (or nearby in the car) as backup to the B10.
9.1.1Steve says
Thanks Neil. Makes sense.
10andrew camarillo says
…….one of your best videos ever!
you are what good looks like; thanks for the inspiration
11Matt Heath says
Awesome, I really want one of these this year!!!
12Jeff Woodall says
Hi Neil, I can’t thank you enough for fitting me in on a City Walk with model & helper at ultra short notice – and all of the above was proven true. Before that, I was thinking of economising with somewhat cheaper portable lighting gear like Godox, but it seems that reliability, consistency and features like being able to lock in the TTL exposure in manual are worth their weight in gold. Not sure I can afford both the B10 & B1 – so which one first…?
12.1Neil vN says
I would recommend the B10 over the B1 for most photographers … unless you need a flash like the B1 with an extra bit of power, and faster recycling than the B10.