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PostPosted: Wed Jan 05, 2011 5:14 pm 
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Would be cool if it worked with digital monos!


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PostPosted: Wed Jan 05, 2011 5:16 pm 
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I'm heading to a photography conference tomorrow, and if I'm very lucky, someone will have a VML there I can play with. I am also waiting on some real-world test reports first, but I am 99% sure I will be buying a pair of these.


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PostPosted: Wed Jan 05, 2011 5:51 pm 
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taob wrote:
I'm heading to a photography conference tomorrow, and if I'm very lucky, someone will have a VML there I can play with. I am also waiting on some real-world test reports first, but I am 99% sure I will be buying a pair of these.


please report. Me too, but as with many AB stuff, a revised, fixed version usually follows original products.


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PostPosted: Wed Jan 05, 2011 5:59 pm 
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Expect this for the next Year or more...

:roll:

Vagabond Mini


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PostPosted: Tue Jan 11, 2011 8:53 am 
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My Mini has bees shipped! Tracking number is loaded in my iPhone (its in Mississauga now) :-)


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PostPosted: Tue Jan 11, 2011 9:50 am 
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[quote="dant"]Expect this for the next Year or more...

:roll:

Vagabond Mini


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PostPosted: Tue Jan 11, 2011 10:19 am 
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A bit off topic but, anybody making an order for Alien Bees stuff, can I get you to order a soft case for my AB1600 for me? I'm good for the cash. I think shipping for the $13 case alone is close to $40 and I have everything Alien Bees that I need so no more orders from me, unless I get the ABR 800.


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PostPosted: Tue Jan 11, 2011 12:08 pm 
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Magic wrote:
My Mini has bees shipped! Tracking number is loaded in my iPhone (its in Mississauga now) :-)

"Has bees"? :lol: Be sure to take a lot of unboxing photos to prove that the VML actually exists outside of Alien Bees HQ in Nashville. :D


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PostPosted: Tue Jan 11, 2011 1:47 pm 
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taob wrote:
Magic wrote:
My Mini has bees shipped! Tracking number is loaded in my iPhone (its in Mississauga now) :-)

"Has bees"? :lol: Be sure to take a lot of unboxing photos to prove that the VML actually exists outside of Alien Bees HQ in Nashville. :D


LOL I opened it so fast that would have had to shoot in burst mode to catch anything at all. Well, I now have it in hand and it feels lighter than my MK4 body. The size is very portable and I would guess its only slightly larger than a 5D body :D

Ass soon as its charged I will test it. The manual says 3-4 hours for a full charge. Please forgive the photo, its shot with an iPhone 3G LOL.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/m2c_photography/5346808668/" title="My new toy by M2C Photography, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5201/5346808668_82326d983b.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="My new toy"></a>

PS Its resting on the removable mount for attaching it to a light stand.


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PostPosted: Tue Jan 11, 2011 2:12 pm 
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Woooo! Sooooo nice! Congrats!

Magic wrote:
taob wrote:
Magic wrote:
My Mini has bees shipped! Tracking number is loaded in my iPhone (its in Mississauga now) :-)

"Has bees"? :lol: Be sure to take a lot of unboxing photos to prove that the VML actually exists outside of Alien Bees HQ in Nashville. :D


LOL I opened it so fast that would have had to shoot in burst mode to catch anything at all. Well, I now have it in hand and it feels lighter than my MK4 body. The size is very portable and I would guess its only slightly larger than a 5D body :D

Ass soon as its charged I will test it. The manual says 3-4 hours for a full charge. Please forgive the photo, its shot with an iPhone 3G LOL.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/m2c_photography/5346808668/" title="My new toy by M2C Photography, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5201/5346808668_82326d983b.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="My new toy"></a>

PS Its resting on the removable mount for attaching it to a light stand.


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ah crap, it DOES exist!! Please post a review. I think i'll be ordering one this week if all turns out ok! :)


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PostPosted: Tue Jan 11, 2011 4:19 pm 
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Baby steps...

2x AB400s at 100% can burst at under a second. How much under I can't say but its fast. As it recommends keeping under 120watt draw for constant draw applications I was curious to see what would happen with the model lamps on (100w x 2). The recharge time was the same but the model lamps flicker a bit while recharging (or adjusting power settings). Thats the brownout that eliminates the chance of using some third party lights with the mini. You can hear the brownout effect on the light as the cooling fans slow while the lights power back up. Now, I have to wait for my Einstein's to arrive to really give it a workout. I wan't to see how the digital controls fair under brownout. Its supposed to work but time will tell.

Having used the larger VB, the trade offs are fairly clear. Constant power vs convenience. If I wasn't an AB user I would stick with the original VB2 as the Minis brownouts would be a deal breaker. But, I am


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thanks. I've got all AB stuff too so brownouts wont be an issue. 2 AB400s under a second? I run 2 Ab800s and 1 Ab1600. Hopefully i can get enough shots off if need be.


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PostPosted: Wed Jan 12, 2011 12:27 am 
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Magic wrote:
2x AB400s at 100% can burst at under a second

Good to know. I'm planning on getting a VML for each AB800, so that's only one modelling light per pack. I'm tempted to get an additional pair of batteries too. I have a feeling that once I am no longer tethered to an AC outlet, I will be using them a lot more...


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PostPosted: Wed Jan 12, 2011 9:08 am 
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To be honest unless your indoors you dont really need modelling lamp anyways .. So you'll usually have an outlet around shouldnt be too much of an issue .. Im interested in getting one .. save my back from the 300 lb vagabond 2lol!


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One thing I noticed is the power switch should be recessed a bit more. If you transport it in anything other than a pelican case with pick-n-pluck foam it could get turned on accidentally. Personally I have more delicate gear in my pelicans so I guess I will remove the battery for general transport. Just push down the release button and the battery slides out.

@ Mr.Walczak. Absolutely right. I just wanted to test the load on the unit. When I shot with the old VB the model lamp was off even while indoors in an effort to extend shoot time.


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PostPosted: Wed Jan 12, 2011 1:14 pm 
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Magic wrote:
One thing I noticed is the power switch should be recessed a bit more. If you transport it in anything other than a pelican case with pick-n-pluck foam it could get turned on accidentally.

Is there some battery drain or a heat problem if it accidentally turns on inside a case? BTW, do you mind if I forward some of your comments to another forum? I can credit it to, uh, Magic if you want. ;) Or m2c.ca.


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PostPosted: Thu Jan 13, 2011 1:46 am 
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Unboxing and test firing video with an AB1600: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7pAgCYO3quI


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PostPosted: Thu Jan 13, 2011 3:09 am 
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Mr.Walczak wrote:
To be honest unless your indoors you dont really need modelling lamp anyways .. So you'll usually have an outlet around shouldnt be too much of an issue .. Im interested in getting one .. save my back from the 300 lb vagabond 2lol!


I find the modeling light can be very useful outdoors at night. Best to switch to a fluorescent bulb in any case which sucks much lower wattage.


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PostPosted: Thu Jan 13, 2011 7:46 am 
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Seren Dipity wrote:
Mr.Walczak wrote:
To be honest unless your indoors you dont really need modelling lamp anyways .. So you'll usually have an outlet around shouldnt be too much of an issue .. Im interested in getting one .. save my back from the 300 lb vagabond 2lol!


I find the modeling light can be very useful outdoors at night. Best to switch to a fluorescent bulb in any case which sucks much lower wattage.


I'm not sure how long a fluorescent bulb will last with repeated brownouts.

@ taob. Post away. And for the record the VBM manual does mention that it should not be left unattended while turned on.


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PostPosted: Thu Jan 13, 2011 11:15 am 
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Magic wrote:
I'm not sure how long a fluorescent bulb will last with repeated brownouts.

I guess the thinking is that with a more efficient light bulb, there won't be any brownouts since you'll be far below the 120W threshold. OTOH, is the glass of fluorescent or LED bulbs designed to withstand the short but intense bursts of high heat coming from the flash tube?


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PostPosted: Thu Jan 13, 2011 12:12 pm 
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Possibly... I really should try myself. I am only taking a guess an not an educated one at that. I will test flourecents later tonight or tomorrow morning


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PostPosted: Thu Jan 13, 2011 1:04 pm 
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If you send me the VBM I'll test it out for you. :wink: :D


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most CFL bulbs are not "dimmable" so if the power fluctuates, you want to make sure the "tracking" is off to avoid variances in the modeling lamp i would presume. Yeah, they are very handy in helping to find focus points when it's dark out.


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PostPosted: Fri Jan 14, 2011 12:17 am 
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chopper wrote:
most CFL bulbs are not "dimmable" so if the power fluctuates, you want to make sure the "tracking" is off to avoid variances in the modeling lamp i would presume. Yeah, they are very handy in helping to find focus points when it's dark out.


LED Bulbs would work well in this. A bit expensive right now but....


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PostPosted: Fri Jan 14, 2011 9:44 am 
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Just tried LED and NDCF.

LED works OK. Responds fairly quickly after the brownout.

Non dimmable CF works but has a slight arching sound when turning back on. Its responds about as fast as incandescent bulbs.

Both LED and CF do dim with tracking although I have serious doubts as to their tracking accuracy. So, if your camera has trouble locking focus in dim light, LED or CF would be a useable solution and probably wouldn't kill the shoot time.

Personally I would aim for LED as the arching of the CF sounds hard on the bulb.


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PostPosted: Fri Jan 14, 2011 2:55 pm 
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it would probably burn out the CFL in short order.

Thanks for the testing, it has great promise and the VGB2 weight is becoming an issue (except to weigh down the light stands).

The mini is still listed as backorder. Probably a few months before they become available, and then version 2 might be coming out by then, judging by AB history.


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PostPosted: Thu Feb 17, 2011 4:59 pm 
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Competition from Innovatronix?

http://www.innovatronix.com/explorerxt3andmini.asp

Also David Hobby getting on the LED modeling light bandwagon:

http://strobist.blogspot.com/2011/02/fo ... -your.html


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WOOHOO! Nice!

Seren Dipity wrote:
Competition from Innovatronix?

http://www.innovatronix.com/explorerxt3andmini.asp

Also David Hobby getting on the LED modeling light bandwagon:

http://strobist.blogspot.com/2011/02/fo ... -your.html


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PostPosted: Sun Mar 20, 2011 7:02 pm 
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finally got my shipping notice! yay!

Too bad i couldn't add other items to the order since it was back ordered and couldn't come together,


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