Home Depot Homebrew of $643 Profoto Globe Saves You Enough to Buy a Paul Buff Einstein to Put it On
For the second time in a week, a Paul Buff mod that is so simple I wonder why I hadn't thought of it earlier. This one is via Houston-based photographer Stephen Hébert.
This Home Depot version of the famed Profoto Globe will set you back all of $10. I have seen people hacking these for Profoto lights using SP-systems mounts and/or gaffer's tape. But the fact that they mount right to an AB or Einstein is, like, poetic justice or something.
If you are really slick (and handy) you might want to try to drill some holes around the base for heat venting. And I am guessing the color temp is, er, "close enough."
But having enough money left over from the savings to buy the actual flash (and an additional $130 in other accessories) is icing on the cake.
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Posted at 9:30 PM.
31 Comments:
this is the third time i've been in the middle of assembling a mod when it all of a sudden shows up on strobist.
oh well, at least the one im making has a universal mount for any light system :-/
Now that is sweet, thank you David for helping us compete on a budget. You ROCK
What are your thoughts on the einstein vs alien bee's? I have the Einstein's and love them, but sometimes i feel like I could get by with just the alien bees. The fine control is nice, but not a necessity
Einsteins are much better flashes in many ways than ABs. Color, t.1 speed, fine control, cybersync socket -- night and day, IMO.
David, Here is my Profoto version. It looks to be the same generic acrylic globe with an SP-systems Profoto speed ring like you said. I do agree on driling holes for heat. The thing is you have to go REALLY slow and be very careful as the bits grab and crack the acrylic very easily.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mortonphotographic/4173053198/
David, this thing just fits on without any mods? And you can use it with the Einstein's moelling lamp too?
Just wondering what your thought are on the einsteins vs a similar offering by ellinchrom. I'm a little concerned with the Einstein's mounting system. Is it strong enough to hold larger modifiers? I also heard there are differences with the tolerances of the mounting system of the Einstein and that of the other lights in the Paul c buff lineup. Your thoughts are greatly appreciated.
Hi David. What are your thoughts about the Einsteins vs. a similar Ellinchrom product. Light quality, construction recycle times, and availability of light modifiers.
Many thanks, Tas.
The thing I love about about the Paul Buff mount is that anything with the right sized hole in it can be stuck on with ease.
Any part#/SKU for Home Depot?
And what's the light look like? It looks like it'd do something like what a Gary Fongsphere would do w/ a speedlight (aka, mostly non-directional light)...
MortonPhotographic - thanks for sharing the Profoto hack! Do you have examples of photos taken with it?
Sohail It does fit on AB without any mod. Modeling lamp would present heat, hence Davids comment about drilling holes for heat since this is plastic.
Ken the number on my reciept is 030721819001 its just a generic 4" x 8" globe....
Also, I am not the first to think of doing this, JoeyL. did it back in june. The company he got his globes from also had different sizes available http://www.joeyl.com/2011/06/lighting-from-a-sketch/#
Gary, Below is a shot lit only with the Amateur Globe--the key light didn't go off. I like the light from this modifier, especially for the price.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mortonphotographic/4175521796/
Genius! How many times I have thought about this I don't know. Now I know for sure it can be done. Thanks for the confirmation.
It's cool and all, but what is the use for a light like this? Bright, harsh? Serious question. Thank you
Anyone know if you can pick these up in the UK? Preferably in the exact right size for a Profoto mount!
Brilliant. I love how there are a million ways to skin a cat. I don't think there's ever an end to the inventiveness of photographer. Keep it up!
I'm with Dave. Could you put some sample images of what this dome can do for us? It sure looks cool but is seems like a wild mustang (how do you control it?)
PS: What do you think about dipping the bottom third (open part) into black paint? That would give this modifier a bit more direction? Just a thought.
Westinghouse 8 in. White Acrylic Globe
Model # 8190008
Home Depot Store SKU # 247273
$9.98 /EA-Each
http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1v/R-100351518/h_d2/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10053&langId=-1&keyword=030721819001&storeId=10051
@dave moser: it doesn't have to be harsh. The cool thing about this type of light is that it basically goes off in every direction at once (like a light grenade). A lot of that light is going to hit other surfaces (walls, ceilings, floors) and bounce back into the direction you have the camera pointed, thus a very soft filled light.
On a boom you could simulate a source like a streetlamp that when placed behind and above the subject would give you a rim/background light. I've used smaller bare-bulb mods on small flashes as background lights in environmental portraiture and they do a great job of lighting up a whole space in a way that feels like found light.
Here is a real-world shot I did with the Amateur Globe as key. there are two bare speedlights used as rim lights as well--I balanced the three lights with the ambient. The light is small and kinda hard, but not as hard as light from a Profoto zoom or AB reflector. I like how it covers everything, but leaves nice shadows on the clothes.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mortonphotographic/7047026891/in/photostream
Just hit up my local Home Depot and picked one up! Got a couple boudoir shoots coming up I think it will be *WONDERFUL* for.
-Rebecca
-studiodgphoto.com
What diameter globe is that? 6inch?
How about attaching this inside of the Paul C Buff Beauty Dish?
Haha. Did you know this post is the first thing that comes up when you google Profoto Globe? Hope Profoto doesn't mind, lol.
Is there a tutorial on how to attach it to a speedlight?
It's very cool but for canada custumer is not avalaible in homedepot in canada ... Did you know where can i buy it .. Or can you ship it me at my home ;)
I realize I'm very late for this party, but I wanted to share an important heads-up: DON'T use regular drill bits for acrylic! You'll just crack it!
If you have access to a bench-mounted grinding wheel you can modify a normal drill bit to be an acrylic bit. The idea is that you need it to either scrape away the material rather than digging in and pulling it out, or to go in at a very steep angle so you're doing it progressively. Here are the two ways to mod a regular drill bit:
http://www.instructables.com/id/Foolproof-Easy-Drill-Bit-Sharpening-for-Acrylic/
http://www.hawkfish.org/snailman/acrdrill.htm
Actually I drilled 8 holes with zero chipping by starting with brand new high quality bits. I started with a 1/8", then a 1/4", and finished with a 15/32". The holes are perfectly smooth and round. Just makes sure you hardly press on the drill.
For those people in Australia looking for an equivalent product, I finally found the answer today.
The product is called a 'Polycarb II 250mm UV stabilized opal post top' and is available from Beacon Lighting for about AUD$35:
http://www.beaconlighting.com.au/polycarb-ii-opal-p-top-250mm.html
It fits the Einstein perfectly and the claws grip it well. I wouldn't want to swing it around violently above my head or anything but I have no problem with the fit.
Is made of some sort of plastic so should be easy enough to drill ventilation holes in.
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