Most pictures educators will let you know to “take the flash off of the digicam” as a greatest observe when utilizing lighting.
Nonetheless, what’s the greatest gentle to do that with?
Is it a speedlight, a high-powered strobe, or one of many compact, extra transportable choices such because the Profoto A2?
Extremely Really useful
Profoto A2 
A compact, strong and light-weight monolight with nice vary, recycle time and battery life.
I’m about to let you know about this small, off-camera gentle and different Profoto lights and alternate options from the Chinese language manufacturers on this Profoto A2 evaluate.
Let’s discover out who this Profoto product is for and whether or not or not it’s value paying full worth for it.
You may additionally have an interest to learn the evaluate of the Profoto A1 for comparability.
Profoto A2 Specs
Execs
- Compact design.
- It makes use of the identical battery because the Profoto A collection on-camera flashes.
- Straightforward and intuitive menu system.
- It makes use of the identical Clic system modifiers because the Profoto A collection on-camera flashes.
- Constant gentle output.
- Handy firmware updates through the Profoto app and Airx connectivity.
Cons
- Not highly effective sufficient for very brilliant out of doors use.
- Fixed gentle just isn’t highly effective sufficient for videographers.
- The OCF modifiers are costly.
- Most Energy – 0.1 to 100 Ws
- Energy Management – 10 Stops in 1/10-Cease Increments
- Flash Period t.1: 1/350 Sec (Full Energy)
t.1: 1/26,000 Sec
t.5: 1/1200 Sec (Full Energy)
1/56,000 Sec - Recycle Time – 0.1 to 1.6 Sec
- Shade Temperature – 5800K +/- 100K
- Sync Sort – Infrared, Optical, Radio
- Constructed-In Wi-fi Receiver – Sure
- Wi-fi Channels / Teams – 100 / 6
- Wi-fi Vary – 330′ / 100.6 m (Radio)
- Energy Supply – Exterior Battery
- Flashes Per Cost – 400 Flashes (Full Energy)
- Show – LCD
- Mount – 5/8″ / 16 mm Receptacle
- Dimensions – H: 3.1 x W: 3.1 x L: 5.0″ / H: 7.9 x W: 7.9 x L: 12.6 cm
- Weight – 27.3 oz / 773 g, Together with Battery
Construct High quality
Profoto gear is on the market worldwide at rental homes due to its sturdy construct high quality. The Profoto A2 monolight and the adjustable tilt bracket aren’t any totally different.
The A collection battery attaches to the highest portion of the sunshine and sits securely with no gaps. The LCD show is recessed, which reduces the possibilities of it changing into broken if the unit is dropped.
Dimension & Dealing with
It’s been mentioned the Profoto A2 is in regards to the measurement of a can of Coke, and that is right. It’ll simply match right into a small digicam bag or lens pouch.
It will also be held off-camera in a single hand whereas the photographer shoots along with his different hand if want be.
In fact, a tilt bracket is included to connect to a lightweight stand. It’s not meant to enter a sizzling shoe.
Gentle High quality
Profoto is thought for lovely gentle and constant temperature, and the Profoto A2 continues this heritage.
The sunshine may be very versatile as it might probably produce softer and tougher gentle relying on the OCF modifier getting used.
The above wedding ceremony picture of the groom along with his Dad had the Profoto A2 magnetically hooked up to the Profoto Clic Softbox Octa (2′) for tender gentle.
Alternately, different Clic system modifiers, such because the Clic Fresnel can produce a tougher Hollywood lighting impact.
Appropriate equipment are huge and continuously rising.
This Profoto gentle may be triggered off-camera with a Profoto A10 flash, a Profoto Join Professional, or Profoto Air Distant sizzling shoe set off.
The Profoto A2 is hooked up magnetically to the Profoto Clic Softbox Octa (2′).
The Profoto A2 with the Clic fresnel modifier hooked up.
The flash head solely outputs a daylight shade temperature of 5800 Kelvin, however this may be modified with numerous CTO gels and coloured gels that mount magnetically.
The Profoto A2 with a full CTO gel hooked up.
The Profoto A2 with no clic modifiers hooked up can be an choice, and this produces a surprisingly tender gentle as a consequence of its frosted glass, as demonstrated by the marriage photos under.
I had restricted room to put the sunshine on the digicam left, so I indifferent the Profoto Clic Softbox Octa (2′) and photographed the couple with no modifier.
Bridal portraits are lit with the Profoto A2 and no gentle modifiers.
Energy
The Profoto A2 is powered by the identical lithium-ion battery because the Profoto A10 on and off digicam flash and can ship 400 full energy flashes earlier than draining utterly.
The recycle time is extraordinarily quick, and fast bursts of pictures will nonetheless end result on this gentle firing each single time.
At 100 watts, the Profoto A2 sits between the corporate’s on-camera flashes and bigger strobes just like the Profoto B10 (see evaluate) and Profoto B1 concerning energy.
If you’re a present person of the B10, think about that the A2 at full energy (setting of 10) equals the B10 at half energy (setting of 9).
This implies in case you use your B10 at a setting of 9 or under more often than not, then the Profoto A2 might do the identical job in these conditions whereas taking over much less house in your digicam case.
This makes this gentle an important choice for the marriage photographer or touring photographer on the go.
I’ve not discovered the Profoto A2 appropriate for overpowering the solar, so Profoto lights such because the B10 and B1 collection nonetheless have their place.
Nonetheless, to extend the sunshine output of the Profoto A2 by 1.7, the Clic Magnum Reflector magnetic modifier will do the job.
The Profoto A2 with the Clic Magnum Reflector gentle modifier hooked up.
Different Options Of The Profoto A2
The Profoto A2 comes with a carrying bag, battery and charger, and a stand adapter with an built-in umbrella holder.
Gentle shaping instruments reminiscent of the press modifiers should be bought individually, though the Clic Dome and Clic wide-angle lens include an A collection on-camera flash and can be utilized with this monolight.
An ideal characteristic that won’t appear obvious is that this gentle will work seamlessly with the Profoto app, offering professional-grade off-camera flash to smartphone photographers through Profoto Airx connectivity.
This app can be helpful for registering the product and firmware updates, as soon as once more, utilizing Airx connectivity.
Options to Profoto A2
The easy and user-friendly Profoto menu system.
The Profoto system supplies an extremely simple menu system to navigate. It’s one thing that actually differentiates from the complicated Godox gear interfaces, an typically in contrast model that tends to imitate the Profoto lights and light-shaping instruments.
Nonetheless, a photographer could also be unable to hitch the admittedly dear Profoto system so a Godox AD100 Professional could be the apples-to-apples snug various to the Profoto A2.
The Profoto is a more sensible choice in case you worth fast and straightforward restore, the flexibility to lease the product anyplace on this planet, and the easy-to-navigate person interface, which helps newbies get off the bottom sooner and professionals to shoot extra effectively whereas on project.
A bride lit with the Profoto A2 and Profoto Clic Softbox Octa (2′).
Worth for Cash
Profoto costs are persistently underneath siege in web boards. Nonetheless, at underneath $1000, the Profoto A2 is the cut price strobe within the firm’s lineup of off-camera lighting.
For portrait photographers and wedding ceremony photographers who need to get into the Profoto system at most worth and portability, I’d counsel the Profoto A10 on-camera flash to begin after which use that to set off the Profoto A2 and share batteries, chargers, and modifiers.
Different Profoto lights may be added later or in no way if one doesn’t shoot in brightly backlit scenes.
FAQ’s
How large is the Profoto A2?
It’s barely bigger than a soda can and about the identical measurement as most 24-70mm f/2.8 lenses.
What sort of mount does Profoto use?
The Profoto Clic magnetic mount, though adapters exist for the Profoto OCF mount and different manufacturers.
What’s the distinction between Profoto A1 and A2?
The A1, A1X, and A10 are on-camera flashes, and the A2 is strictly an off-camera gentle.
Does the Profoto A2 have a modeling gentle?
Sure, it’s low energy with a shade temperature of 3200 Kelvin.
How highly effective is the Profoto A2?
It’s a 100 Ws gentle, however the Clic Magnum Reflector and Clic Fresnel can multiply the sunshine by 1.7 stops.
What’s a monolight?
A monolight is a self-contained photographic flash lighting unit with its personal impartial energy supply. Monolights are often present in studios.
Profoto A2 Evaluate | Conclusion
Profoto A2 with Clic Magnum and Clic Grid hooked up.
The Profoto A2 has already discovered its method into my wedding ceremony package. Its low energy, in comparison with the B10 collection, means it sits at residence once I must overpower the solar.
Nonetheless, once I know open shade or indoor capturing is within the offing, it’s the excellent companion for on-location. I really like the small type issue, recycling time, and a plethora of sunshine shaping instruments out there for it.
I’d love to manage the sunshine temperature, and the modeling gentle’s low energy is a bummer, however that’s the price of utilizing such a compact gentle for max portability.
If you’re new to Profoto merchandise, it is a nice gentle to have and never break the financial institution. For these deeply invested within the Profoto system, this gentle will present a smaller, lighter choice with barely much less energy output than the following gentle up within the vary.
Extremely Really useful
Profoto A2
A compact, strong and light-weight monolight with nice vary, recycle time and battery life.