John Fisher wrote:
And even with the second battery for the Mini, you still get more shots at these higher power settings with the Vagabond Lithium Extreme.

You're saying the extreme offers more shots than the mini with an extra battery... (2) 130Wh batteries beats a 158 though... Website even states a mini gives 400-500 vs 500 from the extreme.

John Fisher wrote:

The new Vagabond Lithium Extreme portable power solution

I have been working with the new Vagabond Lithium Extreme and I thought I'd write a couple of reports about the VLX, how it compares to the very popular Vagabond Mini, and my experiences with working with the VLX in the field.

First, the new Vagabond Lithium Extreme is heavier than the Vagabond Mini, no surprise there considering the additional punch you get from the VLX. The VLX weighs in at slightly more than six pounds (Mike Fryd and I weighed it at 6 pounds, one ounce). Now, the Vagabond Mini weighs in at three pounds, 5 ounces, but when you add a second battery to the VML and the (very useful) carrying bag, you are up to 5 pounds, 10 ounces. When I'm in the field I normally carry my Vagabond Mini in it's bag with the second battery, so this is a reasonable comparison at least in my case. Now, when I'm actually using the Mini to power up a light (frequently with the ABR800 ring light), I'm not usually carrying the second battery!

So, when is the Vagabond Lithium Extreme the correct choice for work in the field? Ha, use more than one light (like two Einstein E640's), and use more than 120ws of power per light, then the VLX really starts to show it's value! We found that setting the two Einstein's to 320ws, we had typical recycle times of 1.7 seconds as opposed to 4 seconds with the Vagabond Mini. And even with the second battery for the Mini, you still get more shots at these higher power settings with the Vagabond Lithium Extreme.


The Vagabond Mini Lithium portable power solution

So, which is the best portable power solution for you? In my case, since my field application where I require portable power is normally firing up my ABR800, the Vagabond Mini is my first choice. Michael Fryd on the other hand has a catalog customer who wants to shoot at the beach, and Mike likes to use two strobes. So for Mike the Vagabond Lithium Extreme might be the better choice.

In any event, either the VLX (Extreme) or the VML (Mini) are welcome field power solutions compared to the original Vagabond (weighing in at over 12 pounds!) or any gas generator, which used to be our only choices. Mike did point out that after you lugged it out there, the original Vagabond did hold down a light stand better on the beach, so I guess there is that!

A final note to those that are familiar with the original Vagabond (and yes, Mike and I still own one!). You had to keep the Vagabond with it's lead/acid battery on charge frequently to keep it topped off and ready to go, and to maintain it's battery life. The Vagabond Mini and the new Vagabond Lithium Extreme can be charged, then left stored for weeks, even months, and be ready to go when you need them! When I arrived at Michael's studio for the tests, I mentioned that both the VLX and the VML had been in my closet for at least a month. Both fired up and tested at full power! Remarkable products, and a big improvement over our portable power solutions from the past.

The Vagabond Mini with it's carry bag retails through Paul C. Buff companies (Alien Bees, White Lighting, Zeus, and Einstein) for $255. A second battery for the VML is $89.95, and fits conveniently in the carry bag with the charger and the Vagabond Mini.

The Vagabond Lithium Extreme retails through Paul C. Buff companies for $399.95, it's carry bag is $24.95 and a second battery (in the rare case where might you need it) is available for $159.95.

I keep mentioning the carry bags in part because they are so useful to me, and they are so inexpensive as to be a no brainer at least in my case! In a future report I intend to get into more technical information about the Vagabond Lithium Extreme (and the Vagabond Mini), how they work electrically, why they work seamlessly with Alien Bees, White Lightning, Zeus and Einsteins, and why they might work (or might not) with other brands of lights. (It has to do with current limiters, voltage reductions, etc. which Mike understands and I'm frankly clueless about.)

John
Sponsored photographer for Paul C. Buff companies (Alien Bees, White Lightning, Zeus, and Einstein
--
John Fisher
900 West Avenue, Suite 633
Miami Beach, Florida 330139
(305) 534-9322
http://www.johnfisher.com

have you thought about having your own blog?

John Fisher wrote:
The new Vagabond Lithium Extreme portable power solution

I have been working with the new Vagabond Lithium Extreme and I thought I'd write a couple of reports about the VLX, how it compares to the very popular Vagabond Mini, and my experiences with working with the VLX in the field.

First, the new Vagabond Lithium Extreme is heavier than the Vagabond Mini, no surprise there considering the additional punch you get from the VLX. The VLX weighs in at slightly more than six pounds (Mike Fryd and I weighed it at 6 pounds, one ounce). Now, the Vagabond Mini weighs in at three pounds, 5 ounces, but when you add a second battery to the VML and the (very useful) carrying bag, you are up to 5 pounds, 10 ounces. When I'm in the field I normally carry my Vagabond Mini in it's bag with the second battery, so this is a reasonable comparison at least in my case. Now, when I'm actually using the Mini to power up a light (frequently with the ABR800 ring light), I'm not usually carrying the second battery!

So, when is the Vagabond Lithium Extreme the correct choice for work in the field? Ha, use more than one light (like two Einstein E640's), and use more than 120ws of power per light, then the VLX really starts to show it's value! We found that setting the two Einstein's to 320ws, we had typical recycle times of 1.7 seconds as opposed to 4 seconds with the Vagabond Mini. And even with the second battery for the Mini, you still get more shots at these higher power settings with the Vagabond Lithium Extreme.

The Vagabond Mini Lithium portable power solution

So, which is the best portable power solution for you? In my case, since my field application where I require portable power is normally firing up my ABR800, the Vagabond Mini is my first choice. Michael Fryd on the other hand has a catalog customer who wants to shoot at the beach, and Mike likes to use two strobes. So for Mike the Vagabond Lithium Extreme might be the better choice.

In any event, either the VLX (Extreme) or the VML (Mini) are welcome field power solutions compared to the original Vagabond (weighing in at over 12 pounds!) or any gas generator, which used to be our only choices. Mike did point out that after you lugged it out there, the original Vagabond did hold down a light stand better on the beach, so I guess there is that!

A final note to those that are familiar with the original Vagabond (and yes, Mike and I still own one!). You had to keep the Vagabond with it's lead/acid battery on charge frequently to keep it topped off and ready to go, and to maintain it's battery life. The Vagabond Mini and the new Vagabond Lithium Extreme can be charged, then left stored for weeks, even months, and be ready to go when you need them! When I arrived at Michael's studio for the tests, I mentioned that both the VLX and the VML had been in my closet for at least a month. Both fired up and tested at full power! Remarkable products, and a big improvement over our portable power solutions from the past.

The Vagabond Mini with it's carry bag retails through Paul C. Buff companies (Alien Bees, White Lighting, Zeus, and Einstein) for $255. A second battery for the VML is $89.95, and fits conveniently in the carry bag with the charger and the Vagabond Mini.

The Vagabond Lithium Extreme retails through Paul C. Buff companies for $399.95, it's carry bag is $24.95 and a second battery (in the rare case where might you need it) is available for $159.95.

I keep mentioning the carry bags in part because they are so useful to me, and they are so inexpensive as to be a no brainer at least in my case! In a future report I intend to get into more technical information about the Vagabond Lithium Extreme (and the Vagabond Mini), how they work electrically, why they work seamlessly with Alien Bees, White Lightning, Zeus and Einsteins, and why they might work (or might not) with other brands of lights. (It has to do with current limiters, voltage reductions, etc. which Mike understands and I'm frankly clueless about.)

John
Sponsored photographer for Paul C. Buff companies (Alien Bees, White Lightning, Zeus, and Einstein
--
John Fisher
900 West Avenue, Suite 633
Miami Beach, Florida 330139
(305) 534-9322
http://www.johnfisher.com

Thank you for the sponsored infomercial.

Great example of advertising that tries to be disguised as news.

You're not reporting when you're making a point of mentioning carry bags and how "seamlessly" things work with other parts of your sponsor's product line.

Even your thread's title sounds like it was taken directly from a press release.  New solutions?  How long has the mini been out?  I think I've owned one for years, not exactly a new solution.

Don't forget about the convenient carry bag, let's all be sure to buy a carry bag, definitely don't forget to get the carry bag, ya hear?

I'm sorry, but this isn't news or reporting, it is simply starting a thread for trying to promote your sponsor's products.

DougBPhoto wrote:

Thank you for the sponsored infomercial.

Great example of advertising that tries to be disguised as news.

I don't think that this counts as a sponsored/paid infomercial, Doug... it's borderline somewhere... but as a sponsored photographer, he gets to play with the cool toys, usually no extra money.

I had been the house photographer for a fashion week organizer, sponsored by Profoto and hence I ended up getting the above mentioned D1 kit with air remote... and if I could write a review like his, besides how much I like it... I would. 

udor wrote:
I don't think that this counts as a sponsored/paid infomercial, Doug... it's borderline somewhere... but as a sponsored photographer, he gets to play with the cool toys, usually no extra money.

Let's see... PR dept like headline for title... check
product shot... check
description of how awesome the new product is.. check
make sure to mention other similar product by same sponsorvendor... check
product shot of second item... check
describe second item, multiple-year-old product as new... check
make sure to specifically mention other items in product line... check
Einsteins.. check check
ABR800 ring light.. check check
Alien Bees, White Lightning, Zeus and Einsteins... check check check
make sure to repeatedly mention accessories and how useful they are... check, check, and check
... "retails through Paul C. Buff companies"... check and check

He gets to play with the cool toys?  No, I'd be rather surprised if he does not get to use them all the time to make his living... equipment the rest of us need to spend money to buy  It is not playing with or testing, it is being sponsored.

That is why you want to be sponsored, it is receiving something of value, aka, receiving compensation. 

They sponsor people why? To have their products promoted, and to have that person promote their products, just like he is doing, skillfully and dutifully promoting his sponsor's products here.

udor wrote:
I had been the house photographer for a fashion week organizer, sponsored by Profoto and hence I ended up getting the above mentioned D1 kit with air remote... and if I could write a review like his, besides how much I like it... I would. 

And you could put that "review" on your blog, your web site, or even your profile, no problem.  I'm sure the sponsor would love it, promoting their products, that is why they sponsor things.

But, when you start a thread to promote your sponsor's product with an obvious puff piece, it is quite clearly trying to disguise spam in a review's clothing.... or in a convenient carry bag...  did I mention how much I love that they also have a convenient carry bag, for just $24.95?

Hurry, operators are standing by.

DougBPhoto wrote:

Thank you for the sponsored infomercial.

Great example of advertising that tries to be disguised as news.

You're not reporting when you're making a point of mentioning carry bags and how "seamlessly" things work with other parts of your sponsor's product line.

Even your thread's title sounds like it was taken directly from a press release.  New solutions?  How long has the mini been out?  I think I've owned one for years, not exactly a new solution.

Don't forget about the convenient carry bag, let's all be sure to buy a carry bag, definitely don't forget to get the carry bag, ya hear?

I'm sorry, but this isn't news or reporting, it is simply starting a thread for trying to promote your sponsor's products.

If you are not happy here move to another thread.
John uses the Vagabond and has provided valuable information.

DougBPhoto wrote:
Thank you for the sponsored infomercial.

It's okay, I'm used to this and Doug makes a fair point, I am sponsored.

Now, into the Wayback Machine! About nine or ten years ago I bought my first Alien Bees light, the venerable and much loved AB 800. I had owned and used Speedotron's for over twenty years at that point, and frequently used Profoto equipment at a studio where I did a lot of work. I had purchased the AB 800 as an inexpensive location light as I hated dragging that big Speedotron box (the 2401A, 39 pounds!) everywhere I went. Over the years I became aware that the Alien Bee light, while not perfect, was a real trouper and survived my less than careful treatment.

I also had become familiar with the technical department at Paul Buff companies, and started lobbying them to produce a ring light (I was but one in a number of people suggesting the same thing). When Alien Bees released the ABR800 I was fortunate enough to have (important word here) purchased one of the first units released. And, in spite of it's mount issues (and if you think it's weird now, you should have see the original model!), I was so impressed with the ABR800 (and it's cost, roughly 10% or less than competitive models), that I wrote extensively about it in 2006 (A Ring-ing Endorsement).

That and a couple of lucky breaks led to Paul Buff offering to sponsor me (along with a couple of other guys who don't write as often as I do). At the time, but before I was sponsored, I was going hammer and tong with a guy on another popular site  who kept insisting that "no real professional would use Alien Bees....." And I'm thinking, who am I, chopped liver? Wellllllll, it turned out that the guy was sponsored by another lighting company and he never disclosed this when he was writing. Later after that all came out, I remember thinking, if I ever write about a product that I have some commercial connection with, I have to disclose this. And over the years I have tried to be open about my commercial relationships.

I am sponsored by Paul C. Buff companies, but I did purchase and use a lot of the Alien Bees equipment prior to being endorsed. I do believe in the products (generally), particularly the new Einstein studio strobes. But I am open about my sponsorship today so anyone reading my reports should take that into consideration. I only write about things I use and that I really like, and not everything I write about is from a sponsored company (which is easy, as my only sponsor is Paul C. Buff companies!).

John
--
John Fisher
900 West Avenue, Suite 633
Miami Beach, Florida 330139
(305) 534-9322
http://www.johnfisher.com

Jerry Nemeth wrote:
If you are not happy here move to another thread.
John uses the Vagabond and has provided valuable information.

Jerry,

I use the Vagabond Mini also... had the Vagabond before it.. .and the ABR800, numerous Alien Bees, and a White Lightning x3200.

I have nothing against the product line, in fact, I like the products very much.  (At least when they do what is claimed, didn't quite play that way with the WLx3200.)

I have nothing against John, and I have nothing against the company.

What matters though is that this site has rules against using the forums to advertise products that someone receives compensation for, and that is an anti-spam policy that applies to everyone who uses the site, at least normally.  It is a very well written piece that promotes his sponsor and his sponsor's new product (and other products.) Does not mean that I don't respect John, nor his honesty in always disclosing that he is sponsored by PCB.  I think that shows a level of disclosure and truthfulness that we don't normally see, which is a good thing.

However, as John said, he became sponsored because of his advocating and promoting the products, just as he is doing here.  I don't fault him for that, if I had a company giving me free stuff, I'd probably be advocating for their products as well, after all, that is why they sponsor people.

Rather than complaining about my comments, if you like this thread and you like what John said, maybe you should be thanking me, because if I express that I feel this is spam, that means Dean will fight on behalf of the opposite position, thus ensuring that this thread will remain open.

I have nothing against the good sharing of information, but the fact remains, it is a giant family sized can of spam, and spam is normally against the rules of the site, but I may have just helped John to ensure the post stays open.




Note: If this were in the edu/photography section as a review, I would have no issue with that, but since the site has anti-spam rules for the forums, creating threads for promoting products for which the poster is compensated/sponsored really should not happen.