EINSTEIN 640 DEFINITION AND CAPABILITIES

This is a fundamental departure from essentially all competitive monoflash units whose flash durations typically lengthen as reduced. A further advantage is that the usual long trailing edge of the flash output is eliminated. This trailing edge is the primary cause of limited action stopping capability and “ghosting” in competitive studio flash units. Einstein 640 achieves t.1 flash durations as short as 1/10,000 second for exceedingly sharp action stopping. The standard “t.5” flash duration specification is only applicable at the full power end of Einstein 640’s power range. Throughout most of the range the t.5 and t.1 times are essentially the same and are exceedingly short. For a discussion of t.5 and t.1 flash durations and IGBT characteristics, please see “Flash Duration Explained”.

Another disadvantage of most monoflash units is the characteristic shift in color temperature as power is reduced. Thanks to the IGBT switching of the flashtube, Einstein 640 offers a constant color mode wherein the color temperature remains within +/- 50°K over its entire vast power adjustment range. Einstein 640 features a tightly voltage regulated 250W quartz modeling lamp that precisely tracks flashpower over the entire nine f-stop power range. No adjustment or lamp changing is needed to charge from power lines anywhere in the world. Unlike most digitally controlled monoflash units, Einstein 640 is designed for crash-free operation when powered by low power pure sine wave battery to AC inverters such as Vagabond.

The flashtube and modeling lamp are contained within a removable frosted Pyrex dome that serves to assure an exacting relationship between flash and modeling patterns, and to further reduce UV emission from the UV coated flashtube. The glass dome, of course, also protects the lamps from damage or shock hazard when attaching and removing light modifiers, and eliminates reflector hotspots or pattern irregularities often found on competitive flash units.

Einstein 640 features a fast 1.7 second recycle time to 640WS, with correspondingly faster recycle times at reduced power. It is amply fan-cooled and features extensive protection against damage from excessive firing rates or from any fault condition that might occur. Thus it is designed for reliable heavy commercial/industrial use.

The rear panel features a large illuminated LCD that displays all parameters, including t.1 flash durations and color temperature, WS, Modeling watts, EU-style power numbers and other parameters. Power is controlled in 1/10 f-stop digital controls and is accurate and consistent to typically 1/10f over the entire power range. Additional features include ready beeper, switchable light-sensitive slave, and the ability to power down the unit remotely from Cyber Commander. An “Easy Setup” button allows the preconfigured plug and play parameters used in the majority of situations.

An improved Balcar-style accessory mount securely attaches all Paul C. Buff accessories designed for White Lightning, AlienBees and Zeus lighting systems and all third party accessories that offer the Balcar/WL/AB standard mount. Improved umbrella attachment securely holds standard umbrella shafts up to 9mm in a position close to the lamp axis.

The anticipated price for Einstein is $439.95 and the optional transceiver cost is $29.95 (model# CSXCV).

Behind the Einstein

As many customers are aware, Project Einstein™ has been in progress in parallel with the development of CyberSync™ and Cyber Commander™ since early 2008. These products are tightly intertwined and together form the core of the next generation of Paul C. Buff studio flash products. It should be pointed out that all of these, as other Paul C. Buff products, have been conceived and designed by our founder and President, Paul C. Buff.

Paul’s work consists of the product concepts, function, ergonomics, marketability analysis, cost and quality control, mechanical concept, engineering and CAD design, circuit design and overseeing of all aspects of development and marketing. Dr. Michael Morgan assists Paul in his position as Chief Engineer.

Those who know Paul are keenly aware that his work is performed at an exceedingly rapid pace. But, at age 73, Paul tends to hang onto a sometimes-optimistic view of the capabilities and work pace of third-party vendors and consultants. This has not presented much of a problem to Paul’s past efforts because there was little need for, in particular, third-party engineering consultants.

However, the next-generation product line involves certain advanced technologies that are outside of Paul’s engineering experience and capabilities.

The original Einstein designs required a high level of technical expertise in the area of high efficiency switch mode power supplies of complex nature and demanding performance requirements. Thus, a respected group of consultants was selected to do the engineering of the power supply elements of Einstein. They offered time, cost and performance estimates that projected a timely and cost-effective completion of a design that would suit the Einstein requirements. The projected design time frame was 90 days.

After one year of work, the consultants were unable to deliver a design that was acceptable. Since coming product announcements had been released prior to this, Paul decided to use a scaled-down version of what had been developed in an alternative product named AB Max. Five months later, AB Max was indeed designed and functional and all parts needed to begin production had been purchased. However, upon thorough evaluation and testing, Paul concluded the power supply design work was too marginalized, not cost-effective and possibly prone to reliability problems . . . not suitable for prime time.

At this point Paul announced that he would not release the AB Max product for the reasons stated, feeling such a release could possibly bring more damage to the company’s reputation than would the failure to deliver a promised product on time.

At this point it was decided that all previous power supply work would be scrapped and that the product would be designed in-house, using technologies that both Paul and Dr. Morgan were well experienced in. In the redesign process it was decided to restore most of the features of the original Einstein concept, so the product will have capabilities quite beyond those announced for AB Max.

This work began on July 15. Since that time we have completely designed and prototyped the entire product in-house and are now ready to begin the process of drafting production circuit boards and programming the microprocessor and LCD display firmware.

The redesigned housing molds are due to be finished in about 15 days and most parts needed to build the product are in stock. At this point the best estimate we can give for production of this product is mid December 2009.