I like it. The build quality is top notch. It fits nicely in my camera bag. The removable stand adapter helps this. I like the removable battery.

What I don’t know is if the colour output is consistent. When I shoot with my Nikon Speedlights there have been times when one frame changes colour to the next. Something I will have to see on my next shoot.

Using the B10 as a continuous light has an issue which might put off professional use. The display does not show the colour temperature in kelvin which means that the white balance can’t just be dialled into the camera but has to be measured on white.

While I was ordering the B10 I also got the OCF Barn doors.

Barn doors are fairly common in the TV and stage worlds and it is a tool worth mastering.

Is the Profoto OCF Barn doors any good? To be honest I’ve used better.

The Dedolight barn doors I have used have a built in mechanism that rotates the doors easily. The Profoto OCF Barn doors rotate by physically twisting it.

Anyway, time to stop playing and start practising.

Well I went for it and got myself a Profoto B10.

When I first started my personal photographic project back in 2013 I wanted to up my skills on studio lighting. And for those who haven’t read on my main site, prior to 2013 I had only used studio lights during a two day training course and that was the sum of my experience. 

Since 2013 I have been using my Nikon Speedlights with the Pocket Wizard controllers but I have always wanted some studio spec lights. I’m really looking forward to seeing what this can do over this weekend.

This morning Nikon announced the Z series of cameras and lenses.

From the rumour sites and publicity the mount did look bigger than the F mount on their current SLR cameras.

I have said on here before that I was disappointed that due to the technical issues of the F mount there would be a limit to the aperture of Nikon lenses. So it is good news to see that the new Z mount overcomes this problem. In fact the big news of the day is that a Noct 58mm f0.95 is in the pipe line.

There is an adapter for the Z series of cameras so that F mount lenses can be used. I’m sure the small print will mean that a check will be needed to see if the lens you have is compatible with the adapter.

I am excited about the launch today but having seen the native Z mount lenses at launch being either f4 or f1.8 I might wait until the really fast lenses come out before considering replacing my aging Fuji X-E1.

I’ve been looking for a mini stand for my Nikon Speedlight and 3 Legged Thing first brought out Iggy which I thought might fit the bill. But then they launched their new monopod range including the Docz foot stabiliser.

When I investigated the Docz as a potential purchase it did look like a more sturdy piece of kit than the Iggy which is what I wanted. Having a flashgun fall over is not great and now I have a Docz in my hands I can’t see how it can tip over. The spread of the three little legs is huge.

Adding a Frio was no problem. (Which 3LT are selling some of the remaining stock – link to their shop here) 

The built in ball in the Docz gives you a bit of movement to the attached flash, so you can add a bit of angle to the light. 

So all in all, a great addition to my kit.

I used to really like the Quantum Turbo Battery. They recharged your flash gun in a flash which meant that you could keep shooting without missing a shot because the flash gun did not fire.

The first one I owned last me years without any problems. But I would not trust them now. The cells seem to go after 12 months. And if it is not the cells it is the circuit board. Repairs are often over £100 per trip to Fixation.

If you add the initial purchase cost which from memory was about £300 to £400, the numbers do not add up. Getting a Nikon or Canon AA battery pack is more value for money.

With a AA battery pack you can easily swap out any “bad” cell which you can’t in these sealed units.

Over the years I must have also spent a fortune on the cables which would break just by looking at them.

It is no surprise that I have not seen anyone carry one of these or the more modern equivalent, the Turbo 3 on any jobs I have been to where there have been other photographers. It used to be the must have in a press photographer’s bag but it is no more. 

I picked up the Nikon D850 I had reserved today, so many thanks to London Camera Exchange for their help.

I would like to use it a few times before I say more about it, so you will have to wait a bit longer for more details. What I will say is that it feels like a solid piece of kit.

22 April 2018 I haven’t had much chance to use this and by now everyone with this camera has had their say. So I’m going to keep this brief. I like it.

Picture courtesy Nikon

If you are into cameras you probably don’t need me to tell you that the announcement of the D850 by Nikon has created a real buzz in the market.

I have been looking for another camera body and this could be it.

1 September 2017 Quick update to say that I’ve put in a preorder for this camera. I could wait a few months or years to get this secondhand but I don’t really want to do that. If the reporting is correct, Nikon is not making the financial gains it needs to be. It would be a real shame if they joined the list of historic photographic companies. And the only way to prevent that from happening is to buy their products.

As soon as I get the camera in my hands I will offer up my first impressions.

New toys. Once I get to play with them I will post some results.