First Exposure: Profoto D1Air Monoblocs

Self-contained monobloc flash units have increased tremendously in popularity among professional photographers in the last few years. Much of this is due to the ability of manufacturers to include advanced electronic circuitry into smaller and lighter packages, providing capabilities and power output previously available only in separate power pack/flash head systems.

The D1 Air line from Profoto is an excellent example of these new high-tech monoblocs. The line consists of three models, named for the maximum Watt-second power output available from each monobloc: the D1 1000, D1 500 and D1 250. They are all fully digital, from the digital display on the back of each unit to the flash-output controls inside, making them the perfect lighting tools for digital capture.

Each model is identical in size—about 12 inches in length and just over five inches in diameter. They are identical in diameter to Profoto’s power-pack heads so you can mount the full line of Profoto light modifiers onto them.

I was sent a D1 500 Air kit for evaluation. It consisted of two D1 500 Air heads, along with two stands, two white umbrellas, power cables and a travel case, into which everything neatly packs for transport or storage. When I unpacked the equipment I found that the Profoto Air Remote transceiver wasalso included.

I own a monobloc system that I use for executive portraits in the studio and on location. I like everything about them except the need to run around to each head if I want to change power settings to create different lighting ratios. The D1 Air monoblocs have eliminated the need for this.
The ‘Air’ in each of the model’s names refers to the built-in radio receiver in the unit. The receivers are controlled by the Profoto Air Remote transceiver, which attaches to the camera hot-shoe and is used as a transmitter with the D1 Air monoblocs.

On the Air Remote, you can choose from eight different transmitting frequencies and the D1 monoblocs can be placed into six different groups. The Air Remote allows you to control the power settings and modeling light of all the units in each group or to control settings and modeling lights of all of the equipment attached at once.

I set each unit as a separate group so that I could adjust the output of each independently of the other in order to vary the lighting ratio. When I wanted to keep the same lighting ratio, but change the exposure, I just selected the Master button and changed the power settings of both groups. You can change the power in 1/10-stop increments by pressing the + and – buttons or in full-stop increments by pressing them and holding them down.

If I were using softboxes or reflectors, this system would have been perfect. But I was using the kit umbrellas, which meant the digital readout on the backs of the units faced the subject, not me. So, while I didn’t need to go to the heads to change the power settings, if I needed to see what setting I was on, I still needed to walk around to the back of the monobloc. Power level readouts on the sides of the units would have helped, but power level indicators on the Air Remote unit at the camera would be ideal.

Power levels on the units are indicated by arbitrary numbers. On the D1 500 Air, the numbers range from 4 to 10 with each integer one f-stop different from the one before or following. Repeated flashing at each power level gave exactly the same exposure, flash after flash, not a tenth of a stop more or less. The color temperature at the same power setting varied by less than 50 degrees Kelvin with repeated flashing. Over the full power range from 4 to 10, the color temperature varied by only 400 degrees Kelvin, an excellent result and a good indicator of the advanced technology inside the units.

Just as much attention has been paid to the ergonomics of the D1 Air monoblocs as the technology inside. They are faster to set up than any other flash units I have ever used. There isn’t even a protective cover to remove from the flashtube, which, along with the 300-watt modeling lamp, is protected by a frosted glass plate and built-in reflector that gives a 77-degree light spread that is ideal for Profoto’s umbrellas and lightboxes. The Profoto umbrella slides into a tube along the top center of the unit and doesn’t even require a set-screw to hold it in position.

All of the controls are found on the back of the unit and are clearly labeled. The controls surround the knob used to set the power level. Turning the power setting knob adjusts the power in 1/10-stop increments; pushing it in and turning it changes the power in full stops. And these adjustments are exact when measured with a flash meter.

Even the design of the case that holds the kit is well thought out. Stands and umbrellas reside in the upper section so they come out first for setup. The two monoblocs are stored below so that when they come out they can go directly on the stands. The power cords have their own pocket and are removed once the monoblocs are on the stands. The only thing my assistant wanted is wheels to roll the packed kit around.

This one complaint aside, there is little else to criticize about the Profoto D1 Air units. Especially since they are compatible with the full line of Profoto light-shaping accessories. The MSRP of the D1 250 Air is $1069, the D1 500 Air is $1179 and the D1 1000 Air is $1699. MSRP of the D1 500 Air kit is $2679. The optional Profoto Air Remote transceiver is $321.

Stan Sholik is a contributing writer for NewsWatch Feature Service. He is also a commercial photographer with over 30 years of large format studio and location experience.