With the announcement of their new A1X, Profoto has once again proven their commitment to innovation and raised the bar in the lighting game. They continue to re-evaluate and improve upon their existing product lines and the freshly announced Profoto A1X is no exception.
Retailing at $1095, (or $1195 with the Connect Wireless Trigger), the Profoto A1X is available now from Adorama, Amazon, & B&H.
It has a little more of everything that made its predecessor a success. An even more powerful battery and faster recycling are just some of the thirty-plus updates that were made to the product. In other words – they’ve provided more where it matters.
Profoto A1X Specs:
- Max energy – 76 Ws
- Energy range – 9 f-stops (2.0-10)
- HSS energy range – 9 f-stops (2-10)
- Recycling time – 0.05-1.0s
- Energy stability – 0.2 f-stop
- TTL – Yes
- HSS – Yes
- Lamp Type – LED (Modeling Light)
- Wireless Connectivity
- Frequency band – 2.4 GHz (2404 to 2479.3 MHz)
- No of sync channels – 20
- Operating range – Normal sync and remote control up to 300 m (1000 ft). TTL and HSS up to 100 m (330 ft).
- Battery capacity – Up to 450 full power flashes
- Battery Charges in up to 80 minutes
- Measurements
- Width – 7.5 cm (2.95 in)
- Length – 16.5 cm (6.37 in)
- Height – 10.8 cm (4.25 in)
- Weight – 560 g (1.2 lbs) including battery
Profoto A1 vs the A1X – What’s The Difference?
The A1X and A1 are siblings. The similarities are many, but the A1X has a little more of everything. A more powerful battery, faster recycling, and an updated user interface. And this time it’s available for Sony!
The only difference between the A1X, its predecessor A1 and every other studio light profoto makes is size – it’s small enough to fit comfortably in the palm of your hand, making the A1X and A1 Profoto’s only true on-camera solutions.
The A1X delivers a quality of light that’s both natural and beautiful, because like the larger Profoto lights in the family, the A1X features a round head that gives a soft smooth fall off – that’s what makes the light feel so wonderfully natural.
Some of the big differences between the A1 and the new A1X according to profoto;
- The Battery is upgraded boasting up to 450 full-power shots vs the 350 from the A1
- The recycling time has dropped from 1.2 seconds to just 1 second
- The Number of wireless channels has been increased from 8 to 20 in the A1X
- An upgraded larger high-res display with easy to see text (Similar to the Profoto B10)
- Additional compatibility from Nikon and Canon by adding Sony
- An updated fit, feel and finish
Retailing at $1095, (or $1195 with the Connect Wireless Trigger), the Profoto A1X is available now from Adorama, Amazon, & B&H.
What do you think? Are you interested in trying the new A1X out? Have you already used the A1? Let us know in the comments below.
*All images & video shared with permission from Profoto. Do not share or reuse images without direct permission.
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I have to say, I’m a bit disappointed in this upgrade and wish profoto would start getting it right the first time around. I feel like they pushed this X out without any real new features and wish they could have just made a better battery to buy and firmware update for the “now old” a1. It used to be that when you buy a top of the line product like this you get a solid 5 years with it before it’s time to upgrade and that upgrade is a big deal. Profoto has been dropping there X version on products a year later with very slight upgrades that don’t seem worth it. I own a few B1’s an B10 and an A1. Of course it’s a great system but maybe the next time something drops from profoto, we wait a year or so for them to actually get it right.
Thank you for the great article. I do a question. Did they make the magnetic adapters stronger? I have seen many posts where they often fall off? I use the Canon 600 EX RT II and love it but it at times it does not recycle fast enough. Looking forward to hearing your thoughts
Thank you for the great article. I do a question. Did they make the magnetic adapters stronger? I have seen many posts where they often fall off? I use the Canon 600 EX RT II and love it but it at times it does not recycle fast enough. Looking forward to hearing your thoughts
I did not have the predecessor to this flash, but I recently sold off my whole Nikon kit, and bought a Sony A7R4 with some 1.4 G Master glass, and this Profoto A1X. I just love this flash. I had a ton of light modifiers for my Nikon SB 910, and I had things like the Mag Mod magnet setup, so bulky and heavy. I LOVE the tiny magnets on the A1X. I carry it with that round little dome installed. It’s hard to actually remove! I especially love the bundled light modifiers that came with the A1X. They fit into a tiny pouch. With the A1X I’m carrying a whole lighting set up, with a magnetic bounce card, a diffusion dome and the wide angle modifier. This A1X is twice the price of the SB 910; and so worth it. It’s a cinch to use. Love the round head. It’s a gorgeous flash. I love to use it!