Gear & Apps
The Profoto Connect Button-Free Trigger | Flash Made Easy?
Profoto announced the Profoto Connect, a new flash trigger that is 100% button-free and the first of its kind. The small pod only has three settings; auto, manual and off.
Auto mode uses TTL, with the correct flash exposure calculated automatically when you press the shutter.
In manual mode, control the flash output via bluetooth and the Profoto app. Swipe your finger across the screen of your smartphone to adjust the power output on your flash unit.
The purpose and Intended Audience
Profoto’s goal is to make flash easier:
“What we needed to do was make it more accessible to more image creators – Profoto Connect does that – from today forward, working with flash couldn’t be easier.”
– Martina Nillenstedt, Profoto Head of Content and Brand.
“When we sat down and talked with photographers, we recognized that all the buttons and menus you find on a typical remote trigger can seem a little complex – so we decided to get rid of them completely,“
– Albert Norelius, Profoto Product Manager
Pricing
The Profoto Connect is currently priced at $299, making it significantly cheaper than the Profoto Air Remote ($429). Check updated pricing here.
Profoto Connect features
• Button-free trigger for all Profoto AirTTL lights
• Attach to your camera’s hot shoe to wirelessly connect camera and light
• Three settings: Auto, manual and off
• Auto mode: Point and shoot with automatic flash power
• Manual mode: Fine-tune the flash settings
• Smart connectivity with the Profoto app (compatible with iPhone 7 and later)
• Small, lightweight and minimalistic design
• Built-in rechargeable LiPo battery – 30h battery life
Specifications
- Smartphone control:Yes, via Bluetooth through Profoto app
- Profoto AirTTL: Yes
- Operation modes: Auto/Manual Frequency Band: 2.4 GHz
- No. of frequency channels: 8
- Range: Up to 300m (1000 ft) (free line of sight
- Profoto Connect (for all brands) includes
- 1 x Profoto Connect in open space)
- Typical battery lifetime: > 30 hours
- 1 x Charging cable (USB-C to USB-A)
- 1 x Protective case
- Recommended light: Profoto A1
- Diameter: 45 mm (1.77 in)
- Height: 29 mm (1.14 in)
- Weight 43 g (0.09 lbs)
Intro Video
Product Images
This will be to photo tech like Green Lantern was to movies.
I would hate it so much if Everytime I just need to change the amount of light from a flash I had to take out my phone, unlock it, pull open the Profoto app, make the changes, put my phone back in my pocket, then take a shot and realize I need to change another light and grab my phone again and repeat this process. No thanks, this seems really dumb to me and at $300 hell no.
I’m still trying to wrap my head around the concept of it and wonder if Profoto really nailed down their target audience for this. Was there really a segment of their audience that was untapped? 1) Want to use and pay the premium for Profoto gear 2) knows little to nothing/not confident with OCF. I do see this trend of making things “idiot proof,” but in the photobooth world. I see this being an advantage if having staff work for you, with very little training. But I believe there’s a misunderstanding on Profoto’s part. If they want to make off-camera flash photography more accessible for people, I doubt people are going to go the Profoto route as a beginner, unless they have the money to burn, working a lucrative job during the day and doing photography on the side. I see companies trying to make things simpler but at the same time devaluing the craft by making it seem effortless when it’s not. I do not see regular professionals who are used to fiddling around with buttons and numbers preferring this method, watering down the blood, sweat, and tears they spent perfecting their craft. I’ll have to think about this some more. I’m all for innovation and perhaps this is the direction that they need to be headed in in order to integrate the smartphone life into a photographer’s workflow. Although it seems ridiculous to require 2 devices to change the power output of a flash when the original remote was all that was needed.