Paul C. Buff Einstein 640 Operating Instructions Manual
TM
EINSTEIN
Operating Instructions for Einstein
Every decade or two a quantum leap occurs in ideas and technology that sets the stage for years to
come. While most are content to follow the leader and add a feature or two, a few innovators take the
lead with revolutionary advancements that redene the future state of the art.
Paul C. Buff, Inc.™ has a track record for such innovations, rst in 1986 with the forerunner of the
modern self-contained studio ash – White Lightning™ Ultra. Then again in 2001 with the rst full
featured affordable-yet-professional monolight for the new masses of young digital photographers –
the colorful little light that could – and did – AlienBees™.
We are now pleased to present the most advanced integrated studio ash system ever conceived – at
any price, with performance and features far beyond any “Professional” monolight. After two years of
intense design, evolution, blood, sweat, and tears, welcome to the brave new future of studio lighting
- Einstein™, and the companion Cyber Commander™ extreme integrated wireless control system.
Proudly designed and manufactured in America.
TM
640 Studio Flash
Paul C. Buff, Inc.TM USA offers a 60-Day Absolute Satisfaction Guarantee. If, for any reason, you are not satised with the equipment that
you have purchased from Paul C. Buff, Inc.
shipping.
TM
Paul C. Buff, Inc.
limited to the repair or replacement of products that have become defective under normal use, as outlined in the manual. The warranty does
not apply to the ashtubes or modeling lamps as these become exhausted based on normal use (except in the unusual case of an unexpected
manufacturer’s defect). Should you experience any difculties, please contact us so that we can assess your predicament and let you know if
we need to bring in your unit for repair.
USA additionally offers a 2-Year Factory Warranty on all EinsteinTM 640 ash units. The obligation of Paul C. Buff, Inc.TM is
TM
USA, you may return your equipment within 60 days for a complete refund minus the cost of
Paul C. Buff, Inc.TM • 2725 Bransford Ave • Nashville, TN • 37204 • USA
1-800-443-5542 • 615-383-3982 • www.paulcbuff.com
v. 04/2012
CSXCV Transceiver (sold
separately)
Umbrella Holder
Slave Flash Sensor
Micro SD Card Slot
Function Button
Adjust Up/Down Buttons
8A Fuse
Power Button
Power Cord Socket
Test Button
Easy Set Button
Sync Jack (1/8-inch)
Quick-Release Levers
Swivel Ratchet Handle
Stand Mount
Tightening Knob
Frosted Glass Dome
Spring Clips
Holding Fingers
INITIAL SETUP: The Einstein™ ash unit ships with a black polycarbonate shipping cover,
in place over the ashtube and modeling lamp to protect these items in transit. The opaque
black cover must be removed before using the unit.
E640 with shipping cover
in place
Easy Set Button
Locate the Frosted Glass Dome (inside the box, packaged separately from the ash unit).
TM
Place the dome on the faceplate of Einstein
by sliding the outer lip under the Spring Clips
one side at a time. If the t feels loose, you may push in on the spring clips towards the
ashtube (be careful not to touch the ashtube), then re-attach the dome.
Place Einstein™ on a standard light stand (with 5/8” top coupler) inside the Stand Mount
and secure with the Tightening Knob. Loosen the Swivel Ratchet Handle to allow
swiveling Einstein™ up or down. Note the handle has a ratchet action. Pulling the handle
out from Einstein™ allows you to position it so that it doesn’t run into the body of the unit
when tightened.
Connect the supplied power cord into the Power Socket, and into a 120V or 240VAC,
50 or 60Hz outlet, or to Vagabond™. Einstein™ will automatically sense the voltage and
frequency. Press the Power Button to turn the unit on. Note that when Einstein™ is turned
OFF it’s actually in STANDBY Mode and can be turned ON remotely if it is tted with the
optional CSXCV Transceiver and Cyber Commander™ remote.
EASY SET USE: The recessed Easy Set Button allows instant setup for most users.
Pressing this button clears any special programming and sets Einstein™ to the following
parameters (how the unit is shipped, with any programming cleared):
1. Modeling lamp tracks ashpower. The Einstein™ has “What You See Is What You Get”
modeling. Recycle indication is provided by an audible beep and by the modeling lamp
dimming then restoring brightness.
2. Einstein™ is placed in Constant Color Mode, the Slave Flash Sensor is turned on, and
the optional CSXCV Transceiver is set to Frequency 1 and Channel 1, if present.
PRELIMINARY TESTING: With Einstein™ on, operating the Adjust Buttons should
increase or decrease both the ashpower and the modeling brightness by 1/10 f-stop per
Adjust Buttons
click. If you hold either button in, the power will scroll.
DISPLAY FUNCTION: As you adjust the power using the Adjust Buttons, you should see
the Flash and Model Bargraphs on the LCD display go up or down correspondingly. Since
Easy Set defaults the modeling lamp to track the ash power, both bars should move in
2
Flashpower Bargraph (Full to 1/256 power)
Modeling Lamp Bargraph (0 to -8f)
Flash Adjustment Screen
Model Adjustment Screen
Model Lamp Mode Screen
Full Power ON Tracks Flashpower
Independently Adjustable Off OFF
Recycle / Ready Indicator Screen
Audible Indicator Visual Indicator
Both Neither OFF
Slave Eye Status Screen (slave on or off)
Action / Color Mode Screen
Remote Channel (channel 01 - 16)
Remote Frequency (frequency 01 - 16)
unison. If you press the Test Button at any power, the unit should ash and the modeling
lamp should dim. Then, when the unit is recycled, the modeling lamp will return on and the
audible recycle indicator beep will sound.
Flash Adjustment screen
Flash (left) and Modeling
(right) Bargraphs
The same should happen if the Sync Jack is connected to your camera via sync cord to
your camera’s PC jack or Hot Shoe Adapter (see Camera Sync, page 8; see also Cyber-
TM
Sync
/ Cyber Commander™ Radio Remote).
DEFAULT-TO-FLASH SCREEN: Einstein™ defaults automatically to the Flash Adjustment Screen after a few seconds following any setup changes; this is the screen with the
ash icon, highlighted in blue in the LCD screen diagram example (above). Power adjustment is performed by operating the Adjust Buttons. Notice as you change the ashpower
with these buttons, the blue-highlighted screen will display the current ashpower relative
to Full Power (-1.0f in this example), the color temperature (5725K in this example), the t.1
ash duration (1/2050 second in this example), the EU Number (5.7 in this example), and
the WS (320WS in this example).
Since the modeling lamp was set to track the ashpower by the Easy Set Button, the Model
Adjustment Screen will also change (-1.0f and 125W in this example).
ATTACHING LIGHT MODIFIERS: Light modiers may be attached to Einstein™ via two
mechanisms: the Umbrella Holder or the front Reector / Softbox Attachment Mechanism -
the Holding Fingers and Quick-Release Levers. The umbrella tube runs the entire length
of the top of the unit. It holds standard umbrella shafts up to 0.350” diameter, accommodating shafts 9mm and smaller. The Umbrella Holder tightening knob secures the umbrella in
the desired position. Reectors, softboxes and similar accessories use the standard AB /
WL / Balcar mount, and are held securely by the Holding Fingers. Quick-Release Levers
are spring loaded and accessible from either side of the unit. Einstein™ mounts all accessories that t previous Paul C. Buff, Inc.™ lights except the obsolete WL130, WL5,000 and
WL10,000 models. When mounting accessories to the face plate, be sure all four Holding
Fingers are within the opening and that the Quick-Release Levers have returned rmly to
the open position. Failure to do so can result in the unintended release of the modier from
the light.
MICRO SD CARD SLOT: Firmware updates can be downloaded and installed via a standard
Micro SD Card plugged into this slot.
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