BUFF 56-inch Moon Unit User manual

THE 56-INCH MOON UNIT™ FOUNDATION PACKAGE:
The 56-inch Moon Unit™ is specifically configured to augment our AlienBees™ ABR800 and
Zeus™ ZRM1 RingMaster ringflash systems. The MU56 Moon Unit™ Foundation Package
arrives ready to assemble with the following components:
•
• The Reversible Silver / White Backing allows you to build your Moon Unit™ with either the
silver or white surface facing the inside of the unit.
• The Fiberglass Assembly Rods are used to construct the frame of the Moon Unit™. Eight rods
fit inside the triangular rod posts on the speedring and inside the rod pockets on the reversible
silver / white backing. Two extra rods are provided for replacement needs.
•
• The Rotating Speedring is used to attach the Moon Unit™ to your ringflash using the outside
locking ledges on the unit (fitting in place of the standard ring reflector).
• The MU56 Aim-Through Assembly includes the primary diffuser, the secondary diffuser and
the aim-through diffuser / reflector holder. The aim-through assembly is used with front diffusion
fabric panels having center holes for traditional on-camera ringflash use.
•
• The MU56 Non-Aim-Through Assembly includes the primary diffuser, the secondary diffuser
and the non-aim-through diffuser / reflector holder. The non-aim-through assembly is used with
front diffusion fabric panels without center holes for use off-camera as conventional flash units.
ASSEMBLING THE 56-INCH MOON UNIT™:
Be
Before attaching the Moon Unit™ to your ringflash unit, ensure that the ringflash / power pack
is TURNED OFF and unplugged from the power source. Both the ring reflector and the front
cover / diffuser / gel holder must be removed in order to mount the Moon Unit™.
1. Begin with the reversible silver / white backing. Choose the surface that you wish to have
facing the inside for the internal bounce. Place the reversible backing on the floor in front of you
with the chosen interior surface facing upwards, allowing the edges of the backing to curl inside.
2. Take the rotating speedring and position it over the center hole of the reversible backing with
the larger, flat side of the speedring facing down. You will notice that there are sixteen triangular
posts equally distanced around the speedring’s inner circle – line up every other triangular post
with the eight stitched seams on the inside of the reversible backing.
3.
3. Take one fiberglass rod and place it inside one triangular rod post on the speedring. Take the
opposite end of the rod and slide it into the corresponding fabric rod pocket on the inside edge
of the reversible backing.
4.
4. On the opposite side of the speedring, insert the next rod into the opposite speedring rod
post and its corresponding fabric pocket. The flexible rods will bend, bowing to create the
arched shape of the Moon Unit™. The rods will fit snugly inside the speedring posts and the
fabric pockets, resting against the reversible backing. It is easiest to begin in one corner and then
move to the opposite side to place your next rod. Attach the remaining rods, working in oppo-
sites, until the frame is constructed.
5. With the frame constructed, you are ready to attach the Moon Unit™ frame to your ring-
flash. The speedring attaches to the outside face of the ringflash unit, attaching in place of the
standard ring reflector using the same rotating connection method.
Note: Care should be taken when attaching / removing any Moon Unit™ components to avoid
damage or breakage to the ringflash flashtubes or modeling lamps.
Turn the reflector lock on the ringflash back panel to the left “UNLOCK” position. Line up the
speedring with the circular face of the ringflash and slide it over the ringflash housing. Facing the
ringflash, rotate the speedring clockwise while pressing it in toward the housing until you find a
position where the speedring snaps further onto the housing. Rotate a final quarter-turn to set
the position. Return to the reflector lock and turn the knob to the right “LOCK” position.
v. 10/2013
THE 56-INCH
MOON
U N IT
PAUL C. BUFF

THE 56-INCH
MOON
U N IT
PAUL C. BUFF
PRIMARY DIFFUSER
SECONDARY DIFFUSER
NON-AIM-THROUGH HOLDER
AIM-THROUGH HOLDER
NON-AIM-THROUGH ASSEMBLY
AIM-THROUGH ASSEMBLY
6. Place the primary diffuser inside the secondary diffuser and construct the aim-through or
non-aim-through assembly.
Slide
Slide the aim-through or non-aim-through holder inside the center hole of the primary / sec-
ondary diffuser set. Rotate the primary / secondary diffuser set to line up the holes with the
raised snaps on the holder. Press the diffuser set down and twist to lock it into place.
twist the diffuser
set to lock the position
7. Attach the constructed assembly to your ringflash. Turn the reflector lock to the left
“UNLOCK” position and attach the assembly in place of the ringflash front cover / diffuser / gel
holder in the inside center chamber of the unit.
8. Take your chosen front diffusion fabric panel and wrap the outside edges of the panel around
the face of the Moon Unit™ to make the front surface flat and tight. With the center hole fabrics
(for aim-through use) tuck the material behind the outer lip of the center reflector.
>> The AIM-THROUGH ASSEMBLY is used with:
• the DF56OCH 56-inch Octagonal Panel (with hole)
• the DF50RCH 50-inch Round Panel (with hole)
• the DF50RNGCH 50-inch Ring Panel (with hole)
If
If you plan to use an aim-through front diffusion panel (with a cut center hole), you will
use the aim-through holder. These diffusion panels are designed for use with the 56-inch
Moon Unit™ and ringflash when used in the traditional ringflash aim-through mode.
primary diffuser
secondary diffuser
aim-through holder
aim-through assembly
>> The NON-AIM-THROUGH ASSEMBLY is used with:
• the DF56ONH 56-inch Octagonal Panel
• the DF50RNH 50-inch Round Panel
• the DF39SNH 39-inch Square Panel
• the DF39WPNH 39-inch Window Pane Panel
If you plan to use a non-aim-through front diffusion panel (without a center hole), you
will use the non-aim-through holder. These diffusion panels are designed for use with
the 56-inch Moon Unit™ and ringflash when used off-camera as a conventional flash.
primary diffuser
secondary diffuser
non-aim-through holder
non-aim-through assembly

HEAT PRECAUTIONS for the 56-INCH MOON UNIT™
BothBoth the AlienBees™ ABR800 Ringflash and the Zeus™ ZRM1 RingMaster incorporate a set of high intensity modeling lamps that
produce considerable heat. Both additionally have flashtubes and internal electronics that must dissipate up to 320 Ws (with the
ABR800) or up to 2500 Ws (with the ZRM1) for each flash. The internal fan(s) remove the heat from these sources in most configura-
tions, in normal use. However, rapid firing and/or extended use of the modeling lamps will require the dissipation of extreme amounts
of heat. There is susceptibility for overheating present when the 56-inch Moon Unit™ and internal diffusers are used with either the
ABR800
ABR800 Ringflash or the ZRM1 RingMaster. To prevent overheating, exercise reasonable caution in heavy-use situations and do not
combine high shooting frequencies and full brightness modeling lamp settings with the highest flashpower output settings.
> The AlienBees™ ABR800 Ringflash:
With continuous rapid firing of the ABR800, do not use the modeling lamps on the full brightness setting for more than a few shots
at a time to prevent overheating. With the modeling lamps turned OFF, an ABR800 can be fired once every 3 seconds for quite a while
without causing overheat concerns for the diffuser. With the lamps on full brightness, overheating could occur at any continuous full
power firing rate that is faster than about 6 seconds per shot.
A
Avoid leaving the modeling lamps on the full brightness setting for extended periods of time. With the white model ON button
depressed, the lamps are turned on full brightness. With the grey TRACK button depressed and the flashpower output slider set at the
FULL position, the modeling lamps are also set to full brightness. To reduce heat, drop the flashpower output to 1/2 power (-1f) for all
day use. If it is absolutely necessary to use the unit at the full power setting, leave the modeling lamps OFF (accomplished by releasing
the white model ON button), only turning them on for short previews as needed. Keep these short preview sessions under 5 minutes
to
to reduce heat. To further reduce the total heat load, use the modeling lamp recycle indication setting (set by depressing the grey
CYCLE button). In this mode, the modeling lamps will go dim as the ringflash unit recycles.
> The Zeus™ ZRM1 RingMaster:
With the dual sliders on the Zeus™ Power Packs, you have the option to use a flash head at full power while setting the modeling lamps
at less-than-full brightness. To avoid heat concerns, set the modeling lamp output adjustment slider to 1/2 power (-1f), or lower
whenever possible.
Note with Dynalite Power Pack use: When a Zeus™ head is used with a Dynalite pack, there is no provision for dimming modeling lamps. Addi-
tionally, the Zeus™ modeling lamps run brighter (and hotter) when used on a Dynalite pack. When using a Dynalite pack, it is recommended
that you replace the provided 20-Watt modeling lamps in the ZRM1 head with lower-wattage 10-Watt lamps (please see item 10W, a set of
eight lamps, available by phone and on our website). Using the 10-Watt lamps will cut the heat load from modeling in half.
For high frequency shooting with the Zeus™ Z2500 pack, the 2500 True Ws of available power can result in an immense generation of
heat. Rapid firing with the modeling lamps set to full brightness will quickly cause heat concerns. Even with the modeling lamps turned
OFF however, extreme rapid firing (1 shot every 6 seconds for more than 20 consecutive shots) can still create heat concerns. To
decrease the heat load, decrease the flashpower output and modeling lamp output to 1/2 power (-1f), or lower when possible. As
the modeling lamps operate at the same power in both the Z1250 and Z2500 packs, decreasing the output to 1/2 power or lower for
the Z1250 is recommended to reduce the heat load as
the Z1250 is recommended to reduce the heat load as well.
Paul C. Buff, Inc. • 2725 Bransford Avenue Nashville, TN 37204 • www.PAULCBUFF.com
Email [e-mail] • Toll Free 1-800-443-5542 • Local 615-383-3982