The New Profoto B Series Light – B20 & B30

The Profoto B-series dates back to the release of the B1 AirTTL in 2013, followed by the B2 in 2015, the B10 / B10 Plus in 2018, the B10X / B10X Plus in 2021, and now the B20 / B30. All of the B-series lights are battery-operated and designed to bring the power of studio lighting on location. Each model aimed to improve reliability, recycle time, flash duration, continuous light power, and, of course, decrease weight and size for a more portable housing. The B20 and B30 are no different.

So, if you’re considering adding battery-powered monolights to your kit, these new lights may offer the features and benefits you need. Let’s dive deeper into the improvements of the B20 and B30 compared to their most recent predecessors—the B10X and the B10X Plus.

The tables above are only a snapshot of the many differences between these lights. I’ll explain the ones i find most important below.

1. 13% faster recycle time. In my experience, this can be the difference between “getting the shot” vs “missing the shot” while waiting for your capacitors to fully charge.
2. 50% more powerful LEDs. This is particularly useful to those using cameras with an Electronic Shutter, which do not sync with strobes. Also, in a situation where continuous light is needed for a quick video, there is no need to carry a separate LED light kit and break down your strobe setup, adding even greater versatility.
3. The new rugged rubberized surface. I can’t quantify how much this lowers your risk of drop damage, but you’ll have to trust me. In addition, mounting and dismounting your modifiers becomes much easier when you can establish a firm grip on your light.
4. The user-replaceable flash tube. ( One of my favorite new features ) B10X and B10X Plus owners have to ship their lights back to Profoto Service to change the tube for approx. $300 + shipping. This can leave you without your lights for 2 to 4 weeks. ( I wish my B10X had that feature a couple of years ago when mine had to be replaced! ) Keeping a $169 spare tube on your shelf will allow for quick swaps on set, interrupting your workflow for a few minutes instead of a few weeks.
5. The 11-stop power range. This allows for more gradations from subtle fill light to full-power illumination.
6. The two new flash modes. ECO was added for extended equipment lifespan, and Boost for extra power when needed. While not new, it’s worth mentioning Their third mode Freeze, which provides the shortest flash duration to eliminate motion blur when capturing action (B20 1/38,100 and B30 1/21,100).
7. Oh, did I mention, they added a sync port to hard wire if necessary?

Over 120 modifiers and accessories are available for these lights, and every Profoto product is built using premium components, producing beautiful light and consistent color temperature shot after shot.

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