FAQ - Profoto C1 & C1 Plus | Profoto (US)
FAQ

Profoto C1 & C1 Plus

Which light shaping tools are compatible with the Profoto C1 Plus and C1?
Profoto C1 Plus is compatible with the Profoto Clic light shaping tools. It is not compatible with the Profoto Soft Bounce and the Profoto Bounce Card.
Profoto C1 has a built-in dome diffuser. It is not compatible with other light shaping tools.

Do the Profoto C1 Plus and C1 have auto power off in case I forget to turn it off?
Yes, they will shut off after 30 minutes of inactivity.

Are there any requirements on battery banks for USB-C charging?
No.

Can I use the Profoto C1 Plus or C1 while charging it?
No.

Can the Profoto C1 Plus and C1 be mounted to a light stand?
Profoto C1 Plus has a built-in standard ¼ in-20 thread which makes it easy to mount on a lightstand or arm.
Profoto C1 is primarily intended to be handheld or placed on a flat surface.

How do I know when there is new firmware available for my Profoto C1 Plus or C1? How do I update its firmware?
When there is new firmware available, an information box appears in Profoto Camera. Press the information box and follow the instructions to update your device.

The Profoto C1 Plus and C1 don’t have a screen. How do I know their flash power?
When creating images with Profoto Camera, you will see the flash power of your Profoto C1 Plus or C1 directly in the camera interface. When creating images with a DSLR or mirrorless camera, you will see the flash power of your Profoto C1 Plus or C1 in the remote control/devices section of Profoto Camera. When changing flash power with the +/- buttons on the C1 Plus (not applicable for the C1), the continuous light will be used to illustrate the increasing or decreasing of flash power.

The Profoto C1 Plus and C1 don’t have a screen. How do I know their remaining battery life?
The Profoto C1 Plus and C1 have a status indicator which indicates the battery level when the device is turned on and off. Green indicates that the battery is charged. Yellow indicates that the battery is low (or that the device is being charged). Red indicates that the battery is critically low.

I want more flash power from my Profoto C1 Plus or C1. What can I do?
Make sure your Profoto C1 Plus or C1 is at maximum flash power (10) and directed at your subject. If you need more power still, try to move closer to your subject. If you prioritize flash power, avoid using Clic Grids and Clic Gels, since they will reduce the flash power output.

 

Using Profoto C1 & C1 Plus with Profoto Camera


Is there an instruction tutorial for how to create images with Profoto Camera?
Yes, visit profoto.com/support/camera to view the instruction tutorial, or view it right inside Profoto Camera.

What smartphone models and operating systems are supported on Profoto Camera?
Apple iPhone 7 or later running on iOS 11 or later (valid as per August 2019).

Can I use the Profoto C1 Plus and C1 with the native iPhone camera app?
No. For a great user experience, a deep level of integration between camera and light is necessary, which is why the Profoto C1 Plus and C1 require Profoto Camera.

How do I set focus?
If you are photographing a person, Profoto Camera will automatically set the focus to the subject’s face, which is indicated by a square around the subject’s face. If you want to set another focus point, or if you are photographing other subject’s than a person, tap on the screen where you want to set focus. Note that in Auto, the camera will correctly expose the focus point. 

Profoto Camera does not seem to find focus due to photographing in low light. What can I do?
Turn on the continuous light by pressing the sun icon. Adjust the power of the continuous light by swiping across the horizontal slider. 

With Automatic exposure, the live image on the screen differs from the exposure of the final image. How come?
With Automatic exposure, the right exposure of the final image is calculated after you press the capture button, and is based on the combination of the brightness of the ambient light, the power of your Profoto C1 Plus or C1 and the distance from your Profoto light to your subject. 

My Profoto C1 Plus or C1 flashes more than once per image captured. Why?
When shooting with Auto exposure, Profoto Camera analyses one or more pre-flashes from the Profoto C1 Plus or C1 in order to determine the exposure for a correctly exposed subject. If you prefer a faster workflow, you can capture the first image with Auto exposure and then switch to Manual exposure. You then keep the exposure and flash power from the image captured with Auto exposure, and the C1 Plus or C1 will only flash once per image. With Manual exposure, you can also finetune the exposure or flash power if needed.

With Auto exposure, Profoto Camera has a Natural to Dramatic slider – what does it do?
When sliding towards Dramatic, the camera exposure is decreased and the flash power increased, resulting in an image with darker ambient light (the light that does not come from your Profoto C1 Plus or C1, e.g a lamp, a window, the sky, etc.). The subject will still be correctly exposed. When sliding towards Natural, the camera exposure is increased and the flash power decreased, resulting in an image with brighter ambient light. The subject will still be correctly exposed.

How do I adjust the exposure manually?
Tap the exposure symbol and switch it to Manual. Swipe across the horizontal slider to adjust the exposure.

How do I adjust the power of my Profoto light?
Whether you are using Automatic or Manual exposure, you change the power of your Profoto light by tapping the flash icon, and then swiping across the horizontal slider.

How many Profoto C1 Plus or C1 can be connected and sync simultaneously with Profoto Camera?
Up to 3 Profoto C1 Plus/C1 (any combination).  

How do I know if the Profoto C1 Plus and C1 is connected to Profoto Camera?
When Profoto Camera connects to a Profoto device, the status indicator on the device turns blue momentarily. When Profoto Camera disconnects from a Profoto device, the status indicator blinks blue. In Profoto Camera, you can see in the camera interface as well as in the remote control/device section if your device is connected.

In which format are my images saved?
In Profoto Camera’s main menu, press the cogwheel and select in which format you want to save your images.

How do I know which Profoto Camera version I am using?
In the remote control/devices section, you will be able to read which Profoto Camera version you are using.

Why haven’t you developed the Profoto Camera for Android?
Profoto decided to prioritize iOS for the first release. Profoto cannot comment on future support for other operating systems.

 

Using Profoto C1 Plus with a Profoto AirTTL Remote


Can the Profoto C1 Plus or C1 be used with a DSLR or mirrorless camera? If yes, can it also be used with other Profoto lights?
Profoto C1 Plus can be used with DSLR and mirrorless cameras using any Profoto AirTTL Remote, i.e. Profoto Connect, Profoto Air Remote TTL, Profoto A1X and Profoto A1. It can then also be used with other Profoto lights, such as the A1X, B10 or even larger lights.
Profoto C1 is a dedicated smartphone studio light and cannot be used with Profoto AirTTL Remotes.

When using a DSLR or mirrorless camera, how many Profoto C1 Plus can I sync and remotely control simultaneously?
As many as you wish.

Can I use the Profoto C1 Plus with my DSLR or mirrorless camera at any shutter speed? In other words, is HSS supported?
Yes, you can use your DSLR or mirrorless camera at any shutter speed, and HSS is supported.
Since Profoto C1 Plus is based on LED technology instead of xenon, the flash power when using it with DSLR/mirrorless is regulated by adjusting the length of the flash. That means that the slower the shutter speed, the more flash light can hit the camera sensor, and vice versa.

Can the color temperature of the Profoto C1 Plus be adjusted when using it with a DSLR or mirrorless camera?
Yes, the color temperature of the Profoto C1 Plus can be adjusted on the device itself by either long-pressing the continuous light button while pressing +/-, or in the remote control/devices section of Profoto Camera.

What is the recycling time of the Profoto C1 Plus when shooting with a DSLR or mirrorless camera?
The recycling time at full power of Profoto C1 Plus when shooting with a DSLR or mirrorless camera is one second.

How do I control the Profoto C1 Plus when using it with a Profoto AirTTL Remote?
When using Profoto C1 Plus with a DSLR or mirrorless camera, you can change flash power, color temperature and turn continuous light on/off with the buttons on the device itself. You can do the same settings, and more, in the remote control/devices section of Profoto Camera. Depending on the Profoto AirTTL Remote you use, you might also be able to change settings from the remote.

Can I capture an image with my DSLR or mirrorless camera by pressing the white capture button on the Profoto C1 Plus?
No, that feature is only supported when the smartphone is your capturing device.

Which cameras can I use with the Profoto C1 Plus?
The camera compatibility depends on the Profoto AirTTL Remote that you use. Check the camera compatibility under the Technical specifications tab on the product page of your Profoto AirTTL Remote.

 

Profoto Clic

Which Profoto flashes are compatible with Profoto Clic light shaping tools?
Profoto C1 Plus, Profoto A1X and Profoto A1.

Are the magnets of the Profoto Clic light shaping tools stronger than magnets on light shaping tools launched earlier for the Profoto A1X/A1?
Yes. We received customer feedback that light shaping tools risked beingknocked off the flash in some situations, which is why we made this improvement.

What is the difference between using Profoto C1 Plus with and without Clic Dome?
In order to get the most uniform light pattern and color mixing, as well as the most natural shadows, it is recommended to always use Clic Dome. The difference in maximum flash power output between using the Clic Dome and not using it is negligible in most cases.

When I use Profoto C1 Plus with a Clic Gel or Clic Grid, shall I use the Clic Dome on top?
Yes, in order to get the most uniform light pattern and color mixing, as well as the most natural shadows, it is recommended to always use Clic Dome on top.

Can Profoto Clic light shaping tools be stacked?
Yes, you can use Clic Dome with a Clic Gel and/or Clic Grid. You can even use two gels together in order to create a third color.

Can I change color temperature on my Profoto C1 Plus while using a Clic Gel?
Yes, by changing color temperature while using a Clic Gel you will alter the color of the light. Use a creative gel and change color temperature to achieve a wide range of creative colors. Use a warm gel and turn the C1 color temperature to warm to make the light even warmer than it would be without the gel (or vice versa for cooler light).

 

Using Profoto C1 and C1 Plus with Huawei phones

Which Huawei phones support C1 and C1 Plus?
Mate30-series and P40-series. C1 and C1 Plus are supported within the native Huawei camera app and also with Profoto Camera app for Huawei.

How can I use C1 or C1 Plus with native Huawei camera app?
Connect and pair C1 or C1 Plus using the standard Huawei OS Bluetooth menu. “Profoto" shall now appear next to the flash symbol within the native Huawei camera app.

How can I use C1 or C1 Plus with Profoto Camera app for Huawei?
Search for "Profoto Camera" within the Huawei AppGallery. After you installed it, open the app and connect the C1 or C1 Plus by pressing the "+" button in the top left corner of the screen.

What is the difference between using C1 or C1 Plus in native Huawei Camera app vs. Profoto Camera app for Huawei?
Native Huawei Camera app gives you basic control over the flash and camera, and is the best solution when you need to create photos as fast as possible.

Profoto Camera app allows you full control over flash power, color, camera settings, etc.

Can I use more than one C1 or C1 Plus unit with my Huawei phone?
Native Huawei Camera app right now only supports one flash unit at a time.
Yes, Profoto Camera app supports multiple flash units simultaneously.

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