Custom Conversions Norman 200B
THE MODIFICATION OF THE NORMAN 200B BATTERY PACK
THE ULTIMATE DIGITAL BATTERY PACK
YOU'VE COME A LONG WAY BABY !
All professional photographers are familiar with
the
During the "watt-second" war between
Figure 01 Figure 02 Figure 03
WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND
We are all familiar with the upheaval of everything in the
photographic world with the introduction of the digital camera. With small
and light weight cameras available to the photographer to do quality work, the
“watt-second” boys are losing out to the battery packs.
Most
battery packs have limited versatility because they were originally made for
“on-camera” lighting. While “on camera” lighting is necessary and
convenient in many instances, it is not the preferred light used by
photographers wanting quality lighting.
Adapting
the LiteLight to work with the 200B made a number of light modifiers available
to the photographer and tremendously increased his versatility using a battery
pack.
As with
most battery units, the sync socket, the ready light and test fire button are
located in the head. This also limits the versatility of the battery pack.
With the modification of the 200B, the pack has its own sync socket, ready light
and test-fire button). With the 16 foot cable on the LiteLight head, this
combination with light modifiers, offers limitless possibilities for the
professional photographer. The sync socket in the pack enables the
photographer to use a sync cord at the pack (as with all A.C. units), or a light
sensitive slave, an infra-red module or an R F receiver. This is indeed
the digital photographer’s ultimate pack. This update does not prevent the
200B from normal on-camera operation.
The
original sync voltage of the 200B was approximately 100 volts BD (before
digital). This is much too much voltage for the digital camera (it should
be less than 12 volts). The modification of the 200B includes the redesign
of the sync circuit, lowering the sync voltage to approximately six volts and
making it digital camera compatible.
One of the
truly great advantages of the digital age is the need for less light to produce
quality photographs. Even photographers with A.C. units are finding that
their work seldom requires more than 400-500 watt-seconds. With the
improvement in power- capacitor technology the power of the 200B can be
increased to 400 watt-seconds and still weigh less than the original pack.
While some of the units have given over 20 years service, it is natural that the cosmetic condition of some of the units has “deteriorated” somewhat – while still giving excellent service. Part of the modification is a baked-on black wrinkle finish with a new shoulder strap. This modification in no way interferes with the units for on-camera lighting – but looks like a new piece of equipment. There is a steel plate (Figure 2) attached to the lid for use with a magnetic pedestal. This will hold many LiteLight accessories for the “tight” places (see Figures 17,18 & 19) : rubber feet are attached to the bottom of the unit so that it may be placed on the floor if necessary. A power insert socket accommodates the charging "monitor" transformer. When the 200B is not in use the monitor transformer can be plugged in indefinitely. It will keep the battery charged without over charging. The transformer can even be left in while shooting and by keeping the battery charged will extend the number of shots by approximately 100%. This "monitor" charge can only be used with the gel batteries which are supplied with the updated 200B. Nicad batteries have to be charged with the original "gray box" charger or the Norman Delta charger.
Power
selection has also been improved. A special switch has been installed on
the side of the unit (see figure 3) that effectively reduces by 50 watt-seconds
the power selected on the front panel. This means the selected power can
be 400, 350, 200, 150, 100, and 50 watts-seconds – the most selections of any
shoulder battery pack available.
The trend
in “digital” lighting is leaning towards the raising of the ambient light
level. Figures 4,5,7 & 15 show some of the LiteLight accessories that
do this job very well. The flat reflector with optional barn doors enables
the photographer to raise the ambient light level in almost any situation.
The versatile stand bracket makes it very easy to bounce light off a wall or
ceiling or both. The light weight of this unit enables the photographer to
clamp it to a shelf, door or piece of furniture (Figure 7). It can be
clamped to a suspended ceiling (try doing this with a standard head). In
some cases, the LiteLight that you have for your A.C. unit, (Figure 4) can be
equipped with an adapter cable for use with your modified 200B – thus
minimizing the equipment needed to do the job.
We make our own heavy duty batteries for the 200B – both Nicad and Gel. Our Nicad batteries can be used with either the original charger or the new Delta charger. Factory supplied Nicad batteries require the Norman Delta or Super charger
Figure 04 Figure 05
Figure 06 Figure 07 Figure 08
THE UMBRELLA - The Old Standby
Since introduction in the early 1960s it has dominated photography, especially in the department store and school photography. Pryor to the introduction of the umbrella most of the portraits were made with parabolic reflectors because of the limited power and low ratings of most film used at the time. While parabolic reflectors were the most efficient in using watt-second power, they were not the best lighting for children because of the specular nature. This gave rise to the use of a second – or “fill” light.
With the introduction of the umbrella, this trend continued – a main and fill light. This was understandable because most umbrellas were
usually equipped with a specular reflector – which made even the umbrella somewhat specular – thus giving rise to the two umbrella system. This system has existed for the better part of two generations.
With the LiteLight, the polished “flat” reflector utilizes the entire umbrella and gives complete “wrap-around” lighting often eliminating the need for a second umbrella. This has a definite advantage in the digital age where minimizing the amount of equipment is important. With the modified 200B hanging on the umbrella stand, you have maximum umbrella quality with minimum equipment for location work.. For those still desiring the two umbrella system, a splitter cable is available for the two umbrellas for a maximum of 200 watt-seconds each (See Figure
5).
Figure 09 Figure 10
SOFTBOX-
Although the soft box is not as popular a “location light” as the umbrella, there are some photographers who think a softbox is
best for portrait lighting. The unwieldy
set-up and take down routine has discouraged many devoted fans from using the softbox on location. Having to remove or install the head from the softbox is a rather hectic project. Usually the photographer “dedicates” a head to the softbox to avoid the hassle. This aggravates the goal of traveling light.
With the use of the LiteLight softbox accessory, the softbox stays on the stand with or without the LiteLight head. It takes five seconds to put the head in place and five seconds to take it out of the softbox. With the modified 200B hanging on the stand, quality softbox lighting is available on location for those die-hard fans.
Figure 11 Figure 12 Figure 13
BARE TUBE -
Every four or five years the bare tube is reinvented. With the digital age upon us, it seems it will stay reinvented for a long time to come.
With the high sensitivity of digital cameras the trend of many photographers is to raise the ambient light level rather than putting light directly on the subject, which sometimes can cause a considerable fall off behind the subject.
The LiteLight bare-tube system is the most versatile system for raising the ambient light level in almost any situation.
Starting with the flat reflector and ending with a series of barn doors, the flat reflector makes it the best system for raising the ambient light level. The most important advantage is the light weight that enables the flat reflector assembly to be mounted on a 12-15 foot light
stand without being “top-heavy”. It can even be clipped to a door, chair or suspended ceiling. This system can be powered by the modified 200B power pack.
The flat reflector is the best way to photograph school and sports groups. Such groups need specular light to saturate the colors and accentuate the sharpness.
Dealing with specular light always creates a danger of shadows. However, with the LiteLight flat reflector, the light weight enables the photographer to raise it 10-15 feet behind the camera and on the optical axis – the shadows will disappear while still retaining the saturation and sharpness of specular light.
This group photo was taken with one light with a flat reflector & 1600 W/S power pack Figure 14
Figure 15 Figure 16
THE DARK SIDE -
Every photographer has at one time or another been faced with a dark area, i.e., the sanctuary behind a wedding group, a dark corner in an architectural shot, etc. The modified 200B together with either the flat reflector assembly or a bullet reflector of the LiteLight accessory series can be “hidden” easily to lighten those areas by slave or RF receiver. The magnetic plate can be used as a “stand” in restricted areas.
Even a LiteLight head in a table lamp can add a feeling of natural lighting to a picture --- and it isn’t orange --- No apologies or editing software
needed. (See figure 21)
Figure 17 Figure 18 Figure 19
The LiteLight head in the lamp was powered by an updated 200B at 50 W/S.
Figure 20 Figure 21 (The main light used in figure 21 is shown in figure 15)
Save those 200B’s boys ( and girls ), YOU’VE GOT A GOLDMINE !!!
PRICE LIST
May 2010
UPDATE OF NORMAN 200B
The Norman 200B unit updated to 400 Watt/Seconds with new Gel cell battery and
monitor charger*...$520.00
Options:
Used Norman LH2 head updated with 400 W/S flashtube..................$127.00
Trade-in credit for your 200B in working condition (no battery).........-$125.00
Used original Norman "gray box" charger for use with Ni-Cad batteries...$60.00
Modify your Norman LH2 head to take 400 W/S flashtube...................$25.00
400 W/S flashtube for modified head..........................................$67.00
SUGGESTED LITELIGHT EQUIPMENT
LITELIGHT HEAD for the updated 200B with flashtube........................$217.00
UMBRELLA REFLECTOR ASSEMBLY (for LL head, figure 10)....................$82.00
FLAT REFLECTOR (see figure 15)...................................................$31.00
STAND BRACKET (see figure 10)....................................................$43.00
BARN DOOR
ASSEMBLY..............................................................$146.00
All Norman LH2 heads must be modified to take a 400 w/s flash tube if the 200B is converted to 400 w/s.
* The monitor charger can only be used with gel cell batteries.
Phone: (678) 493-2923
email: litelight@windstream.net