Comparative Analysis: Profoto White Zoom Reflector vs. Silver Zoom Reflector by JRPAC
Uploaded by
Jean-Romain PACComparative Analysis: Profoto White Zoom Reflector vs. Silver Zoom Reflector by JRPAC
Uploaded by
Jean-Romain PACProfoto White Zoom Reflector aka "ZoomWhite"
Profoto, light shaper, Zoom Reflector,
white, silver, beam analysis, beam angle
V1.1 / February 2026
Jean-Romain PAC
ICLS Associate Member
photo@[Link]
@jeanromainpac
We all use the
Profoto Zoom Reflector.
Its inner part is silver.
OK,
but what’s your point?
There is also an official
Profoto White Zoom
Reflector.
This document delivers the
results of our tests.
▀▀▀▀
Thanks
All the following tests and their results wouldn't have been possible without the help
of Josef BEYER and Valentine LACOUR.
To both of them, thank you!
Tests were performed on the 13th of February 2026, on set 4 of Little Grand Studio,
Aubervilliers, France.
▀▀▀▀
Protocol
Installation for the first series
Here are the technical details:
Camera: Fujifilm XT-5 + XF 27 mm
Settings: ISO 125, 1/250, F/11
Pack: Profoto Pro10-11
Head: Profoto ProHead Plus
Triggering: Profoto AIR / AirSync
Measurement: Sekonic L-758Cine
Light shapers: Profoto Silver ZoomReflector, Profoto White ZoomReflector
▀▀▀▀
Distance
Distance between the flash tube and the lightmeter was: 3.0 meters.
▀▀▀▀
Exposure
The camera settings matched the lightmeter values*, read at 3 meters with the
reflector on position 5.
* Except for the ISO: lightmeter was set to ISO100, while the camera was set to
ISO125.
▀▀▀▀
Light compensation
The head power value was not adjusted, except when switching from one dish to
another, that is to say half a stop.
In other words: we increased half a stop at the pack, when we used the ZoomWhite
to get the same exposure.
The pack wasn't touched when we changed the focus of the reflector, from 5 to 10.
▀▀▀▀
Post processing
We just imported the .RAF Fujifilm raw files in Capture One and locked the white
balance to 5500K.
No other adjustments have been made.
▀▀▀▀
Silver vs. White
Silver White
▀▀▀▀
Photometrics
At the same distance, for the position number of 5:
• Silver Zoom Reflector was 5/10ths of a stop (half a stop) brighter than the
White version.
• White Zoom Reflector was 5/10ths of a stop (half a stop) darker than the
Silver version.
It's more due to the light distribution - less focused for the white version - than to a
lack of output leaving the dish.
White = half a stop darker than Silver
▀▀▀▀
Position 5 / Axis
SILVER
WHITE
▀▀▀▀
Position 6 / Axis
SILVER
WHITE
▀▀▀▀
Position 7 / Axis
SILVER
WHITE
▀▀▀▀
Position 8 / Axis
SILVER
WHITE
▀▀▀▀
Position 9 / Axis
SILVER
WHITE
▀▀▀▀
Position 10 / Axis
SILVER
WHITE
▀▀▀▀
Position 5 / Angled beam
SILVER
WHITE
▀▀▀▀
Position 6 / Angled beam
SILVER
WHITE
▀▀▀▀
Position 7 / Angled beam
SILVER
WHITE
▀▀▀▀
Position 8 / Angled beam
SILVER
WHITE
▀▀▀▀
Position 9 / Angled beam
SILVER
WHITE
▀▀▀▀
Position 10 / Angled beam
SILVER
WHITE
▀▀▀▀
Analysis
GENERAL
In a way, the white reflector behaves like a silver reflector with a thin & subtle
diffusion on it. Here are both position #5 for each, with post-processing used to
exaggerate the contrast. The same post-processing has been applied on both
pictures.
SILVER
WHITE
SHADOWS
Silver / Position 5 Silver / Position 10
White / Position 5 White / Position 10
White reflector produces an unwanted double shadow. While subjective, in my
opinion, A1 & A2 are more beautiful than A3 & A4.
The pure drop shadows when the subject is touching the background are more or
less the same: check B1 & B2 in comparison to B3 & B4.
Without surprise, the contrast is higher for the silver reflector as its light distribution
is more narrow. C2 shadow is darker than C4 one.
REFLECTOR'S BOUNCE
The flash tube lights in every direction.
Every direction means it includes the reflector itself.
Thus, some part of the scene won't be lit directly by the flash tube, but rather by the
reflector itself, previously lit by the light coming from the flash tube.
SILVER
WHITE
If the silver reflector produces a true difference (here, the floor which is closer to the
reflector than the wall from the flash tube will be brighter than the wall), the White
one creates a more even lighting as the light distribution is wider.
Values mentioned in the pictures are average brightness (0: black / 255: white).
START OF THE BEAM
In our protocol, within the same batch test, we didn't change the stand position, it
was the same pack, the same head, the same head's position, the same zoom
position for the reflector. But the « beginning » of the beam differs a little bit
between the silver reflector and the white one.
As you can see below, the light delivered by the white reflector starts almost
vertically aligned with the dish edge: A² starts sooner than A1.
SILVER
WHITE
COLOR
We realized that the white reflector creates a warmer light.
Well, a lower level of kelvins, but come on, you get it!
We didn't measure the CCT with a spectrocolorimeter but we can see the average
shift between each reflector by averaging the whole picture.
SILVER / Position 10 WHITE / Position 5
All-picture average All-picture average
RGB Values RGB Values
Red: 150 Red: 178
Green: 149 Green: 176
Blue: 150 Blue: 175
Instinctively, I would say that even an 1/8 CTB would be too much to « color
correct » a white reflector to match a silver one.
▀▀▀▀
Abstract
The white Zoom Reflector from Profoto
provides a wider light distribution than its
silver edition.
Apart from an interesting use case to light
diffusion fabrics more evenly, or to bounce in
fabrics with a wider beam, its benefits are low.
Yes, it gives a slightly warmer light than the
silver edition, but the drop shadows suffer from
more visible double-edges.
Moreover, prepare half a stop more to
achieve the same readings, at least in spot
position.
Thank you!
If you have some remarks,
if you have noticed any error,
or if you just want to discuss about this subject,
please reach me by:
email (preferably)
photo@[Link]
Instagram
@jeanromainpac
Jean-Romain PAC
ICLS Associate Member
photo@[Link]
@jeanromainpac
