Pocketwizard TT1 & TT5's for Canon

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iansweet

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Ian
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I was wondering if anyone is using the new pocketwizard TT1 & TT5's, your thoughts please.
 
I have some and they just work, it as if you had the flash on the camera. It is worth getting the AC3 zone contoller as it is not that expensive and allows you to adjust the degree of exposure from each flash.

Great pieces of kit.
 
iansweet said:
Cheers paul, is it possible to transmit high speed flash
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Yes, they do remote high speed sync (as does the on-board Canon system) and they also do remote second-curtain sync which Canon does not. Plus they also have increased x-sync speed with HyperSync, and enhanced high speed sync, but the benefits on both those counts are useful rather than massive, and you get more upside with some cameras than others (it's better with faster running shutters, eg 1D and 7D etc, rather than 5D2).

Be aware that there are range issues due to RF interference but that only applies to some Canon guns and mainly to the US spec radio frequency. All can be fixed though. Lots of info on www.robgalbraith.com but you'll have to rummage around on that site, it's not well signposted.

No RF issues with the similar-ish Radio Poppers, but they only replicate the standard Canon system, so no performance enhancements like the PWs.
 
Just as Hoppy has said above Ian.

The problem with the interference was really with the 580EXII (not the I) and I do not think think it was a big issue over here on the EEC frequencies. It just reduced the range apparently although I have not seen the problem with mine.

If you can afford them you will be very pleased with them.
 
seltechpc said:
Just as Hoppy has said above Ian.

The problem with the interference was really with the 580EXII (not the I) and I do not think think it was a big issue over here on the EEC frequencies. It just reduced the range apparently although I have not seen the problem with mine.

If you can afford them you will be very pleased with them.
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According to Rob Galbraith, it's both the 580EX and EXII, and the 430EX, that are worst affected by the RF problem on US frequencies. Best is the 430EXII and the older 550EX. Tests here, including the various mods available to overcome it http://www.robgalbraith.com/bins/multi_page.asp?cid=7-10050-10598

On a related page, they also talk about the Nissin Di866 and Metz AF58, which seem to offer possibilities, especially if you select the right channels. But again they're only commenting on US frequencies. I'm not aware of any similar tests done on EC models, though I guess that if it was a major headache someone would have looked into it.

For what it's worth, I would not hesitate to buy PWs now, but I just don't seem to need them. For those that do, they must be life savers in some situations. The latest firmware and hardware seems to work reliably, with some pretty cool features :thumbs:
 
Does hypersync provide much benefit with the 430 EX II flashes with a 7D or is it primarily a studio light thing to get up to say 1/8000th etc
 
The benefit of hypersync is to allow you to control ambient with shutter speed which does not affect the power of the flash, unlike aperture where as you stop it down then you need to bump the power of the flash.

An example where it is useful would be a bright sunny day you can use the shutter speed to darken the background whilst still being able to use a small flash such as the 430ex2 to light the subject.

I have US version and use a 580 ex2 with no probs. I have been impressed with them so far.
 
Thanks ding76uk, it's more a case of can you realistically get up to some of the quoted speeds with a hot shoe flash or all marketing in lab figures :)
 
Calzor Suzay said:
Thanks ding76uk, it's more a case of can you realistically get up to some of the quoted speeds with a hot shoe flash or all marketing in lab figures :)
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PW's HyperSync is for hot-shoe guns, not really intended for studio work. With a 7D you can get 1/400sec, with no loss of power.

There's another form of hypersync, in strobist parlance, which is more accurately described as the 'tail sync hack' which works with both hot-shoes guns (at full power only) and also with studio heads. That can take you up to 1/8000sec. Personally, I've got no time for it, especially if you have regular high speed sync available which the 430EX does. The tail-hack is very low powered and gives uneven exposure top to bottom, and potentially colour shifts too. Basically, it's poor and limited.

PW's also have optimised high speed sync, which makes more efficient use of the HSS burst at higher speeds than the basic Canon system does. On some cameras, you can get almost a full stop more power. Which sounds a lot, but most of the time it's quite a bit less than that. Worth having, but not life changing. More info on the PW site.
 
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