Digital Camera News, Reviews and Tips
B&H has the Impact PowerSync16 radio transmitter and receiver kit for $79.99 (orig. $159.99) as its Deal Zone deal for today only. I use these myself and really like them for the price. They are robust and reliable for both hot shoe and monolight triggers. Check it out while it lasts here at B&H Photo.
The PocketWizard Plus IV is in stock and now shipping. For those not familiar with the new Plus IV, it essentially takes all the functionality of the Plus III and added a top shoe for mounting speedlights.
Additionally, the Plus IV will pass through TTL data when mounted on camera but limits transmission to manual triggering only.
The Plus IV is a transceiver, so each unit can serve in a transmitter or receiver role. It is compatible with most Canon, Nikon and Panasonic cameras. It also works with many Fuji, Olympus and Sony models or manual triggering. It will communicate with the older Plus III models as well for tying together speedlight and studio flash commingled setups.
Check it out here at B&H Photo.
Alongside the new D5 and D500, Nikon also announced a new flagship speedlight – the SB-5000, which works with the companion WR-R10 radio trigger.
When paired with the WR-R10, the SB-5000 can trigger up to 98 feet away. The SB-5000 can control up to six groups or 18 speedlights. The SB-5000 also has an internal cooling system that prevents overheating from consecutive firings.
Controls have also been streamlined and refined, with the addition of an “i” button for access to frequently used settings. The flash head can tilt down to -7° or up to 90° and will rotate 180° to the left or right.
The Nikon SB-5000 will be available in March for $599.95. You can pre-order it now here at B&H Photo.
PocketWizard has introduced their most affordable radio trigger yet – the PlusX.
At $99, the PlusX has the same core features as what you will find in the more expensive PlusIII units. The PlusX has the same range and reliability specs as the Plus III; however, the interface is dumbed down a bit with a manual dial for changing the 10 standard channels (compared to 32 channels on the Plus III). These channels are compatible with other PocketWizard models and strobe units that are PocketWizard-enabled with built-in radios. [Read more…]
The 4-channel MicroSync radio triggers let you wirelessly trigger your remote strobes or speedlights. The basic transmitter and receiver kit will only set you back $100 and you can buy the components separately from there. Depending on how you use your off-camera lighting kit, the MicroSync kit could be just the right fit. [Read more…]
You had to know this one was coming, right? For years now, DSLR manufacturers have been tied to wireless flash communication via light-based transmission systems, which puts limits on the ability to take your flashes out of the line-of-sight of other flashes. Of course, there are a plenty of workarounds – and there are third party solutions from the likes of PocketWizards and RadioPoppers.
But there has always been something missing with those other solutions. Maybe it’s a little clunky to strap on those third-party devices? Maybe there was some radio interference? Something, however minor, just doesn’t quite function like the factory specs of the wireless flash system under ideal conditions.
A recently filed patent application with the USPTO reveals that Canon is working on a radio-based solution for its wireless flash system with transmitters built-in camera bodies. [Read more…]