Photography Bay

Digital Camera News, Reviews and Tips

Phottix’s Laso Makes Non-Radio Flashes Work with Canon’s RT System

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Phottix Laso

Phottix has unveiled its new Laso transmitter and receiver. The units work the the Canon RT system.

While that’s nothing new for a third-party transmitter, the receiver unit is a no-brainer for someone who has a bag full of 580EX Speedlites and is starting to integrate 600EX RT units into their kit. Just add the receiver onto your 580EX, pair it with the Laso transmitter (or the Canon ST-E3-RT or 600EX RT) and you have a flash that works with the Canon RT system, which you can now mix with newer 600EX RT Speedlites. [Read more…]

 

Phottix Ares Flash Trigger is Your No Frills Trigger

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Phottix Ares Flash Trigger

The Phottix Ares flash trigger is a new 8-channel transmitter and receiver units that have a range of 200m and feature a “fire-all” channel function. No advanced bells or whistles here.  Just a dumb transmitter and receiver that are aimed to be reliable and affordable.

Phottix Ares Key Features and Specs

  • 2.4GHz
  • 200+m range
  • 8 channels and Fire-All function
  • 1/250s max sync speed
  • 3.5mm sync port
  • Hot shoe
  • Triggers hot shoe flashes and studio lights
  • Rotating transmitter can be used in teh up or down position
  • Reliability digitally-encoded signals
  • Cold shoe and 1/4″ threaded insert on receiver
  • Cables and batteries included

No word on the final price yet, but since the Ares is replacing older units like the Tetra, Aster and Strato I, it’s reasonable expect a retail price point well under $100.

Check out the Phottix Online Store, Amazon or Adorama for Phottix products.

MicroSync Flash Radio Trigger Review

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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…]

PocketWizard MiniTT1 Transmitter and FlexTT5 Transceiver ControlTL Firmware Version 5.0 for Canon

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PocketWizard FlexTT5 Transceiver

PocketWizard has updated the firmware for the Canon version of the MiniTT1 Transmitter and FlexTT5 Transceiver.

The new firmware adds several new capabilities to the wireless system.  Two of the big ones are Rear Curtain Sync and Pre-Flash Boost:

“PocketWizard’s rear curtain sync allows the photographer to set the shutter speed at which rear curtain sync automatically engages while optimizing the timing of rear curtain sync to fire at the absolute end of the shutter opening. Pre-Flash Boost provides enhanced E-TTL performance when using flash diffusers, doing bounce flash, or at ranges just beyond the normal E-TTL capabilities. By increasing the pre-flash power, PocketWizard has offset the loss of light in these challenging E-TTL situations.” –PocketWizard

The new firmware also adds automatic camera detection, which allows the system to determine appropriate sync speed for High Speed Sync mode.  Compatibility for the Canon 7D has been added, along with compatibility for the Metz 58 AF-1.

Additional details about the updated firmware are available in a PDF file from PocketWizard, which can be viewed here.

Download info for the firmware can be found here.