Electronic flash / strobe triggering devices

see also:

• flash technology

TTL radio wave wireless triggering:

• RadioPopper PX series:

  • can use on either Canon or Nikon flashes in TTL flash as communicates via infrared transceiver on flash unit

  • compatible with focal plane flash modes

  • can control Alien Bees studio flashes

• Pocket Wizard FlexTT5:

  • dedicated to ONLY one brand - Canon OR Nikon as direct TTL communication on camera hotshoe

  • http://www.pocketwizard.com/products/transmitter_receiver/flextt5%20canon/ 

  • allows interesting high-sync flash mode (extra 1-2 stops to 1/500th sec) without loss of light as occurs in focal plane flash modes

  • compatible with focal plane / high speed flash modes to 1/8000th sec

  • tracks your changes in ISO, shutter speed and aperture and reacts accordingly to make sure exposures stay right on target. 

  • optional module can control new Bowens Gemini R studio flashes

  • 20 controlTL TTL channels or 32 manual channels

  • 3 zone selector (A-B-C) for compatibility with Canon e-TTL zones

  • USB software utility allows you to configure your channel settings, dial in your HyperSync timing, adjust your sleep-mode timers as well as update your product to the latest firmware.

  • With Auto Relay Mode you can easily trigger a remote camera in sync with remote flash. 

  • 6.9cm antenna, said to cover 240m in TTL and 365 in manual mode

  • camera port: 1/8" (3.5 mm) stereo miniphone for 2-stage remote camera triggering.

  • flash port: 1/8" (3.5 mm) mono miniphone. 

  • compatible with MiniTT1 (incl. TTL), Multimax (hypersync but no TTL)

  • Canon Speedlite models 580EX and 580EX II, and especially the 430EX (not the 430EX II), emit RF interference that can substantially reduce the effective operating range of many radio slaves, including the FlexTT5. For these model flashes, utilize the mounting  suggestions in the manual.

  • Working with a Canon 580EXII in the shoe of the MiniTT1 or FlexTT5, you can independently control the power output of up to three groups of lights (you can have as many lights in each group as you want) from full power down to the lowest setting simply through the user interface on the back of the 580EXII

  • Basic Trigger Mode.  When enabled, it allows the MiniTT1 or FlexTT5 to work as a transmitter on ANY camera it will fit.

  • initial version had teething issues - hopefully resolved with new firmware

• Pocket Wizard MiniTT1:

  • http://www.pocketwizard.com/products/transmitter_receiver/minitt1%20canon/ 

  • smaller version of FlexTT5 but:

    • transmitter only - no receiver

    • internal antenna

    • no camera trigger capability?

    • almost same price

Non-TTL radio wave wireless triggering:

• Pocket Wizards

  • professional reliability but expensive

  • long range

  • make sure all components are same frequency (eg. 433MHz for Australia and Europe)

  • MultiMax:

    • http://www.pocketwizard.com/products/transmitter_receiver/multimax/

    • 32 x 16-bit channels

    • selective quad-zone triggering

    • time lapse imaging

    • multi-pop flash

    • rear-curtain sync

    • speedcycler

    • sync to 1/250th 

    • 2x AA batteries

    • hotshoe mounted

    • 3.5mm (1/8") mono miniphone jack

    • USB Port; 6-pin Accessory Port

  • Plus II:

    • http://www.pocketwizard.com/products/transmitter_receiver/plus%20ii/

    • range 500m

    • 4 channels

    • sync to 1/250th, up to 12fps

    • 2x AA batteries

    • hot shoe mount

    • 3.5mm (1/8”) mono miniphone jack

• cheap Chinese wireless triggers:

  • whilst the older models were plagued with inconsistent firing and poor distance coverage (often < 10m) which made them only suitable for hobbyists who do not need 100% reliability, the newer versions are reported to be much more reliable with better distance coverage, as long as you do not use rechargeable batteries (full strength 1.5V AAA batteries recommended) and do not use with older flashes with high trigger voltage.

  • each version appears not to be compatible with other versions, although using same radio wavelength (433MHz for Europe and Australia).

  • PT-04 series are marketed by YongNuo (YN), Phottix

  • newer circuits (2008-2009):

    • max. working distance outdoors said to be 30m

    • PT-04 CN:

      • new lower profile design which allows either:

        • mounting hotshoe of flash onto receiver and then receiver onto a 1/4" tripod screw thread 

        • PC sync connection connection between flash and receiver

      • use 2x alkaline AAA batteries in each receiver and 1x 23A 12V battery in transmitter

      • said to sync to 1/320th sec

      • 4 channel

      • optional PL-04C receiver for studio flash with 6.5mm sync plug (can be plugged into the 6.35mm or 3.5mm (via adapter) studio sync jack without cables)

        • 

    • PT-04 TM CTR-301:

      • low profile version of the PT-04 TM

      • 1/4" tripod screw thread on receiver

      • new function - receiver by itself can control trigger of the flash (via optical slave - "L" mode)

      • not compatible with PT-04 TM

      • receiver has 3V CR2 battery instead of AAA

      • said to tigger to 1/250th sec

      • 4 channel

      • Locking pinhole on receiver shoe for SB flashes

      • Sync speed up to around 1/500 sec

      • YongNuo

    • PT-04 TM:

      • similar profile and design as older model but new circuit and now has channel selector on outside of receiver.

      • use 2x alkaline AAA batteries in each receiver and 1x 23A 12V battery in transmitter

      • 4 channel

      • range up to 50m (?30m)

      • with modification by adding an external antenna to the transmitter:

        • with a 115mm Vertical ant it will trigger at 406 feet, 456 feet with the ant Horizontal (polarisation coming into play here) with a 170mm ant Horizontal out to 516 feet, extending the antenna further had no effect.

        • in the horizontal position the antenna was broadside to the receiver.

    • Cactus V4:

      • 16 channel

      • sync up to 1/500th sec

      • up to 30m

      • low profile - similar to PT-04 CN profile

      • transmitter has external antenna

      • use 2x alkaline AAA batteries in each receiver and 1x 23A 12V battery in transmitter

      • transmitter has a connection port: 3.5 mm (1/8") mono mini-phone

      • receiver sync connector is changed (from V2) to a 3.5 mm mono jack 

      • receiver can handle up to 300V flashes

      • see http://akikorhonen.org/articles.php?action=view&id=667

      • some issues connecting certain flashes onto the receiver due to pins on bottom of flash (eg. Nikon SB-600)

      • may cope with 7fps, and seems to be able to do 5fps at 40m outdoors

      • not compatible with V2

  • older less reliable circuits (2007 and earlier):

    • PT-04:

      •  

    • Cactus V2:

      • sync to 1/250th sec

      • no external antenna

      • 3V CR2 battery in receiver