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MaunaKea7007,
Thanks again.
While reading the other thread also read my reply to Marks points which were valid questions..I believe I have put any concerns as to the validity of the results and test methods to bed.
(I won't post my response here in the interests of avoiding duplication so anyone wanting to read it, take Ashtons link to the relevant forum and follow your nose)
Now to your questions :
Is it the "Radio or Software" Conversation that is flawed?....
I am neither an engineer nor of Chinese lineage ( Ha!) so I am not sure. But the perfect and consistent results from the Canon Flash controlled by the Mitros+ TX and the external TX suggest its not the internal TX. Its looking to me as an issue between the internal RX because of the results gained when using that , regardless of the TX used, are consistent and not as they should be.
So I am not sure, but.... even though the results are not perfect when using TTL control to operate the Mitros +, it does "work" as the results show ( 5.5 to 5.8 stops variation across the power range in .6 - 1.2 stop changes.
It just DOES NOT WORK AS WELL as the Odins coupled with Canon flashes ( 7.0 Stops +/- 1/10th across the range in 1 stop +/- 1/10th increments)
I conclude from that the software, Radio and hardware in the Odins is tried and true, but either the translation to the internal TX/RX has missed something OR something is interfering with it internally?
On you last point about Individual Unit problem and consistency......only time will tell BUT
My issues/ tests are consistent with some other tests being undertaken ( ongoing) by the Flash Havoc team, whom I am also in contact with. There are also issues with Nikon variants of the Mitros+ , again relating to TTL control, only worse I think.
Again the Mitros + Canon units do work but just not as good when controlled via TTL as the Canons.
They work well enough that most people probably won't pick on the 2 stop total variation loss, nor the unevenness of the increments between power settings.... I am just fussy and when I halve power on the dial I expect the required Aperture to be 1 Full Stop wider not somewhere between zero and 1.2 stops depending on what level I am reducing from....I have enough to remember without a specific Power setting<> Power output sequence!!
In reality that probably would not be that hard either because the results show that the mitros+, when controlled through TTL behaves as follows:
Full Power setting actually delivers Full Power
1/2 power setting actually delivers very nearly Full Power
1/4 power setting actually delivers very nearly 1/2 power
1/8 power setting actually delivers very nearly 1/4 power
1/16 power setting actually delivers very nearly 1/8 power
The rest are the same 1/32=1/16 etc , only the 1/2 power is radically different
Any way I digress!......NO I DONT think the problem is isolated to my copy of the Mitros+
YOUR QUESTION ABOUT "IN UNIT" CONSISTENCY is very astute and indicates you are fussy as well !!
As far as I can tell YES the results can and have been consistently replicated. As I mention in the Test file. Each test configuration was tested as follows.
* 3-4 Flash bursts were taken for each power setting
*2 cycles across the power range were undertaken. First from Full down to 1/128, then back up to full.
* so a total of 6-8 readings were taken for each power setting , all else held constant ( eg Shutter speed, distance etc)
* Ambient light was also kept at between 3.6 and 3.8 EV as measured by the Light Meter. ( Room has very good light control).
Individual readings did not vary by more than 1/10th of a stop for any particular power setting. Moreover when I got the Mitros+ results I did not at first believe them so I repeated the tests again ( ie 12-16 readings per power setting)... Same results!
SO based n the above I DO NOT THINK "IN UNIT" CONSISTENCY IS AN ISSUE.
As for Phottix coming to the party I suspect they will but not overnight. They have bigger issues with Mitros+ for Nikon and Sony at the moment. Those variants are not performing anywhere near as well as the canon type. ( see Dave Cheungs " Not So Ancient Chinese Secrets " blog)
I know Dave is in contact with Phottix, as are Flash Havoc and myself and some others. I suspect Dave and FH will have more pull than me but I have forwarded my detailed results and test methods to Phottix, DC and FH. FH have replied and are replicating the tests with meters and Photttix have acknowledged receipt of the data ......so here's HOPING THEY CAN FIX WITH FIRMWARE.
I WOULD LOVE SOMEONE TO TEST Mitros+ for Canon, using two Mitros Units and external Odins to further test the interplay of the internal TX/RX using the same methodology as I did. ( Note: Firmware suitably up to date for odins at 1.24 and 1.06 (?) for Mitros+)
Configurations needing to be tested would be
A)1 Mitros+ as TX using internal TX and the other using internal RX
B)1 Mitros+ as TX using internal TX and the other mounted on an external Odin RX (ie with all internal TX/RX/Master/slave options turned off)
They could also replicate two of the configurations I used involving an External Odin TCU as Controller with :
i. Mitros+ using its internal RX
ii. Mitros+ mounted on an external Odin Receiver.
I would be very interesting to see the results.
PS I used the following set up:
METER DETAILS & SETTINGS
Sekonic L 308-s setup for incident metering.
Shutter priority with shutter set at 1/60
Mode set to "Cordless Flash"
Meter mounted on Light stand with Lumisphere level set to centre of flash head.
Distance to Flash 3 meters for all measurements.
Flash Zoom set at 50mm for all measurements
Flash Mounted on Tripod.
Ambient Light controlled and held consistent at a level that did not interfere with flash reading ( I used 3.6 -3.8 EV)
The absolute values of the parameters is not as important as keeping them consistent throughout the tests ( eg, use a Flash zoom of 35mm or 70mm, distance of 2 meters)
. IMPORTANT make sure you use a meter that is designed to measure flash as many are not and readings are corrupted by pre flash pulses
Edited on Aug 21, 2014 at 02:40 AM · View previous versions
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