I've been looking at options to go off camera, but the cost of a PW makes me cringe. I am not interested in rebuilding an "eBay Trigger/Ghetto Trigger", anyone with input on the Elichrom Skyport?

I've no experience with the skyport, BUT, I will say this: just looking at the specs, if you need range, the Pocket wizards are better. Now, I won't comment on reliability, I don't have both to compare. As for features? Well the Multimax has a ton, the plus a few, but the Skyports have one that trump either, that being the ability to control the power output on Elinchrom lights with digital panels.

I would say that if you owned Elinchroms, the skyport should be your first choice.

Max

Max, I appreciate that. I don't own any as of yet. Trying to get all the infor before I jump. If $600 is the only real way to do then, we'll save longer and wait and hope I don't get a job with that need.

Terry,

I have had my Skyports for about 2 weeks. I got a transmitter and 3 receivers. My Skyport kit cost me $440, a little more than a PW transmitter and receiver. They are much smaller than the PW's.

The biggest convenience the PW's have over the Skyports, is my Sekonic meter can fire my flashes from the subject to check exposure.

Is the value for a transmitter (PW) or receiver greater than that of the multiple units(Skyport)?

I am no expert, but I ordered the Skyports to use with my Vivatar 285 HV's. No go. I returned them and got the PW's. They work perfect. So I guess it depends on what flash you have.

580 ex with need for a second. Wondering about the Metz 54. So it may still take two units at $300 ea. dang.

PW Plus II units appear on ebay from time to time from this one seller for $169 each plus about $12 for shipping - the ebay units are BNIB as well. Saves about $40 over B&H.

Skyports are awesome. I loved them, they were more than half the size and weight of the PWs, and they worked. I used them over a course of a couple of weeks with my Ranger RX pack, and it was flawless. The ability to change the power wirelessly is just that great. But the only inconvenience was using my Sekonic meter to trigger them.

The PWs are the gold standard, but the Skyports are right next to them. Yes the range isn't as good, but my PWs (even on full batteries) don't often go up to 200ft, I haven't figured it out. Skyports have atleast 200ft, I tested them at about 300ft with sporadic results, but more triggers than mishaps at that range.

I would go with PWs if you don't have Elinchrom RX lights, and if you shoot outdoors more often than indoors. If everything you do is indoors, I would go with Skyports, they are that good.

PWs now has a worthy competitor breathing down it's back. The major advantage they have is the integration into a variety of different brands (Profoto, Sekonic, etc).

We have PW II's and Skyports. Used PW's for years. The Skyports for a few months. We have Elinchrom lights, but not all are RX. We also use Metz flashes, but don't use the remotes that much with them. We have various flashmeters, none are Sekonic. Although the PW have longer range and have definately proven themselves reliable, the Skyports are rapidly gaining favor with us over the PW's. Probably because of small size and RX, but also to our surprise the Universal has proved the equal to the PW in our studio as well. They have taken a lot of abuse and everyone loves the smaller form factor. We thought we'd keep the PW's around as back up and for the odd job where greater distance was required, but we found the Skyports could be daisy chained when needed too. So except for the odd assignment where a camera trigger is needed, the Skyports have been getting the call. Our feeling is that it is great to finally have a quality alternative to the PW. The cost of the PW cords alone was a great source of irritation for us. (We were shocked to see all the extra cords the Skyports came packaged with.) I suppose if we were doing sports like Max or using remote cameras at a track or arena, we probably stick with PW too, but for now the Skyports are working out better than expected. I know some people really enjoy having a remote trigger in their flashmeter, but for those of us who don't have one, having a smaller trigger than a PW II is the next best thing. They're definately worth considering.

The skyports can camera trigger as well, if you buy the pocket wizard camera cable, or a Hong Kong ebay version that does the same thing.

David

david010167 wrote:
The skyports can camera trigger as well, if you buy the pocket wizard camera cable, or a Hong Kong ebay version that does the same thing.

David


Excellent. We have the PW camera cables, so how do we get them to remote fire the camera?

This is great. FMer's have a great deal to offer those of us that are still learning and course shifting. The anticipation of usage is for on site jobs both indoor and outdoor. Close proximity subjects. Looks like the PW and Skyport fill a need, for now the Skyport would be the first level of wireless freedom later when big bucks are available a set of PW's...

Thank you,
Terry

I too enjoy my skyport universals. I like setting up lights on different groups to test lights independently, and then set the skyport to fire flashes on all channels when I want to take the actual shot I've been building up to. I don't think the PW II's have this capability.

I do need to get some rubber washers to place around the on/off button on the receiver though... The receivers have a habit of inadvertently turning on while in transit due to the poor design of this button.

Brad B wrote:
I am no expert, but I ordered the Skyports to use with my Vivatar 285 HV's. No go. I returned them and got the PW's. They work perfect. So I guess it depends on what flash you have.

Does anyone else know of problems using the Skyports with the Vivatar 285HV?

Skyports and the 285HV didn't work for me either. I like the Skyport's group / all capability, but had some range/interference issues (like any time I had the flash around a corner) so I went with the PWs.
PWs work with the 285HV.

If you're using Elinchrom Style RX mono lights or any of the right Elinchrom packs, the Skyports SMOKE the PW's in every way.

With this great info, of which I greatly appreciate, I ordered a set of Skyport from Pictureline.com..... they'll be here tomorrow.
Thanx all!

Terry

GREAT choice.

Now to learn them before Monday. I landed a job which forced my hand.

Sorry if this is a stupid question, but what about for non-RX elinchrom strobes?

Do you need the Universal set still?

Thanks a lot

Dave

Honestly I'm not sure. I think you still use the Elinchrom ones but you wont be able to adjust your lights from the camera like you can with the RX units. Don't quote me on that though.

You have D-Lites or what?

What actually I have some Classic 500 monoblocs. I have been thinking of adding some d-lites though, for the smaller size and 5 stop range.

Thanks anyway!

Wirelessly controlling flash power is only with the Skyports, and the Elinchrom RX flashes (1200RX packs, 300/600/1200RX monoblocs, Ranger RX lights, thats all).

Yes, PW has a feature like the Skyports to trigger "multiple groups", but only can be done with the Multi-Maxes. Those are aound $250 a peice on FM here.

dave unwin wrote:
Sorry if this is a stupid question, but what about for non-RX elinchrom strobes?

Do you need the Universal set still?

Thanks a lot

Dave

The only difference between the RX and the Universal set is the receiver.
The transmitters are the same, which is good.
For anythging that does not have a RX port you will use a Universal receiver. The set comes with a bunch of cables to hook up to most any compact, even to a RX when it's attached to the standard (non-RX) PC port (but then it will work in trigger mode only, just like other non-RX lights).
The RX receiver on the other hand is extremely small and will only attach to a RX port, which accesses the remote digital control functionality built in to RX packs and compacts only. Our RX receivers are dedicated to individual RX units, as they don't need batteries and do not need to be recharged as the Universals do periodically.
Our Universals are basically floaters or stashed in camera bags, we use them interchangeably with all other lights.

For anyone who is interested, we also use a USB receiver, mainly to zero or max strobes quickly. Haven't gotten into the software too much yet, but if documenting set ups is your thing it looks pretty cool. We we're early adopters of the ERS/USB system. We never really used ithat much though. However I can report that the Skyort EL USB version is far superior. We might actually use it now.

Good luck.