Cyber Commander: 9 quick 1st impression notes
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E-Vener
Registered: Jun 18, 2009
Total Posts: 4260
Country: United States

1) the CyberCommander is Larger than an Elinchrom Skyport, Profoto Air, or Microsync, but smaller ( thinner ) than a Pocketwizard MultiMAX or Plus II. Roughly the size of the original 16 channel Pocketwizard "Classic".

2) I like the tilting hot shoe mount: you can stand the unit straight up, lay it flat or set to several angles in between.

3) The interface is a little daunting at first: lots of options on different menus so you have a small learning curve figuring out how to navigate through the menus using the mini-joystick controls.

4) The menus themselves are very well laid out and navigation is a breeze. Not Apple iPhone / iPod easy but close.

5) Didn't quite get the range I thought I might working in my house last night but for right now I am attributing that to the construction of my house and possibly the batteries. Will try with fresh batteries today.

6) All functions and controls work reliably.

7) Once you get the hang of reading the bar graph type display it is very easy to see how you've got your lights arrayed in different groups and for the compatible Paul C. Buff lights, at what power levels and how your modeling lights (if you choose this option) track with your power settings.

From habit I tend to leave my modeling lights at full power -- useful if you ar using different light modifiers on multiple heads , and I want to see my subject not use the mdeling lights brightness levels to guess at the real lighting effect.

8) I haven't tried the light meter.

9) I haven't tried the system (Cyber Commander and CRSB+ receivers) with non P. C. Buff lights yet.

Ellis Vener
http://www.ellisvener.com



Dave Good
Registered: Nov 21, 2008
Total Posts: 721
Country: Canada

Thanks for the mini review Ellis. I will be ordering mine soon (already have the receivers).

Dave

Edit: replace review with first impressions/observations



E-Vener
Registered: Jun 18, 2009
Total Posts: 4260
Country: United States

This isn't a review. It is a list of my impressions. Some people pass off their first impressions off as a review but if you are honest, and I try to be as honest as a human can be when reviewing gear, you need to take the gear out and beat on it for awhile --find what works , what doesn't work and how it works. That takes time

Ellis Vener
http://www.ellisvener.com
Technical Editor, Professional Photographer Magazine



bobbyz
Registered: Jun 29, 2004
Total Posts: 1740
Country: United States

Thanks.



Paul Buff
Registered: Oct 06, 2006
Total Posts: 2775
Country: United States

Ellis,

I disagree about size comparison. CC is 1.97"W x 3 1/8" H x 0.8" deep, including antenna and 2.4" Color LCD.

PW Plus is 2.1"W l x 6.4" H x 1.4" D.

PW Flex TT5 is 3.6" (9.2 cm) long x 2.9" (7.3 cm) wide x 1.4" (3.6 cm) tall, antenna lowered

Otherwise, good observations. Thanks.



E-Vener
Registered: Jun 18, 2009
Total Posts: 4260
Country: United States

Paul,
I was just guesstimating about all but the thinness of the CC compared to the Pocketwizard Plus Ii and MultiMAX units, and didn't include the fixed antenna height of those model Pw's in my guess. And those Pw's can't lay down flat against the camera like the CC can .



kenyee
Registered: Jul 08, 2008
Total Posts: 1325
Country: United States

Is it too fiddly (takes too long to press buttons, hard to read in sunlight, etc.) to use on location shoots?
I agree w/ you about what it takes to do a review...my radiopopper "review" is more a rolling journal of my experiences w/ it...please keep updates coming.



Matt Leitholt
Registered: May 27, 2008
Total Posts: 3458
Country: United States

Thanks for writing this, can't wait to get mine!



roanjohnnyc
Registered: Feb 28, 2004
Total Posts: 567
Country: United States

Any pics??



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