After shooting some beta units in December (which allready got me hooked) today the retail versions were send to me by the Dutch distributor fotoflits.
Let's start off that they came in at the right moment.
I was teaching a workshop and we had some camera's which had great problems with the tristar radio set (missing 1 out of 10 flashes and sometimes not working at all unless you reposition it slightly behind or in front on the hotshoe).
The skyports worked the rest of the workshop flawlessly, no-one missed one flash, so that's part I. They are really as reliable as they tell you.
Part II.
There are two different configurations (actually 3, one with the USB connection but we don't use that in the studio so I will keep it at 2).
1. The RX set.
With this set you get one transmitter and two receivers.
With the RX set you can manually change the output settings on your RX unit in 1/10th steps.
You can do this for ALL groups or for one of the four groups.
In other words.
The skyport systems works with 4 groups which can be set solo or as all groups.
Let's say we have a setup with 2 RX heads, one measuring f11 and one f8.
I shoot in ISO50 and one of my students uses ISO100.
You can now set all groups and change 10 steps less output for BOTH flashunits (RX) and the other shooter can use ISO100 f11 and f8 without changing his aperture.
Normally I had to walk to the flashheads and change it manually, now just select both groups and press 10 times.
But there is more fun.
Let's say we use one accent light and one mainlightsource, off course we change the lightoutput of both, or one by one (making one RX group 1 and one RX group 2).
But we can also switch instantly between using ONLY the mainlight, to using both or ONLY the accentlight.
Normally you have to walk to the flashunits and unplug them or power them up again.
But this is for the RX units, what if you own FX/Dlites or another brand ?
2. The universal set.
The mainunit (transmitter) is the same, only now there is a universal receiver delivered in the package.
Although you can't change the strobe power of the flashunit you can still use groups. So if you own 3 units buy the universal set + 2 extra receivers and you can fire the flashes indepentend of each other.
Of course you can still use the optical triggers of the other flashes, but if you want to work in groups it's even possible with the universal set.
The fun thing is, you mix the RX and universal in the same studio and this way manually control the output for your RX strobes, and fire all flashes independend of each other.
The reach of the units is wonderful, I tried firing the units from my living room which is about 25 mtrs from the studio and through the walls it still worked, the Tristars gave up as soon as I was 10mtrs outside the studio.
I think for the money this is a sure buy for anyone that is looking at a good radio trigger system, the universal set is priced slightly above a 4 channel tristar set, and as mentioned before they miss some shots, the Skyport doesn't (yet )
This is excellent! Thank you for your review, it makes it a lot easier to choose these over any other setup. I have been waiting for more information on the Skyport, as well as an anticipated release date in the US. My new lights are on the way, and the Skyport system looks to be a MUCH better solution than Pocket Wizards in my situation (not needing to trigger from 1/4 of a mile away, lol).
Unfortunately, not yet in the states. But hopefully soon.
I've played with a set a few weeks ago in Vegas. They look and work great. I've been happy with my PW's but the size difference between these two is significant. The Skyport is very small and flat making it much easier to view over the camera instead of playing peakaboo around a PW. I understand the performance and reliability stems from the higher operating frequency (2 GigHz ?). Of course, the coop de grace is the ERS capability so I'll be jumping on them whether they are any better than my PW's or not. I was able to test with RX600 and a RX Ranger but unfortunately was unable to test the USB functionality (dang PC's). The RX functionality was flawless and very exciting. The software looks promising as well. I noticed a unique option to save set ups and was told there might be a GUI to display layouts. I'll be happy just to see it ship. US distributor is mum on price but doing a Euro conversion it would appear that they will be very reasonably priced.
No doubt Skyport and Bron RFS are hardbingers of some very cool studio stuff to come.
Carmen Miranda wrote:
[...] I was able to test with RX600 and a RX Ranger but unfortunately was unable to test the USB functionality (dang PC's). The RX functionality was flawless and very exciting.
Yup. Here in Canada, the RX set without computer control has been out for a couple of weeks now. I played around with it but have decided to wait for the full set. I'm told the latter should arrive early April.
The software looks promising as well. I noticed a unique option to save set ups and was told there might be a GUI to display layouts.
Yup, but it's done head by head, there is no overall view. Just right click on the particular head in the left pane (Style RX units only have one head outlet but power packs can have more) and choose "Properties" from the pop up menu.
Question for Frank: There have been grumbling about the Skyport transmission not fast enough to sync properly at 1/200 sec and faster. That happens with the Universal set at least. Have you run into this kind of problem at all?
I use 1/125 in the studio, my 5D will not sync correctly above 1/160.
So I cannot test it, on the other hand I think it can be that some people with a 5D or 10D/20D will try 1/250 and see the shuttercurtain and think it's the fault of the system.
The transmition is so fast I can't believe there will be a problem.
Excellent. I can't wait for these to arrive here. I loathe Pocket Wizards. Most disappointing and frustrating product I've ever used. WAY too expensive for what you get, doesn't automatically turn off after inactivity (batteries wear out constantly from leaving them on accidentally -- it will happen to you trust me), way too big, extremely cheap feeling for the money, and not as reliable as they should be. One shoot with them, they fired every 4th shot. It was terrible.
Any word if Elinchrom is planning on integrating the Skyport directly into their battery packs? I love how the new Profoto 600B has a pocket wizard built in, and it would be nice to see Elinchrom do something similar with their Ranger setups.
Thanks for the review. I'm glad to hear they are reliable. Can't wait for these to come out. Finally something in between $50 for the eBay triggers and $600 for the equivalent Pocket Wizards.
I cant wait for these babies. Just gives me one more excuse to buy the RX units. Goodbye PWs. It looks like it'll be even cheaper to buy just a seperate universal trigger to wire (or even tape with gaffers tape since they're tiny) to my 358 to retain the easy wireless triggering!
Hurry up with the FCC crap and sell them to us! Want to go into business Doorhof and ship these overseas? :P
Also here is a shortage with the units so I guess it's all over.
I think Elinchrom never thought it would be such a succes, and to be honest seeing the pricing it's a deal you can't afford to miss.
I have had my RX skyports for just under a month now and like Frank said they are a real pleasure to have in or out of the studio -
In addition to Franks report i would like to add that taking meter readings is also a lot easier than having to plug in the sync cord etc
Now lets say that your main is on a huge boom 350cm above the model -
No problem for the skyport to fire a test flash and you will take a reading as usual on the model -
lf you have 4 lights in teh studio -
lets say group 1 is the MAIN
group 2 is the kicker
group 3 and group 4 are the background lights ( which can be combined to just 1 group as its a bkg light)
well we can take individual readings on each light from the tranmitter on the camera - the transmitter comes off the hotshoe very easilly so if you need to take it off to meter your lights then so be it - or you can leave it just on the camera hot shoe and take readings -
They are very small , sleak and just a pleasure to have -
Well done elinchrom -
)