Just got some Skyports to test alongside my pocket wizzards on my Elinchroms. To be honest the jury is still out due to some sporadic "issues" but I love the small size. I'm afraid though that they might be heading back to B&H.
After four studio shots 200-400 clicks each - I can say - Skyport never fails. (yet...)
I'm not sure about the range - my studio is very small, but no misfires at all, being connected to 580 ex.
Moreover: At last shoot I have connected Skyport to the D-Lite, which was "turnung it off" on my home tests (See my above messages). In studio - It stayed ON during all shoot with same strobe (204 clicks)
I have no Idea what changed: Maybe that was my home 2.4Ghz access point or Skyport with batteries close to be empty (less likely, since with other strobes it dodn't go off in the same time). I have no Idea - need to make more tests.
Can't wait and make a field test - if in won't fail at ~50 meters from me - I won't go for PW.
No battery indication - is a main problem for me (But PW MultiMaxes are so big/expensive, that I can easily keep spare "coin" battery with me and even "field" 5v charger - to make sure ELs won't miss power)
However - EL makes me think, that I always should keep my fingers crossed to make it work . Will see what happens next.
Also - There is no better advice, than to keep 5meter PC cable with you Those never fail
Arsenitim wrote:
I'm very curious about that "MORE, THAN ONE CLICK TO TURN ON" issue. Are we only people having that issue, or are there any others?
Guys! Do you devides go on always after 1st click?
Until I get a good answer about what causes this I'm not plugging my rx into my 283 again, for fear of damaging the unit. I too noticed that (as far as I remember) only after the flash shut the rx off, it could sometimes take more than one try to turn the unit back on. This is one of the reasons I feared to keep testing.
For what it is worth, my impressions on both
Pocket wizards: made in USA, quality and finish is good, very very reliable, about 1 misfire or non fire in about a 1000 clicks( and that to usually due to human error)
Skyport :made in India,I have tested all the versions, reliability questionable.Uses button cells and rechargeable batteries without any indicator. A photographer does not Know when it will run out of power, god forbid in the middle of a shoot. PWs use regular alkaline batteries available anywhere, and can always be kept in spare. Performance wise the skyport lacks the range of the PWs especially outdoors. Price however is great. Once can get a trigger & receiver of Skyport for the price of a single unit of PW.
i have the skyports, and i love them. I have never used PWs but if they are supposed to be better than the skyports, i want a pair. I have no complaints about the skyports. They are small and work right on every shot. Very consistent.
Another little update: No misfires and no shutdowns yet...
I gonna love skyports.
Yes - batteries are unpredictable, but spare Coin battery takes almost no space in my bag. Li-Ion battery is hard to replace in field - so I got AA -> 5v charger for $15 (similar to this http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/cellphones/aa-cell-phone-charger-124012.php) and now my skyport power is backed up
Unfortunately - I can't predict if I'll have time before New Year for the review
Please ask me specific questions - and I'll answer here.
Major differences for me:
Skyports: Small Size.
PWs: Has battery indicator and true confirmation. Size is frustrating.
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As to build quality - Skyport wins. If you think PW is better built - just take a close look to it's hotshoe. My old povetry wizard was better in that place
PW does not fit tight in the hotshoe - I always have to tighten the ring.
Skyport has no ring, but it fits so good, that no ring is needed.
PW does not work if units are too close. <~5 feet for Max channels and <~2 feet for classic.
I did not make long range test for PW yet.
Skyport range indoors is not 50meters as advertised. I would state "thru 2 average walls" range . In direct sight - range is great. ~70 meters, even with 2.4Ghz access point next to receiver.
Philip L wrote:
I have a few quick questions if you do not mind, Arsenitim.
Do you know if the Skyports work at arms length? (Thinking of using them for off-camera flash in hand.)
Also, when a 580EX is on the camera's hotshoe, can a Skyport transmitter (or PW) be used at the same time by plugging into the camera's pc sync?
Thnks in advance
My Skyports work right next to each other as well as at arms length. as for using the 580 on shoe and triggering from the sync... it should work... might depend on camera though. Never had a reason to try it though.
Does the PW and Skyport communicates? I mean can I use both together?
Mufutau
Arsenitim wrote:
Unfortunately - I can't predict if I'll have time before New Year for the review
Please ask me specific questions - and I'll answer here.
Major differences for me:
Skyports: Small Size.
PWs: Has battery indicator and true confirmation. Size is frustrating.
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As to build quality - Skyport wins. If you think PW is better built - just take a close look to it's hotshoe. My old povetry wizard was better in that place
PW does not fit tight in the hotshoe - I always have to tighten the ring.
Skyport has no ring, but it fits so good, that no ring is needed.
PW does not work if units are too close. <~5 feet for Max channels and <~2 feet for classic.
I did not make long range test for PW yet.
Skyport range indoors is not 50meters as advertised. I would state "thru 2 average walls" range . In direct sight - range is great. ~70 meters, even with 2.4Ghz access point next to receiver. ...Show more →
Philip L wrote:
I have a few quick questions if you do not mind, Arsenitim.
Do you know if the Skyports work at arms length? (Thinking of using them for off-camera flash in hand.)
Also, when a 580EX is on the camera's hotshoe, can a Skyport transmitter (or PW) be used at the same time by plugging into the camera's pc sync?
Thnks in advance
I don't know about skyports, but I ended up going to PW for my system, and yes... the arms length tests all passed on 430EX and 580EX II. Also, yes... you CAN fire one stobe on camera and still fire the PW via sync socket. There is a small delay (1/2000 second according to the manual) for radio signal to reach the receiver and for the PW Plus II to switch to receiver mode and trigger the flash. I have not tested this a lot on my systems, but I don't think it's enough of a delay to be a real factor, given that max sync speed I've tested on my 30D with PW is 1/300 second.
I Love my PWs... and if you shop around, you can get a 4 pack for around $150US per unit, which is not a lot more than the skyport. I have a full set of rechargable NiMH AA batteries, and another set in reserve, so I'm not worried about running out of power in the field even after several days of use.
BC_Shutterbug wrote:
I have a full set of rechargable NiMH AA batteries, and another set in reserve, so I'm not worried about running out of power in the field even after several days of use.
Hope this all helps!
njw
I never used rechargeable batteries with my PWs. In the manual, they recommend alkaline AA batteries and say that it is not recommended to use rechargeables.
But I think they still work. Are you satisfied with the rechargeables? Any delays?
Yes - Skyports work even if I stick antennas to each other. It works from Zero distance.
PW definetely has "short distance" limitations. At classic channels - it will work if you hold flash with your arm.
And - yes - PC connector can be used. Skyport has PC->Sender cable included.
At least my 40D can trigger PC terminal with 580 on the hotshoe. I think All canons do.
mufutau
Carmen is right. PW is ~400Mhz. Skyports are 2.4Ghz. And of course - digital codes are different.
But. I can use both systems this way: (Connect Slyport sender to Port2 on Camera's PW. That way - PW and Skyport senders will send trigger signals to each receiver)
Mario Moschel
My MultiMax manual says:
"Rechargeable batteries will also work, though operation time may be reduced."
I use Ni-Mh Sanyo batteries - no problems yet.
Arsenitim wrote: Philip L
But. I can use both systems this way: (Connect Slyport sender to Port2 on Camera's PW. That way - PW and Skyport senders will send trigger signals to each receiver)
Fascinating. I'll have to give this a try.
I tried daisy chaining my Skyports, but never thought about trying my PWII's too. They pretty much been relegated to overpriced camera triggers.
BC_Shutterbug wrote:
and if you shop around, you can get a 4 pack for around $150US per unit
Do tell.
BC_Shutterbug wrote:
which is not a lot more than the skyport.
Even so, you'd still get half again as many Skyports at normal prices. Not to mention some pretty pricey cables at no charge depending on which flash you're using.
Arsenitim wrote:
Unfortunately - I can't predict if I'll have time before New Year for the review
Please ask me specific questions - and I'll answer here.
Major differences for me:
Skyports: Small Size.
PWs: Has battery indicator and true confirmation. Size is frustrating.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
As to build quality - Skyport wins. If you think PW is better built - just take a close look to it's hotshoe. My old povetry wizard was better in that place
PW does not fit tight in the hotshoe - I always have to tighten the ring.
Skyport has no ring, but it fits so good, that no ring is needed.
PW does not work if units are too close. <~5 feet for Max channels and <~2 feet for classic.
I did not make long range test for PW yet.
Skyport range indoors is not 50meters as advertised. I would state "thru 2 average walls" range . In direct sight - range is great. ~70 meters, even with 2.4Ghz access point next to receiver. ...Show more →
i would rather have a hotshoe device that uses a screw-ring collar (having a pin with the collar is even better) than something that relies just on friction and tension to be jammed into a hotshoe.
people say that PWs have poor build quality because you can occasionally see a mold/cast line or that they arent made of super thick and hefty material. Who cares about the mold lines and the plastic is thick enough that in the numerous cases that i have dropped a PW or two, there has been no damage.
my PWs dont work when they antennas are touching (when would this happen during real world shooting?) and when there is less than 1 inch of airspace between the antennas (again, when does this occur?) other than that they are always reliable.
. Will see what happens next.
