curryphoto wrote:
Anybody using the new PW tt1's (i think) for Nikon? If so are they reliable. I am mainly interested in getting the hot shoe mount to eliminate having to plug a cord into the camera. I have concerns because I heard that there were problems with the new model when released for the Canon camera's.....thomas
I realize Radiopoppers work better than PW, but has anyone considered this to be primarily a Canon flash problem? My 580EXIIs don't work ON camera half the time, much less off-camera. I would love to hear about someone's experience with PWs and Nikon off-camera flash.
DB wrote:
I realize Radiopoppers work better than PW, but has anyone considered this to be primarily a Canon flash problem? My 580EXIIs don't work ON camera half the time, much less off-camera. I would love to hear about someone's experience with PWs and Nikon off-camera flash.
Could be, or maybe I was just one of the lucky few that got reliable PWs. Mind you, I used them mostly on model photo shoots before I made the switch to wedding photography. TTL was not a concern for me back then, because I had time to evaluate lighting conditions, adjust the Alien Bees power manually, and setup the shot. Not such luxury with wedding photography, so I mostly use the ABs and the PWs for engagement shoots nowadays, and they still perform as expected (from me, at least).
for what it's worth, I was having issues with my miniTT1 and flexTT5 not working all the time. I thought it was an interference issue with the 580EX, but turned out it was the Mini TT1's fault...something to do with the connection to my 5DMKII hot shoe. I called PW, they told me there was an issue with the early copies of the TT1&TT5 and they sent me brand new copies. So far they are working flawlessly.
I talked to the guys at PW last year at Photoplus about the TTxx. I asked them if the TTxx was their response to competition from Radiopoppers. Their rep laughed and said 'Nah, those guys are no competition to us'. Another example of market leader hubris. Too bad RP has kept the price so high, because they could probably really jumped ahead with the promlems the TTxxs are having.
Lance Lee wrote:
Say what? I'm assuming you are exaggerating, or something.
Nope. Wish I was. It seems there's a connection issue between our flashes and the 5D hotshoes. Sometimes they just don't go off. Other times they let off one full power flash and go to TTL mode then don't go off. And it doesn't matter if we are in ETTL or Manual. It's been THE biggest pain in our rears to date. They usually choose not to go off at times that we really need them so we are using video light right now. It's like that with any combination of our cameras and flashes. One particular flash is worse than the rest, but all of them fail on a regular basis. Let me tell you how much I love canon. Haven't had that issue with the 550 EX, though.
Nope. Wish I was. It seems there's a connection issue between our flashes and the 5D hotshoes. Sometimes they just don't go off. Other times they let off one full power flash and go to TTL mode then don't go off. And it doesn't matter if we are in ETTL or Manual. It's been THE biggest pain in our rears to date. They usually choose not to go off at times that we really need them so we are using video light right now. It's like that with any combination of our cameras and flashes. One particular flash is worse than the rest, but all of them fail on a regular basis. Let me tell you how much I love canon. Haven't had that issue with the 550 EX, though.
Yep...everyone can make fun of my 550EXs all you want, but the only time they've failed was when the hot shoe on my 1Ds practically fell off during a reception (all four screws backed out).
I've had mixed feelings about the PocketWizard Flex/Mini TT units so far. While I love the convenience they have been troublesome at times, strange random blown out exposures from full discharges, unreliable at long distances with certain Canon flashes, etc. I did not want to use RadioPoppers because I wanted compatibility with my old PW Plus II units. With that being said, they have been getting better with each firmware revision.
Sam Hassas wrote:
Pocket Wizards blow. They work great at times and sucked at others. The times they sucked it was so critical. That was indoor. Outdoor was another story all together. They are terrible. Anything over 10 ft and they render useless. So bad. Couldn't count on them for anything.
Hoff was at 200 yards here.
you gotta get that soft shield
DB wrote:
Nope. Wish I was. It seems there's a connection issue between our flashes and the 5D hotshoes. Sometimes they just don't go off. Other times they let off one full power flash and go to TTL mode then don't go off. And it doesn't matter if we are in ETTL or Manual. It's been THE biggest pain in our rears to date. They usually choose not to go off at times that we really need them so we are using video light right now. It's like that with any combination of our cameras and flashes. One particular flash is worse than the rest, but all of them fail on a regular basis. Let me tell you how much I love canon. Haven't had that issue with the 550 EX, though.
That's just a loose shoe mount,Canon can fix that in a day... Or there is a do-it-yourself method. Just had to do this to my 1D3 to alleviate the exact symptoms you described:
DB, PW has admitted that the 580II emits radio frequencies that knock out the communication between the transmitters. They are offering a free sleeve that contains the RF blasts. Check out their website.
