Off camera flash - PocketWizards, etc

[simon_j]

Did a bit of off camera training earlier this week and I've now got the bug. Has anybody got experience of the new MiniTT1 and FlexTT5 PocketWizards?













Larger images :- http://www.simon-james.com/flash/fullpage.html


Cheers,
Simon.

[omohat]

What course did you do simon and how much was it (if you don't mind my asking)?

[jon-]

Last time I checked (a few weeks ago) the new PW aren't available in this country yet.

Get a set of poverty wizards from ebay (pt04.) Mine fire every time and I have a full set with backup (2 triggers + 6 receivers) for less than you'd pay for a single pocket wizard.

You might only be able to shoot manual, but it's a great way to "cut your teeth" and get into strobist without relying on the camera doing all the work for you.

ETA - I'm bored. Were the first 2 shots lit something like single softbox high camera left + a snooted bare flash for hair / rim?

Edited by jon- on Friday 4th September 15:57

[Pete Baraka]

simon_j said:

Did a bit of off camera training earlier this week and I've now got the bug. Has anybody got experience of the new MiniTT1 and FlexTT5 PocketWizards?

Cheers,
Simon.

Quality portraiture Simon. Was that a Lovegrove course? No experience yet but I ordered a set yesterday - My local preferred supplier price-matched TFC so there's a TT1 & 2x TT5 combo landing here next week. I'll report back after a proper test drive.

If the hype is to be believed, these offer so much more potential than 'just' reliable wireless TTL. How about off-camera subject lighting (and all the extra creative possibilites therefore possible) along with with ~f4 background blur achieved via ~1/2000th flash sync?

Pete

[Snapper7]

I picked up 1x MiniTT1 and 3x FlexTT5 PocketWizards from the Flash centre in Birmingham.

I have used them on a couple of jobs and Yes the TTL does work, but the setting different ratios for the different flash guns is fiddly and I have to say that you would be better off setting them manually and using a good Hand meter like the Sekonic L-358 to get the best results.

One thing that you do also have to remember is that if you want to use the Ratios you have to have the master flash on a TT1, on the camera otherwise it doesn't work. I spent 20mins while on a job trying to get it to work that with the master off the TT1 and remote on a TT5. Gave up in the end and set everything manually and metered it with a flash meter. So far the hand metered results have been the best I have had.

But for straight TTL with the Flashes off the camera they do work wel, apart from when the subject is wearing some thing white. using the straight +1 and +2 on the flash didn't give the results I expected.

Personally I would still prefer to set up my Elinchrom Ranger kit and manually meter the flash. But as a get you by the MiniTT1 and FlexTT5 PocketWizards are ok.

Simon, I do note that in picture 1 of your posting the front light does look a litttle under exposed. But I have to say that as a whole it is a very nice set of pictures. Pic 2 is the best IMHO.

It would also be nice to have read what you did to get these shots so we might be able to offer some other advice.

Regards

Snapper
http://www.jamiejonesphoto.co.uk/

[simon_j]

OK, to answer the questions :-

omohat - the course was with Brett Harkness and we shot at his studio and on location in Manchester. It's £285 + vat and I'd recommend it not just for the training but also for Brett's knowledge and experience.

jon- - Yes, the first 2 shots had a Lastolite EzyBox held at head height and a naked flash to the rear

Pete - I think Brett's course is similar to Damien's and I may also try a Lovegrove course soon

Snapper7 - It's good to hear some first hand experience. Do you know what the maximum distance your set will fire at? All the shots had a hand held soft box hand held to either the left or right. The first two had a naked flash to the rear. The third shot had a green gel to the rear which lit up the tree leaves. The fourth shot just has a soft box and the final two have rear flashes at different distance and coloured gels to light up the arches.

[Snapper7]

Hi Simon

I have not done a test to see the maximum distance that they will work in. Although I would guess that a number of things could affect the potential working maximum distance. So is some/many cases you would not get the maximum distance.

Although this picture was taken using approximately 5x Canon 580 & 580II flashguns and a mix of the new TT1 & TT5 Pocket Wizards and some of the older Tranceiver Pocket Wizards. The Picture was taken with the light Balance set to Tungsten and each flash gun had a Tungsten colour correction gel over the heads, so that they would balance with the warm lights coming from the windows.

See Low res image here: http://idisk.mac.com/jamie_jones/Public/PocketWiza...

If you want to ask me more in depth questions and feel that it would be easier to talk to me directly, my phone number is in the link to my website posted in my previous posting.

Hope that helps.

[VxDuncan]

I have a set of CTR-301P tirggers off the bay (kinda next gen poverty triggers). No probs so far, never had a false fire or misses trigger (apart from when the flash went to sleep!). Worth a punt for pennies. Would love to be able to sync faster than 1/250s with them though, like the Nikon Auto FP mode.

[Simpo Two]

VxDuncan said:

Would love to be able to sync faster than 1/250s with them though, like the Nikon Auto FP mode.

Oddly enough, try a D70. It synchs up to 1/2000th thanks to its electromagnetic shutter (using Elinchrom lights and Wein IR trigger)

[omohat]

simon_j said:

OK, to answer the questions :-

omohat - the course was with Brett Harkness and we shot at his studio and on location in Manchester. It's £285 + vat and I'd recommend it not just for the training but also for Brett's knowledge and experience.

Thanks for the info Simon. I can't contribute to the Pocket Wizard debate but I can tell you that I use Elinchrom Skyport for my triggering and that they work very reliably. I also own Radio Poppers and while they are convenient in that i can set power from the camera (Nikon CLs system) the skyports do seem more reliable.

[Simpo Two]

omohat said:

I can tell you that I use Elinchrom Skyport for my triggering and that they work very reliably. I also own Radio Poppers and while they are convenient in that i can set power from the camera (Nikon CLs system) the skyports do seem more reliable.

Skyport will do that too but you need the appropriate model of Elinchrom light (which of course cost more than the others!).

A weak link of Skyport IMHO is that the receiver uses a rechargeable battery (which could fail on a shoot as there's no way of knowing when it's running down), whilst my £10 eBay cheapo trigger loops into the mains feed.