Radio Popper and Pocket Wizard

<p>Any kind of swivel flash bracket that includes a stud with 1/4X20 that you can screw into the base of your RP receiver bracket would be the simplest and cheapest solution. Something like this <a href="http://www.adorama.com/LTUSH.html">http://www.adorama.com/LTUSH.html</a>. </p>

<p>William</p>

<p>I ran across something late last night you might want to look at. Pixel has a new ETTL trigger called the <strong><em>Pixel King </em></strong>(do a goggle search). Pixel previously came out with the Pixel Knight which was the ETTL trigger fore runner to the Kings. I was never impressed with them and they had some issues and limitations. These new Kings look interesting. I see they are for sale on Ebay and at The Photo Gadget. There is also some pretty good write ups at the POTN Canon Users forum (goggle POTN and then do a search in the forum for Pixel King). Here are some links:</p>

<p><a href="http://www.pixelhk.com/Proshow.aspx?id=101">http://www.pixelhk.com/Proshow.aspx?id=101</a></p>

<p><a href="

<p><a href="https://thephotogadget.com/en/content/pixel-king-ttl-radio-flash-trigger-canon-2-receivers">https://thephotogadget.com/en/content/pixel-king-ttl-radio-flash-trigger-canon-2-receivers</a></p>

<p><a href="https://thephotogadget.com/en/content/pixel-king-ttl-radio-flash-receiver-only-canon">https://thephotogadget.com/en/content/pixel-king-ttl-radio-flash-receiver-only-canon</a></p>

<p> </p>

<p>I see where the Pixel Kings are also offered in 3 and 4 receiver sets at The Photo Gadget. I do not know anything about this company having never purchased from them before.</p>

<p><a href="https://thephotogadget.com/en/content/pixel-king-ttl-radio-flash-trigger-canon-3-receivers">https://thephotogadget.com/en/content/pixel-king-ttl-radio-flash-trigger-canon-3-receivers</a></p>

<p><a href="https://thephotogadget.com/en/content/pixel-king-ttl-radio-flash-trigger-canon-4-receivers">https://thephotogadget.com/en/content/pixel-king-ttl-radio-flash-trigger-canon-4-receivers</a></p>

<p>Hi RSmith and thank you most kindly for your help. I'm in two minds re the RPs. I want wireless but do I really need it.? Not really. But if I start doing more outside work ( something I've always been a bit wary of - I don't really know how to control the light as well as inside - they would be very valuable. </p>

<p>I've instigated a few searches to find out how to get the bracket converters locally. In particular there is an engineering company here in the UK which is very good at locating this sort of thing.</p>

<p>OTOH I will check out the products you mention as I still have a few weeks left to decide, thanks to the excellent Amazon.</p>

<p>William</p>

<p>William</p>

<p>It looks to me like, when using the Pixel Kings, you would be able to control the manual flash power output and the ETTL functions, of your 430EX II and 580EX II, from your 5DmIIs "external flash menu" but, you would have to set your 580EX at the flash itself for manual flash power output. I did not really figure out how it handled ETTL with the older 430EX and 580EX flashes. It would probably do most of what you are wanting to do but there is a lot it still lacks when compared to the Radio Popper or Pocket Wizard systems. It would definitely be a step up from a "Dumb Radio Trigger" but how much so remains to be seen especially for users of the older ver I EX Speedlites.</p>

<p>They are certainly very well specced for the price. The only worry I would have is the reliability issue. They don't really have the pedigree of the PW or RP kit. Although not a deal breaker in itself, it is a consideration, particularly as I would be ordering rom the UK and it makes customer support that bit more tricky. Also I would have to add VAT, import duty and postage which would probably hike the price up by at least 30%. I haven't been able to track down a UK dealer for these either.</p>

<p>The other kit I wondered about was the Phottix Odin, here:<br>

http://journal.phottix.com/photo-accessory-news/phottix-odin-ttl-trigger-canon-ship-week/<br>

Don't know how reliable this would be though but it seems interesting.<br>

I do like the RPs. I wish they were a bit more "slick" in their attachments though. In particular I'm not sure about the best way to mount them on a stand with modifiers. I'd really like something which sets them "horizontally" pointing straight at the centre of an umbrella or similar ( like the AC7 PW shield does). I know this adapter will work to attach them to the hotshot but when I look at items like the Westcott sotfboxes, any flash already sits pretty high up from centre already and the adapter isn't going to help this much. I've always hated the thought of firing a flash into the upper half of a soft box or umbrella rather than the centre!<br>

The RPs do seem to be rock solid though and compared to what Ive read about PWs this is, of course, a big plus. I have to say though, that the European PWs don't seem to be afflicted with the same issues as the US and most UK users seem to be happy with them, so who knows. I don't know if I should completely give up the idea of these or not.</p>

<p>Decisions, decisions!</p>

<p>William</p>

<p>Wow I think that Phottix Odin looks like a neat deal. It looks to do three things that the Nikon wireless system can do that the Canon cannot but now maybe it can. Mix manual and ETTL modes amongst the different groups, have FEC for each individual group and also have second curtain sync in the wireless setup. It is something that looks very interesting. </p>

<p>I thought so too. I haven't had much use for 2nd curtain sync but good to have. The other two things are very handy indeed. I suppose the proof of the pudding will be how reliable they are</p>

<p>William</p>

<p>The only negative is as of right now there is only full stop adjustment of the flashes in manual mode. Hopefully with a software update they'll fix this. They will also trigger their receivers of the two versions of the Strato's so you'll able to add this to the mix. Not quite the capability of the full Radio Popper system yet but that rear curtain sync in wireless and the individual group FEC is interesting. The mixing of the Manual and ETTL within the groups is nice but right now with the Radio Popper system I have the ability to mix 3 ETTL groups with 3 Manual groups, with complete control of flash outputs from the camera, so it is still a better choice for me. It does look tempting to buy just to play with.</p>

<p>I could see wedding photographers using the rear curtain sync and having the ability to turn the idividual groups on and off plus change and mix ETTL and Manual, among the different groups on the fly, would be a kind of handy as well.</p>

<p>Am I right in assuming you have the extra flexibility due to using the JrX system too? If so, I don't have that option here in Europe at the moment and if I was using RPs with manual flashes via the STE2 (rather than a 580EX) I believe I'd have to adjust the manual setting locally. With this kit I could still do it locally but have at least the added option of one stop remotely adjusted increments.</p>

<p>As such it might make a bit of sense for me. I'm quite tempted</p>

<p>William</p>

<p>Yes you are correct that with the RP system you have 3 groups in ETTL or Manual with the PX and the Canon wireless system and then 3 groups of either Speedlights/Speedlites with RP cubes or PCB strobes all controlled with JRX "Studio" recievers with their flash powers adjustable from the camera via the PX transmitter in 32 levels. This makes for a very creative setup and too bad JRX units are not available yet in Europe.</p>

<p>I am not sure, when using the Phottix Odin with an Odin receiver, if you can set a flash locally in manual mode unless you use one of the Strato receivers. I think when using the Odin receivers they can only be used as part of a group and only controlled by and set by the transmitter. I may be wrong but I have not found any information in the literature that talks about this.</p>