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|| SportsShooter.com: Member Message Board
FlashWizard vs. PocketWizard
Collin Erie, Student/Intern, Photographer
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Carlsbad | CA | United States | Posted: 8:23 PM on 12.09.03 |
->> What are the advatages of using a FlashWizard system over an entire Multimax system? Can you combine both?
I would love some more information on this topic..tell me everything you know....thanks |
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Mike Isler, Photographer
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Santa Barbara | CA | US | Posted: 9:40 PM on 12.09.03 |
->> Collin,
Perhaps others with more experience (like Mark Terrill) can chip in on this...but here's my take: The Flash Wizard (and Flash Wizard II) systems are expensive, self-calibrating "networks", whereas the PocketWizard MultiMAX's are simple, inexpensive hand-calibrated systems.
The Flash Wizard II system is custom-configured by LPA for you depending on the number of cameras, etc. After every shot, it calculates the lag time of each camera and the system adjusts for it.
On the PocketWizard system, the lag time is entered manually one time, and if the lag time of a camera drifts over the course of your shoot, it will throw a wrench into the works. It's good for syncing a few cameras to one set of lights, but not intended for doing a serious NBA setup where you'd be syncing 5 Hasselblad's, 4 D1x's and 2 F5's to one set of lights, just to throw out an example. |
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Walter Calahan, Photographer
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Silver Spring | MD | USA | Posted: 11:06 PM on 12.09.03 |
->> I bought into the FlashWizard system back when the PocketWizard was a glorified garage door opener (both made by LPA Design). The FlashWizard system is amazing, but I've read up on the MultiMAX and it looks like it is approaching (exceeding in some specs) FlashWizard capabilities.
The FlashWizard II system is for very specific work such as rigging multiple remote cameras to fire in-sync with one strobe firing (can you say NBA finals).
Unfortunately LPA's web site has been under construction since 3/31/2001, so you must contact them directly to get any info about FlashWizard transmitters and receivers.
From the FlashWizard catalog:
Range: 1000 ft plus
Frequency: 344mhz
Channels: 4 digit programmable system ID# providing 256 possible "channels"
Sync Speed: 1/250 (focal plane) 1/500 (leaf)
Batteries: Quick Change compartment, 4 AA 30-40 hours receiver 50-60 hours transmitter
Weight: 1.5 lbs (transmitter) 1 lb receiver
Dimensions: height 10 1/4" width 3 1/2" depth 1 1/2"
Receiver: height 4 3/4" width 3 1/2" depth 1 1/2"
The FlashWizard is all metal construction, so they are very rugged. I dropped a receiver once onto a concrete floor, didn't even dent it, and it kept working. I also bought a separate device called a SpeedCycler to work with the FlashWizards. I think I read that the SpeedCycler is built into the MultiMAX software so you don't have to buy a separate unit (check with Mamiya on this). I've been very happy with the FlashWizard system.
I don't have any experience with the PocketWizard, (hey I spent all my money on FlashWizards) so lets hope people with MultiMAX experience give their nickels worth. |
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Doug Holleman, Photographer
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Temple | TX | USA | Posted: 11:59 PM on 12.09.03 |
| ->> Inexpensive is a relative term. |
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Gary Dineen, Photographer
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Cedarburg | WI | USA | Posted: 1:58 AM on 12.10.03 |
->> I'm fairly certain that the original Flash Wizard has the same limitation regarding lag time as the Multi's - you set it up manually and hope it stays consistent. Unfortunately, it was not consistent enough for a high success rate while synchronizing with strobes. This was the reason the II's were developed. The original FW also has many features built in for a variety of applications (similar to the Multi's).
The original FW also could be equipped with various software on board for various functions. One common configuration uses the "sports software" which allows the use of one transmitter (with three trigger buttons attached) - to fire three separate remote cameras on three separate channels. In this configuration, you choose which camera to fire - they do not fire simultaneously.
The FW's seem to be much more reliable - and you don't have to worry about someone else being on your same channel, like you do with the PW's.
And contrary to all the rave reviews on the other thread regarding the Multi's - if you use them enough, in different situations/locations - you will find that they do fail at times. The Multi's have gone through several versions of software since they were introduced - and there is very reliable talk of them even having a certain dead spot (within their workable distance) - where they exhibit a high degree of inconsistency. This was probably corrected with later versions of software - but they haven't been very willing to let users know about the problem.
Re: the Speed Cycler - yes, the Multi's have this feature built-in, but you need one Multi per set of strobes to make use of the speedcycler function. That's close to $900 to alternate between 3 sets (plus another transmitter attached to your camera to set them off). You'd be hard-pressed to find a Speed Cycler in stock anywhere today - but they were last selling new for less then $300. So cost-wise - they had the Multi's beat. The last one I saw (and missed) on eBay went for $30 !!! |
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Collin Erie, Student/Intern, Photographer
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Carlsbad | CA | United States | Posted: 1:49 AM on 12.11.03 |
| ->> anyone else??????? |
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Anthony Soufflé, Photographer
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St. Louis | MO | USA | Posted: 4:56 AM on 02.02.08 |
->> I had a friend looking to the FlashWizard system and -- after not being able to find any info on LPA's website -- sent an email to the company to ask about them... this was their reply:
"We no longer manufacture or sell the FlashWizard II system. If you are looking to get multiple cameras to trigger with one flash, then consider the MultiMAX. It has the ability to set delays to compensate for lag variations from camera to camera. What it lacks is the ability to compensate for lag variations in a camera from shot, but there are many ways to minimize that, one of which is to have consistent cameras. Many sports photographers are using the MultiMAX successfully to equalize cameras."
I'm curious to know, are sports illustrated photographers and others who run multiple camera remote/strobe setups switching to the MultiMax's? |
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Thom Kendall, Photographer, Assistant
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Sunderland | MA | USA | Posted: 8:13 AM on 02.02.08 |
->> Collin,
My understanding is that SI (and probably NBAE) pretty much bought out the remaining stock of FlashWizard II, and, as Anthony points out, it is no longer manufactured.
Also, Robert Beck did a very complete step-by-step run down of how to synch multiple remote cameras to one set of strobes with the MultiMax. The key is to have cameras with consistent lag times.
http://www.sportsshooter.com/news/1709
I'll be trying this out before the end of the basketball season, so I'll let you know!
Good Luck,
Thom |
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