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|| SportsShooter.com: Member Message Board
Pocket Wizard FlexTT5
Kevin Krows, Photographer
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Forsyth | IL | USA | Posted: 7:20 AM on 08.03.09 |
->> Does anyone else find it strange that Pocket Wizard continues to promote an 800' range for the FlexTT5 when many users report getting anywhere from 35'-50' hit and miss? Anybody getting consistant results over 100'??
Quote from PW product features -- "The FlexTT5 is the ideal addition to any Canon E-TTL II flash system. Since this system works on digital radio technology, it can support E-TTL operation up to an amazing 800', even around corners, out-of-sight, or in bright sunlight." |
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Daniel Putz, Photographer
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Jefferson | MD | USA | Posted: 8:45 AM on 08.03.09 |
->> I bet if you brought a pair up to the top of Mauna Loa they'd fire at 800' (laterally, of course).
:P
C'mon, I know someone has to try it! |
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Kevin Krows, Photographer
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Forsyth | IL | USA | Posted: 8:57 AM on 08.03.09 |
->> Daniel:
You owe me a new keyboard. I just spit coffee all over mine after reading your post. |
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Philip Johnson, Photographer
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Garland | TX | USA | Posted: 9:49 AM on 08.03.09 |
| ->> Kevin, are you using a RF shield on your flash? I haven't bought any new Flex or Mini pocket wizards. I wish they could fix this RF problem with out the shielding, but it doesn't look like it will happen. |
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Stephen Brashear, Photographer, Assistant
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Seattle | WA | USA | Posted: 10:52 AM on 08.03.09 |
->> Philip and Kevin,
From what I've read there are several things you can do to decrease the RF interference and increase the transmit distance with out an RF shield. You can orient the flash flash as seen in picture at the bottom of this page http://robgalbraith.com/bins/content_page.asp?cid=7-9991-10008. You can also attach the flash to the transceiver using an off-camera TTL flash cord.
I use the transmitters and receivers for my small light kit with good results. I've had one occasion where I couldn't get two speedlites fire. I moved about 20 feet and they worked fine. I'm assuming it was some sort of RF interference, but not from the strobes. Somewhere I remember reading that LPA was aware of the issues with the 580EX, but since they used newer versions of the 580EX II models, which apparently emit less RF interference, they weren't aware of the extent RF interference on early versions of the 580EX II. |
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Matthew Sauk, Photographer
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Sandy | UT | United States | Posted: 10:57 AM on 08.03.09 |
| ->> wow that is a lot of trouble to go through for a very expensive product :( |
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Dan Bannister, Photographer
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Calgary | AB | Canada | Posted: 11:31 AM on 08.03.09 |
->> I've had the same experience. I actually had a 580EXII on a TT5 sitting on the ground in an open field while I stood 15' away and could not get the damn thing to fire. I was so amazed that I actually put the camera down and took a picture of the distance with my phone to show LPA. They actually told me that you'll get the worst range if they are close to the ground. I guess that means that everything I want to shoot has to be lit at eye level from now on!
I've talked to them a couple of times and, while trying to be very helpful, the reality was that the only solution they could offer were extension cords to get the TT5 away from the flash (if I wanted more cables, I would not have bought TT 5's) and a Kleenex box like thing that is supposed to shield the flash, again, another gadget I should not have to buy and certainly don't want to lug around.
I'm going out of town tomorrow for a week of shooting for a pipeline construction company so, I'm really going to put them to the test and if I can't get the promised performance, they're going back.
Disappointing though, this stuff never seems to work as promised anymore. I just sent back a Zeiss 50 and an 85, both of them, right out of the box, wayyyyy off on focus accuracy. The Zeiss guy has been nice and helpful so far but, I still had to shell out $60 and a trip to UPS to send them back. I think the prevailing attitude these days is, "get it close and 80% won't complain, the other 20% will only cost us X to repair or replace later". |
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Jeff Mills, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Columbus | OH | USA | Posted: 11:52 AM on 08.03.09 |
| ->> Are the Radio Poppers plagued by this same RF issue with some Canon flash or is it specific to the frequency range PW is using on this product ? |
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Erik Markov, Photographer
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Kokomo | IN | | Posted: 12:59 PM on 08.03.09 |
| ->> Dan, I agree with "get it close and 80% won't complain, the other 20% will only cost us X to repair or replace later" and I see that same attitude trickling down to the camera stores even. Not just the Ritz or Cord camer store on the corner, they've always been like that. I'm talking the big name stores, I'm not going to name anybody specifically. But I'm noticing that a lot of the stores that are supposed to be places to get pro equipment are talking a very laid back attitude. I realize pro equipment isn't necessarily where they make their $$, its the people with little experience and lots of $$ to spend. But asking about pieces of gear I've seen or heard about on the internet, most sales people just don't have a clue, I think its b/c they are more sales people and not so much photographers. It used to be a store would be on your side like this thing with the TT5's and use their influence on the company, but now, they just don't care as much. |
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Kent Nishimura, Student/Intern
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Honolulu | HI | USA | Posted: 2:42 PM on 08.03.09 |
->> @Daniel Putz
send me a pair, and i'll fly to the big island to try em out! aloha! hehehe. |
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Stephen Lam, Student/Intern, Photographer
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San Francisco | CA | USA | Posted: 3:03 PM on 08.03.09 |
->> Jeff,
From what I understand radiopoppers are not plagued by RF issue because it reads TTL signals differently.
I've had my pair of Wizards tt1/tt5 since June and I can share similar sentiments. The range/ RF issue is probably the achilles heel of this product, but I hope it would be resolved soon. Despite the reliability associated with the tt1/tt5, I still by large love the design pretty pleased with the photos. For me it's a good set of tools to add to my bag going into an assignment. |
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Kevin Krows, Photographer
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Forsyth | IL | USA | Posted: 7:11 AM on 08.04.09 |
->> Dan/Erik --
You've hit the nail on the head. I too am getting a bit tired of companies (even the big guys)using clients as a part of R&D and testing. Even those that seemly have the hotest solution (for now) will eventially come back to the pack. Guess they think we all have deep pockets and can afford to provide this service. Maybe we should all send them invoices for our time doing the research they should have done in the first place.
In most cases, you can't fault the customer service departments for trying to solve problems. Many go way beyond the call of duty to make things right for the clients. Problem is, the boys and girls hiding in the product development and marketing areanas arn't getting it. The "Good Enough" and "Tell em What They Want to Hear" strategies seems to be acceptable for them. Until there's greater accountablity in these two areas I don't see things changing much in the future. |
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Steven Mullensky, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Port Townsend | WA. | USA | Posted: 11:49 AM on 08.04.09 |
| ->> Not to add fuel to the flames but I'm up to my 26th e-mail with PW trying to get my TT5's to fire remotely. |
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Robert Hanashiro, Photographer
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Los Angeles | CA | | Posted: 8:41 PM on 08.06.09 |
->> Have you been dealing with the MAC Group (the distributors)?
Or LPA Designs? |
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Steven Mullensky, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Port Townsend | WA. | USA | Posted: 11:31 PM on 08.06.09 |
->> Robert:
If you are talking to me the e-mails come from the technical specialist at LPA Design.
I sent the PW's back to Robert's this morning. I'll have to rethink this. Unfortunately, my problem uncovered a bug that I believe LPA was trying to fix but I ran out of patience. I mean, I'm up to 28 e-mails now. |
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Clay Begrin, Photographer
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Petaluma | Ca | USA | Posted: 11:51 PM on 08.06.09 |
| ->> Steven are you talking about the TT5's triggering a strobe or a remote camera? I have used the TT5 and TT1 for strobes and they have been fine (But they have been used at about 25 feet max). I am having trouble getting them to trigger a remote camera. I use a cable between the camera and the PlusII and the the remote camera triggers just fine. I go back to the TT5 using the same camera with the same cable and the TT5 won't trigger the remote camera. |
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Robert Hanashiro, Photographer
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Los Angeles | CA | | Posted: 12:05 AM on 08.07.09 |
->> Believe me...this is not a new problem. Range, reliablity and RF issues have been something the good folks at LPA --- Jim, Patrick, et al --- have been dealing with for a while.
Just run a search in the message board and you'll see how far back this has been discussed here...and how it really boiled over about a year ago. |
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Nick Morris, Photographer
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San Marcos | CA | United States | Posted: 2:52 AM on 08.07.09 |
| ->> If you guys want to trigger lights seamlessly then I suggest you contact Robert Benson and talk to him about his "Gizmo" You'll be able to fire strobes anywhere up to 2+ miles! |
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Steven Mullensky, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Port Townsend | WA. | USA | Posted: 11:34 AM on 08.07.09 |
->> Clay:
A remote camera.
I found out that a different cable is needed for the FlexTT and once I had that, it still didn't work.
LPA said I uncovered a bug and they were sending me various bits of code to rectify the problem but I figured, life is too short, so I finally bailed. I think the Multimax system is proven and I may get that, instead. |
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