Anyone using Pocket Wizards?

King Eric

Hi all,

Am hoping to pick up some pocket wizards or radiopoppers over the next couple of months. I mailed the radiopopper guys yesterday and asked them when they thought they would have units ready for europe and they reckoned as a rough estimate 2 - 5 months. So that has kinda decided it for me that PW are the way to go. Thinking i'll get a set from MPEX for $188 for each unit

However in the mail they also mentioned....

"Please be aware that the radio frequency used for US models is the same frequency band Europe uses for it's GSM cellular phones. Anyone using these in Europe can expect shortened range, misfires and other odd behavior due to the constant background interference from the phones. We do have an EU specific unit set for release in the near future which will be on a different and non-conflicting frequency."

SO i just wanted to check that pocket wizards coming from america didnt have the same problems with the frequency used.

Also wondering if I can use the pocket wizards at shutter speeds faster then 1/250 if I put my canon flashes in high speed sync mode

Thanks

stcstc

pocket wizards do have the same problem, just different frequency

and technically it is against the law to use them here without a broadcast license. the american ones that is

I have a set of skyports from elinchrom and they work a treat with shutters up to 1/1000 of a sec


and they are very cheap compared to the pocket wizards

PopeBuckfastXVI

stcstc wrote: »

pocket wizards do have the same problem, just different frequency

and technically it is against the law to use them here without a broadcast license. the american ones that is

I have a set of skyports from elinchrom and they work a treat with shutters up to 1/1000 of a sec


and they are very cheap compared to the pocket wizards

Do you mind me asking how much they are?

soccerc

My European versions of Pocket Wizards have the CE mark and certificiate of compliance.

I use them for triggering remote cameras and not as off camera flash triggers.

If you plan going this route you will need additional trigger cables.

Should you go the pocket wizard route I suggest you buy them as a kit of two or three.

There have been a few occasions when they failed to shot but that was my fault for not ensuring the antenna was in the best position to receive the signal.

Another time someone moved the remote camera ever so slightly resulting in some of the pics I thought I had captured being either poorly framed or out of focus.

stcstc

the skyports were 140 inc euros with one transmitter and one receiver

Borderfox

I use the radio transmitter kits from Calumet £35 and about 150ft range with no misfires so far and can fire a camera and the other kit can fire flashes.
Camera kit

Flash kit

Borderfox

The flash kit can be used similar to PW's with a transmitter on the hotshoe firing another camera.

Cameraman

If you want to buy Pocket Wizards on ebay - URGalaxy sell European ones.

pete4130

I've got 4 US PW's, 2 receivers, 1 tranceiver and a transmitter (all new PW's are tranceivers now apparantly). neve a misfire, used them in the city, country and never had a misfire. Used at 100ft before with no problems (never needed to use them ant further away).

I know US and EU won't work together. Can't fault them tbh.

Dodgykeeper

Interested to know when you use these, I know sports snappers use them for cameras behind goals etc. but what are the other use?

Borderfox

I use them for under jumps and the flash radio units to fire additional flashguns when out of line of sight

soccerc

Dodgykeeper wrote: »

Interested to know when you use these, I know sports snappers use them for cameras behind goals etc. but what are the other use?

Off camera flash, but I use them behind goals and from sidelines as remote camera triggers. Can be up to 300 feet away.

An example

Remote from sideline


Other end of pitch

Dodgykeeper

Great pics there thimble! Looked at ur flickr, some great captures of a great night!

whyulittle

thimblefull wrote: »

Off camera flash, but I use them behind goals and from sidelines as remote camera triggers. Can be up to 300 feet away.

An example

Remote from sideline

Other end of pitch

Took me a minute to get that! :o

soccerc

Dodgykeeper wrote: »

Great pics there thimble! Looked at ur flickr, some great captures of a great night!

Some absolutely dreadful ones in that set too.

Couldn't focus on second goal as was holding camera in one hand and raising the other in celebration along with roaring my lungs off- a crime I know but hey it was my club progressing!

Still, the night was the best football experiemce of my life