PocketWizard, Yongnuo, or Phottix?

[iam2nd]

I am facing a flash purchase decision, so this thread is relevant to me. Unlike many here, I am not on the bleeding edge of Canon bodies I still have the lowly 1D Mark IV, which as I understand it cannot drive HSS via radio to a remote 600EX-RT, leaving only optical as being supported. Even with an STE3-RT on the body, remote radio HSS is not supported? (My backup body is even older) OR, does the user manual mean that radio HSS isn't supported only using ETTL? And that in manual flash exposure mode, HSS would work fine?

Can anyone confirm my interpretation of the 600EXRT user manual? I am looking at the Phottix Odin since it claims to support HSS via radio, but I would love if anyone has actually used HSS with the Odins on a 1D Mark IV

Forgot to mention, my flash is a 550EX, and I'm looking to purchase two more flashes of some yet-to-be-determined brand.

 

[CharlieB]

Getting in late I know..... I made the jump to E-TTL(ii) about two months ago, and have used the YN622.

Zero problems, easy to use, supports all current functions (important to know - no upgrades, but they're cheap).

Have had ONE issue, one time only, and I chalk it up to my own doing. Was doing a lot of switching between my 5Dii and &d with the YN622 on camera, and YN568 and YN622 off camera. The YN622 on the camera "froze". It still fired the flash and worked ETTL, but would not do zoom or other functions. This happened in extreme testing, and I blame it on all the switching, at least 30, maybe 50 times switched between cameras. During any sort of shoot, I'd be with one camera and cannot foresee switching unless of equipment failure. To clear the issue I had to do a reset on the YN622 on the camera. Takes seconds....easy... back in the game. It actually took me a while to figure out the issue, but the fix was as easier than changing lenses.

 

[Lichtgestalt]

PocketWizard ControlTL radios are über alles. Even if you own 600EX flashes, the AC3 zone controller makes it faster and easier to adjust multiple flash groups (even mixing TTL and manual groups!) than using the Canon menus. I wouldn't stop using PW's even if someone gave me a 5D3 and a bunch of 600EX's. Another exclusive feature of PocketWizards are their compatibility with various Sekonic light meters

another?

what was the first exclusive feature?

 

[Loswr]

PocketWizard ControlTL radios are über alles. Even if you own 600EX flashes, the AC3 zone controller makes it faster and easier to adjust multiple flash groups (even mixing TTL and manual groups!) than using the Canon menus. I wouldn't stop using PW's even if someone gave me a 5D3 and a bunch of 600EX's. Another exclusive feature of PocketWizards are their compatibility with various Sekonic light meters

another?

what was the first exclusive feature?

The AC-3 zone controller.

The PW system can also trigger monolights, and as yet there's no standalone receiver for the -RT system with a PC or hotshoe output.

 

[Lichtgestalt]

PocketWizard ControlTL radios are über alles. Even if you own 600EX flashes, the AC3 zone controller makes it faster and easier to adjust multiple flash groups (even mixing TTL and manual groups!) than using the Canon menus. I wouldn't stop using PW's even if someone gave me a 5D3 and a bunch of 600EX's. Another exclusive feature of PocketWizards are their compatibility with various Sekonic light meters

another?

what was the first exclusive feature?

The AC-3 zone controller.

The PW system can also trigger monolights, and as yet there's no standalone receiver for the -RT system with a PC or hotshoe output.

so he was only comparing to the canon RT system?

because other triggers offer the same functionality.
even build in, without the need of another trigger on top.
thought the 3 dials on the AC-3 are a faster way to change settings then on most devices where you have to select the group first.
but then i like to see +2 EV and power ratios and not just some numbers.

 

[Loswr]

so he was only comparing to the canon RT system?
because other triggers offer the same functionality.
even build in, without the need of another trigger on top.

Are those controls as easy at the three separate physical dials on the AC3? Pressing buttons can't compare...

 

[Lichtgestalt]

so he was only comparing to the canon RT system?
because other triggers offer the same functionality.
even build in, without the need of another trigger on top.

Are those controls as easy at the three separate physical dials on the AC3? Pressing buttons can't compare...

i already acknowledged that above in my edit.
thought not faster... but with more features.

i see the power ratio in manuell groups for example not only a number.

anyway... even when it´s faster to handle, that doesn´t make it exclusive.

 

[privatebydesign]

I am facing a flash purchase decision, so this thread is relevant to me. Unlike many here, I am not on the bleeding edge of Canon bodies I still have the lowly 1D Mark IV, which as I understand it cannot drive HSS via radio to a remote 600EX-RT, leaving only optical as being supported. Even with an STE3-RT on the body, remote radio HSS is not supported? (My backup body is even older) OR, does the user manual mean that radio HSS isn't supported only using ETTL? And that in manual flash exposure mode, HSS would work fine?

Can anyone confirm my interpretation of the 600EXRT user manual? I am looking at the Phottix Odin since it claims to support HSS via radio, but I would love if anyone has actually used HSS with the Odins on a 1D Mark IV

Forgot to mention, my flash is a 550EX, and I'm looking to purchase two more flashes of some yet-to-be-determined brand.

I can confirm that HSS via the RT system absolutely works at all speeds in M mode on the 1D MkIV with either another 600-EX-RT or an ST-E3-RT on camera as controller. They will also work in ETTL and HSS, but the output is not entirely consistent, normally within 1/3 stop but sometimes as much as 1/2 a stop variation, which I have not found to be an issue. Another Canon no no but works in practice is the drop in sync speed, with wide apertures I don't have an issue with RT at my original sync, 1/250, but if I close down I can get a slim shutter shadow when using 1; 2/3; or even at f22 1/3 stop faster than 1/125. Again I have found this easy to work around.

I believe Canon were being overly cautious when they stated some of this stuff would not work on pre 2012 bodies.

I came from 550EX's, I still have a few, and after much research I decided that even though I use pre 2012 1Ds MkIII's most of the time the RT system was the best solution for me. I couldn't be happier, actually I could, if Canon gave us a firmware update to give me the post 2012 flash menu, but short of that the 600-EX-RT's are what flashes should have always been. They just work, 100% of the time, I will never have firmware updates or compatibility issues, I need four AA's and I am good, no lost connections, no misfires, no start up sequencing, no calibration shots, no cables connectors or adapters, no hot shoe connectors that might be the problem, or might not. Just 100% reliability.

 

[iam2nd]

I can confirm that HSS via the RT system absolutely works at all speeds in M mode on the 1D MkIV with either another 600-EX-RT or an ST-E3-RT on camera as controller. They will also work in ETTL and HSS, but the output is not entirely consistent, normally within 1/3 stop but sometimes as much as 1/2 a stop variation, which I have not found to be an issue. Another Canon no no but works in practice is the drop in sync speed, with wide apertures I don't have an issue with RT at my original sync, 1/250, but if I close down I can get a slim shutter shadow when using 1; 2/3; or even at f22 1/3 stop faster than 1/125. Again I have found this easy to work around.

I believe Canon were being overly cautious when they stated some of this stuff would not work on pre 2012 bodies.

I came from 550EX's, I still have a few, and after much research I decided that even though I use pre 2012 1Ds MkIII's most of the time the RT system was the best solution for me. I couldn't be happier, actually I could, if Canon gave us a firmware update to give me the post 2012 flash menu, but short of that the 600-EX-RT's are what flashes should have always been. They just work, 100% of the time, I will never have firmware updates or compatibility issues, I need four AA's and I am good, no lost connections, no misfires, no start up sequencing, no calibration shots, no cables connectors or adapters, no hot shoe connectors that might be the problem, or might not. Just 100% reliability.

Thanks for taking the time to respond! I would much rather buy into Canon's system. If radio-based (not optical) ETTL works with the 1DMkIV and 600EXRT/STE3RT, then I agree that Canon may just be making an official support/test statement, to which I can totally understand. You have given me much to think about.

 

[Meh]

I know i'm right on this

And yet so wrong...