Comments on: RadioPoppers & The Future Of Wireless TTL Flash http://pixsylated.com/2008/11/radiopopper-future-of-wireless-ttl-flash/ Insights on Digital Photography, Canon Flash, Shooting Tethered, Color Management, Lightroom Workflow Tue, 09 Mar 2010 20:07:50 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: RadioPopper PX splitter DIY Mod. Control two speedlights with one RadioPopper PX receiver. http://pixsylated.com/2008/11/radiopopper-future-of-wireless-ttl-flash/comment-page-1/#comment-3923 RadioPopper PX splitter DIY Mod. Control two speedlights with one RadioPopper PX receiver. Thu, 28 Jan 2010 21:42:31 +0000 http://pixsylated.com/?p=633#comment-3923 [...] First off, a little back story just in case you've never heard of Radio Poppers. They are wireless triggers for your speedlights. I started using Radio Poppers a few months ago for outdoor shoots. Why use a radio trigger over the already wireless Nikon CLS system? Well... the Nikon CLS system is infrared based (like your TV remote). If there is a tree or wall blocking your speedlight... you wont be able to trigger it (much like your TV remote). The CLS system also is limited in distance, especially in broad daylight. If you'd like to read more about wireless off-camera flash, here is a very informative blog post from PixSylated about wireless off-camera TTL flash. [...] [...] First off, a little back story just in case you've never heard of Radio Poppers. They are wireless triggers for your speedlights. I started using Radio Poppers a few months ago for outdoor shoots. Why use a radio trigger over the already wireless Nikon CLS system? Well… the Nikon CLS system is infrared based (like your TV remote). If there is a tree or wall blocking your speedlight… you wont be able to trigger it (much like your TV remote). The CLS system also is limited in distance, especially in broad daylight. If you'd like to read more about wireless off-camera flash, here is a very informative blog post from PixSylated about wireless off-camera TTL flash. [...]

]]> By: Rob Corpuz http://pixsylated.com/2008/11/radiopopper-future-of-wireless-ttl-flash/comment-page-1/#comment-3670 Rob Corpuz Tue, 15 Dec 2009 17:05:20 +0000 http://pixsylated.com/?p=633#comment-3670 Eugene- That definitely helps--Thanks so much for taking the time to share that! Cheers. Eugene-

That definitely helps–Thanks so much for taking the time to share that! Cheers.

]]> By: Eugene Khoo http://pixsylated.com/2008/11/radiopopper-future-of-wireless-ttl-flash/comment-page-1/#comment-3669 Eugene Khoo Tue, 15 Dec 2009 01:51:45 +0000 http://pixsylated.com/?p=633#comment-3669 Rob, I used them in Church at that time. 120 feet from altar to entrance door. We had wireless mics, radio remotes, Wi-Fi and about 300 people. The mobile take-up rate in Malaysia is 93%. If we assume 80%, that's about 240 900/1800/2100Mhz phones. I had four mis-fires out of 80 frames. Three of the misfires easily explained -- speedlight did not recycle fast enough as they were from a group of seven shots a second or so apart and I got speedlight A or speedlight B firing alternatively for the last 3 frames. I've tested it behind my house, shooting from about 70 feet with both speedlights around the corner of the house - no problems there. Also 5 out of 5 frames when the speedlights were handheld above a stairwell opening outside. No line-of-sight. Hope this helps! Rob, I used them in Church at that time. 120 feet from altar to entrance door. We had wireless mics, radio remotes, Wi-Fi and about 300 people. The mobile take-up rate in Malaysia is 93%. If we assume 80%, that’s about 240 900/1800/2100Mhz phones. I had four mis-fires out of 80 frames. Three of the misfires easily explained — speedlight did not recycle fast enough as they were from a group of seven shots a second or so apart and I got speedlight A or speedlight B firing alternatively for the last 3 frames. I’ve tested it behind my house, shooting from about 70 feet with both speedlights around the corner of the house – no problems there. Also 5 out of 5 frames when the speedlights were handheld above a stairwell opening outside. No line-of-sight. Hope this helps!

]]> By: Rob Corpuz http://pixsylated.com/2008/11/radiopopper-future-of-wireless-ttl-flash/comment-page-1/#comment-3664 Rob Corpuz Mon, 14 Dec 2009 12:48:28 +0000 http://pixsylated.com/?p=633#comment-3664 Daniel, thanks very much for your input. Hmmm... it sounds like it's safe to say that Russia is a lot more... relaxed... about rules than the Swiss are, so trouble with the law isn't my main concern in this instance. Still, your experience leads me to think I should investigate further before going for it. Eugene, thanks for sharing your experience. I'm most concerned about the success rate up to about 100 feet with flashes around corners and behind objects, so that's good news. Anything more than that is even better, but not essential. When you have used the poppers in urban environments (I'll definitely be in urban settings most of the time), do you find that within this range you have an acceptable misfire rate? If I can get at least what I'm getting now with Cybersyncs (about 75% success rate or better) it will be worth it to me, assuming my additional research leads me to believe I'm not likely to end up in a Russian prison. Daniel, thanks very much for your input. Hmmm… it sounds like it’s safe to say that Russia is a lot more… relaxed… about rules than the Swiss are, so trouble with the law isn’t my main concern in this instance. Still, your experience leads me to think I should investigate further before going for it.

Eugene, thanks for sharing your experience. I’m most concerned about the success rate up to about 100 feet with flashes around corners and behind objects, so that’s good news. Anything more than that is even better, but not essential. When you have used the poppers in urban environments (I’ll definitely be in urban settings most of the time), do you find that within this range you have an acceptable misfire rate? If I can get at least what I’m getting now with Cybersyncs (about 75% success rate or better) it will be worth it to me, assuming my additional research leads me to believe I’m not likely to end up in a Russian prison.

]]> By: Eugene Khoo http://pixsylated.com/2008/11/radiopopper-future-of-wireless-ttl-flash/comment-page-1/#comment-3662 Eugene Khoo Mon, 14 Dec 2009 08:25:37 +0000 http://pixsylated.com/?p=633#comment-3662 Daniel brings up a good point. RadioPoppers are on the 902-928mhz ISM band though and I think it's good to check with spectrum allocations in each particular country. Generally if you're in Europe or most of Asia, we're talking about GSM countries which means the 902-928 band is allocated for Mobile communications. The Malaysian spectrum licensing/allocation for 902-928Mhz reads like : -FIXED -MOBILE except aeronautical mobile 5.317A -BROADCASTING 5.322 -Radiolocation However, considering that RPs transmission is fairly weak comparing to a cell phone, it ought to be fine -- Then again, YMMV :) Daniel brings up a good point.
RadioPoppers are on the 902-928mhz ISM band though and I think it’s good to check with spectrum allocations in each particular country. Generally if you’re in Europe or most of Asia, we’re talking about GSM countries which means the 902-928 band is allocated for Mobile communications. The Malaysian spectrum licensing/allocation for 902-928Mhz reads like :
-FIXED
-MOBILE except aeronautical mobile 5.317A
-BROADCASTING 5.322
-Radiolocation
However, considering that RPs transmission is fairly weak comparing to a cell phone, it ought to be fine — Then again, YMMV :)

]]> By: Eugene Khoo http://pixsylated.com/2008/11/radiopopper-future-of-wireless-ttl-flash/comment-page-1/#comment-3659 Eugene Khoo Mon, 14 Dec 2009 02:00:35 +0000 http://pixsylated.com/?p=633#comment-3659 I just got my RPs a month back and here in Malaysia, GSM is on 900, 1800 and 2100Mhz. According to the Multimedia Commission, 900Mhz is also allowed to low-powered ISM devices. Generally however, the newer 3G mobiles are mostly 1800 and 2100 over here. That's all theory... so here's the real info: I've used them up to 400 feet without any problems - rural setting though but in an urban environment here there's a lot of mobiles (potentially high interference on the 900Mhz band), I've tested it to about 120 feet. Could it have gone further? Maybe, I don't know because I didn't have the space to use it. Have used them with two flash units with e-TTL without issue. I'll be having another two receivers shipped in in Jan so hope to try with more flash units. I just got my RPs a month back and here in Malaysia, GSM is on 900, 1800 and 2100Mhz. According to the Multimedia Commission, 900Mhz is also allowed to low-powered ISM devices. Generally however, the newer 3G mobiles are mostly 1800 and 2100 over here. That’s all theory… so here’s the real info:

I’ve used them up to 400 feet without any problems – rural setting though but in an urban environment here there’s a lot of mobiles (potentially high interference on the 900Mhz band), I’ve tested it to about 120 feet. Could it have gone further? Maybe, I don’t know because I didn’t have the space to use it. Have used them with two flash units with e-TTL without issue. I’ll be having another two receivers shipped in in Jan so hope to try with more flash units.

]]> By: Daniel http://pixsylated.com/2008/11/radiopopper-future-of-wireless-ttl-flash/comment-page-1/#comment-3657 Daniel Sun, 13 Dec 2009 21:25:47 +0000 http://pixsylated.com/?p=633#comment-3657 Think twice. I wouldn't dare to use them in Switzerland if you don't want to get arrested for example. They are illegal over here as long as they don't launch an official european CE version of the Radio Poppers. E.g. the US PocketWizards use a frequency that is reserved for the army over here in Switzerland. And they don't make fun about that. They log every single trigger on their ground and locate you faster than you can run... I prefer to stay away from this trouble and wait. As hard as it is. Think twice. I wouldn’t dare to use them in Switzerland if you don’t want to get arrested for example. They are illegal over here as long as they don’t launch an official european CE version of the Radio Poppers. E.g. the US PocketWizards use a frequency that is reserved for the army over here in Switzerland. And they don’t make fun about that. They log every single trigger on their ground and locate you faster than you can run… I prefer to stay away from this trouble and wait. As hard as it is.

]]> By: Rob Corpuz http://pixsylated.com/2008/11/radiopopper-future-of-wireless-ttl-flash/comment-page-1/#comment-3653 Rob Corpuz Sun, 13 Dec 2009 18:24:26 +0000 http://pixsylated.com/?p=633#comment-3653 Hi, does anyone have any experience using the Radiopopper PX and JRX triggers in Europe or elsewhere internationally? I'm currently living in Moscow, but hope to move back to the States eventually. I really want to get the Poppers, but am concerned about the frequency issue. And yes, I know that they've said that they plan on releasing international versions, but given their history of long delays, I'm not holding my breath about that one. I asked Radiopopper directly about if they are usable in Europe, and they told me I could expect some interference. However, I'm not a pro so I'm ok with accepting a certain amount of reduced performance in exchange for getting TTL and being able to adjust manual levels from the camera, so I asked them to be more specific, but all I got was: "Unfortunately, there is no real estimate we have for the functionality of a U.S PX system for international use." Has anyone actually used these in Russia, or Europe, or anywhere else with a similar frequency set-up, and give me some idea if they are worth me getting, keeping in mind that I'm going to be moving back to the States eventually? For example, do they work at 90% of their effectiveness in the States? 50%? Thanks in advance! Hi, does anyone have any experience using the Radiopopper PX and JRX triggers in Europe or elsewhere internationally? I’m currently living in Moscow, but hope to move back to the States eventually. I really want to get the Poppers, but am concerned about the frequency issue. And yes, I know that they’ve said that they plan on releasing international versions, but given their history of long delays, I’m not holding my breath about that one.

I asked Radiopopper directly about if they are usable in Europe, and they told me I could expect some interference. However, I’m not a pro so I’m ok with accepting a certain amount of reduced performance in exchange for getting TTL and being able to adjust manual levels from the camera, so I asked them to be more specific, but all I got was: “Unfortunately, there is no real estimate we have for the functionality of a U.S PX system for international use.”

Has anyone actually used these in Russia, or Europe, or anywhere else with a similar frequency set-up, and give me some idea if they are worth me getting, keeping in mind that I’m going to be moving back to the States eventually? For example, do they work at 90% of their effectiveness in the States? 50%? Thanks in advance!

]]> By: Michael http://pixsylated.com/2008/11/radiopopper-future-of-wireless-ttl-flash/comment-page-1/#comment-1533 Michael Wed, 25 Feb 2009 16:02:21 +0000 http://pixsylated.com/?p=633#comment-1533 How do the new pocket wizards compare? NaturaLight.us How do the new pocket wizards compare?

NaturaLight.us

]]> By: RadioPoppers & The Future Of Wireless TTL Flash - Syl Arena (Pixsylated) | Photo News Today http://pixsylated.com/2008/11/radiopopper-future-of-wireless-ttl-flash/comment-page-1/#comment-1526 RadioPoppers & The Future Of Wireless TTL Flash - Syl Arena (Pixsylated) | Photo News Today Fri, 20 Feb 2009 17:08:09 +0000 http://pixsylated.com/?p=633#comment-1526 [...] Source and Read More: pixsylated.com [...] [...] Source and Read More: pixsylated.com [...]

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