http://www.digitalcameraworld.com OCTOBER 2019 DIGITAL CAMERA^129Mini Test
Phottix Odin II
£124+99/$171+131 (transmitter+receiver)
http://www.phottix.com
T
he Odin II system is available for
Canon or Nikon systems, and you
can buy Sony and Pentax variants
of the Odin II transmitter only.
This trigger isn’t cheap, but the premium price
reflects the extensive feature set. Where most
triggers have three group options, Phottix
gives you five, as well as 32 frequency channels
and Digital ID matching to maintain a secure,
uninterrupted connection between camera
and flashgun. Naturally, there’s wireless TTL
for effortless flash metering, and even flash
zoom control so you can alter the beam coverage
to suit the lens focal length you’re using.
It’s little wonder, then, that performance is
outstanding. Sustained burst shooting posed
no problems in our testing, and neither did
long-range triggering. We were able to shoot
at our test camera’s 1/200 sec maximum sync
speed with no banding, although there’s a High-
Speed Sync mode that tops out at 1/8,000 sec.
With so much to play with, the Odin II isn’t the
most accessible system for newcomers, but its
streamlined control layout and clear backlit
screen are a pleasure to use. Build quality
is also top-notch, and both transmitter and
receiver are powered by convenient AA batteries.
PROS Superb quality; wireless TTL triggering;
all the extra features you could want
CONS Can be complicated for beginners;
relatively high cost of transmitter and receivers
Verdict
PocketWizard
FlexTT5 & MiniTT1
£199+179, $186+149 (transmitter+receiver)
http://www.pocketwizard.comP
ocketWizard flash trigger systems are
a favourite of pro photographers in this
sector, and it’s easy to see why with
this no-compromise combo. The FlexTT5
transceiver can double as a transmitter or
receiver, but we paired it with with the MiniTT1
transmitter, as it’s significantly smaller.
Both the FlexTT5 and MiniTT1 come in Canon
or Nikon mounts (there’s also a Panasonic version
of the FlexTT5), and both support Canon E-TTL
and Nikon i-TTL metering, transmitted over a
huge 240-metre range. If that’s not far enough,
this can be increased to a staggering 365 metres
when you use Basic Trigger mode, which allows
the MiniTT1 or FlexTT5 to work as a transmitter
on any camera with a standard hotshoe.
The FlexTT5 enables High-Speed Sync with
compatible flashguns, allowing for super-fast
shutter speeds up to 1/8,000 sec. You can tweak
this and adjust the plethora of other advanced
features including extensive channel options
by connecting the on-board USB port and
using PocketWizard’s Utility software,
which also enables firmware updates.
It adds up to an incredibly powerful system,
but that comes with a complexity that makes
this combo best suited to pros.PROS Flawless performance; full compatibility
with advanced flashgun featuresCONS Underwhelming build quality for
the money; complicated to get used toVerdict
Yongnuo RF-603 II
£28/$32
http://www.yongnuo.euS
hoestring budget contenders like
this can often disappoint, but first
impressions of the RF-603 II are
encouraging. The fit and finish are more than
acceptable for the money, and while the receiver’s
coldshoe mount is plastic, the two hotshoes
are metal. Naturally you can’t expect many
frills for such little financial outlay, so there’s
no TTL metering or High-Speed Sync, but
this system does nail the basics.
Although there are no group options, 16
frequency channels are available to avoid
interference, although they’re set using very small
switches under the transmitter. A full-on 2.4GHz
radio frequency link provides a genuine 100-metre
range, and when testing at closer distances,
Yongnuo claims sync speeds of up to 1/250 sec.
We could only manage a reliable 1/160 sec sync
in our testing, but the connection was stable
enough to avoid misfires during burst shooting.
The final trick up the RF-603 II’s sleeve is that
it can be used as a wireless shutter release: just
connect the receiver to your camera’s remote
socket, then the two-stage button on the
transmitter focuses before firing the shutter.
For occasional use with a single off-camera
flash, this system is a bargain.PROS Accessible price; works well with
a single flashgun; very simple to useCONS No extras like TTL or HSS;
channel selection is fiddlyVerdict
Five things to
look out for1
These kits use radio
frequency triggering,
which usually provides
up to 100m of range
without line of sight.2
With RF triggering
comes interference
from other devices.
Look for a system
with multiple channels.3
A triggering system
that transmits TTL
signals is a must if you
rely on the simplicity
of a TTL flashgun.4
More advanced triggers
will let you remotely
control flashgun output
from the transmitter,
saving time and energy.5
Top-end systems boast
High-Speed Sync with
compatible flashguns,
enabling up to 1/8,000
sec shutter speeds.