Anyway these technological marvels allow the photographer to attach the TT1 to a camera and then mount their flash on the TT5 and it will transmit all the TTL functions of the camera and flash electronically without the need for any cables or cords. This is great for those of us who like to use flashes off camera or hide them behind bushes on around rocks and don't want to drag along any more gear on a hike than we need to. It's also even better news for those of us who have to shoot at less than ideal times of day when the sun is at it's brightest.
Here is how they describe them on the company web site:
Now you can get perfect off-camera flash photos in any environment.
Around corners
Out-of-sight
Bright sun
Around corners
Out-of-sight
Bright sun
With these additional features:
Dedicated Canon compatibility
On-camera hot-shoe
Up to 8 fps
Standard X-sync Speeds up to 1/500 sec. with almost any flash
FP/High Speed Sync up to 1/8000 sec.
Triggers remote flash or camera
Upgradeable and Configurable
Compatible with any PocketWizard for standard triggering
On a trip last week to several national and state parks in the southern part of the state of Utah. I had a chance to put these little wonders through there paces out in the "wild". I might want to mention that these new gadgets give you the ability to shoot with your flash up to the highest shutter speed of your camera, just as if the flash were attached to the hot shoe of your camera. They also allow for the ability to use what LPA refers to as "Hyper Synch" mode for other flashes and strobes not attached to the hot shoe allowing the photographer to use a higher synch speed than your camera usually will allow. For a more complete technical explanation of this and how it works, click here.
The TT1 & TT5 I was using have the latest software and firmware installed, as these little wonders can be upgraded via a USB cable with software downloaded from the company website.
Here are some photos with details on how I used the Pocket Wizards on each shot.
My daughter Stormie at Kodachrome State Park in bright sunlight (below). Although I did not use the hyper synch or higher shutter speed. The off camera flash really helps the photo.
Camera details: Canon EOS-1D Mark III
Lens (mm): 20
ISO: 100
Aperture: 5.6
Shutter: 1/250
Flash Canon 580 EXII -2/3 stop
This is my other daughter Mariah at the same location (below)
Camera details: Canon EOS-1D Mark III
Lens (mm): 64
ISO: 100
Aperture: 9
Shutter: 1/250
Flash Canon 580 EXII -2/3 stop
Stormie (below) at Hickman Bridge, a natural sandstone arch at Capitol Reef National Monument, Utah. Here I used a higher shutter speed to give me a shallower depth of field. The pocket wizard combo worked like a charm and they are so light that it was easy-peasy-lemon-squeezy to hike with them up the mile and half trail with just one camera body, a flash and the two pocket wizards.
Camera info: Canon EOS-1D Mark III
Lens (mm): 16
ISO: 100
Aperture: 3.5
Shutter: 1/800
Flash Canon 580 EXII
Next came a steep climb down into Bryce Canyon National Park's Navajo Loop Trail to a few very tall spruce trees try to reach up to the light at the top of canyon. Using my pocket wizards I was able to fill in the shadows of at the bottom of the canyon and get great photos of my daughter Mariah (below) and the trees without having to overexpose and blow out the colors of the sky and rocks at the top of the canyon.
Camera info: Canon EOS-1D Mark III
These next two photos show how I used my pocket wizard to fill in the trunk of the tree with my Canon 580 EXII dialed down 3 stops, for just a very small amount of fill and thereby not blowing out the sky and colored rock formations called "hoodoo's" at the top of the Canyon.
Lens (mm): 16
ISO: 400
Aperture: 3.5
Shutter: 1/125
Flash Canon 580 EXII -2/3 stop
These next two photos show how I used my pocket wizard to fill in the trunk of the tree with my Canon 580 EXII dialed down 3 stops, for just a very small amount of fill and thereby not blowing out the sky and colored rock formations called "hoodoo's" at the top of the Canyon.
Camera info:Canon EOS-1D Mark III
No flash was used on this frame.
Lens (mm): 16
ISO: 400
Aperture: 11
Shutter: 1/125
Flash Canon 580 EXII -3 stop
No flash was used on this frame.
Camera Info:Canon EOS-1D Mark III
This was not the first time I have used my pocket wizards TT1 & TT5 since I purchased them, but I wanted to see how well they would work in such a rugged and very cold environment, (wind chill made the temp around 15-20 degrees) outside on the fly without studio strobes in the "wild" in a much less controlled environment. My conclusion. They Rock!!! I am very impressed at how easy they were to use, they are so light and can be quickly attached and ready to work. The only complaint I have, and it is a small one, is that it is often hard to make sure you are in C1 or C2 when you slide the switch on, there is not a definitive click and when your hands are cold or you have gloves on it is even harder to make sure the switch is in the right spot. Also make sure you don't forget to switch it back to off and make sure the switch doesn't snag when you are sliding it back into your camera bag. I found this out the hard way the first time I used it. The next morning when I popped it out of my bag, the battery was dead. Now I always carry a couple of extra batteries and double check to make sure the switch is in the "off" position.
Lens (mm): 16
ISO: 400
Aperture: 8
Shutter: 1/125
This was not the first time I have used my pocket wizards TT1 & TT5 since I purchased them, but I wanted to see how well they would work in such a rugged and very cold environment, (wind chill made the temp around 15-20 degrees) outside on the fly without studio strobes in the "wild" in a much less controlled environment. My conclusion. They Rock!!! I am very impressed at how easy they were to use, they are so light and can be quickly attached and ready to work. The only complaint I have, and it is a small one, is that it is often hard to make sure you are in C1 or C2 when you slide the switch on, there is not a definitive click and when your hands are cold or you have gloves on it is even harder to make sure the switch is in the right spot. Also make sure you don't forget to switch it back to off and make sure the switch doesn't snag when you are sliding it back into your camera bag. I found this out the hard way the first time I used it. The next morning when I popped it out of my bag, the battery was dead. Now I always carry a couple of extra batteries and double check to make sure the switch is in the "off" position.
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