cross-platform radio wireless TTL flash, another great game changing option similar to the Godox system but no TTL studio flashes, but you can combine the two systems if desired, just mount the brand specific Godox transceiver on top of the Cactus V6II transceiver in the camera hot shoe
automatically detects TTL system for Canon, Nikon, Sony, Pentax but not MFTs or Fuji at this stage
Juno TTL flash is compatible with the Elincrom Skyport system and can command or be commanded, by the Odin studio flashes, and triggered by non-TTL Ares products by radio
Optical systems can also be controlled or used to control the Juno TTL
Odin Lite transmitter is non-TTL radio remote trigger that can be used on any camera hotshoe system
Juno Li60 flash is non-TTL Li ion powered flash
older radio remote TTL flash systems
Aokatec AK-TTL Radio Wireless Flash Trigger
announced in 2012
similar to the RadioPopper concept but works with remote optical TTL flash modes of Canon, Nikon, Sony, Olympus and Pentax cameras and flashes
converts optical signal at the camera to 2.4GHz radio wave signal (16 channels to choose from) which is then received at the remote flash and converted back into an optical signal which is sent to the flash unit
allows radio wireless TTL flash at up to 110m
allows High Speed Flash mode to 1/8000th sec
sync to 1/320th sec in manual mode (although cameras with leaf shutters and higher sync speeds appear to work at those speeds eg. Panasonic LX-5 at 1/2000th sec with a Nikon flash!1))
allows remote setting of manual flash output in the 3 groups and can still use optical remote TTL at same time
uses 2xAAA batteries in each unit
transmitter unit can just sit on the flash on the camera and point in same direction as that flash
receiver unit's optical connection is taped to the flash optical sensor
although design is a little clunky requiring taping to flash, it has an enormous advantage of being usable on multiple systems, requires no configuration as it just uses the usual camera/flash controls, and should not need updating unless major changes occur in camera RC protocols which is unlikely
announced March 2012 making it the 1st camera manufacturer to add remote radio wireless TTL flash to their system
but unlike the PocketWizard solution, it ONLY works with RT specified speedlights and there is no hypersync functionality, so with the Canon 5D Mark III dSLR and Canon 1D Mark III digital SLR you are confined to fastest flash sync of only 1/200th sec without resorting to HSS mode which reduces flash GN substantially.
Speedlite ST-E3-RT transmitter
can trigger up to 15 Speedlites at up to 30 meters
can be used to remotely trigger the camera shutter as well
weathersealed
Speedlite 600EX-RT
GN 60m at ISO 100 at 200mm focal length zoom
radio triggering at up to 30m range
can use up to 15 speedlights
also has traditional infrared wireless TTL remote capability
remote camera triggering capability
bounce and swivel head with zoom control
white balance correction filters
Phottix Odin radio TTL Flash Trigger for Canon or Nikon
introduced in Sept 2012
2.4GHz radio frequency with range to 100m in 3 groups of flashes in 4 channels
separate Canon or Nikon versions but no Olympus version … yet..although perhaps a Sony version will be first
USB port for firmware upgrades
AA batteries in each unit
no shutter trigger
no hypersync as with PocketWizards but does support HSS/FP mode to 1/8000th sec
provides TTL HSS to Phottix Indra 500 TTL studio strobes as well
$329 for transmitter unit and $129 for receiver unit
transmitter unit (TCU):
large LCD screen displays TTL exposure compensation or manual flash output for each flash group and whether TTL or Manual
backlit for night use
user friendly menu to ontrol flash head zoom, test light, modelling light, 2nd curtain sync, A:B ratio
most camera manufacturers have their own proprietary infrared/visible light wireless TTL remote flash capability including Canon, Nikon, Olympus but significantly, older Panasonic cameras do NOT support remote TTL flash.
Olympus and Panasonic use visible light, most others use infrared
infrared or visible light TTL flash is restricted to line of sight use over relatively short distances (up to 10m indoors although bounce off walls can assist) and can be unreliable in bright sunlight situations.
the old Metz Remote Cordless TTL mode is unfortunately incompatible with dSLRs, but was an option for some earlier model cameras, most current Metz flash units now support the camera manufacturer's proprietary infrared/visible light system.
2.4ghz radio wireless remote trigger and set manual output and zoom of up to 6 groups of flashes to around 200m
works on any camera system with a standard hot shoe
without any receiver under the flash, the TX can trigger both the YN560III and the YN560IV flashes
other flashes will need a receiver under them in order to fire wirelessly
can use it as a remote shutter release for your camera
LCD screen breaks easily from drops
Lightpix Labs FlashQ
2.4ghz radio wireless remote trigger for only 1 group of flashes up to 10m although may work to 30m in ideal conditions
very compact 2016 models with only 2 controls: on/off and test flash (buttons are reversed on the receiver module!)
receiver requires use of flimsy cold shoe if you want to mount the flash using the FlashQ
no channel options and they pair automatically but may be an issue if other photographers nearby are using the same system
can sync to 1/1000th sec when using electronic shutters and to 1/400th sec on some Micro Four Thirds cameras in normal shutter mode with only slight loss of flash coverage
LED indicator lights
CR2032 watch battery
strangely, uses a microUSB port as the sync port but they do come with a PC sync adapter cable
manual power output control of up to 10 Elinchrom studio lights and the modelling light
20 channels in 4 groups with range to 200m outdoors and 60m indoors
Elinchrom Hi-Sync technology allows shutter speeds up to 1/8000th sec
OverDrive Sync (ODS) allows up to 2 stops more light at higher shutter speeds above the x-sync
AF illuminator
USB port firmware upgradeable
$US249
Paul C Buff's CyberSync system for studio flashes
a fully integrated 2.4 GHz radio remote system with multiple capabilities from simple remote firing of flash units to complete control, metering and display of complex 16-light studio systems
whilst it does not have TTL metering, and does not support hand held camera flash units it does have a built-in flash meter and remotely controls certain studio flashes.
master transmitter unit mounts on hotshoe of camera
complete control of up to 16 lights on 16 frequencies
designed to control Paul C. Buff™ studio flash units with CSR+ or CSRB+ receivers or Einstein™ studio flash units with CSXCV transceivers
adjusts flashpower and modeling in 1/10 f-stop increments
stores and retrieves complex lighting setups
built-in flashmeter measures single lights, groups or setup
Cactus v6
introduced July 2014
2.4Ghz radio transmitter, receiver
16 channels, 4 groups
2 AA batteries
hotshoe lock lever
optical slave - off/first flash, main flash
PC sync plug
transmitter has TTL pass-through hotshoe to enable a compatible branded TTL flash to be mounted on almost any brand camera and used in TTL mode (if used on Micro Four Thirds, then need a Micro Four Thirds TTL flash for TTL capability, but can use Canon flashes in remote radio manual flash)
transceiver itself works in manual flash mode but in addition to basic flash trigger mode, it can set flash output level of a range of flashes (mainly Canon, Nikon and Pentax - these must be set to TTL mode even though it won't actually be TTL flash) with potential to provide 1/2, 1/3 or even 1/10th EV fine control over flash and down to 1/250th output
firmware update adds support for Olympus FL-50R, FL-36R, Pan FL-500R, FL-360R, Metz 58AF-2, 52AF-1, and 44 AF-1 but seems the V6 will not be able to be updated for the FL-600R, FL-300R, FL-580L, FL-360L as the V6 hardware cannot support these models 2)
can learn flash profiles for flashes that support analogue TTL flash (but these will still only be used in manual mode) - can save up to 15 named profiles
not compatible with earlier Cactus models apart from v5 although group control not compatible
optional camera shutter release cable to allow remote camera firing
whilst the older models were plagued with inconsistent firing and poor distance coverage (often < 10m) which made them only suitable for hobbyists who do not need 100% reliability, the newer versions are reported to be much more reliable with better distance coverage, as long as you do not use rechargeable batteries (full strength 1.5V AAA batteries recommended) and do not use with older flashes with high trigger voltage.
each version appears not to be compatible with other versions, although using same radio wavelength (433MHz for Europe and Australia).
PT-04 series are marketed by YongNuo (YN), Phottix
newer circuits (2008-2009):
max. working distance outdoors said to be 30m
PT-04 CN:
new lower profile design which allows either:
mounting hotshoe of flash onto receiver and then receiver onto a 1/4“ tripod screw thread
PC sync connection connection between flash and receiver
use 2x alkaline AAA batteries in each receiver and 1x 23A 12V battery in transmitter
said to sync to 1/320th sec
4 channel
optional PL-04C receiver for studio flash with 6.5mm sync plug (can be plugged into the 6.35mm or 3.5mm (via adapter) studio sync jack without cables)
PT-04 TM CTR-301:
low profile version of the PT-04 TM
1/4” tripod screw thread on receiver
new function - receiver by itself can control trigger of the flash (via optical slave - “L” mode)
similar profile and design as older model but new circuit and now has channel selector on outside of receiver.
use 2x alkaline AAA batteries in each receiver and 1x 23A 12V battery in transmitter
4 channel
range up to 50m (?30m)
with modification by adding an external antenna to the transmitter:
with a 115mm Vertical ant it will trigger at 406 feet, 456 feet with the ant Horizontal (polarisation coming into play here) with a 170mm ant Horizontal out to 516 feet, extending the antenna further had no effect.
in the horizontal position the antenna was broadside to the receiver.
Cactus V4:
16 channel
sync up to 1/500th sec
up to 30m
low profile - similar to PT-04 CN profile
transmitter has external antenna
use 2x alkaline AAA batteries in each receiver and 1x 23A 12V battery in transmitter
transmitter has a connection port: 3.5 mm (1/8“) mono mini-phone
receiver sync connector is changed (from V2) to a 3.5 mm mono jack