Radio Trigger Roundup: January 2014 Edition
25 min read
Comparative Tables
Radio
| Manufacturer | Device | Frequency | Channels / IDs | Groups | Tx / Rx | Range |
| Broncolor | RFS 2.1 | 2.4GHz | 40 / 99 | 40 | Tx/Rx | 660 feet (200m) |
| Cactus | V4 | 433 MHz | 16 | Separate Tx & Rx units | 100 feet (30 m) | |
| V5 | 2.4GHz | 16 | Tx/Rx | 330 feet (100 m) | ||
| Canon | Speedlite 600Ex-RT | 2.4GHz | 15 / 10,000 IDs | 5 | Tx/Rx | 100 feet (30 m) |
| Speedlite Transmitter ST-E3-RT | Tx/Rx (camera only) | |||||
| Cowboy Studio | 2.4GHz | 2,4, or 16 | Separate Tx & Rx units | 160 feet (50 m) | ||
| Elinchrom | Skyport Speed | 4? | 4? | Separate Tx & Rx units | 120 feet ( 36m) | |
| Paul C. Buff | Trigger Transmitter | 2.4GHz | 16 | Tx | 400 feet (122m) | |
| Cyber Commander | 2.4GHz | 16 | 16 | Tx | 400 feet (122m) | |
| PocketWizard / LPA Design | Plus X | 344.04 MHz (N. America) 433.62 MHz (Euro/Asia/Other) 315 MHz (Japan) |
10 | 0 | Tx/Rx | 1600 ft. (500 m) |
| Plus III | 32 | 4 | Tx/Rx | 1600 ft. (500 m) |
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| MultiMax | 32 | 4 | Tx/Rx | 1600 ft. (500 m) |
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| MiniTT1 | 52 ch. / 23 freq. (N.A.) 35 ch. / 5 freq. (EU) |
3 | Tx | TTL: 800 ft (240 m) Basic: 1200 ft. (365 m) |
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| FlexTT5 | Tx/Rx | |||||
| Profoto | Air Sync | 2.4GHz | 8 | Tx/Rx | 1000 ft. (300 m) | |
| Air Remote | 2.4GHz | 8 | 6 | Tx/Rx | 1000 ft. (300 m) | |
| Air Remote TTL | 2.4GHz | 8 | 3 | Tx | 1000 ft. (300 m) | |
| Radio Poppers | Nano | 902-928 MHz (N. America) 868-868.6 MHz (Europe) |
4 | Separate Tx & Rx units | 1750 ft. (533 m) |
|
| JrX | 16 | 3 | Separate Tx & Rx units | 1750 ft. (533 m) |
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| PX | 16 | 3 | Separate Tx & Rx units | 1750 feet (533 m) |
Configuration
| Manufacturer | Device | Channel / ID / Group |
| Broncolor | RFS 2.1 | LCD + Buttons |
| Cactus | V4 | DIP Switches |
| V5 | Dial | |
| Canon | Speedlite 600Ex-RT | LCD + Dial & Buttons + Menus / Camera Menus |
| Speedlite Transmitter ST-E3-RT | LCD + Dial & Buttons + Menus / Camera Menus | |
| Cowboy Studio | DIP Switches | |
| Elinchrom | Skyport Speed | DIP Switches / Switches / Switches |
| Paul C. Buff | Trigger Transmitter | Rotary Selector |
| Cyber Commander | LCD + Joystick / Buttons | |
| Pocket Wizard / LPA Design | Plus X | Dial w/ back-lit indicator |
| Plus III | LCD + Buttons | |
| MultiMax | ||
| MiniTT1 | Switch w/ 2 programmed options Program w/ computer via USB |
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| FlexTT5 | ||
| Profoto | Air Sync | Buttons |
| Air Remote | Buttons | |
| Air Remote TTL | LCD + Buttons | |
| Radio Poppers | Nano | Sequence Button |
| JrX | DIP Switches | |
| PX | DIP Switches |
Sync
| Manufacturer | Device | Sync Speed | Sync FPS | Max Sync Voltage (flash) | Sync Voltage (camera) | Sync Connector |
| Broncolor | RFS 2.1 | 1/320th (focal plane)1/1500th (leaf) | 100 | 3V | Hotshoe, 3.5mm mini-phone (in), 3.5mm mini-phone (out) | |
| Cactus | V4 | 1/500th | 300V | 6V | Transmitter: Hotshoe (foot), PC-Sync Receiver: Hotshoe (shoe), 3.5mm mini-phone |
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| V5 | 1/1000th | 300V | 6V | Hotshoe (foot), hotshoe (shoe) 3.5mm mini-phone | ||
| Canon | Speedlite 600Ex-RT | Camera sync max / 1/8000th FP sync | Canon E-TTL2 | Canon E-TTL2 | Trigger built into flash, proprietary camera cable | |
| Speedlite Transmitter ST-E3-RT | Hotshoe,Proprietary camera cable | |||||
| Cowboy Studio | Transmitter: Hotshoe, 3.5mm mini-phone Receiver: Hardwired 3.5mm mini-phone plug |
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| Elinchrom | SkyPort RX Speed | 1/150th (std.) 1/250th (speed) |
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| Paul C. Buff | Trigger Transmitter | 1/2500th (not HSS) | <4V | |||
| Cyber Commander | 1/2500th (not HSS) | <4V | ||||
| Pocket Wizard / LPA Design | Plus X | 1/250th (focal plane) 1/500th (leaf) |
14.5 | 300V | 3V | Hotshoe 3.5mm mini-phone |
| Plus III | 1/250th (focal plane) 1/500th (leaf) |
14.5 | 300V | 3V | Hotshoe 3.5mm mini-phone |
|
| MultiMax | 1/250th (focal plane) 1/500th (leaf) 1/1000th (fast mode) |
10 (?) | 250V | 3.3V | Hotshoe 2- 3.5mm mini-phone |
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| MiniTT1 | 1/500th (non TTL) 1/8000th (TTL) |
8 | n/a | 3.3V | Hotshoe (hotshoe on top allows on camera flash/accessory controller) | |
| FlexTT5 | 1/500th (non TTL) 1/8000th (TTL) |
8 | P1: 50V P2: 200V |
3.3V | TTL Hotshoe, 2- 3.5mm mini-phone | |
| Profoto | Air Sync | 1/1600th | In:Hotshoe, 3.5mm mini-phone Out:3.5mm mini-phone |
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| Air Remote | 1/1600th | In:Hotshoe, 3.5mm mini-phone Out:3.5mm mini-phone |
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| Air Remote TTL | 1/1600th | Canon E-TTL 2 | In:Canon ETTL Hotshoe | |||
| Radio Poppers | Nano | 1/500th | Transmitter:Hotshoe Receiver:Hotshoe3.5mm mini-phone |
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| JrX | 1/250th | Transmitter:Hotshoe Receiver:3.5mm mini-phoneProprietary trigger cable |
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| PX | Same as system’s optical TTL System |
Dimensions and Weight
| Manufacturer | Device | Battery (Continuous use) |
Dimensions | Weight (w/o batteries) |
| Broncolor | RFS 2.1 | CR 2450 (~8 hrs) | 3.7 x 1.5 x 1 inch (68 x 39 x 33 mm) |
3.5 oz. (43 g) |
| Cactus | V4 | Transmitter: 1- L1028/23A (12V) Receiver: 2- AA |
Transmitter: (60 x 46 x 27 mm) Receiver: (74 x 45 x 28 mm) |
Transmitter: (33 g) Receiver: (55 g) |
| V5 | 2- AAA | (82 x 70 x 37 mm) | (58 g) | |
| Canon | Speedlite 600Ex-RT | 4- AA | Built into Flash | Built into Flash |
| Speedlite Transmitter ST-E3-RT | 2- AA ( ~10 hrs) | 2.7” x 2.5” x 3.0” (67 x 62 x 77 mm) |
3.9 oz. (110 g) | |
| Cowboy Studio | ||||
| Elinchrom | ||||
| Paul C. Buff | Trigger Transmitter | CR2450 (2 yrs. typ. use) | 1” x 3.25” x 1” (25 x 83 x 25 mm) |
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| Cyber Commander | 2- AAA (6.5-8.5 hrs) | 2” x 4.75” x 0.75” (50 x 120 x 19 mm) |
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| Pocket Wizard / LPA Design | Plus X | 2- AA (~ 100 hours) | 4.2″ x 2.1″ x 1.2″ (107 x 53 x 30 mm) |
3.9 oz. (110 g) |
| Plus III | 2- AA (~50 hours) | 5.25″ x 2″ x 1.25″ (133 x 51 x 32 mm) |
4 oz. (120 g) |
|
| MultiMax | 2- AA (~60 hours) | 6.4″ x 2.1″ x 1.4″ (163 x 55 x 37mm)[Including antenna] |
5.4 oz.(153 g) | |
| MiniTT1 | CR2045 or CR2354 (~30-50 hours) | 2.8″ x 1.9″ x 1.3″ (71 x 49 x 33 mm) |
2 oz.(57 g) | |
| FlexTT5 | 2- AA (~60+ hours) | 3.6″ x 2.9″ x 1.4″ (92 x 73 x 36mm) |
3.8 oz.(108 g) | |
| Profoto | Air Sync | 2- AAA (30 hrs) | 2.7” x 1.9” x 1.6” (70 x 50 x 40 mm) |
1.4 oz. (40 g) |
| Air Remote | 2- AAA (30 hrs) | 2.7” x 1.9” x 1.6” (70 x 50 x 40 mm) |
2.5 oz. (70 g) | |
| Air Remote TTL | 2- AAA (30 hrs) | 2.3” x 2.9” x 1.4” (60 x 75 x 35 mm) |
2.6 oz. (75 g) | |
| Radio Poppers | Nano | CR123 (~50 hours) | ||
| JrX | CR123 (~50 hours) | Transmitter: 1.75” x 2.25” x 1.25” (45 x 57 x 30 mm) Receiver: 4.0” x 1.75” x 1.2” (100 x 45 x 30mm) |
Transmitter: 1.7 oz. (48 g) Receiver: 1.9 oz. (53 g) |
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| PX | 2- AAA (~25 hours) | 2.0” x 2.0” x 0.8” (50 x 50 x 20mm) |
2 oz. (60 g) |