Showing posts with label PW. Show all posts
Showing posts with label PW. Show all posts

Tip: Setting Up a Remote Camera

Max Simbron, of Pshizzy.com, has done it again.

This time he send us a great video where he teach us how to setup a remote camera on field.

Enjoy the Video...



Here is a list of what you need, as seen in this video:

- Camera
- 2 different lenses (choose what you need depending on the angle view you want)
- Angle finder (helps with the Low angle views from the camera position)
- Table Top tripod
- Roll of Gaffer Tape
- 2 Pocket Wizards
- pre-trigger cable to connect the PW to the camera

Nikon with Pocket Wizards Inside

Today while driving through the Pocket Wizard web page I stumble with this excellent news for Pocket Wizard and Nikon users.

It seems that they can mount an Internal Radio Transceiver just like the ones we are using today on the hot shoe mount.

Take a look at the full Press Release after the jump...

Press Release from Pocket Wizard (you can find the original post here at their page):

"Taking the ultimate step forward, PocketWizard is now offering the first built-in digital radio Transceiver in a digital SLR camera. The newest generation PocketWizard takes the shape of a wafer-thin electronic computer circuit board, that interfaces with existing technology found in the Nikon® D-Series Digital SLR cameras. This built-in PocketWizard Transceiver offers the same advantages as the external units without the need for pre-triggered motor drive cables, batteries or PC cords and it leaves the camera's hot shoe available for other accessories such as an on-camera flash.

Installation of the PocketWizard inside the Nikon D-Series cameras is available from Mamiya America Corporation in the U.S. as an after market modification to current owners of Nikon's D1, D1H and D1X series of digital SLR cameras.

The PocketWizard technology inside modification is fully compatible with all current and previously released PocketWizard Digital Radio Triggering Systems. Offering 32 channels plus "Multi-Zone Triggering", this modification also features auto-channel detection. Setting the radio channel on the Nikon® D-Series camera is as easy as holding the camera's flash key down and turning the jog wheel, until the flash or camera fires.

Since the PocketWizard chip inside is a Transceiver, it can send or receive digital radio signals independently or simultaneously. That means you can trigger your camera remotely and your camera will trigger your flash units remotely, all at the same time, wirelessly up to 1000 feet away.

The PocketWizard inside also offers features such as Pre-Triggering release circuitry that keeps the camera from going into sleep mode, SpeedCycler mode enabling rapid switching from one flash unit (or Zone) to another.

Relay Trigger sequencing, offering the photographer the ability to trigger a camera wirelessly and the camera, in turn, triggers electronic flash units wirelessly. The PocketWizard inside accepts the trigger signals from other PocketWizard radios, (such as the PocketWizard Classic, Plus, MAX, MultiMAX or also a Sekonic radio- ready exposure meter).

An external antenna that screws into the Nikon's PC socket is the only indication that PocketWizard technology is inside. Once the antenna is removed the PC socket automatically switches back to a standard PC terminal. With a triggering range estimated at 1000 feet or more and total compatibility with all PocketWizard Inside or PocketWizard Ready professional photographic equipment, the Nikon's D-Series cameras with PocketWizard technology inside is the perfect addition to the "Digital Wireless Freedom" system.

Future photographers won't know the limits of a wired world, why should you?

Features include:

* Wireless auto-detection - Channel ID setting
* Transceiver Technology - Transmit, Receive or do both at the same time, all in one radio
* 32 selectable channels - Allows multiple users to work together without interference
* Multi-Zone Triggering - Selectively control which camera(s) or flash(es) triggers remotely
* Pre-Triggering release - Prevents a remote camera from going into sleep or standby mode
* SpeedCycler mode - Allow sequential triggering of cameras or flash units
* Relay mode - Offers simultaneous triggering of a camera and flash units remotely
* Removable external antenna - Retains standard PC socket function
* 1000 foot operating range - Offers reliable remote operation at great distances.

PocketWizard inside Nikon D-Series Specifications:


Range: 1000 feet +
Frequency: 344mhz (Standard Triggering channels 1 thru 16)
346.5 - 354 MHz (Quad-Triggering 17 thru 32)
Code: Complex 16/24-bit digitally coded signals
Channels: 32 digitally coded Channels
16 original PocketWizard classic Channels
16 PocketWizard Quad-Triggering Channels
Synch Speed: Up to 1/400 (focal plane)
Power: Uses the Nikon camera body's power source
Weight: Internal wafer board adds only 0.16 oz. to the camera

Note: PocketWizard Digital Radio Triggering systems may be used only in countries where a permit for the control frequency has been issued by the government office in charge.
Specifications are subject to change without notice.


PocketWizard Inside Nikon D-Series [Instructions & Warranty]

MODIFICATION PROCEDURE: When requesting a Nikon D1, D1X or D1H digital SLR to be modified with a PocketWizard inside, the PocketWizard Inside Modification order form (link to Order Form) must accompany the camera. The camera must be in good working order before MAC can perform the modification. If the camera is not received in good working order it will be returned. Once the modification is completed, the camera will be shipped back to the sender.

MODIFICATION TURN-AROUND TIME: MAC's service department receives the camera, providing that all components are available, the standard turn-around time is 48 hours. If you require a faster turn-around, special arrangements can be made (additional charges apply) including overnight shipping and drop-ship procedures.

WARRANTY COVERAGE: MAC will warranty the PocketWizard inside modification
and Nikon will continue to warranty the Nikon camera. This means that if a require service with for your Nikon radio-ready camera, you must first send the camera to MAC's service department. MAC will remove the radio board and send the camera to Nikon USA for servicing. If the problem is with the camera, Nikon will honor the warranty. If the problem is with the PocketWizard, then MAC will honor the warranty."

I Just hope this feature soon will be available for Canon 1D series soon :)

DIY: How to Assemble an Antenna to GI Triggers

GI & PW Side-By-Side_005What's inside the package:After posting the "Gadget Infinity & Pocket Wizard Side-By-Side" A lot of you been asking if I have made a transformation on my Gadget Infinity triggers in order for them to have a better range.

My answer, so far, was NO!! until I looked at this great video of how you can attach a 433mhz antenna onto the Gadget Infinity remote flash trigger and increase the range.

Here is the full video.



Thanks to Brad Shearer who were willing to share the video with all of us. Take a moment to look at his website too.

If you do not follow everything and you are more like the reading type then you must check the full detailed Mod at Jeremy Kuster's blog page and you even get a free Mod on how to make an external battery compartment case to fit 2 AA batteries instead of the versus the CR2 3V batteries.

DIY: PW Stand Holder for less than 5,00€

PW supportIn my last post I wrote that I was working on 2 projects well here it is the first one.

I've been looking, for quite a while, for something to hold my PW when I use them.

Since I bought the Gadget Infinity system I haven't been using the PW a lot, first because of the too much wiring system required to connect them to my 580Ex, second their size and second because I do not like to have them bumping around on the tripod while on use.

I hang them by the little lanyard it bounce and bang on the stand every time I have to move the stand around for positioning the light so I was needing a solution for when I use them... this means that when you're into a more serious assignment you cannot trust the GI misfiring system and when a Client is near by watching every move you make this could be a terrible thing so I need the PW system.

There are people who are using the Velcro system with great usability but I do not think this would stick and hold very well on the thiner Manfrotto Nano 01 stands, so I was in need of a solution...

After seeing the Ziv's project for a Pocket Wizard holder that he's selling, a set of 3, on his blog for $24,00 plus shipping. I think this is a little bit too much for a small piece of metal that you have to bend, cut and shape.

But then again you could make one yourself, with the right tools, with no effort and with less than 5,00 euros I guarantee you that, just follow along.

I had to do some search around on several hardware stores near Luxembourg before I found the right one and the right holder. The one I bought was very cheap at Le Roy Merlin in France.

I know that there are a lot of hardware stores where you can get this stuff but the biggest one around here was Le Roy Merlin France, maybe IKEA would have this holder also I will have to check it out also.

As always I start with a picture from the setup light so you can see how one small strobe can do this kind of presentation.

PW Stand Holder_0001

580Ex shot through umbrella to camera left at 1/16 power. Camera ISO 100, Tv200, Av9.0.

Now let's go to business.

PW Stand Holder_0002

Picture of the inventory:

- Pocket Wizard (For testing purposes)
- Electric Drilling since I do not have a drilling one I used an Electric Screwer
- 1x 6mm (thick) snap ring
- 1x 6mm (thick) nut
- 1x 6mm (thick) stainless socket cap screw, size length 1,5cm
- 1x 8mm (thick) stainless socket cap screw, size length 4,5cm
- 1x Plastic Systemtac 2198 (used to hold together 2 corner pieces of a furniture) . It also bends in the middle making an L shape.

The Systemtac 2198 (name printed on the holder) you can find it near the pieces to build the pre-made furniture. At Le Roy Merlin they only had it in white but later on you can spray it black if you like.

PW Stand Holder_0003

Now let's drill on one side one hole of 6mm (thick) and on the other end a 8mm (thick). The holes are already made so it would not be very difficult to drill a larger one.

PW Stand Holder_0004

Since this is plastic you can drill them with almost anything. It's a kind of flexible plastic near the already made holes so it will be very easy to drill.

Just remember I did my holes with my electrical screwer :)

So you now have the 2 holes on each side let's move on.

PW Stand Holder_0005

Remove the original 8mm (thick) stainless socket cap screw from the flash adapter.

PW Stand Holder_0006

Here is a side by side from the original 8mm (thick) stainless socket cap screw with size length 3cm (on the right) and the new 8mm (thick) stainless socket cap screw bigger size length 4,5cm (one on the left).

PW Stand Holder_0007

Closer look.

The original 8mm (thick) stainless socket cap screw with size length 3cm (on the right) and the new 8mm (thick) stainless socket cap screw bigger size length 4,5cm (one on the left).

I choose another one bigger since this way you can now put the plastic holder between the umbrella stand and the stainless socket cap without loosing screw turns for better tight.

PW Stand Holder_0008

Let's assemble everything starting by putting the new 8mm (thick) stainless socket cap screw bigger size length 4,5cm back into the umbrella adapter.

PW Stand Holder_0009

Now we put the plastic holder, it's indifferent from which side you'll put it through I leave that to you.

PW Stand Holder_0010

I choose to put the white holder on the beginning part of the stainless socket cap screw instead of the end because this way you will have a more stable screw in since the socket cap will be fixed to the umbrella adapter see picture.

PW Stand Holder_0011

Now let's put a snap ring to better hold it together. On the final version I ended up adding another snap ring to the other side for a better tighten.

PW Stand Holder_0013

So the first part is now finished. You have the white holder in position so let's move on to the PW itself.

PW Stand Holder_0014

When I bought these 6mm (thick) stainless socket cap screw I took the PW with me and looked around for something that could be attached to the hole on the PW and that would not be very long so it won't stay out too much on the white holder.

The PW screw is not very deep so take this in consideration when buying yourself the stainless socket cap screw so they could fit in there. Maybe you could find some more fancy one's but where I looked I couldn't find none suitable for this except this one's.

------------ Update 05/01/2008 ------------

Found a better replacement for the PW screw in, much easier to screw and tight take a look at the picture below.

DIY Manfrotto Umbrella Adapter Improvements_013
-------------------------------

PW Stand Holder_0015

At the end of the 6mm (thick) stainless socket cap screw I put a Nut to hold it against the white holder.

PW Stand Holder_0016

Next screw in the PW.

PW Stand Holder_0017

This is what it will look like when everything is in place.

PW Stand Holder_0018

As you can see the white holder is bendable at the middle so it will be easier for it to bend where it won't collide with any swivel or the umbrella hole. Main reason why I choose this.

PW Stand Holder_0019

A view of the all thing assembled together.

PW Stand Holder_0020

This is the setup shot for the next sequence.

580Ex shot through umbrella to camera left at 1/16 power. Camera ISO 100, Tv200, Av9.0

PW supportPW support

This is a standing view from one side and the other.

You can see how it's holding the PW straighten up. You can even swivel it for a better position.

PW Stand Holder_0023

Full picture with the umbrella on. I even put the umbrella metal holder a little bit out so you can see that it would not touch it even if you put it in a little bit.

PW Stand Holder_0025PW Stand Holder_0024

Now for the final shots I would like to show them from above also made one straight and the other bend so you can see the possibilities.

Since you can bend this little piece of plastic you can point it to what best suits you.

------------ Update 05/01/2008 ------------

Finally got some time to paint it out for a more "Pro" look here are the pictures.

DIY Manfrotto Umbrella Adapter Improvements_012DIY Manfrotto Umbrella Adapter Improvements_011
------------------

Hope this all DIY would be helpful for you as it is for me.

Enjoy this inexpensive and very portable way to hold your PW while using your umbrella adapter and spray can it black if you like it better on black.

Gadget Infinity & Pocket Wizard Side-By-Side

Hello and welcome again to another tip for lower money. I do not dare on making a comparative with both since they are at different levels but at least the cost could somehow make you use more your small flash off camera without having to pay a fortune.

GI & PW Side-By-Side_001This is my short Side-By-Side between my new Gadget Infinity (GI) and my good old Pocket Wizards (PW).

This is not a comparative of the both systems (you can find that in a lot of good websites around the web) this is my review for the low end money and reliability of use of the GI units.

I was searching for something to trigger my flashes cheaper than the PW, something that could be more portable and with less cables to plug-in and carry around than my actual PW system.
At Strobist I got the review, at the Strobist London seminar I saw them and wondered and on the GI website I ordered them.

The GI guys are really fast on delivery since it only took 4 days to arrive after order confirmed.

Here is a picture that can demonstrate how small the GI's are compared to the PW's. The GI's are almost the size of an AA Alkaline battery, more of this on next pictures.

Enjoy my small Side-By-Side and if you feel that you need one of this systems to use and abuse here goes the link to both ;)

You can by the GI at www.gadgetinfinity.com under the Flash Triggers category.
The PW are available at www.pocketwizard.com/.

GI & PW Side-By-Side_002


For Strobist here is the setup shot. An SB-26 left side through a white umbrella.










GI & PW Side-By-Side_003A close look at the setup of the improvised diffusion box.
This box was made with four A4 white sheets of paper glued together with scotch tape to create the professional studio look... guys remember that you do not need those expensive boxes for this kind of thing... use your head instead :) and figure out a way of lighting it.


Tip: Read the book Light Science and Magic it would help!!

GI & PW Side-By-Side_004



This is the front side of the original package of the GI units.









GI & PW Side-By-Side_005What's inside the package:

- 1 Cactus PT-04 (Receiver)
- 1 Transmitter
- 1 CR2 battery
- 1 Mini Sync cord cable (Jack on one side and and SC-11 on the other)
- 1 Instruction Manual (with the channels combination)

GI & PW Side-By-Side_006


A setup shot of the box picture. One SB-26 triggered with GI on the above left side through a white umbrella.




GI & PW Side-By-Side_007


The package:

- 1 Cactus PT-04 (Receiver)
- 1 Transmitter
- 1 CR2 battery
- 1 Mini Sync cord cable (Jack on one side and and SC-11 on the other)
- 1 Instruction Manual (with the channels combination)



GI & PW Side-By-Side_008


A picture of the inside of the receiver unit and the backside of the transmitter and the little CR2 battery.




GI & PW Side-By-Side_009

This is the PW setup box. Unfortunately I do not have the original box and the instruction manual but this was what came inside except for the batteries.
The cable also brings an adapter so you can have a connection Jack-Jack on end to end.






GI & PW Side-By-Side_010



GI mounted on the Manfrotto stand Nano001 attached to the SB-26 flash unit.








GI & PW Side-By-Side_011


Another view of the GI mounted on the Manfrotto stand Nano001 attached to the SB-26 flash unit.




GI & PW Side-By-Side_012


Another view of the GI mounted on the Manfrotto stand Nano001 attached to the SB-26 flash unit.




GI & PW Side-By-Side_013


The PW mounted on the Manfrotto stand Nano001 attached to the SB-26 flash unit.

P.S. - You can see the amount of things that are on the stand. The PW needs a hot-shoe mount to work with the Canon flashes since they do not have connection.




GI & PW Side-By-Side_014



Another view of the PW mounted on the Manfrotto stand Nano001 attached to the SB-26 flash unit but this time the PW connects directly to the SB-26 but the hot shoe is still there to support it on the stand.





P.S. - You can still see the amount of things that are on the stand. The PW needs a hot-shoe mount to work with the Canon flashes since they do not have connection.


GI & PW Side-By-Side_015


The triggers GI (Left) and the PW (Right) on the Canon MarkII.

Can you see the difference in size? :)



Hey it's not fair the left camera is bigger ;)

GI & PW Side-By-Side_016

To end this Side-By-Side I put 3 different flashes firing together Canon 580EX (L), Canon 220EX (C) and a Nikon SB-26 (R).




All fired at the same time... you must take in account that all were in manual mode but the 220EX does not have any commands it just blast the way with full power so I taped it with some white paper to lower the power.

GI & PW Side-By-Side_017

A setup shot and added the main light.

So I ended up with 4 lights firing with GI:
- Canon 580EX (L), Canon 220EX (C), Nikon SB-26 (R) and Nikon SB-26 (Umbrella).







With this last shot I wanted to try them on different rooms away from the camera sight.

Well it run good.

GI & PW Side-By-Side_0181st Image top left
(From Left to Right) SB-26, 580EX, 220EX.

2nd Image top Right SB-26

3rd Image bottom Left 580EX

4th Image bottom Right 220EX


Well I think that with this you could take some conclusions by yourself and get your system working, so what are you waiting for...

Above all have fun!!!!