Canon 600EX and PW

[mars1954]

Does anyone know if the new Canon 600Ex has the same RF problems with the PW Flex tt5as the 580 EX?Thanks

[dmward]

That will require testing once they are available.
Unfortunately there is little incentive for Canon to solve that problem on a strobe into which they put a radio.

[mars1954]

Originally Posted by dmward

That will require testing once they are available.
Unfortunately there is little incentive for Canon to solve that problem on a strobe into which they put a radio.

Thank you thats a good point.

[dmward]

I have some ControlTL equipment.
I'll give it a test when I get a 600EX-RT

[The Loft Studios]

Why should Canon solve any noise issue that their speedlites are having.....
Although there is proof that the Canon 580EXII produces noise that interferes with the PocketWizard frequency, I find it interesting that that same noise doesn't interfere with the RadioPopper frequency. In fact, if these two products never existed, then no one would know nor care about the Canon 580EXII having a "noise" issue. And since Canon has no reason, loyalty, or partnership with either if these companies, why fix something that really isn't broken or better yet, doesn't affect any other products that "Canon" produces or utilizes within it's own family. Now with the new 600EF on the market, I willing to bet that "if" there was a noise issue with the 600EF, that noise "may" only affect the PocketWizard frequency or let's say that it may even affect the RadioPopper frequency. Tell me why should Canon care about that..... It obviously doesn't affect the radio frequency of the 600EF that Canon chose to use, so why should Canon care or fix a problem that doesn't have a negative impact on them. It's not Canon's job to produce a product that is "PocketWizard Friendly"..... Is PocketWizard or have PocketWizard even given Canon a cent of money that they have mode off of Canon's Speedlite products? I'm willing to bet "NO"!

[clarence]

Originally Posted by The Loft Studios

Tell me why should Canon care about that.....

The various 3rd party triggers have increased sales of speedlites tremendously.

I have 5 Canon speedlites. I wouldn't have bought that many if I only had Canon triggers (Master flash or ST-E2).

I purposefully avoided upgrading my 550's to the 580EX II because of the RF interference and flashtube issues with the PW system.

So despite the lack of a contractual agreement or obligation with any of the 3rd party trigger companies, I'm sure Canon is very aware of the issues and the impact it can have their sales.

[dmward]

The RFI problem with Pocketwizards exists because Pocketwizard uses a licensed frequency that is too close to the frequency of the RRI being emitted by the speedlites.
RP, I think, and most of the other trigger manufacturers are using the unlicensed 2.4GHz band which is well above the RFI and thus not affected.

Canon is also using the 2.4GHz band.

I suspect that Canon Speedlite product management is well aware of the sales impact. The question becomes what the cost benefit analysis would suggest when designing the new speedlite.

My guess is they won't spend much engineering effort to fix a "non-problem". If their product development process is like most, they have already left too many "like to haves" out of the product to keep on the target price.

[bobbyz]

also RP is passively connected while PW is actively connected.

[butterfly2937]

The fried flash problem with PW scares me away from those triggers. That is the main reason I would use another trigger option. The RF noise was bad enough but it hard to deny there is a real problem with PW and the 580s and even 430s have succumbed to this ill fate. If it was truly a design problem it would be happening with other triggers and its not. I venture to bet the 600s will be no different Canon has no incentive to fix something that is a compatibility problem with a 3rd party manufacturer.

[dmward]

Originally Posted by bobbyz

also RP is passively connected while PW is actively connected.

Passive connection has nothing to do with RFI.
The RP still has to transmit the information via radio in an environment where the Canon speedlite is generating RFI.

The burned out units it a Canon problem. It may be that ControlTL pushed the units to the limit while others did not. But I, for example, had two 580EXIIs fail with this problem before I tried to use them with ControlTL. They were noisy so I bought some other units to use on the FlexTT5s. No problems with the 580EXII on the Mini above the camera.

[bobbyz]

Originally Posted by dmward

Passive connection has nothing to do with RFI.
The RP still has to transmit the information via radio in an environment where the Canon speedlite is generating RFI.

The burned out units it a Canon problem. It may be that ControlTL pushed the units to the limit while others did not. But I, for example, had two 580EXIIs fail with this problem before I tried to use them with ControlTL. They were noisy so I bought some other units to use on the FlexTT5s. No problems with the 580EXII on the Mini above the camera.

PW sits in between camera and flash which is generating that RFI. That is why the filter thingy in between.

[dmward]

Bobby, If you put the sock on without the filter there is a problem.
If you put the filter on without the sock there is a problem.
The RFI is ratted via the atmosphere as well as physical connection.

The reason RP does not have the problem is because they use a different frequency.
They in fact are using the generated RF to "catch" the TTL signaling.
If Canon were to make the speedlites RF noise free it may be that RPs would no longer work.

[PhotoMatte]

I'm really looking forward to the dpreview tests of the 600RX; I hope they test the wireless radio compatibility of that unit when paired with other 600RX units. The inconsistency of my TT5 units with my 580EXII units has driven me crazy at times.

[rwong2k]

any updates on this? does the 600ex-rt work with the tt5/tt1's?

[bizzle23]

Yes, 600ex-rt works with tt1/tt5. I don't see the need or any benefit so I sold mine tt1/tt5.