Bad Reviews on PocketWizard FlexTT5 on BH???

I recently started to to venture into the off-camera lighting world with Canon Speedlites.

Initially, against many people's advice from veterans on here and elsewhere (yes, Sean, you were right on this), I purchased a 2 sets of Cactus V5 triggers (4 receivers/transceivers total) for $140 bucks total. Not a bad price at all compared to a set of (4) PocketWizards FlexTT5 with a hotshoe ($230 retail x 4 = $920). I figured, if one stopped working, I would just buy a new one for how cheap they are.

I went out on a paid shoot at an event and spent literally half day fumbling around with them since they misfired due to heat on a 95f day. Everytime, I shot through the viewfinder, I had to ask my assistant if they fired up. It wasn't just an issue with one trigger but all four. Worst, by noon, they refuse to power up in the heat but they work fine flawless at home or dusk when its cool 200 feet away.

Needless to say, after corresponding back and forth with the manufacturer, they considered the units defective and offered to send out a replacement if I send my sets back to Hong Kong. I didn't want to risk it and said, "No thanks", and sent it back for a refund for $20 International First Class Mail. In the end, it costed me almost $40 + misery and headache.

So after this whole debacle, I went out to look for a different set. Here are some of the options that I considered

(a) AlienBee CyberSync -

Pros: Bulletproof reliability. Reasonably Priced. Reputable Brand. Holds Value

Cons: Does not use a hotshoe. I do mainly photojournalism so Having a hotshoe on both the transceivers and receivers is important to me because I do use an on-camera flash a lot too. So the ability to throw have an ETTL flash on my camera is pretty important. And most of my older Speedlights do not have a PC Sync port so just sliding a flash onto the hotshoe of the receiver is a major convenience for me.

(a) Pocket Wizard Plus II -

Pros: Bulletproof reliability. Reasonably Priced. Reputable Brand. Holds Value

Cons: Same limitations as the CyberSyncs above.

(c) Phottix Strato II -

http://www.phottix.com …reless-flash-trigger.html
http://flashraw.com …i-wireless-flash-trigger/

Pros: Reasonably Priced. Transceiver's Hotshoe Passes ETTL information and Receivers have Hot Shoes. Some say they are built better than Pocket Wizards. Backwards & Forward Compatibility w/ Older & New Models. Upcoming Model will have ETTL and High Speed Sync.

Cons: Unknown Long Term Reliability.

(d) PocketWizard FlexTT5 -

Pros: Pocketwizard brand is the gold standard. Excellent Resell Value. Has all the high-tech features that no other company has yet

Cons: Extremely Expensive. Polarizing reviews.

At this point, I think I am going to bit the bullet and go with PocketWizard TT5 but some of the terrible reviews on BH are very concerning. If they are that bad, its probably no better than the other options. The Speedlites that I have in my bag is the older 430ex and 540ez non-ETTL. Not sure if there will range and interference issues with those

http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …ave.html#pr-header-605720

So what is your guys opinions on them????

xknowonex wrote in post #12699611
(a) Pocket Wizard Plus II -

Pros: Reputable Brand. Holds Value

Cons: No reliability. Insanely Priced. Same limitations as the CyberSyncs above.

Fixed that for you.

Looking at triggering systems myself - everything is a gamble. If the Pocketwizard TT5's are that bad (and no better than any other options), why spend the money on them?

To be honest, I have very little faith in Pocketwizard right now. Have you looked into Radiopoppers at all?

Sure, there have been reports from Plus II owners that have had problems but that is not at all the norm. If it were then these units wouldn't be considered the industry standard.

I've chimed in on many Pocket Wizard threads and my experience with Plus II's mirrors many many other people that will tell you about incredible reliability, very few, if any misfires, and they're just a pleasure to use.

I've been using the PW Mini and several FlexTT5s almost every day for a few months now and have had zero problems with them. I use them with my 580EX II (well, I did until I dropped it in the river); a couple of 430EX IIs, and Dyna-Lite MP400 RoadMax Power Pack and lights. Dependable every time!

Why can't use you use hot shoe flash. Stick the plus II on it with some velcro and then use the PC sync port to connect the PW plus II to the camera? It works with Plus II as with CST.

On Rx side get the flashzebra hot shoe adapter to connect your flash to the Plus II or the CST. Never used that Sync Port on my flash.

I've chimed in at different times as well.
My plus II's have worked flawlessly with my sunpak 555's and my alien bees. Flawless.
My mini/flex, with a 580 and a 430 have worked awesomely.
I had a few problems during my "learning curve" with the ettl, etc.
But now, I just set one on the corner of the dance floor, or two on opposing corners, and I nail every shot, every time. Correction, IT nails every shot. Once again, you have to know the limitations. If the groom's head is in the way, the bride's face will be in a shadow. I adjust my position, or wait for them to turn...etc. And that's not a flaw of the triggers themselves, but of the concept of off-camera flash.
PLUS, the mini will trigger the flex AND the plus II's, so the options are almost limitless.

At one time I had five PW Plus II's. Now I'm down to one. I never had an issue with them. They worked perfectly. I replaced four of them with FlexTT5's. I use the Plus II to fire profoto compact 600R's. Since they have built-in PW receivers, I felt like investing in a system that would work with my Canon Flashes and also be able to trigger my Profotos was the way to go.

I've had my FlexTT5's long enough to have PW replace them all with new units, primarily to overcome some hardware issues. I use them with a 580exII as the master flash and 550ex's as the slaves.

The 550ex's don't suffer from RFI, so RFI shielding is not necessary. Also, RFI isn't an issue using the 580exII as the master flash.

PW has added way more flash support options to the FlexTT5's than I need, but I'm sure somebody will find a way to use it all.

Don't forget that PW supports firing remote cameras and the FlexTT5's are also capable of firing a remote camera. You can also take advantage of strobe relay if you need to.

i have only flextt5. i like their great functionality but am disappointed about their reliability. I don't dare to use them on an important shooting. I know of other photographers who like them a lot, but for me: I couldn't stand anymore to worry every time I pressed the camera-trigger..if they would work or not. in my experience the system is very fragile, i have 550ex and 580ex and it did not make a difference.

In my experience, flex tt5 complaints are usually 100% user error. they are NOT plug and play units! you need to spend time setting them up via the pocketwizard utility for optimum performance. i use them regularly at ranges of 200-300 feet without issue.

xknowonex wrote in post #12699611
(c) Phottix Strato II -

Pros: Reasonably Priced. Transceiver's Hotshoe Passes ETTL information and Receivers have Hot Shoes. Some say they are built better than Pocket Wizards. Backwards & Forward Compatibility w/ Older & New Models. Upcoming Model will have ETTL and High Speed Sync.

Cons: Unknown Long Term Reliability.

I bought Strato I's just a short time ago and am loving them. They seem infinitely reliable, I appreciate that they take AAA's instead of coin batteries, and love that there's ETTL pass-through. And a great price.

I've not heard anything, though, about a new version coming that supports ETTL and highspeed sync; can you please tell me more or share where you've heard this? I'd be very interested. Thanks.

mikekelley wrote in post #12703269
In my experience, flex tt5 complaints are usually 100% user error. they are NOT plug and play units! you need to spend time setting them up via the pocketwizard utility for optimum performance. i use them regularly at ranges of 200-300 feet without issue.

Same experience here. Mine are just about 100% reliable, with the few problems being user error. They are much more powerful and therefore not as simple to operate as the PW II's. I use them all the time on paid shoots with no problems.

tenoverthenose wrote in post #12704484
...with the few problems being user error.

Could you two elaborate on that? What would the user be doing wrong?

Most of the issues I've heard of with the Flex/Minis have been with people either 1.) having terrible range or 2.) having their flashes fried. Neither of which I really see as "user error" per se...

What are you shooting? Do you need eTTl? Does the Flash to Subject distance change shot to shot or is it consistent?

If you flash to subject distance doesn't change and you have no need of eTTL then get the industry standard, Pocket Wizard Plus 2's.

But if you do need eTTL and your Subject to flash distance is changing from shot to shot then get the Pocket Wizard Flexes. If on some shoots you need a combo of both then know that the Pocket WIzard units work together with each other no matter what model.

Yes the iTTL Pocket Wizard units ( Flex and Mini) have had some growing pains. But it was caused by the Canon Speedlites poor construction quality and limited Quality Control. The Speedlites were emitting rf noise that would interfere with the Pocket Wizard signal. Much of that has been documented on which speedlites had the problem. And several workarounds are available to over come such problems. You can use hard or soft covers to block the noise or you can move the PW unit away a couple feet using the Canon eTTL cord if even needed.

I use several flexes and a mini with the following units without having to use any workarounds at the distances I work normally, I have the following Canon units: 580EXII, 580EX and 2 550EXs.

If your time is money then go with the industry standard, Pocket WIzards. The Plus 2 units are only flash trigger and you have to set the power of your speedlites manually. I also have the Pocket Wizard AC2 Zone Controller. It allows me to work in auto and manual mode changing all setting from the camera's position and switching back and forth between manual and eTTL modes as needed from the AC3 unit.

I hope this helps you.

TheBurningCrown wrote in post #12705346
Could you two elaborate on that? What would the user be doing wrong?

Most of the issues I've heard of with the Flex/Minis have been with people either 1.) having terrible range or 2.) having their flashes fried. Neither of which I really see as "user error" per se...

Either the batteries being low, connections not being made properly (hot shoe contacts), or devices not turned on in the correct order. Or dropping it and damaging the hot shot contacts (which is super easy to replace).

+1 to what patrick said

I also don't use 580EXIIs. I've always considered them a total ripoff anyway unless you use it solely on camera, so my range problems are non existant. I use 550s, 580s and 430exIIs and can't remember the last time I couldn't realistically shoot due to range issues, and I am usually firing from 100+ feet away (lighting architecture)