Pocket Wizard Lost Its Mojo ?

Opinion

I don't know about you but thousands of photographers who own the Canon 1Dx are waiting for CTL from them but nothing for over 2 years and longer...

The last camera that was able to use CTL was the 5DMKIII in the upper price range. Some folks only use Man and that's fine but others would like to use CTL on occasion?

I have been asking them for over a year and they say it is difficult to reverse engineer this camera and that its a priority. Really? That's ok just let us know it's not coming so we can move on with our lives and go with the new Canon RT system or Phottix I believe can also do TTL with the 1DX.

Rumour also has they have layed off 1/2 of the workforce at Pocket Wizard.

http://petapixel.com …s-lays-almost-half-staff/

When I bought into the PW system it was not cheap and they promised that the Flex and TT1 would be upgradeable when features and new cameras came out. This does no good for the 1DX owners.

The way I see this is that Canon has made the flash circuits next to impossible to reverse engineer and I also think that any new Canon camera going forward will also be this way.

I am also sure that Nikon is putting radio into their products as well.

Anyway they better come clean shortly or I am moving on. Customers cannot wait forever!

Most people moved on a long time ago (I.E. migrated to the 600EX), cut your losses while you can…..

Moving to Canon though does not help with studio lights, that was what PW was all about with radios for Elinchrome and the Einstein and they have their radios in the new Sekonic light meter. That way you could use PW for both speedlites and studio lights in combo.

I just heard back from PW this morning and they tell me the 1DX, 6D and the T4i are their daily focus and they are making headway but we have heard this before 2 years ago, so maybe it's time to sell this gear?

You don't need them to upgrade, update or reverse engineer anything if you're only interested in using PW as a dumb trigger (I.E. to fire studio strobes, which involves the Sekonic meter module - that has nothing to do with the Mini/Flex), that's one thing, but to want to use them via E-TTL… again, I would move on. You made the statement as if you're wanting or waiting for them to update the E-TTL features of the Mini and Flex… again, after, as you stated, for two years….. I would move on.

:Solution:
Sell the Minis and Flexes, purchase some 600EXs… for studio strobe use, purchase some used or new transceivers...

The Loft Studios wrote in post #16790608
You don't need them to upgrade, update or reverse engineer anything if you're only interested in using PW as a dumb trigger (I.E. to fire studio strobes, which involves the Sekonic meter module - that has nothing to do with the Mini/Flex), that's one thing, but to want to use them via E-TTL… again, I would move on. You made the statement as if you're wanting or waiting for them to update the E-TTL features of the Mini and Flex… again, after, as you stated, for two years….. I would move on.

:Solution:
Sell the Minis and Flexes, purchase some 600EXs… for studio strobe use, purchase some used or new transceivers...

This is what I do. For studio and strobe use, im using my 8yr old pocket wizard plus11's to trigger. Those PW's were flawless.

PW really screwed up big time with the TT1 and TT5 with canon shooters because the radio issues would not work on everyone 580 speed lights.PW blamed canon lights instead of fixing the problem. That lame move will probably force them to close the doors. It gave the aftermarket products a shot in the market and they took advantage of it. Youngnuo doesnt have this problem. Neither does Phottix and a couple of others.

Then Cheetah Lights brought out the cl180 and now the cl360's. I think they will put the nail in PW's coffin. Powerful lights ( cl360's are 6 times more powerful than a 580), a trigger system that works and now the ability to have fast shutter speeds for similar HSS capabilities w/o the limitations that come with speedlights has sealed PW's Fate

My Opinion is PW screwed up big time. Its a dam shame.

umphotography wrote in post #16792399
This is what I do. For studio and strobe use, im using my 8yr old pocket wizard plus11's to trigger. Those PW's were flawless.

PW really screwed up big time with the TT1 and TT5 with canon shooters because the radio issues would not work on everyone 580 speed lights.PW blamed canon lights instead of fixing the problem. That lame move will probably force them to close the doors. It gave the aftermarket products a shot in the market and they took advantage of it. Youngnuo doesnt have this problem. Neither does Phottix and a couple of others.

Then Cheetah Lights brought out the cl180 and now the cl360's. I think they will put the nail in PW's coffin. Powerful lights ( cl360's are 6 times more powerful than a 580), a trigger system that works and now the ability to have fast shutter speeds for similar HSS capabilities w/o the limitations that come with speedlights has sealed PW's Fate

My Opinion is PW screwed up big time. Its a dam shame.

This.

umphotography wrote in post #16792399
This is what I do. For studio and strobe use, im using my 8yr old pocket wizard plus11's to trigger. Those PW's were flawless.

PW really screwed up big time with the TT1 and TT5 with canon shooters because the radio issues would not work on everyone 580 speed lights.PW blamed canon lights instead of fixing the problem. That lame move will probably force them to close the doors. It gave the aftermarket products a shot in the market and they took advantage of it. Youngnuo doesnt have this problem. Neither does Phottix and a couple of others.

Then Cheetah Lights brought out the cl180 and now the cl360's. I think they will put the nail in PW's coffin. Powerful lights ( cl360's are 6 times more powerful than a 580), a trigger system that works and now the ability to have fast shutter speeds for similar HSS capabilities w/o the limitations that come with speedlights has sealed PW's Fate

My Opinion is PW screwed up big time. Its a dam shame.

Even though I wasn't a PW user before (& ever, really), I wholeheartedly agree with what you said.

Those speedlite socks never failed to make me laugh whenever I see someone actually using it.

MO - I had the PW system for my 580's and felt I spent more effort in making sure they worked (if at all) during my shoots. Reliable - NO. Problematic - YES.

When the 600's came out I sold my PW's and bought 5 of the 600's. Now I concentrate again on my craft and not on the tech.

Just finished photographing a senior session today. The only time the 600's didn't fire was when I was shooting faster than they recycled. I was shooting HSS full power. I just didn't wait for the beep! Since this was a senior I didn't use the Canon battery packs. Had I, they would have recycled just fine.

I sold my mini and flex's long ago and moved on to Phottix Odins. They work great with my 1dx. I still use and like my PW III's for triggering a remote camera.

Yes, PW has really fallen flat on their faces. It really is sad; I hate to see every industry move to china but it sure looks like arrogance and complacency has done them in.

As for the 600RT, let's just say I prefer the reliability, power, and recycle rate of my ab800's. It would be nice to be able to control both strobe power and flash power remotely with the same system.

timbop wrote in post #16796028
As for the 600RT, let's just say I prefer the reliability, power, and recycle rate of my ab800's. It would be nice to be able to control both strobe power and flash power remotely with the same system.

Radiopopper JrX has been able to do this with any TTL speedlite and all Paul C. Buff Lights except the Einsteins for years. Durability of the transmitter is a problem though, so get a good case to store them in!

Just go with the odins I have used them since they were introduced and they have been flawless. They even offer timing adjustments plus they support all Canon cameras.