More studio stuff soon whats the deal....

I don't get all the fuss with skyports lately? It seems unless you use a sync cord to a meter you cant trigger your lights with a meter for a reading? I see they are cheaper than Pocket Wizards, yes. But not as cheap as some of the other wireless sets out there (ie Alienbees). The true benefit i can only see is if you are using Elinchrome lights for wirless control of your power settings through a laptop, neat, but whoopy...

For true studio freendom for metering it seems Pocket Wizards is still the way to go?

They are about half the price of PocketWizards and infinitely more reliable than the cheap E-Bay sets. The transmitter is much smaller than a PocketWizard, allowing the shooter to see the scene with his left eye when the camera is vertical.

They have four selectable groups, allowing you to easily meter each light individually or fire them all collectively (if you have a receiver on each light).

Metering is easy, as long as the meter has a cordless mode. Just hit the test button on the transmitter.

These things (PWs, skyports) still cost too much money for what they do. But if one gets paid to do the job, I think it is money well spent.

I am looking forward to newly announced 16 channel ones by Paul Buff.

So what you are saying is a Sekonic meter with a wireless module will trigger the skyport system wirelessly, Curitis?

Steve Beck wrote in post #5190159
So what you are saying is a Sekonic meter with a wireless module will trigger the skyport system wirelessly, Curitis?

No. The wireless module is not required.

I'm talking about auto reset cordless flash mode, which is selectable on any of the Sekonic meters (I don't know about other brands). You push the button on the meter and hold it in position. It will automatically detect the flash, so you can trigger it any way you like.

Since my camera is typically hanging around my neck, I just push the button on the meter, hold it where I want it, then reach down and hit the test button on the Skyport transmitter with my other hand. If the camera is on a tripod, you can just slip the transmitter off the hotshoe and hold it in your hand.

Curtis N wrote in post #5190189
No. The wireless module is not required.

I'm talking about auto reset cordless flash mode, which is selectable on any of the Sekonic meters (I don't know about other brands). You push the button on the meter and hold it in position. It will automatically detect the flash, so you can trigger it any way you like.

Since my camera is typically hanging around my neck, I just push the button on the meter, hold it where I want it, then reach down and hit the test button on the Skyport transmitter with my other hand. If the camera is on a tripod, you can just slip the transmitter off the hotshoe and hold it in your hand.

I do the same thing with my cheap ebay radio triggers and Gossen Luna Pro SBC meter. Pushing a single button on a meter may be easier, but not THAT much easier.