Elinchrom Skyport RX users...

... how many of you use the USB dongle?

I am in the market for the RX Skyport bundle. The one thing that I am not sure about is whether I will find the USB dongle useful. I know it offers some additional control over the transmitter, but I also wonder whether this will be a novelty that won't be used much once the initial excitement wears off.

So, how many of you use the USB dongle and a computer in your studio, and how useful do you find it? I know the USB dongle is only a few extra dollars, but if I end up not using it, it will be yet another thing that seemed like a good idea at first, sitting on a shelf.

So, what say you?

It's definitely not a novelty. Some photographers would genuinely find USB control of the skyport to be time saving.

Personally, I don't like changing power settings by radio remote control on sets because the transmissions don't always get received in a real life situation and I start looking like a chimp on the set. Also, at the point that I am adjusting initial power settings on lights then I am usually adjusting positions too....so I'm usually at the light anyway and can just change the power settings manually while I'm adjusting position.

The time I like computer control of lights is for studio product shoots and architectural shoots that require multiple strobe firings of the same exact head or a sequence of firings to achieve a special effect. As an assistant...I used a wizard program to adjust ratios on lights for multiple firings or special effect sequences. For example, on a product set with 6 lights...I might have set 2 of the lights for 2 pops....1 of the lights for 4 pops....1 of the lights for 5 pops and 1 of the lights for 7 pops etc (to achieve the proper ratio). The wizard would electronically time the the sequence of pops for each light to fire. If I didn't have the wizard...I would have had to run all over the set and pop each light by hand. IT would have really time consuming and looked ridiculous in front of the client. This was necessary to reach proper exposure on 4x5 and 8x10 camera systems. A lot of times the power on the packs would get maxed out (even the 4000 ws packs) so it's necessary to use multiple pops to get a proper exposure at F22 or so...

On some architectural shoots with 20+ heads then I would definitely need the wizard to keep track of how many times each power pack would need to be fired. So in that case...the computer control was necessary. But I only used the wizard to control firing sequence and amount of flashes...I never used it to control actual power settings on the power packs and heads. I usually change all of my power setting changes by hand at the head while adjusting light positions. That's just my personal style...others might do things differently.

For a simple 2-5 light portrait setup I can't see any reason to use USB control. Just a personal thing...but it would actually get in my way because it would be one more thing to dork around with on the set that is unnecessary. I only used computer control of sets that required multiple strobe firings during the same exposure or a specific sequence to achieve an effect. Hope that helps.

Gentleman Villain wrote in post #6247548
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Personally, I don't like changing power settings by radio remote control on sets because the transmissions don't always get received in a real life situation and I start looking like a chimp on the set.

One of the *really* nice features of the Skyport RX system is that the modules that connect to and trigger the flashes are actually tranceivers, not just receivers. That means they are capable of reporting all kinds of information back to the mother ship or, in this case, a laptop with the RX USB dongle and Elinchrom Skyport software running. When a command is given from the laptop to change the power output (or other setting), it is my understanding that an "ack" confirming the state change is sent back from the light and that is what appears on the laptop screen. In other words, what you're seeing on the laptop will always be the actual current settings of the lights, not what you think those settings should be.

Dave F.

Gentleman Villain wrote in post #6247548
For a simple 2-5 light portrait setup I can't see any reason to use USB control. Just a personal thing...but it would actually get in my way because it would be one more thing to dork around with on the set that is unnecessary.

That's kinda what I'm thinking. Getting away from the computer and keeping things simple definitely has its attractions...

tetrode wrote in post #6247803
One of the *really* nice features of the Skyport RX system is that the modules that connect to and trigger the flashes are actually tranceivers, not just receivers. That means they are capable of reporting all kinds of information back to the mother ship or, in this case, a laptop with the RX USB dongle and Elinchrom Skyport software running. When a command is given from the laptop to change the power output (or other setting), it is my understanding that an "ack" confirming the state change is sent back from the light and that is what appears on the laptop screen. In other words, what you're seeing on the laptop will always be the actual current settings of the lights, not what you think those settings should be.

That is absolutely the case, Dave. And one of the reasons why I can't decide whether to get the dongle or not. I downloaded the software last night, and it looks interesting, but of course without actual RX receivers there's only so much that I can try out.

I guess it's only $100 difference to get the dongle and be done with it... I don't have to use it. $100 to try it, that's what it boils down to!

IMO, if you're in a position where you're considering RX strobes, the software control you get with the USB transceiver would undoubtedly come in useful.

For one thing, you can have an assistant make power adjustments for you very quickly and without the inconvenience of them re-visiting all the lights. If you'd be using the software yourself then I'd tend to agree that in most basic shoots it would be too time consuming to make adjustments with, but it's still very handy to be able to look over at your laptop screen and check the settings of all your strobes while you're shooting.

I'm coming to the conclusion that another $100, in the big scheme of things (called the Photographic Black Hole), is nothing to worry about. And I think I will find it fascinating (at least in the beginning) to see what temps my RX strobes run at, and how many flashes they've done, etc. Oh, and the added control will be nice!

Rudi wrote in post #6249589
That's kinda what I'm thinking. Getting away from the computer and keeping things simple definitely has its attractions...

That's exactly right. If it ain't broke don't fix it. If you can do something manually and not lose time then keep it that way. My number one problem on a set is syncs....especially on location. In theory everything works..and in a laboratory everything works...but on location you're dealing with a completely different story. You've got alarm systems, other photographers with syncs, surveillance equipment, static electricity.. etc mucking with your ability to sync properly on location. In the studio it can be the same way if you're dealing with a large set and lots of stylists, talent, clients foot traffic etc. I just try to avoid using a transmitter for anything other than popping the lights. I'll still change power and everything by hand. That's just my way of doing it after dealing with 1000s of shoots. I'm sure others have their own way of doing things worked out just fine...but that's my way of doing it.

Rudi,

FWIW, I'm a new Elinchrom user (got a pair of 600RX) and so far, just testing by using the eyedropper on a grey card, R-G-B have been within .5 of each other at all power settings!

Amazingly consistent WB...

Gentleman Villain wrote in post #6249732
That's exactly right. If it ain't broke don't fix it. If you can do something manually and not lose time then keep it that way. My number one problem on a set is syncs....especially on location. In theory everything works..and in a laboratory everything works...but on location you're dealing with a completely different story. You've got alarm systems, other photographers with syncs, surveillance equipment, static electricity.. etc mucking with your ability to sync properly on location. In the studio it can be the same way if you're dealing with a large set and lots of stylists, talent, clients foot traffic etc. I just try to avoid using a transmitter for anything other than popping the lights. I'll still change power and everything by hand. That's just my way of doing it after dealing with 1000s of shoots. I'm sure others have their own way of doing things worked out just fine...but that's my way of doing it.

Most of my lights are usually high-up or on booms so making adjustments by hand is problematic - when I don't have an assistant I tend to make any necessary mid-shoot adjustments with the transmitter but with my eye on the laptop screen to make sure the changes are all being received.

Having clients, models, stylists, foot traffic, e.t.c. everywhere is the main reason I wouldn't want to have to make manual adjustments to the lights - the last thing I need is more time being wasted and more people on the set getting in each other's way.

Dear all Elinchrom Skyport experts,

I have recently purchased an Elinchrom Skyport RX set from Ebay. Unfortunately I was led to believe that it was a Universal set and NOT and RX receiver included. So, now I need to find out if there is an adapter to use the RX receiver with a 430EX II Canon speedlight...anyone?

Cheers,

D

davidsherjan wrote in post #10395335
Dear all Elinchrom Skyport experts,

I have recently purchased an Elinchrom Skyport RX set from Ebay. Unfortunately I was led to believe that it was a Universal set and NOT and RX receiver included. So, now I need to find out if there is an adapter to use the RX receiver with a 430EX II Canon speedlight...anyone?

Cheers,

D

NO.

davidsherjan wrote in post #10395335
Dear all Elinchrom Skyport experts,

I have recently purchased an Elinchrom Skyport RX set from Ebay. Unfortunately I was led to believe that it was a Universal set and NOT and RX receiver included. So, now I need to find out if there is an adapter to use the RX receiver with a 430EX II Canon speedlight...anyone?

Cheers,

D

doesn't exist. totally aside from size/shape of physical connections, the RX receivers don't even have batteries (they rely on the power from the light), so it just ain't happenin'. Your best bet is to sell the set you bought, and buy the skyport universals/pocketwizar​ds/radio poppers/etc.

edit: just noticed that you posted this in 3 different old threads. In the future, please post your question in only one place, to avoid duplicate posts/wasted bandwidth. Patience is a glorious thing.