PIXEL'S KNIGHT TR-332 WIRELESS E-TTL II FLASH TRIGGER FOR CANON
Reviewed by Clive Bolton, with thanks to Elv0000 for generous support.
8 April 2010
INTRODUCTION
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A new entry into the world of hot-shoe flashes with its proprietary systems, brands, patents, terms and technologies is Pixel Enterprise in China. Their battery packs have already been favourably received. Their TTL wireless triggers have had a stumbling introduction. The Nikon version came out before it was ready, and reaction was justifiably poor. A Canon version was released as a beta, and has been back for further development. It has a programmable ROM, which enables significant development to be implemented. It is now commercially available. The writer has no relationship with Pixel Enterprise except as a paying customer.
What does Pixel's Knight trigger try to do, and how well does it do it? This review looks at the Pixel Knight triggers using a 50D, a 580EX II and some 550EXs. Early manufacturer claims were ambiguous; this review uses information from the Product Manual (1 Feb 2010), the current pixelhk eBay listing and the pixelhk.com website.
REQUIREMENTS
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1. Some Knight features are available only with Mark II series Speedlites and an EOS camera with a "Flash Control" menu. The Knights cannot be controlled from the Flash Control menus (a great pity), but they do make use of such camera's enhanced data communication.
2. Earlier Speedlites (and perhaps some compatibles) can be used, but settings must be performed on the flash. However FEC, Zoom, ISO and Aperture data is sent - the LCD will display the usual information on half-shutter.
3. "Speedlite-compatible" shoe-flashes, other shoe flashes and Studio strobes can be synchronously triggered in Manual mode.
A Knight Receiver (RX) is needed for each flash. Canon wireless Master/Slave modes are not available.
BASIC KNIGHT SET
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Transmitter (TX), Receiver (RX), Screwlock PC-sync cable to 3.5mm phone jack, Adaptor 3.5mm to 6.5mm phone jack, 2x CR2 Lithium batteries, RX shoe protection cap, RX holder shoe for mounting on studio probes, Product Manual. (A second cable may be supplied in place of the adaptor)
PRICING
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PixelHK on eBay sets a reference price for a TX/RX pair at USD$180 including shipping from Hong Kong. Add US$100 for each additional RX required.
MANUFACTURER'S DESCRIPTION
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2.4GHz 2-way communication system.
15 user-selectable communication channels.
At least 65m/200ft operating range.
Battery stand-by hours: Transmitter 100 to 1000. Receiver 100 to 500.
Supports EOS E-TTL II/E-TTL flash mode.
Receiver (RX) provides On/Off; Channel selection 01 to 15; Group selection A to E.
Transmitter (TX) provides On/Off; Channel selection 01 to 15; Settings for each of 5 groups - Off, TTL, 22 Power levels from 1:1 to 1:128 in 1/3 stops; Selection of 5D series Off/On. The power settings are effective only with EX II series Speedlites.
Flash exposure compensation (FEC) can be controlled from the camera with EX Speedlites.
Shutter speeds up to 1/8000 Sec. The RX's PC-sync socket can control studio lights up to 1/8000 sec.
Can synchronise multiple Speedlites, other shoe-flashes and studio lights.
Complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules.
COMPATIBILITY
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Compatible EOS Cameras (Digic III and 4 processors):
1D IV, 1Ds III, 7D, 5D II, 50D, 40D, 550D/T2i, 500D/T1i, 450D/XSi, 1000D/XS.
Factory testing completed:
450D, 500D, 550D, 5D II, 40D, 50D.
Probably incompatible (Digic and Digic II processors):
1D, 1Ds, 1D Mk II, 1Ds Mk II, 5D, 10D, 20D, 30D, 300D, 350D/XT, 400D.
Speedlites enabling remote power level setting:
580EX II, 430EX II.
Speedlites enabling E-TTL and Knight Manual mode but require settings to be made on the remote flash:
580EX, 550EX, 430EX, 270EX, 220EX. (Also possibly Speedlite compatible Sigma, Nissin, Sunpak.)
Flashes enabling Knight Manual synchronising:
Studio strobes, non-Speedlite-compatible flashes.
PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION - Transmitter (TX)
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Dimensions: Length 38mm/1.5in; Width 63mm/2.5in; Height 31mm/1.25in. Weight with battery: 45gm/1.6oz.
Metal shoe with plastic insert and standard Canon contact pins. Locking pin and knurled clamping ring. The Transmitter must be mounted in the camera's hotshoe. It cannot be triggered from the PC-sync port.
Battery case cover underneath, not accessible in use.
LCD scratch-resistant display, with backlight. Displays Channel selected, and battery level.
LED indicator flashes blue when data is being transmitted, both before and after shutter release.
2 buttons - Power/Ch-; Set/+Ch.
A CR-2 Lithium 3v battery provides at least 100 standby hours.
PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION - Receiver (TX)
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Dimensions: Length 38mm/1.5in; Width 66mm/2.6in; Height 26mm/1.0in. Weight with battery: 50gm/1.75oz.
Cold-shoe mount underneath, with 1/4"-20 metal thread for light stand, etc. Locking pin and knurled clamping ring.
Battery case cover underneath, not accessible in use.
LCD scratch-resistant display, with backlight. Displays Group and Channel selected, and battery level. View obstructed in use.
LED status indicator: standby (slow red wink), transmission (blue). The RX's LED is out of sight, as is its Group and Channel display, when a shoe-flash is mounted.
2 buttons: Power/Ch-, Set/+Ch. Access obstructed when used with shoe flashes.
Canon-design hot shoe on top for mounting Speedlite.
Screw-lock PC-sync socket for triggering studio or non-Canon flashes, using PC cable (supplied) 3.5mm, or add adapter to 6.5mm.
A CR-2 Lithium 3v battery provides at least 100 standby hours.
A SESSION WITH THE KNIGHT IN TTL MODE
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TRANSMITTER. Mount the TX on the 50D. Turn the camera on. Press TX Power/Ch- button for a full 2 seconds (I count to 3 seconds otherwise only the backlight comes on). TX displays a self-test, then the set channel and battery level bar.
Press TX's Set/Ch+ button for 2 seconds. Display shows "Set Gp A." Press Set/+Ch again to cycle through the groups.
While "Set Gp" is shown, press TX's Power/Ch- button to display current power setting. Press repeatedly to step through and change the power levels for that group. Set back to default Channel 01 and Group A. If you are using a 5D or 5D II, then also go to "group" 5D and turn it On.
On 1/2-shutter, the TX's LED winks blue (transmit), then no indication.
RECEIVER. Mount the RX on a stand. The only settings required on the RX is the communication channel and the chosen Knight group - A to E. The Transmitter and the camera control all other settings. Press Power/Ch- for 2 seconds. RX displays Group and Channel number. The LED winks a slow red. Leave set on Channel 1 and Group A.
SPEEDLITE. Attach a 580EX II Speedlite and secure (the weather/dust sock makes it very difficult to lock). Turn on Speedlite, which displays TTL mode at startup. On 1/2-shutter, the Speedlite's mode changes to ETTL, and displays aperture, zoom and distance.
ZOOM. While on 1/2-shutter and for a few seconds after release, any change in a zoom lens's focal length is immediately transmitted to the Speedlite and displayed. If Manual Zoom (M Zoom) is selected on 580EXII or 550EX, then the zoom stays as set. Manual zoom can be changed on the Speedlite while still on the RX.
CAMERA SETTINGS. Using the camera's Quick Control Screen or any of the older-style button settings will cause the Knight to transmit any relevant changes.
TAKE A SHOT. TX's LED winks blue before and after the shot. The Speedlite will indicate a successful exposure. The RX's LED winks blue before and after shot, then a longish break before resuming a slow red wink. Unseen in this configuration, of course, but visible if a pc-sync cable is in use.
FLASH EXPOSURE COMPENSATION. Use the camera's Flash Exposure Compensation (FEC) to adjust for another exposure. (The Speedlite's own FEC setting must be at Zero.) Fully functional.
SECOND CURTAIN. 2nd Curtain is not enabled. The flash fired on 1st curtain open. What, you want a miracle?
MODELLING LIGHT. The modelling light can be used by pressing the Depth-of-Field/Modelling light button on the camera.
FOCUS-ASSIST LIGHT. The Focus-Assist light will be emitted when required by the camera. There can be a slighy delay if the Knights need waking from standby, but there is no delay once activated.
HIGH SPEED SYNC. HSS is turned on when the Knights initialise, and remains set. The 50D's x-sync is 1/250th, with HSS used above that. The camera had Tv mode at 1/125th, ISO 100. f2.8 blinking. Tests resulted in -2 FEC for good exposure on the test mannequin head, with strong window backlighting. Then 1/250, 1/500, 1/1000, 1/3200, 1/8000 speeds. Results for the subject were very even. The background darkened as expected. Very usable.
FOCUS EXPOSURE LOCK. FV lock is called FE Lock on Canon bodies. Pressing the FE Lock * on the camera usually produced an exposure preflash, sometimes two, sometimes none. However, when there was a preflash, the main exposure flash did not fire. When the Speedlite was mounted direct on camera, the flash behaved exactly as per page 16 of the manual. Repeating the tests with the Knights produced the same ineffective results. It seems that part of this feature is implemented, but problems remain.
FLASH EXPOSURE BRACKETING. FEB seemed to give less change than the same settings with the flash mounted on the camera. Custom Function 03 "FEB auto cancel" needs to be set to 1 Disabled so that the FEB remains activated. After setting an FEB range, the flash should be turned off and on again to re-initialise the Knight RX.
550EX. Using a 550EX Speedlite is similar - E-TTL II, FEC, HSS and Focus Assist work as above, but the modelling light is not available.
POSITIVES
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It is too early to comment on reliability, but the manufacturing seems to be of high quality.
Benefits over RF-602 trigger: FEC adjustable, HSS, E-TTL II capability. Has a smooth-acting clamping ring and pin to secure the foot in-shoe, and both TX and RX have on/off switches.
65m to 80m between camera and remote flash.
Will work with only one flash - a second flash is not required for remote control.
Frees the photographer from limitations of Canon's wireless communication - any angle from remote, no line-of-site, greater distance, not affected by sunlight, no need to orient body of remote flash.
A possible, but limited, substitute for either the OC-E2/3 TTL cable or the ST-E2 controller.
Focus assist light and modelling light available.
Quick and simple to set up.
Safe - no cables to trip people or crash stands.
Allows flexibility with lightboxes and other modifiers.
Can be used on a flash bracket without the drag of a coiled OC-E3 cable, and can be taken off-bracket in moments.
NEGATIVES
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As the camera's shoe is the only way to connect a Knight transmitter, a Speedlite cannot be used on the accessory shoe for on-axis fill. However, a Manual-control speedlite could be held by bracket, stand or human.
Lose access to effective distance indicator/flash output.
Lose 6-stop FEC unless on a 1D3.
A backup TX and RX are moderately expensive.
Need to remove shoe-flash from RX to change Group and Channel selection, and to switch RX off. It will be overlooked -flat batteries!
RX LED indicator and LCD display of selected Group and Channel hidden by Speedlite body.
Need to buy more Mark II flashes for remote power setting capability.
No E-TTL Master/slave, ratios, groups.
Cannot control flash from camera Flash Control menus.
RX shoe not designed to accommodate weatherproofing sock of Mark II Speedlites.
It does not fully replace an OC-E2/3 cord, especially as with a "Flash Control" camera, you can control full master-slave groups, ratios and power levels from the camera.
It does not fully replace an ST-E2 controller for similar reasons.
CONCLUSION
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Part 2 will report on tests with both a 580EX II and a 550EX together.
The Knights are useful already and demonstrate a skilful implementation of the features that work, with the promise of more development.
