It’s great to have choices. But when you think you’ve got your heart set on something all figured out and then something else comes along makes you question everything you think you know – it’s tough. Well, that’s what happened today with the PocketWizard guys.   PocketWizard announced their new TTL based radio flash triggers – the PocketWizard FlexTT5 and MiniTT1.  These systems are compatible with all the previous PocketWizard models and have the ability to do high speed flash sync in two different ways.

UPDATE: I’ve made my choice and have received my Radiopopper PX system.  I’ve posted an un-boxing video and a distance/performance test you might find interesting.

Regardless of vendor, the idea is the same – radio control of flashes via a radio link to replace the limited IR link that both Nikon and Canon use.  The implementation however, is somewhat different.  The Radio Popper guys actually replicate the light from the camera and blast it back into the eye on the flash.   The PocketWizard guys put a hot shoe in place and make the flash just think it’s on a TTL cable or on the camera’s hot shoe.    I suppose there are upsides to both implementation but right now the Radio Poppers are brand agnostic.  The PocketWizards have only released (March 1st)  the Canon version because they don’t have a Nikon hot shoe version complete.  They are looking at Q2 of this year.  I hope that means June 1st because now I’m going to be waiting even longer to see how this all fleshes out!   The Radio Popper PX system is available right now but is $30 to $50 more expensive so it’s hard to jump out and buy anything until this thing settles out a little

FlexTT5 Canon

You can download the product manual for the PocketWizard here and you can read what is probably the only full review of the new product including photos of and with the new PocketWizard FlexTT5 and MiniTT1 on the Strobist blog.

This is a direct shot over the bow of the Radio Popper guys.   I really like the Radio Popper concept and hope they weather the storm.  Competition is good and maybe there will be some pricing parity in the near future.

Regardless of what happens, I’m glad to see the market for TTL radio flash triggers heat up – competition is good.  I wondered why PocketWizard didn’t get to the dance first on the and then I was surprised they went as long as they did without a response.  Well, it’s here now and it looks to be strong.  As the gold standard of remote triggers, PocketWizard has the oppertunity to remain on top.  Now lets sit back and see what that little start-up Radio Popper has to say!

UPDATE: I’ve made my choice and have received my Radiopopper PX system.  I’ve posted an un-boxing video and a distance/performance test you might find interesting.

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