We wanted to thank Mike Fulton, Jordan Chan, and Cody Clinton of TriCoastPhoto for taking the time to share their thoughts and evaluation of the new PocketWizard MiniTT1, FlexTT5, and ControlTL systems along side the new RadioPopper PX Transmitter and RadioPopper PX Receiver.

What follows is over an hour of material split into eight sections.  Mike and the guys took the time to perform some controlled tests of both systems and how each relates to their individual working situations.

We are glad to see continued growth and interest in off camera lighting.  The RadioPopper product and the new PocketWizard products each have their strengths and weaknesses while overlapping in many areas. Depending on your specific needs and your own type of work, we’re sure one of the two systems will be of much benefit.  I have been of the belief for years that we are on the very edge of a sweeping of creative lighting techniques as more and more photographers dive into the unknown and begin to understand their lighting in more creative ways.

Automated lighting controls using ETTL and iTTL, reliable long range use of High Speed Sync at shutter speeds in excess of 1/500, and the simple convenience of remote control of manually controlled lighting – today photographers have a set of controls and tools at their fingertips that simply did not exist only a year ago.  This is a good time to be a photographer!  Cheers!!

Above is a complete “Play List” of the 8 segments in order. These segments were posted by TriCoast on their YouTube Channel.

….. each segment linked individually following the jump …..

PocketWizard Flex TT5 Mini TT1 vs. RadioPopper PX Video Review – Part 1 of 8

Notes:  Introduction.  PocketWizard usable range test.  Range found to be 40 feet while using off shoe cord with Canon SpeedLite 580EXII, similar results expected with 580EX SpeedLite using wireless flash eTTL. Test performed by TriCoast Photography including Mike Fulton, Jordan Chan, and Cody Clinton.
PocketWizard Flex TT5 Mini TT1 vs. RadioPopper PX Video Review – Part 2 of 8

Notes: PocketWizard usable range test.  Range found to be 40 feet while using off shoe cord with Canon SpeedLite 580EXII, similar results expected with 580EX SpeedLite using wireless flash eTTL.  Canon SpeedLite 430EXII Range Test with PocketWizard FlexTT5 and MiniTT1 found usable to 120 feet.
PocketWizard Flex TT5 Mini TT1 vs. RadioPopper PX Video Review – Part 3 of 8

Notes: RadioPopper PX Transmitter and PX Receiver Range Test.  Found range to easily exceed 600+ feet which is more than 10x the range of the new PocketWizard Flex ControlTL system.  RadioPopper used in eTTL and manual flash mode.
PocketWizard Flex TT5 Mini TT1 vs. RadioPopper PX Video Review – Part 4 of 8

Notes: Operational speed test of the PocketWizard Flex system vs. the RadioPopper PX system.  Testing supposed ”slow” operation of RadioPopper found both systems easily keep up with 8+ frames per second.  No difference between the two systems regarding speed of operation.  Canon SpeedLite Custom Functions explained.  PocketWizard system does not support all Custom Functions.  Test performed by TriCoast Photography including Mike Fulton, Jordan Chan, and Cody Clinton.
PocketWizard Flex TT5 Mini TT1 vs. RadioPopper PX Video Review – Part 5 of 8

Notes: Summary of inconsistent operation of PocketWizard FlexTT5, MiniTT1, and ControlTL operation.  PocketWizard radio interference using Canon SpeedLite 580EX, and 580EXII SpeedLite flash strobe units.  Explanation of radio frequencies used by PocketWizard and RadioPopper systems.
PocketWizard Flex TT5 Mini TT1 vs. RadioPopper PX Video Review – Part 6 of 8

Notes:  Physical and hardware, overall design, ease of upgrade of Pocket Wizard Flex USB port and RadioPopper PX. 
PocketWizard Flex TT5 Mini TT1 vs. RadioPopper PX Video Review – Part 7 of 8

Notes:  Evaluation of physical construction and overall design of new PocketWizard Flex TT5, Mini TT1, and RadioPopper PX SpeedLite eTTL radio flash control systems.  Integration of PocketWizard PlusII MultiMAX, and RadioPopper JrX Studio and JrX Basic receivers to control studio lights.
PocketWizard Flex TT5 Mini TT1 vs. RadioPopper PX Video Review – Part 8 of 8

Notes:  Conclusions from testing of radio based camera flash control systems for eTTL, iTTL, and high speed sync.  Conclusion of test of new PocketWizard FlexTT5, ControlTL, MiniTT1, and RadioPopper PX and JrX units.


  1. Kevin on Saturday 14, 2009

    Enjoy!

  2. Brent Watkins on Saturday 14, 2009

    Thank you for the wonderful and in depth comparison of these systems.

    It was very valuable to me. I’m making a purchasing decision in the next 2 months for this wedding season and this was very helpful.

    This answered many questions I had and showed me flaws (and strengths) in both systems I had not seen in my research.

    Kudos.

  3. Tom Batinich on Saturday 14, 2009

    I beleive when using the off shoe camera cord you are supposed to put a barrel shaped magnet device that can be purchased from radio shack. It is supposed to eliminate the interference.

    http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2103222

    When I spoke to the PW folks at WPPI this is what I was told to use. I haven’t tried it myself since I am not yet convinced on the product.

  4. Corey on Saturday 14, 2009

    Thanks you for taking the time to do this test and thank you for sharing with us. You have answered a lot of question for me also.

    Thanks again

  5. Ben on Saturday 14, 2009

    Ouch!

  6. Anthony DeBartolo on Saturday 14, 2009

    Thank you for the hard work and presentation of the 2 system. It appears to me that PW show casing some really nice features still has away to go in “perfecting” their system. You have saved me an enormous amount of time through you efforts and video presentation.

  7. Ben on Saturday 14, 2009

    Now if only you RP people would pull your fingers out and get me EU units in time for the summer wedding season!

  8. Robert Sojka on Saturday 14, 2009

    Great review, and it really sold me on the RPs. When is the new mounting system for the RPs going to be available?

  9. Justin on Saturday 14, 2009

    Man, you are making me so jealous! When are they coming to Canada?!?

  10. Tom on Saturday 14, 2009

    I received my RadioPopper PX system yesterday. You can see my un-boxing video and review of them on my blog LightAndPixels.com. One thing that you’ll see there is the D300 being used with a pop-up flash. So far, so good with the Poppers! They Rock!

    Tom

  11. Faris on Saturday 14, 2009

    Thanks for the great preview. It really helps.
    But you didnt show us the photos that you said that you are going to show ; )


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