RadioPopper Photos Posted
Kevin has just posted a series of photos of the upcoming RadioPopper wireless piggyback units, which are designed to vastly extend the range of wireless TLL flash systems such as those used by Nikon and Canon DSLRs. Still in the ugly-electronic-guts stage are the new dumb (non-TTL) radio triggers, which promise a four-digit range at a two-digit price.
Or, of course, these could just be clever Photoshop creations if you are still in the Vaporware/Capricorn One crowd.
See the RadioPopper blog for several more shots of receivers and transmitters, and a full run-down of recent RP anouncements.
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Posted at 3:22 PM.
25 Comments:
They definitely look great. Very smooth with clean lines. Still on the fence if they will be real.
Looks good, I can hardly wait these!
sounds good, but i can't wait till summer. will just have to get an ebay trigger instead YAY for cheap goods from Hong Kong.
That is exactly what should have shipped from Canon's factory in the first place: IR works fine for portrait work, but not at all for something more complicated (back-lighting).
The technical details are pretty slick; instead of an ugly mounting arrangement in front of the IR transmitter, it picks up the EM burst indirectly. It's a shame we'll still need an ST-E2 for this, but I understand their rationale; it wouldn't be even close to cost-effective to replicate the head unit.
I can't wait. :-)
I just read their website and I must say, I'm really looking forward for theses. I was planning on buying some Pocket wizards, but the price was too steep for my amateur budjet. I found an alternative I presume!
Man, I was just about to order some triggers and I'm glad I saw this. Now I just have to keep using the sync cable until this summer. Hopefully it is worth the wait.
I'm gonna hold out until the RadioPopper Jr.'s come out. Granted, partly that's because I like to act like the seasoned pro that scoffs at your fancy schmancy iTTL (I'm a Nikon guy), but that's partly because I own cheap SB-28's, which can't use these anyways.
Bad news.. an undisclosed name at Canon USA - Arlington, states there is absoutely no way to transmit the signal via radio and re-output ir through fiber. Signal loss is just too high. Besides, canon already has a wireless (ST-EW1) in the works, but you didnt hear that from me.
I can't wait for these - I was about to spend some $$$ on the PW's but nw I think i may hold out until summer.
Will these put the Pocket Wizard out of business?
The end of Pocket Wizards?
To the Canon ST-EW1 rumor: You say Canon already has wireless in the works. But the current ST-E2 is wireless. By wireless, do you mean radio instead of ir? If so, that would rock! I hope they still do TTL. Canon's flash system really lags Nikon's CLS; if what you're saying comes to pass, it could help close the real gap between the systems.
Initially I was excited to hear of this, but now it turns out that you need to use the ST-E2... that's me out of the picture.
I think I'll still be saving up for Pocket Wizards.
I'm impressed, they look sharp and big surprise: no fiber optic pick-up! Awesome!
And if that weren't enough -- did you catch that -- they are MADE IN AMERICA (Phoenix).
No lead poisoning from the plastic, no random exploding and smoking parts like a re-introduced Vivitar flash... Wow!
Can't wait for the Jr's to make the scene!
this would be the best, and simultaneously, worst prank ever played on the strobist community - if it were vaporware.
What I don't get is how it hooks up to the flash when it's stuck to the top? And how would this work for nikon's su-800? the su doesn't have ports like canon's ir trigger.
These look great and I'm really interested in getting some but I hate to think of how ghetto my camera will look with it. I already use an SU-800 with my D3. I velcro my eBay trigger to the top of the SU-800 and run a short PC cable to the body to trigger my studio lights. With the popper, I'll have yet another box velcro'd to my cam. Oh well, function before form I guess.
I've been brewing up a design for the exact same thing. I'd rather buy it, but if they don't get it out, I'll finish my design and build my own. The trick is to get the data rate at the required distance. And yes, the difficulties and tricks they mentioned are real.
So, this little radiopopper is not connect directly to hotshoe. Am I right about this?
Who can read that tiny white font on a black background? I can never trust creative opinion if the sense of graphic design is so offensive. I'm a photographer, for goodness sakes. RadioPopper needs to respect my eyes and not try to destroy my vision before I can take a second look at his product.
Regarding ST-EW1: This is a "so-far" rumor from a friend that works at canon here in arlington. But from this rumor this is a sub $200 wireless (radio) system canon is going to release, no confirmation yet though. Regarding these units... the llc company "image media llc" the maker of these units, is just registered as a wedding photography company. If you want real info I would suggest contacting the owner of this LLC: Kevin King (http://www.kevinkingphoto.com) i dont really know if I can truly believe these are real until they are offered for sale. Bottom line, dont get your hopes up, this could just be a marketing ploy to get his financers to buy in to his idea (no doubt a good one though)
To ST-EW1 Rumor: are you getting your signals crossed? Kevin King is the RadioPopper guy, which is the topic of the blog posting; he's not working with Canon in Arlington.
No.. I understand... Canon has nothing to do with this post, just reiterating that canon is developing a reasonably priced radio transmitter system similar to these. Just underlining the fact that these are still very much concept and I'm not expecting them or getting my hopes up for them to be released. If they do.. great.
I'm still very happy with my Skyport units.
Hey we just tested out the Radio Poppers first hand at our Wireless flash and Video light workshop in San Diego yesterday and today.
I must admit I was somewhat worried as everyone has been on this product since it seems to be to good to be true. Blending the vast control aspects of the IR of the eTTL and iTTL methods with the Pocket Wizard security of radio waves.
Well this past few days TriCoast has been one of the first group of people to really test these little guys out.
First and foremost THEY ARE REAL, nice little packages, simple to store in your camera bag and easy to "attached" to your flash units. After a very quick run down on them by Kevin King we were off shooting and well without any problems what so ever.
I used my Mark body with my 580exI on my camera as MASTER and a 580exII as my Slave unit and all functions of eTTL along with the power adjustments from the Master flash worked without any problems. I took the first shot, the flash (which had the IR sensor taped up - covered) fired, exposing the subject with too much light. I simply lowered the flash output on the flash by a little bit, took another shot and got PERFECT exposure and image.
Radio Poppers truly gives me the best of both worlds.
Teaching wireless flash around the world this product will change my method of teaching as well as personally shooting.
So in Summary:
Radio Poppers ARE REAL
Radio Poppers WORK
For more information including photos of this event go to our blog at:
www.TriCoastPhoto.com/blog
Hope this information helps and I will have a set of these guys with me at my speaking engagements in Rhode Island, South Dakota and WPPI when I speak in the coming months.
I don't understand all the excitement here, but RadioPopper is nothing but an IR translator so you still have to use something like an SU-800 or a flash unit in conjunction with it.
Besides the fact that Canon is currently working on their full line of TruWireless eTTL system based on RF (not IR), there is a company in Kyoto who is also developing similar "direct" wireless RF (not an IR translator) to address eTTL or iTTL non-line-of-sight issues. I'd suspect RadioPopper will have a tough time selling their stuff, if they even get to that point.
Canon may be working on something like that -- then, again, they may not be -- but no meaningful web hits come up on the term, "TruWireless."
Most convincingly, no one has even applied for a trademark on the term, according to government trademark searches.
If you have real info, leave it in a comment marked, "Do Not Publish," and I will respect that.
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