Comments on Strobist: Flash Flavor Test Drives the RadioPopper P1

I for one cannot wait to get my hands on the radio...

2008-04-01T12:56:00.000-04:00

I for one cannot wait to get my hands on the radio popper jr's - and not be poor anymore! Even just considering getting two pocket wizards is a huge drain on a low budget photography studio. mmmmmmmm radio poppers.

I like most am anxious to use radio poppers, and b...

2008-03-31T07:15:00.000-04:00

I like most am anxious to use radio poppers, and being in the uk the wait is even longer. While this frustrating it is also a blessing I feel. This product has been so hyped (maybe with justification and may be not) and so long in the actual bringing it to market with issues and delays that a cautionary delay may prove worth while - only microsoft have hyped a product longer, there may be too many gullible fish with too much burning money jumping in the keep net, so by the time they reach us Service Pack 3 equivalent will be out. I hope I am wrong, and no it's not sour grapes that there is a delay for them here, just step back from it and think.

I think it's great that RP is getting the endorsem...

2008-03-28T23:46:00.000-04:00

I think it's great that RP is getting the endorsements of the small flash folks like David and Matt Adcock and others. Sounds like everyone at WPPI is impressed. I was at PPNC recently and heard Will Crockett (shootsmarter.com) speak when someone asked him about RP's. He said he was very skeptical about them actually working. Hope Kevin and the RP folks continue to win over the skeptics!

Kevin - Much better video than the last one. This ...

2008-03-28T12:29:00.000-04:00

Kevin - Much better video than the last one. This one is very cool.....

Looks promising, though both the shots of the musi...

2008-03-28T01:09:00.000-04:00

Looks promising, though both the shots of the musician and the model could have been made in ETTL without use of the RP units at all I think. The long-distance fence best shows the value of the radio system I think. Thanks for sharing.

Patrick - that's a good question. The RP transmit...

2008-03-27T12:20:00.000-04:00

Patrick - that's a good question. The RP transmitter actually picks up the magnetic spike created by the pre-flashes of the master flash. It has no actual light sensor, rather it's a magnetic pickup. So the unit won't be confused by other strobes of light in the environment. You can also use it in direct sunlight without "blinding" a sensor. Cheers!

I'm also on a tight budget. I can't wait until th...

2008-03-26T19:03:00.000-04:00

I'm also on a tight budget. I can't wait until the RP Jr.s show up. Even if they have a working range of 60ft. If they work, they'll be well worth it. They'll quickly put the ebay trigger idiots out of business.

I'm sure that's not their goal, but the ebay triggers are complete and utter junk. I think I have a 50% success with them firing a single flash at a 3-5ft range, 30% success at them firing both flashes at the same range, 30% at firing a single flash at 10ft and 5% at them firing 2 flashes at 10ft.

They are pure garbage.

I have a question that hasn't been answered yet. ...

2008-03-26T17:26:00.000-04:00

I have a question that hasn't been answered yet. Since the RP reads the preflashes coming out of the master on camera flash, is there any chance that there could be a misfire due to other preflashes from other photographers? I shoot weddings with other assistant photographers and it would be awful if other preflashes could fire or confuse the RP. Obviously if your were both firing at the same time, I'd assume the preflashes on your camera would be so much more powerful than the other preflashes but I guess it depends on how sensitive that optical cable is.

I agree with Adam. Why ETTL?

2008-03-26T16:55:00.000-04:00

I agree with Adam. Why ETTL?

Managed to capture a hamster in air using a remote...

2008-03-26T15:12:00.000-04:00

Managed to capture a hamster in air using a remote flash.

http://adamzhang.com/the-most-dedicated-model-i-have-ever-shot/

It will be interesting to see just what kind of sh...

2008-03-26T09:46:00.000-04:00

It will be interesting to see just what kind of shift happens within the pro market - what with there being so many dedicated PW users out there. Also, just how long will these units take to make their way over to the UK, I wonder?

I was very excited when trying out Nikon's CLS for the first time, when that was the 'new' feature - but it's clear it has its limitations, as you'd expect. Great at close range/indoors (even triggering round corners), but outside is another matter - where my experience has been one of intermittent results.

And of course, having sync up to 1/8000 sec is great... so long as there is a consistant and reliable way to trigger it!

I smell some good deals on used PW's this summer :...

2008-03-26T08:50:00.000-04:00

I smell some good deals on used PW's this summer :)

I like the harmonica guy shot.Is it just me or doe...

2008-03-26T06:31:00.000-04:00

I like the harmonica guy shot.

Is it just me or does it look weird that the girl in the video is looking at my desktop speaker, just right of my monitor?

I've been following the progress of the RP's close...

2008-03-26T05:12:00.000-04:00

I've been following the progress of the RP's closely and I'm very impressed so far.

I was wondering, David, would you be able to do a brief FAQ on off camera lighting using ETTL and not manual control? I've learned to light off camera using my Nikon Speelites on manual mode and I feel that now the RP's are such hot news, I should really understand how ETTL is utilized off camera.

Cheers.

Adam.

Oh dear. First I bought CLS. Then Skyports and now...

2008-03-26T05:03:00.000-04:00

Oh dear. First I bought CLS. Then Skyports and now bitten the bullet for Pocket Wizards. Guess the card is going to get some more action for these babies!

I just placed my pre-order for them on the top sec...

2008-03-26T04:59:00.000-04:00

I just placed my pre-order for them on the top secret pre-order site! according to the email conformation, I am order #15 and I'm bubbling over with anticipation.

I'll be using it mostly on the manual setting, but being able to chimp the ratios without resetting the strobes is going to really improve my flow.

I'll post a review on my site nicephotomag.com as soon as I get them.

I bought 1 transmitter and 3 receivers, so I sure hope they're as good as they sound.

Classy write up. I just learned about these a few ...

2008-03-26T03:56:00.000-04:00

Classy write up. I just learned about these a few weeks ago and was sold. From seeing all the buzz and now this super nice steadycam video Im seeing this is really going to take off. I may staill prefer manual mode but the synch sppeds alone are plenty reason to get a set.

I think the RadioPopper is definitely going to set...

2008-03-26T02:52:00.000-04:00

I think the RadioPopper is definitely going to set the standard for portable flashes and finally something for Canon users like myself who wish they had the system Nikon has with CLS. Just my opinion

Sweet...Good bye poverty wizards, hello Radio Popp...

2008-03-26T02:20:00.001-04:00

Sweet...Good bye poverty wizards, hello Radio Poppers!

Hey Dave,Well, I've been introduced just recently ...

2008-03-26T02:20:00.000-04:00

Hey Dave,
Well, I've been introduced just recently to Strobist, and I have to say ... its COMPLETELY REVOLUTIONALIZED MY LIFE! Thanks a ton! Honestly, one of these days, I swear you're going to come out of the closet and admit that you invented sliced bread!

Anyways, I think I'm getting the hang of things around here now, and those Radio Poppers look pretty amazing.

My one big question of you is that, if you can now utilize high-sync flashes, would a change in shutter speed have an equal effect on both the ambiant and flash light? Haha, thats just throwing another wrench into a newbie's head.

Maybe, if you really want, you can address how this might change off camera lighting as we know it?! ... just curious!

Thanks again!

Justin

Sweet...Good bye poverty wizards...hello radio pop...

2008-03-26T02:19:00.000-04:00

Sweet...Good bye poverty wizards...hello radio popper!

everything looks good on radiopopper. i only see ...

2008-03-26T02:18:00.000-04:00

everything looks good on radiopopper. i only see one big flaw with it and that people have to be stuck using canon or nikon or what brand of camera they are using. so no vivitar and other cheap flashes. :/

Being on the starving student budget I am a little...

2008-03-26T01:49:00.000-04:00

Being on the starving student budget I am a little bit excited about these radio popper Jr. devices. It says on the site that they have a range of 2000+ feet and should cost somewhere around 25?!?! dollars. I payed more for my ebay flash trigger, and i have grown to hate its unreliability. I cant wait to see these babies!

I told Mike Fulton if he started using these thing...

2008-03-26T00:50:00.000-04:00

I told Mike Fulton if he started using these things then I would have to buy a set....I am looking forward to using hi speed sync!

Wonder why canon and nikon couldn't have done this?

Ah, I hope they are available in Canada soon!

2008-03-26T00:28:00.000-04:00

Ah, I hope they are available in Canada soon!