New off-camera flash concept on KickStarter

[HoppyUK]

Looks like a well thought out concept, but expensive ($950 for flash and transmitter set), no more powerful than a big speedlight, nothing to stop a Chinese clone coming out at a fraction of the cost.

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/radiostrobe/radiostrobe-the-worlds-first-off-camera-speedlight

 

[Cistron]

It is a cool concept. I was hoping someone would finally pick up the idea that flashlights don't have to be flashlight-shaped. Love the AC-adapter.

With a 1500uF and 360v capacitor lyteR-1 holds 28% to 100% more energy than hot-shoe speedlights.

It then seems they sacrifised power to recycling speed.

Now we'll have to wait until someone produces a similar product with a LiPo, ~4-500Ws and about 1-200 pops capacity.

 

[Phil V]

It's short of a bare bulb, and it's expensive for what it is. The Godox 360 is less 'revolutionary' as its flashgun shaped, but much more useful, and cheaper. The ETTL version when it arrives will be the best of both worlds.

 

[lostsoulal2]

Expensive as said above, but do like the tactile power sliders................... no obvious means of swivel/adjustment (need a ball head) and why the mix of AA/AAA batteries? But interesting nevertheless to see if they achieve their fund target.

Missed spotted the working range of these but assume it must be quite high, based on the choice of the 869 mhz frequency?

 

[HoppyUK]

For that kind of money, and assuming it works 100% as promised and 100% reliably, it really needs to be more than just a more convenient way of working. Those sliders are all very nice, but not much use when you need double or quadruple the power and fast flash durations. At the end of the day it's a speedlight in a different box with a massive price hike.

 

[Carlh]

It's short of a bare bulb, and it's expensive for what it is. The Godox 360 is less 'revolutionary' as its flashgun shaped, but much more useful, and cheaper. The ETTL version when it arrives will be the best of both worlds.

that looks a great alternative to a low power flashgun, something in my wishlist to remind me if the ettl version comes out, looks great for the price

 

[HoppyUK]

Some more good comments on Flash Havoc http://flashhavoc.com/radiostrobe-off-camera-speedlight-system/

TBH I can't see this one taking off, asking for $280k. I like the concept though (if it had twice the power, at quarter the cost).People will also be wary of the bad TriggerTrap experience on Kickstarter. That's a kinda similar project, that failed because nobody had a clue about turning a prototype into real production, or the difference between a bright idea and a business http://www.dpreview.com/articles/5900342515/triggertrap-pulls-plug-on-ada-kickstarter

 

[simonbarker]

Expensive as said above, but do like the tactile power sliders................... no obvious means of swivel/adjustment (need a ball head) and why the mix of AA/AAA batteries? But interesting nevertheless to see if they achieve their fund target.

I'd guess it's mixed because it's cobbled together from cheap Chinese bits and I do like the power sliders too but they don't seem practical as you tend to only make small adjustments once the setup's done so why would you need to waste that much space as if it were something you're constantly adjusting?

 

[Phil V]

I'd guess it's mixed because it's cobbled together from cheap Chinese bits and I do like the power sliders too but they don't seem practical as you tend to only make small adjustments once the setup's done so why would you need to waste that much space as if it were something you're constantly adjusting?

Yes.
In fact, as a comparison with the Canon rx system all it offers is a bit more power, at much more cost and with a clunkier interface. Money spent on the YN version of the Canon RX system makes this look hideously expensive and clunky.
It's not even really taking advantage of it's 'key' feature, it's not flashgun shaped, but how do you fit adaptors? It might fit great into the Godox S fit bracket, but then so does the Godox (Lencarta etc). In fact at $950 it's more expensive than the Cheetahstand 600, or the Adorama Rovelight 600, (or Lencarta Safari 2 or iLux summit in English money) all with more than twice the power and loads more versatility.

Once a flash is off camera you've slowed down enough to make ETTL / iTTL of limited use. Then the best thing about the ETTL / iTTL system is remote control. Now that all the larger portable systems have remote power control, flashguns are already 2nd best, this halfway house product is looking for a niche that might not really exist.