PW v CLS

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awp

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Pocket Wizards V Nikon CLS - pros and cons?
 
CLS isn't brilliant in bright sun either . . .
how big a hassle is it working in manual v CLS?
 
awp said:
CLS isn't brilliant in bright sun either . . .
how big a hassle is it working in manual v CLS?
Click to expand...

Depends how you feel about having to walk over to your lights and adjust them. That said bright sunlight isn't really much of an issue in Scotland, so :shrug:
 
Depends on what you're doing really... I like the 'run and gun-ness' of CLS, and not having to raise / lower light stands is really great...the two systems are also pretty comparable pricing (sb26 + pw or sb800)...but ultimately the solution will probably be both I'm afraid :( The CLS route obviously also means they can be used on camera too...

Downsides of cls is only 2 'levels' of adjustment, or 3 if using the su800, and the obvious limitations of an optical-based system, though I haven't ever had any real problems - when using voice activated light stands, just make sure to point out the window that needs to stay clear and pointed at you! I'd imagine that going mcnally style with a commander unit on the end of a TTL cable will let you get them into a position where they'll work 99.9% of the time.

Another benefit of pws is that they're instant firing, so no preflashes like you have with CLS, so they're better for sports and action stuff in that respect, and as long as you're firing at low powers, you can keep up a decent fps.
 
well I've had some triggering problems recently outdoors in Scotland - also if I had pw's I could trigger my studio flash from my meter.......just wondering what the down sides are?
 
main downside of the pw's is the cost sadly... :(

you considered skyports or some of the similar branded ones? Not quite the range of pw's, and no programmable unique code that press photogs need, but unless you're trying to trigger remote cameras at both ends of a football pitch with one, or some reaaally crazy lighting, shouldnt be an issue...
 
I have a sekonic 758DR - which has a built in PW - so can trigger them - really handy in a studio set up - ??????????
 
hmm, yeah, I could see that being pretty useful - though sell the pw module out of it and you'd be able to buy an extra skyport transmitter for the same money, and it'd let you use £75 rx's instead of £135 from hong kong, or £180 uk ones... all depends how many lights / reciever units you need to have really - if you're just getting the two pws (1tx, 1 rx, theyre probably the better bet... a load of rx's and tx's and you might be better off considering something else)
 
758-DR already has the PW module...nothing is simple eh?

I'm going to sleep on it. thanks
 
Just a thought, if you do decide to go down the PW route make sure it is from the same region as your lightmeter, US PWs won't trigger off a UK-spec 758-DR and vice versa
 
anyone else any comments - there are some PWs on eBay ending tonight I'm tempted by - but still can't decide the route to go - stick with CLS or go radio?
 
awp said:
anyone else any comments - there are some PWs on eBay ending tonight I'm tempted by - but still can't decide the route to go - stick with CLS or go radio?
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Both. I still use both and will most likely continue to use both.
If there's a safe deal on some PW's, go for it :D
 
just to throw another spanner in the works, pw should soon be bringing out their nikon version of the flex mini, which transmits ttl information - theyre backwards compatible though, so buying old pws wont be a futile expense :)
 
I know about the TTL version - but then the Canon version is not going smoothly by all accounts. Thomas - you might have just persuaded me to part with £400 - for 4 units!
 
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