for off-camera flash. Features include the ability to use on- or off-camera flash with full TTL control, variable TTL ratios for multi-flash setups, and fast flash synchronization up to 1/500 second. A USB connection will allow for more advanced settings and control via a computer and future firmware updates. Pricing to be announced, but the units will be available in March.
For details, read the PocketWizard press release:
PocketWizard® Goes TTL and Beyond
Elmsford, NY – February 16, 2009 – Professional photographers have depended on PocketWizard radio slaves for reliable triggering of their manual flashes for years. But, with the advent of digital technology, photographers have been seeking a simpler solution for off-camera TTL flash. The available products and solutions have been good, but not without limitations or complexity. PocketWizard has made it possible with the “slide-n-shoot” simplicity of the new ControlTL™ system, featuring the MiniTT1™ Transmitter and FlexTT5™ Transceiver for Canon and Nikon. These new E-TTL and i-TTL capable radio slaves make taking off-camera flash as effortless as slide-in, turn-on and shoot.
Now you can get perfect off-camera flash photos in any environment — around corners, out-of-sight and in bright sun. Canon and Nikon users can use the new MiniTT1 Transmitter and FlexTT5 Transceiver to control single or multiple off-camera Canon E-TTL or Nikon i-TTL flashes at speeds up to 8/fps. The new units are compatible with any PocketWizard for triggering manual flash or remote cameras.
The MiniTT1 Transmitter is a tiny, low-profile unit (2.8 x 1.95 x 1.28”) that slides into the camera’s hot shoe. The FlexTT5 Transceiver is also low-profile but slightly larger (3.6 x 2.8 x 1.41”) transceiver. Both take complex TTL data being sent through the camera’s hot shoe and digitally transmits it in a reliable radio signal. The photographer can now place TTL (or manual) flash units anywhere to illuminate the scene: behind walls, under tables, on stands – anywhere out of sight. Each flash unit is connected to a dedicated FlexTT5 Transceiver for TTL operation%3B there are no wires or connecting cables required. Any change in ISO means the aperture and shutter speed is automatically adjusted. Any change of flash exposure compensation is also passed along. You can also mix your TTL flash with manual studio flash if desired.
These products are the beginning of a new era in PocketWizard technology featuring the ControlTL software platform. Designed for the latest in digital cameras, ControlTL enables some previously impossible camera capabilities including HyperSync™. HyperSync enables photographers to achieve standard sync speeds up to 1/500 second. This application allows wedding photographers to use wide-open apertures, outdoors in bright sunlight, with full-power flash.
Need more speed? Push beyond 1/500th and go into FP/High-Speed sync mode automatically. No buttons to press or settings to change other then your shutter speed will give you flash sync all the way to 1/8000th.
Both units have a two-position channel switch with “Learn” mode that can be programmed either by computer or with another PocketWizard radio to any of the PocketWizard radio system’s 32-digitally encoded channels and zones. It also works with Canon and Nikon’s three zone capabilities including ratios. Plug a Mini or Flex unit into a computer with the PocketWizard utility software loaded and you can configure channel and zone settings, HyperSync timing, sleep timers and more or just update the unit’s firmware with the push of a button. Many upgrades are planned and as digital technology advances, more capabilities will be added to the system, essentially offering “future proof” technology.
Versions for Canon available March 1, Nikon Q2, 2009. PocketWizard products, including the Plus II, MultiMax, MiniTT1 and FlexTT5 are made , based in South Burlington, Vermont and sold by distributors around the world including the MAC Group in the USA.
