PocketWizard ControlTL System for Nikon DSLRs

Jan 14, 2011 – PRESS SUMMARY – PocketWizard announced its MiniTT1 Transmitter and FlexTT5 Transceiver for the Nikon DSLR camera system. Sales of the Nikon versions in the U.S. are expected to begin January 2011. Canon-compatible versions are available now.

Following months of intense development, PocketWizard is in the final testing stages of the highlyanticipated ControlTL™ system for Nikon products. Nikon DSLR photographers will soon enjoy the ease of TTL exposure automation with the simplicity PocketWizard’s ControlTL™ system, featuring the MiniTT1 Transmitter and FlexTT5 Transceiver. These new i-TTL capable radio slaves make taking offcamera flash as effortless as slide-in, turn-on and shoot.

Combining TTL automation with the reliability of PocketWizard radio technology results in perfect offcamera flash photography in any environment – around corners, out-of-sight and even outdoors in bright sunlight. The MiniTT1 Transmitter and FlexTT5 Transceiver can be used to control single or multiple off-camera Nikon i-TTL flash units at speeds up to 6/fps and faster. Thanks to upgradeable firmware, these units will remain current even as camera technology changes.

“Perfect for commercial, wedding, sports, fashion photography and so much more, PocketWizard’s wireless triggering systems make some of the most difficult lighting situations not only possible but amazingly easy,” said Dave Schmidt, Director of Marketing, PocketWizard. “Nikon makes a really great flash system. When photographers add the MiniTT1 and FlexTT5 to their existing arsenal of equipment, the photographic possibilities are endless.”

The Nikon-system PocketWizard MiniTT1 Transmitter is a tiny, low-profile unit (2.8 x 1.9 x 1.3 inches) that slides into the camera’s hot shoe. The FlexTT5 Transceiver is also low-profile but slightly larger (3.6 x 2.9 x 1.4 in.) transceiver. Both take the complex TTL exposure data being sent through the camera’s hot shoe and digitally transmit it as a reliable radio signal.

These new PocketWizard radios can be used to trigger an endless combination of TTL or manual flash units placed wherever desired to illuminate a scene. Nikon flash units slide into the shoe of a dedicated FlexTT5 Transceiver for TTL operation; there are no wires or connecting cables required. Any change in ISO, aperture and shutter speed is automatically adjusted for. The full range of Nikon flash control is efficiently passed along giving the photographer convenient on-camera control of their remote dedicated flashes. The units are also compatible with any PocketWizard radio permitting simultaneous triggering of manual flash, remote cameras or mixing TTL flash with manual flash if desired.

For typical TTL operation, the MiniTT1 and FlexTT5 require no buttons to be pressed or settings to change other than the camera’s shutter speed – to provide FP (High Speed) flash sync all the way to an unprecedented 1/8000th second. This allows using flash with wide-open apertures (for shallow depth-offield), and outdoors in bright, outdoor sunlight resulting in some amazing new images. ControlTL technology also enables some previously impossible camera capabilities including HyperSync™ for flash synchronization above the camera’s x-sync with full-power manual and studio-type flash units.

Both new PocketWizard units have a two-position channel switch that can be programmed via a computer (using the supplied USB cable) or set in the field with a built-in “Learn” mode via another PocketWizard radio. The system features 20 ControlTL channels as well as all of PocketWizard’s 32 discreet channels for traditional triggering. By plugging a Mini or Flex unit into a computer with the PocketWizard utility software loaded, photographers can configure channel, HyperSync timing, sleep timers and more or they can simply update the unit’s firmware with push-button ease.

The new PocketWizard MiniTT1 and FlexTT5 radios offer more capability than any radio triggering units marketed. As digital technology advances, more capabilities will be added to the system, essentially offering “future proof” technology that adds even more value to this remarkable system.

Accessories available soon for these new PocketWizard units include the Nikon-compatible PocketWizard AC3 ZoneController, which allows the user to control three zones (A,B,C) of Nikon flashes or groups of flash units mounted on Flex TT5 transceivers in either automatic-exposure or manual control. Also available is the PowerST4 radio receiver that plugs into an Elinchrom RX flash units and controls power level, modeling light functions when used with a Mini or Flex or can be used as a standard receiver for regular PocketWizard units. Similarly, the new AC9 AlienBees Adapter slides into the shoe of the Flex TT5 to interface with AlienBees flash units. Both work with the AC3 for even more control and versatility.

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Trevor Current

Founder of Current Photographer, co-host of The Digital Photography Cafe Show, Designer, Photographer, and overall tech geek.

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