Page 74 - NyghtVision Magazine Volume 3 #2

PRODUCT REVIEW

case with dual zippers and a
velcro strap on the back. Also
included: a variety of cables
for attaching the transmitter
or receiver to a camera body,
strobe, or flash. Even an ad-
equate stand for a flash is in-
cluded. Impressive, since the
one that comes with our Can-
on 580 EX IIs is rather small.
Additionally, there is a wrist
strap attached to each trans-
mitter and receiver.
The units are larger than
PIXEL KING RX: they fail to perform, or when some others, but they use AA
WIRELESS they have a short life span, we batteries—a welcome depar-
FLASH TRIGGER aren’t happy. ture from the more expensive

At PhotoPlus Expo last Oc- batteries that always seem to
REMOTE transmitter/receivers tober, Jeff Karp (Global Dis- fail when we are as far from a
have long been a source of tribution Director for Sirui store as we could possibly be.
pain—especially for me since Tripods and North American We always have extra AA bat-
I am most likely to work in distribution manager of the teries with us. There is a USB
locations where strobes just Pixel King product line) asked port on the side of each unit so
aren’t practical. Over the JD and me if we had seen the that a firmware update can be
past five years, we’ve used a new King series from Pixel. done from the field.
number of brands and each We had, and yes, the technol- The layout of the controls is
time, we have been disap- ogy did look impressive. How- logical and easy to navigate. I
pointed. Some units don’t ever, we have seen our share suppose if you wanted to, you
provide enough coverage, re- of impressive technology that could read the manual but,
quiring that the transmitter hasn’t worked in the field. honestly, the design is so intu-
and receivers be close to each Even so, when Jeff called and itive it’s not really necessary.
other. Others are susceptible asked if we would be open to
to noise and misfire, or don’t testing the product, we decid- This product's numerous fea-
fire at all. And with many, if I ed to give it a try. tures include:
move just a foot or two, sync is There is much that is differ-
lost, and if I don’t catch it, the ent about this series. For one, ❶ Supports Canon E-TTL
next image is horribly under- the packaging makes sense. and E-TTL II.
exposed. You can purchase a transmit- ❶ Up to three different
We also take issue with the ter-receiver combination, or, groups and seven combina-
placement of the on/off switch- a single receiver. Regardless tions on the flash transceiver.
es, or find that the quality of the of which one you purchase, ❶ When using the EOS EX
unit can’t withstand the punish- you get everything you need II series flash, you can select
ment of life on the road. These (except batteries) and it all fits different settings on each dif-
are expensive devices so, when into a well-designed carrying ferent group.

74 | pixel king rx review