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I can not state for sure just yet but I believe so if the zone is set to M on the SU-800. I will be getting my Einstein units shortly and will answer for sure after I test.
The AC3 can be used to adjust the power settings in manual or use power tracking in auto mode.
Otherwise the instructions state you can use FEC directly on camera to adjust power levels.
Since the SU-800 can be a commander for ControlTL and the PowwerMC4 will work with ControlTL it seem very likely that it will.
Looking forward to finding out since my AC3 is at Mac Group for service.
Originally posted 10 months ago.
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joshuadlynn edited this topic 10 months ago.
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Crazy question indeed. The answer is an obvious no. :)
Alien Bees are... Alien Bees and they do not understand the Nikon protocols... 2 totally different languages.
Want on camera control? Use an AC3 and the proper trigger made for the Einstein by PW. ;-)
Posted 10 months ago.
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When there's plans to use cross platform speedlights/speedlites with Nikon/Canon then integrating other remote flashes which PW control into the mix isn't that far fetched. All an SU-800 will do is provide output level information in the form of 1/1, 1/2, 1.... etc - so why not?
Posted 10 months ago.
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Because an Alien Bee flash won't understand the preflashes of a Nikon.
Right now it doesn't do it. WIll it in the future? Your guess is as good as mine, but let's talk marketing for a moment... if you were PW, would you integrate this functionality into the flex, or would you prefer that people purchase the AC3 and the proper PW receiver for that flash? ;-)
Posted 10 months ago.
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Hey guys, I've been very politely corrected by the good people at PW about something...
It seems that indeed you can control a remote Einsteins with MC2s, AlienBees with AC9s, and Elinchrom's with ST4s, and all should respond to manual power level changes made on an SU-800.
(and you guys thought PW is'nt watching.. LOL)
So, apologies for the misinformation, I was dead wrong about this one.
A small link to help people out:
www.pocketwizard.com/inspirations/tutorials/su800/
Originally posted 10 months ago.
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Jerry P.H. edited this topic 10 months ago.
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'...The answer is an obvious no'
LOL !!
Posted 10 months ago.
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What a nice disposition you have.
I encourage you to keep it up, at least the people here see the real ass in you coming out all nice and clear.
Posted 10 months ago.
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Wow just checked back at this thanks everyone for the answers. I was watching the mark wallace pocektwizard vids and thought it would be cool if it were possible. thanks
Posted 10 months ago.
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What a nice disposition you have.
I encourage you to keep it up, at least the people here see the real ass in you coming out all nice and clear.
I only keep coming back here for the entertainment value you provide.
The problem is - you don't see it yourself, (you don't see lots of things yourself) and worse, you even believe your own BS.
(and you guys thought PW is'nt watching.. LOL)
Good job they are eh? Otherwise that would be another load of misinformation peddled.
Posted 10 months ago.
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Well, you obviously are not coming back here to help anyone because nothing you write has much value but you do come here often.
And if this is your only form of entertainment, you truly must be some sad old and bitter man sitting all alone somewhere with no one to love or who loves you to be the way you are.
One truly sad excuse for a human being. I feel sorry for you.
I feel it better to just ignore your posts from now on. Have a nice day, and I hope your life improves for you... but for some reason, I doubt it.
Originally posted 10 months ago.
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Jerry P.H. edited this topic 10 months ago.
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Your assumptive insults are as wildly guessed as your misinterpreted test results. Neither are surprising and none have any bearing on reality.
Posted 10 months ago.
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Real live test data.
The SU800 does a fine job of controlling an Einstein 640 when used with a PW MiniTT1 and the PowerMC2 adapter.
As expected there is no TTL or iTTL support. When the Zone is in TTL or AA the remote Einstein will fire in sync with whatever power setting is on the back of the flash head.
When in Manual the power tracks from 1/1, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8 in whole stop increments down to 1/128. There is no way to get it to go down to 1/256, which is supported by the Einstein 640. There also seemed to be no support for the fractional 1/10th stop increments that the flash supports.
Interestingly the power adjust in near real time with the adjustments on the back of the SU-800. The lag is very short, as in less then a second.
One or two times a test shot was needed to sync it up for power. Otherwise performance was rock solid.
The test was done on different zones, which are easily adjusted on the back of the Einstein.
The last item of note was that when the zone's mode on the SU-800 was disabled the Einstein dimmed the modeling light to it's lowest level and dumped power down to 1/256 and did not fire, as expected since the zone was disabled. It was neat to see the remote unit just behave all on it's own from the wireless sync.
Overall very pleased that the Einstein unit can integrate with the PW ControlTL system.
I have not tried with the AC3 yet as mine is out for service. Just waiting on UPS since the Mac Group ships with signature in person required.
The expectation is that the Einstein will be controlled from 1/1 to 1/64 in 1/3 stop increments since that is what the range of the AC3 is from +3 to -3.
So far I'm pleased with the Einstein units and the PW integration. I will say that the PCB CyberCommander is also very, very, very cool. The built in meter and the full control to the 1/10th of a stop plus lots of zones and groups. It is an impressive setup. I can see using the PW integration when the Einsteins are used for ambient and fill that does not need to be TTL. And the CyberComander system for more studio like conditions.
Next to test will be using the two systems together since the CyberComander system can be triggered via PC port of the camera or on the hot shoe of the camera or MiniTT1. It may even work on a remote FlexTT5 relay style. That way I could use something in the MiniTT1 for 3 zone control plus the Einsteins via the CyberCommander for more direct control of the remote units.
Originally posted 10 months ago.
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joshuadlynn edited this topic 10 months ago.
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thanks for the info Joshuadlynn
Posted 10 months ago.
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Another thing that you should be able to do once your AC3 arrives, is mix and match iTTL and manual controls in different zones.
Meaning if you use the Einsteins as back or side lights, those could be in manual control and use the other 1 or 2 groups in TTL (or any variation thereof) using speedlights.
I am not a huge proponent of TTL, but it most definitely has it's place in the toolbox and is just nice to have when you need it.
Not that I don't enjoy the exercise (lol), but I am now more than glad that I don't have to walk across a room, drop a speedlight down from 10-13 feet, make a small adjustment, raise it up and walk back to where I was. In fluid situations, by the time you get to the stand and take it down, you've missed the moment!
Originally posted 10 months ago.
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Jerry P.H. edited this topic 10 months ago.
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The AC-3 is finally back from service and I was able to test the D700 with MiniTT1 and AC-3 controlling SB-900 & SB-800 and Einstein 640 using the PowerST4.
Short answer is it all works as expected. (Jerry P.H.: The TTL on the other zones worked just fine as anticipated. I had always intended to use the setup this way.)
The only odd behavior with the Einsteins is that on occasion the modeling lamp would not track. Usually this was coming from me powering down the camera or it going to sleep. The Einstein just stayed where it was last. Neither test firing via button nor shutter release seemed to get things back on track and had no impact on resetting the modeling light to track with the power. However, using the FEC dial on the AC-3 for the zone of the Einstein by rocking it to a different value and then back to where it started immediately put the modeling light and power settings exactly where expected. With the AC-3 this is a very fast and easy operation so I won't complain.
The AC3 in M for the zone mode did bring the power level down in 1/3 stop increments from full power at +3 to 1/64 at -3. Couldn't be easier to use. Switching the zone off immediately dumped the power to the lowest setting and dimmed the modeling lamp.
When the zone mode on the AC-3 was set to A the power tracking thing of the PW kicked in. I definitely need to read up on the options and how it works. But I could see the level tracking as I adjusted the ISO and the aperture. I can see this feature as useful and potentially frustrating at the same time. Obviously if your bracketing this would not necessarily be your first choice but it is easy enough to switch modes on the AC-3 so I'm not worried.
I suspect power tracking would also work with the SU-800 when in AA mode but I haven't tested yet.
Having the AC-3 replaced has made a huge difference in the PW issues I was having. I popped off about 100 shots tonight with different configurations and had no significant problems. There was one time one of the zones didn't sync and two shots where a zone was overexposed when it had been fine before. All issues seem to be tied to timeouts on the camera and or flash.
Still I'm very pleased. I'm looking forward to using the AC3 to control zones off and on plus power level as I move around. I still maintain the AC3 is the part you buy and the rest are accessories. Now that I can remotely control two 640ws units plus the TTL of the speedlights all at the same time I'm just really excited to shoot an event.
Originally posted 10 months ago.
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joshuadlynn edited this topic 10 months ago.
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Whoo-hoo! Glad to see you are liking the results.
You mentioned something that I did not know and that is cool... that when you turn the zone off, it dumps the cap and turns off the modeling light. The flash dump is something that is supposed to happen, but the lighting turning off is a neat addition.
Now, I wonder if PW will ever consider making one for the Photogenic heads? I'd love to get that (they also have wireless IR control capability from the factory).
I did mention that the AC3 resolved a few issues over when using the SU-800, but I think that if you are at the point of owning the ControlTL setup, that extra 80 bucks makes no big difference and getting an AC3 makes things so much smoother.
For example, in a very short time, you will be able to control your zones completely without taking your eye off the camera eye-piece and also do it faster than you could via the SU-800. In event photography, that's just another edge to help you get the shot and not miss the moment while changing settings.
Good stuff!
Originally posted 10 months ago.
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Jerry P.H. edited this topic 10 months ago.
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Posted review of first real shoot with Einstein 640.
www.flickr.com/groups/strobist/discuss/72157627334698515/
Didn't use the PW gear for this shoot so a bit off topic but a there is information about my experience with the CyberSync system for comparison. I have used both PCB CyberSync and PW MinitTT1/FlexxTT5+AC3. I like them both and plan on keeping them both. I plan on using them together too since the CyberSync can be triggered vi PC connection.
Originally posted 10 months ago.
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joshuadlynn edited this topic 10 months ago.
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