Remote Camera Triggering - Revision history

Heathers: /* Triggering a Remote Camera from a Handheld Camera */ mentioned 2 cables earlier

2025-08-04T02:07:27Z

‎Triggering a Remote Camera from a Handheld Camera: mentioned 2 cables earlier

Heathers: /* Basic Remote Camera Setup */

2025-06-05T02:57:47Z

‎Basic Remote Camera Setup

Heathers: /* Triggering a Remote Camera from a Handheld Camera */ added step by step

2025-06-05T02:57:04Z

‎Triggering a Remote Camera from a Handheld Camera: added step by step

Heathers: /* Remote Camera Cables */ added section about Sony cables

2025-04-09T19:55:29Z

‎Remote Camera Cables: added section about Sony cables

Heathers: /* Remote Camera Cables */ added 13377 cables

2024-06-03T02:35:45Z

‎Remote Camera Cables: added 13377 cables

Heathers: /* Triggering a Remote Camera from a Handheld Camera */ added line in first paragraph about handheld radio/cable

2024-03-25T21:08:20Z

‎Triggering a Remote Camera from a Handheld Camera: added line in first paragraph about handheld radio/cable

Heathers: /* Remote Camera Cables */ added note about MM pre trigger and suggesting 2 cables for mirrorless

2024-02-23T15:55:15Z

‎Remote Camera Cables: added note about MM pre trigger and suggesting 2 cables for mirrorless

Heathers: /* Important Notes */ added recommendation about BTM

2024-02-23T15:52:02Z

‎Important Notes: added recommendation about BTM

Heathers: /* Triggering a Remote Camera from a Handheld Camera */ fixed link

2024-01-31T22:06:09Z

‎Triggering a Remote Camera from a Handheld Camera: fixed link

Heathers: /* Triggering a Remote Camera from a Handheld Camera */ added the games link to top paragraph

2024-01-31T22:05:40Z

‎Triggering a Remote Camera from a Handheld Camera: added the games link to top paragraph

@@ Line 27: / Line 27: @@
 # Set the transmitting radio and the receiving radio on your camera to the same [[Channels|Channel]] and Zone (if applicable).
 # Attach the [https://pocketwizard.com/cable-finder/ remote camera cable] to your camera's remote port and the sync port on the camera's receiving radio.
-# Attach the transmitting radio to your camera's hot shoe. For best results, connect a remote camera cable to your camera's remote port and the sync port on the transmitting radio.
+# Attach the transmitting radio to your camera's hot shoe. The hot shoe must be active for this setup. For best results, connect a remote camera cable to your camera's remote port and the sync port on the transmitting radio.
 # Turn on your equipment top to bottom (radio, then camera)
 # Take a photo with the camera in your hand to trigger the remote camera at the same time.
@@ Line 34: / Line 34: @@
 *Always make sure you have the most recent firmware in your radio.
 *Use the PTMM adapter. This adapter connects to your remote camera cable and has a switch on it. When you turn the switch "on", it will pre trigger your remote camera and keep it in a pre triggered state, as though you were constantly half pressing the shutter button. Note: It will use more battery power than usual, as your camera is kept constantly awake.
-*Use a cable on BOTH the handheld and remote camera. With this setup, if you are using Plus III radios, when you half press the shutter button of the camera in your hand, it will send a half press signal to the remote camera at the same time. This will pre trigger the camera so it responds faster when you take the photo. With any other radio, it will ensure that a signal is sent out to the remote radio. The half press function is only available on Quad Zone Triggering Channels. (Channels 17-32 with Legacy firmware, Channels 1-32 with E Release firmware)
+*Use a cable on BOTH the handheld and remote camera. This is the best way to get a consistent trigger and in some cases, you must use this as the hot shoe on the handheld camera may be disabled.
 ===Important Notes===

@@ Line 6: / Line 6: @@
 ==Basic Remote Camera Setup==
-# Set the transmitting radios and the receiving radio on your camera to the same [[Channels|Channel]] and Zone (if applicable).
+# Set the transmitting radio and the receiving radio on your camera to the same [[Channels|Channel]] and Zone (if applicable).
 # Attach the [https://pocketwizard.com/cable-finder/ remote camera cable] to your camera's remote port and the sync port on the camera's receiving radio.
 # Turn on your equipment top to bottom (radio, then camera)

@@ Line 24: / Line 24: @@
 ==Triggering a Remote Camera from a Handheld Camera==
 The setup is very similar to the Basic Remote Camera setup but there are a couple important differences. When you are triggering from a handheld PocketWizard to a remote camera, the radio will send hundreds of packets of triggers through the air. When you have a PocketWizard in the hot shoe of your handheld camera, the camera thinks the radio is a flash. That means it won't send a signal until the handheld camera's shutter is tripped. It then sends a very quick pop (because the camera thinks it only needs to pop a flash) to the radio in its hot shoe. Because the radio is getting a very short signal, it only has enough time to send out one or two trigger packets. If the remote camera is not completely ready when its radio gets the trigger, it may not fire because it is still checking the settings and will miss the packet. Adding a remote camera cable to your transmitting radio and handheld camera usually solves this issue. This is just a quick overview but there are many more helpful tips about this setup on the [[PocketWizard_Games#The_Essentials_of_Remote_Camera_Triggering_-_Tips_from_Shawn|PocketWizard Games]] Wiki page.
 ===Best Practices===

@@ Line 68: / Line 68: @@
 ==Remote Camera Cables==
-To trigger a remote camera, you will need the correct remote camera cable for your camera. A remote camera cable has a stereo 3.5mm (1/8") connection for the PocketWizard and the other end is specific to the camera's remote port connection.
+To trigger a remote camera, you will need at least one remote camera cable for your camera. A remote camera cable has a stereo 3.5mm (1/8") connection for the PocketWizard and the other end is specific to the camera's remote port connection.
 The most common cables are:
-*'''Canon CM-E3-ACC:''' this cable has a 2.5mm connection. It fits Canon cameras with the E3 connection. It also usually works with most other cameras that have a 2.5mm connection, such as Fuji or Olympus, or with any flashes with a 2.5mm sync port. (Note: the Panasonic cameras will not work with this cable. You would need to use the PANA-ACC cable.)
+*'''Canon CM-E3-ACC:''' this cable has a 2.5mm connection. It fits Canon cameras with the E3 connection. It also usually works with most other cameras that have a 2.5mm connection, such as Fuji or Olympus, or with any flashes with a 2.5mm sync port. (Note: the Panasonic cameras will not work with this cable. You would need to use the PAN-ACC cable.)
 *'''Canon CM-N3-ACC:''' this cable has a 3 prong connection. It fits Canon cameras with the N3 connection.
 *'''Nikon N-MCDC2-ACC:''' this cable has a rectangular 4 pin connection. It fits Nikon cameras with the MCDC2 connection.
 *'''Nikon N10-ACC:''' this cable has the Nikon 10 pin connection. It fits Nikon cameras with the MC30/10 pin connection.
-*'''S-VPR1-ACC:''' this cable has the Sony micro connection. It fits Sony cameras with the VPR1 / micro USB connection. Use with Plus III, Plus IV, and through the bottom -ACC port of MultiMAX radios.
+*'''S-VPR1-ACC:''' this cable has the Sony micro connection. It fits Sony cameras with the VPR1 / micro USB connection. Use with Plus III, Plus IV, and through the bottom -ACC port of MultiMAX radios. See IMPORTANT NOTES section below if you plan to trigger a remote camera from a handheld camera.
-*'''13377-S:''' this cable is the same as the S-VPR1-ACC but wired differently inside. Use this cable with PlusX radios or through the top port of MultiMAX radios.
+*'''13377-S:''' this cable is the same as the S-VPR1-ACC but wired differently inside. Use this cable with a remote PlusX radios or through the top port of MultiMAX radios. See IMPORTANT NOTES section below if you plan to trigger a remote camera from a handheld camera.
 These cables are all stereo cables and are capable of pre triggering the camera from the test button if you are using a Plus IIIe radios, or by enabling or disabling a Zone if you are using MultiMAX radios. The half press function is only available on Quad Zone Triggering Channels. (Channels 17-32 with Legacy firmware, Channels 1-32 with E Release firmware) MultiMAX radios with -ACC ports are also capable of pre triggering by activating Zones.
@@ Line 83: / Line 83: @@
 '''IMPORTANT NOTES:'''
 *As noted above, if you are triggering a remote camera while shooting from a handheld camera with a PocketWizard in the hot shoe, we suggest using cables on both cameras for best results. For most mirrorless cameras, you MUST use a cable on the handheld camera and transmitting radio, as the camera's hot shoe might be disabled.
 *If you are using MiniTT1, FlexTT5, and/or FlexTT6 radios for remote camera triggering, we strongly suggest using Basic Trigger mode for best results.

@@ Line 75: / Line 75: @@
 *'''Nikon N-MCDC2-ACC:''' this cable has a rectangular 4 pin connection. It fits Nikon cameras with the MCDC2 connection.
 *'''Nikon N10-ACC:''' this cable has the Nikon 10 pin connection. It fits Nikon cameras with the MC30/10 pin connection.
-*'''S-VPR1-ACC:''' this cable has the Sony micro connection. It fits Sony cameras with the VPR1 / micro USB connection.
+*'''S-VPR1-ACC:''' this cable has the Sony micro connection. It fits Sony cameras with the VPR1 / micro USB connection. Use with Plus III, Plus IV, and through the bottom -ACC port of MultiMAX radios.
 These cables are all stereo cables and are capable of pre triggering the camera from the test button if you are using a Plus IIIe radios, or by enabling or disabling a Zone if you are using MultiMAX radios. The half press function is only available on Quad Zone Triggering Channels. (Channels 17-32 with Legacy firmware, Channels 1-32 with E Release firmware) MultiMAX radios with -ACC ports are also capable of pre triggering by activating Zones.

@@ Line 20: / Line 20: @@
 *When using a MiniTT1/FlexTT5/FlexTT6 remote camera setup using default radio settings, a remote camera can only be triggered in single shot mode and there will be a delay between shots. When the camera's meter is "awake" and the internal LED is active, the receiving radio cannot listen for an incoming signal. For Canon cameras, the delay is typically 2-3 seconds before the meter sleeps. For Nikon cameras, you can adjust the length of the delay by going into the custom menu settings and changing the setting. It's called Auto Meter Off or Standby and the shortest delay is 4 seconds.
-Continuous triggering with ControlTL radios is possible if the FlexTT5 / FlexTT6 attached to the camera has either Disable Shoe Communications or [[Misc_Tab#Basic_Trigger|Basic Trigger Mode]] set via the [[PocketWizard Utility]].
+Continuous triggering with ControlTL radios is possible if the FlexTT5 / FlexTT6 attached to the camera has either Disable Shoe Communications or [[Misc_Tab#Basic_Trigger|Basic Trigger Mode]] set via the [[PocketWizard Utility]]. Basic Trigger mode is the recommended setup for remote camera triggering with ControlTL radios. With this setting, the radios only need to send a simple "fire now!" signal, instead of having to send information about power levels and sync speed, which you don't need with a remote camera.
 ==Triggering a Remote Camera from a Handheld Camera==

@@ Line 23: / Line 23: @@
 ==Triggering a Remote Camera from a Handheld Camera==
-The setup is very similar to the Basic Remote Camera setup but there are a couple important differences. When you are triggering from a handheld PocketWizard to a remote camera, the radio will send hundreds of packets of triggers through the air. When you have a PocketWizard in the hot shoe of your handheld camera, the camera thinks the radio is a flash. That means it won't send a signal until the handheld camera's shutter is tripped. It then sends a very quick pop (because the camera thinks it only needs to pop a flash) to the radio in its hot shoe. Because the radio is getting a very short signal, it only has enough time to send out one or two trigger packets. If the remote camera is not completely ready when its radio gets the trigger, it may not fire because it is still checking the settings and will miss the packet. This is just a quick overview but there are many more helpful tips about this setup on the PocketWizard Games Wiki page.
+The setup is very similar to the Basic Remote Camera setup but there are a couple important differences. When you are triggering from a handheld PocketWizard to a remote camera, the radio will send hundreds of packets of triggers through the air. When you have a PocketWizard in the hot shoe of your handheld camera, the camera thinks the radio is a flash. That means it won't send a signal until the handheld camera's shutter is tripped. It then sends a very quick pop (because the camera thinks it only needs to pop a flash) to the radio in its hot shoe. Because the radio is getting a very short signal, it only has enough time to send out one or two trigger packets. If the remote camera is not completely ready when its radio gets the trigger, it may not fire because it is still checking the settings and will miss the packet. This is just a quick overview but there are many more helpful tips about this setup on the [[PocketWizard_Games#The_Essentials_of_Remote_Camera_Triggering_-_Tips_from_Shawn|PocketWizard Games]] Wiki page.
 ===Best Practices===