Difference between revisions of "AC7 RF Hard Shield"

From PocketWizard Wiki
Jump to: navigation, search
 
(7 intermediate revisions by 3 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{recommended reading |Long Range Performance|}}
+
{| style="float: right;" border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2"
With two ¼-20 mounting points, the AC7 can be mounted both vertically and horizontally on light stands, clamps, brackets or simply handheld.  The back of the flash remains open for complete access to the LCD and flash controls and there is access to the remote power port.  The flash head can be rotated when using the AC7 shield due to a small cut-away in the side of the shield.
+
|align="center" | '''Next recommended reading: [[Long Range Performance]] or [[AC5 RF Soft Shield]]'''
 +
|}
  
{{ Annotated image |float=right| caption=AC7 Hard Shield.
+
With two ¼-20 mounting points, the AC7 can be mounted both vertically and horizontally on light stands, clamps, brackets or simply handheld.  The back of the flash remains open for complete access to the LCD and flash controls and there is access to the remote power port.  The flash head can be rotated when using the AC7 shield due to a small cut-away in the side of the shield.  If you will be using an external battery pack, you will also need the [[AC57 Power Adapter]].
 +
 
 +
{{ Annotated image |float=right| caption=AC7 Hard Shield
 
| image=AC7.jpg
 
| image=AC7.jpg
 
| image-width=350}}
 
| image-width=350}}
 +
 
When used with an umbrella, the AC7’s lay-flat design places the flash more in the center of the umbrella than usual and produces a symmetrical light shape for incredibly even light dispersion.  Most of the popular diffusers, grids, snoots and reflectors can still be used with the AC7 shield in place.
 
When used with an umbrella, the AC7’s lay-flat design places the flash more in the center of the umbrella than usual and produces a symmetrical light shape for incredibly even light dispersion.  Most of the popular diffusers, grids, snoots and reflectors can still be used with the AC7 shield in place.
  
  
  
 +
==RF Interference==
  
 +
The body of the AC7 shield is made with a material that effectively blocks RF interference (EMI) from clouding the FlexTT5 antenna.  To block noise traveling through  connections in the hot shoe, an electronic filter has been added to a hot shoe built into the AC7.  Combined, the AC7 shield allows the FlexTT5 to receive transmissions at distances 300 to 500% farther than before and well within the range of most off-camera lighting needs.
  
 +
For photographers who want to take advantage of the unique capabilities of the MiniTT1 and FlexTT5 Radios when using the Canon 580EX, 580EX II and 430EX flashes, the AC7 shield provides a solution for working ranges that meet or exceed those typical of off-camera flash photography.  Other Canon flashes, including the 600EX-RT, emit relatively low EMI and work well with the FlexTT5 without shielding.  PocketWizard is committed to exploring other solutions to maximize the performance of the ControlTL system.
  
 +
The AC7 RF Shield is available via PocketWizard dealers world wide.  Please contact your local retailer for availability.
  
  
  
 +
==Change in AC7 Coating==
  
 +
We recently changed the conductive coating on the inside of the AC7. This was to help with manufacturing - the grey coating was difficult to apply smoothly and we had to reject too many units that did not meet our cosmetic criteria. There is no difference in performance between a copper-colored interior and the flat gray interior.
  
 
+
{{ Annotated image |float=right| caption=New coating (left) vs. old coating (right)
 
+
| image=AC7 Coating.jpg
 
+
| image-width=350}}
 
+
 
+
 
+
=RF Interference=
+
 
+
The body of the AC7 shield is made with a material that effectively blocks RF interference (EMI) from clouding the FlexTT5 antenna. To block noise traveling through  connections in the hot shoe, an electronic filter has been added to a hot shoe built into the AC7. Combined, the AC7 shield allows the FlexTT5 to receive transmissions at distances 300 to 500% farther than before and well within the range of most off-camera lighting needs.
+
 
+
For photographers who want to take advantage of the unique capabilities of the MiniTT1 and FlexTT5 Radios when using the Canon 580EX, 580EX II and 430EX flashes, the AC7 shield provides a solution for working ranges that meet or exceed those typical of off-camera flash photography.  The Canon 550EX, 270EX and newer 430EX II emit relatively low EMI and work well with the FlexTT5 without shielding.  PocketWizard is committed to exploring other solutions to maximize the performance of the ControlTL system.
+
 
+
The AC7 RF Shield is now available in the US and Canada and is starting to ship world wide.  Please contact your local retailer for availability.
+

Latest revision as of 07:26, 20 March 2014

Next recommended reading: Long Range Performance or AC5 RF Soft Shield

With two ¼-20 mounting points, the AC7 can be mounted both vertically and horizontally on light stands, clamps, brackets or simply handheld. The back of the flash remains open for complete access to the LCD and flash controls and there is access to the remote power port. The flash head can be rotated when using the AC7 shield due to a small cut-away in the side of the shield. If you will be using an external battery pack, you will also need the AC57 Power Adapter.

{{{annotations}}}

AC7 Hard Shield


When used with an umbrella, the AC7’s lay-flat design places the flash more in the center of the umbrella than usual and produces a symmetrical light shape for incredibly even light dispersion. Most of the popular diffusers, grids, snoots and reflectors can still be used with the AC7 shield in place.


RF Interference

The body of the AC7 shield is made with a material that effectively blocks RF interference (EMI) from clouding the FlexTT5 antenna. To block noise traveling through connections in the hot shoe, an electronic filter has been added to a hot shoe built into the AC7. Combined, the AC7 shield allows the FlexTT5 to receive transmissions at distances 300 to 500% farther than before and well within the range of most off-camera lighting needs.

For photographers who want to take advantage of the unique capabilities of the MiniTT1 and FlexTT5 Radios when using the Canon 580EX, 580EX II and 430EX flashes, the AC7 shield provides a solution for working ranges that meet or exceed those typical of off-camera flash photography. Other Canon flashes, including the 600EX-RT, emit relatively low EMI and work well with the FlexTT5 without shielding. PocketWizard is committed to exploring other solutions to maximize the performance of the ControlTL system.

The AC7 RF Shield is available via PocketWizard dealers world wide. Please contact your local retailer for availability.


Change in AC7 Coating

We recently changed the conductive coating on the inside of the AC7. This was to help with manufacturing - the grey coating was difficult to apply smoothly and we had to reject too many units that did not meet our cosmetic criteria. There is no difference in performance between a copper-colored interior and the flat gray interior.

{{{annotations}}}

New coating (left) vs. old coating (right)