Difference between revisions of "Needs a home"

Revision as of 13:07, 30 August 2011

These are random facts that need to find another place on the wiki to live:

Found on the Learn Mode page:

• FAST MODE in a MAX Receiver or MultiMAX (set for RECEIVE) offers no benefit when triggered by a ControlTL transmitter. Turn FAST MODE off for best performance. If left on, it will negatively affect HyperSync timing. • HyperSync requires a MiniTT1 or FlexTT5 as a transmitter. A Standard transmitter cannot trigger a FlexTT5 and achieve HyperSync.

Differences from Canon MiniTT1/FlexTT5 Firmware Version 5.200

For customers in a mixed Canon / Nikon ControlTL environment, these are the main differences between using Nikon ControlTL radios in comparison to the Canon units.

• Rear Curtain Sync is enabled and disabled on the camera body in the Nikon system, and is controlled by the camera. Canon ControlTL’s Rear Curtain Sync in comparison is set via the PocketWizard Utility.
• ControlTL for Nikon does not have Force TTL Master Mode. Instead, when using an on-camera SB-800 or SB-900, the Master setting of the on-camera flash determines if remote flashes will fire. When either of these flashes are in non-master mode, only the on camera flash will fire. When the on-camera flash is set to Master mode, the remote flashes will fire according to the zone configurations set on the back of the Master on-camera flash.
• HyperSync offsets have been specifically optimized for each compatible camera, and should provide a better out-of-the-box HyperSync experience. The HyperSync offset in the PocketWizard Utility now has a default setting of “0”, with the full range of timing adjustments being -2000us, and +200us. This allows for adjustment in both directions if current optimizations do not perfectly match the characteristics of your specific camera’s shutter.
• Pre-Flash Boost is controlled locally at the flash via its Flash Exposure Compensation controls, instead of via the PocketWizard Utility settings in the Canon system.
• The wake/sleep operation of Nikon cameras is significantly different from the Canon system, and as such affects the Nikon MiniTT1’s battery life. A CR2450 coin cell in the Nikon MiniTT1 should yield about 30-50 hours of camera-awake time.

Using an AC3 Zone Controller

An AC3 ZoneController on your transmitting ControlTL® radio allows you to adjust the remote flash output power for up to 3 zones independently, in either Manual or Automatic modes. Set the Zone Switch on your remote FlexTT5® equipped with an AC9 to Zone A, B, or C as desired.

Manual Mode

With an AC3 Zone Switch set to M (Manual), the AC3 Power Dial for that zone sets the absolute flash power output as shown in the table for Basic Power Control. Your camera’s FEC/EC, ISO, and aperture controls will not affect the flash output power levels for AC3 zones set to M.

Automatic Mode

With an AC3 Zone Switch set to A (Automatic), Automatic PowerTracking using Center on ISO & Aperture with First Shot is engaged. See the Automatic PowerTracking section for more information. The AC3 Power Dial for a zone sets the flash power output level for that zone relative to the ControlTL center point. Your camera’s FEC control can be used to adjust flash output power level for all zones set to A (Auto).

Off

an AC3 Zone Switch set to Ø (Off), flashes in that zone will not trigger.

The below is cut out of the PowerMC2.

PocketWizard Utility

Use the PocketWizard Utility software with the on-board USB port to program the PowerMC2 to any PocketWizard channel and zone as well as many other custom settings. ControlTL radios can be upgraded whenever updates and feature enhancements are available.

Important: Make sure to press the "Apply Changes" button to save your settings.

PowerMC2 Receiver Utility Settings

Exposure Tab

Flash Exposure Compensation (FEC): Offsets exposure for the connected flash only. This setting can be used as a simple FEC control for an individual flash, or it can be used to set flashes on the same zone to different power outputs or to balance them. This setting is cumulative with other FEC values set in the system. This control can also be used to adjust where the PowerTracking center point aligns with your camera’s FEC control. The default setting for this control is = 0.0

Sleep Tab

Modeling Light Sleep: The modeling light will turn off after the set time if no triggers are received. Uncheck the box to have the modeling light stay on. Default = Enabled at 600 seconds (10 minutes)

Hibernate: When an Einstein™ E640 Flash is turned off, it’s actually in STANDBY Mode and can be turned on remotely via a ControlTL radio. Uncheck the box to have the E640 never automatically power off. Default = Enabled at 60 minutes

FlexTT5 or MiniTT1 Transmitter settings that affect the use of a PowerMC2:

Modeling Tab

Modeling Light Control: Check this box to control modeling light behavior from the transmitter. Default = Enabled

Control Mode: Determines when the modeling light will go to its active setting. Set to Camera Wake to have the modeling light go active when the camera’s shutter release is half-pressed. Set to AF-Assist to have the modeling light go active only when the camera requests auto-focus assist. Default = Camera Wake

Modeling Light Autotrack: Enable this control for the modeling light level to track with the camera exposure or AC3 Power Dial settings. Default = Enabled

Modeling Light Active XX%: Sets the active output level of the modeling light if Autotrack is not used. Default = 100%

Modeling Light Sleep: Check this box to have the modeling light automatically go to a set output level after a set time. If this box is unchecked, the modeling light will never sleep. Default = Enabled

Modeling Light Sleep XX%: Sets the output level of the modeling light when it sleeps. Default = 10%

Modeling Light Delay After Camera Sleeps: Sets the number of seconds after the camera sleeps (meters go inactive) when the modeling light will go to its sleep value. Default = 30 seconds

PowerTracking Tab

PowerTracking Control: Adjusts how ControlTL-capable remote studio flashes, like flashes connected to a PowerMC2, respond to the AC3 in Auto Mode, or to a ControlTL Transmitter with no AC3. See the ControlTL & PowerTracking section for information.

Full Manual (default): Turns off PowerTracking for aperture and ISO. See the Camera FEC Range and Basic Power Control section for more information.

With no AC3 ZoneController on the transmitter, only the camera’s FEC/EC control will adjust flash power output level.

With no AC3 ZoneController on the transmitter, the camera’s ISO and FEC controls will adjust flash power output level.

With an AC3 ZoneController on the transmitter, any zones set to Auto Mode will operate as Center on ISO & Aperture with First Shot (see below) when this control is set to Full Manual. AC3 Manual Mode can be used to adjust flash output power manually with an AC3.

Center on ISO & Aperture with First Shot: Aperture and ISO as set on the camera for the first exposure will be aligned with the ControlTL center point (3 stops down from your flash’s maximum output power). For example, if your camera is set to ISO 100 and F:5.6 for its first exposure, then those exposure settings will yield a flash output power of 1/8. Adjustments to aperture, ISO, and FEC will adjust flash output power accordingly, as will adjusting the Power Dial on AC3 zone in Auto Mode. See the Automatic PowerTrackingsection for more information.

Center on ISO & Aperture: Lets you set the aperture and ISO that will be aligned with the ControlTL center point (3 stops down from your flash’s maximum output power). Adjust the drop-down boxes for the Aperture Center-On and ISO Center-On values you want to use

Center on Aperture Only: PowerTracking will only work with aperture changes. Set the desired aperture using the Aperture Center-On control. ISO changes will be ignored for PowerTracking for Nikon cameras, and FEC/ISO changes for Canon cameras.

Center on ISO Only: PowerTracking will only work with ISO changes for Nikon cameras and FEC/ISO changes for Canon cameras. Set the desired ISO using the ISO Center-On control. Aperture changes will be ignored for PowerTracking.

No Change (trigger only): Turns off PowerTracking and the Power Dials on the AC3 will not adjust the power output of your remote flash. Use this setting if another photographer is controlling the flash’s manual power output, like when sharing flashes with another photographer and you want to use the exact same manual flash output power.