Wireless flash

One of the most useful things for a photographer is a flash, and one of the most useful flashes is one that can be used off-camera. Most cameras these days have an internal flash that simply pops up when needed. These flashes are usually small and because they are mounted right next to the camera lens, there is often a problem with red-eye.

Better than this system is a separate flash that can either be mounted on the camera's hot shoe (slightly better) or that can be moved around totally independently of the camera (much better). The major camera makers have this sort of system available, and the Nikon DSLR camera that I use has what they refer to as their Creative Lighting System, or CLS. This is a very flexible system that uses infra-red beams to trigger off-camera flashes. It will even calculate the proper exposure and then ensure that the duration of the flash will provide that exposure.

But there is even a step further than this. The limiting factor with infra-red signals is that they are only useful in direct line of sight situations. Any physical barrier, say a pillar, a piece of furniture or even another person, will prevent the signals from reaching their destination and doing their job. This is where a radio trigger comes in, and that is what is shown in the photo above.

It is the Elinchrom Skyport system, and the radio transmitter is shown on the bottom LHS of the image. It fits onto the camera hot shoe and interacts with the camera that way. On the top LHS is the radio receiver, which connects to the flash with a short sync cord. The flash can then be moved anywhere within the range of the radio signal and the camera can still talk to it, regardless of any of the physical barriers mentioned above. This system doesn't control the exposure though. The photographer needs to calculate the proper exposure and the flashes must be set to fire on manual.

The transmitter can fire multiple flashes and has different frequencies that allow the flashes to be set up in groups if needed.

This system is much cheaper than the market leader in this segment, the Pocket Wizard. In fact it is half the price. The Pocket Wizard is known to be the gold standard, and though I've never used one, I am sure that it is extremely capable. But for considerably less money, the Skyport is very portable, efficient and therefore worthwhile.

EXIF: Nikon D200; Nikkor 18-55 mm DX; ISO 200; 1/60 sec; f8.