If you haven’t started using radio triggers when you shoot weddings, you should do so right now. There have never been more high-quality radio systems on the market than right now, and many brands are equipping their lights with built-in receivers that make it so that you don’t even need to carry a bag of PocketWizards around. Considering that the equipment is affordable and effective, and it can eliminate the need for wires or unreliable optical systems, you need to get a move-on and upgrade your lighting kit.
A good example for a modern radio-controlled lighting kit is Profoto, with the Air system. Comprising battery-powered monolights, a recent on-camera flash, studio packs, and an array of TTL and manual transmitters, the Air system is one of the most capable today. It works well because users can add or remove a light easily without needing to add any accessories, and it can all be controlled from an on-camera remote or the A1. There are also some impressive specs to back up this 2.4GHz system, including a range of up to 1000', or 330' with TTL, access to eight channels and three groups, and high-speed sync support at up to 1/8000 second. Let’s look at how this could work practically when you are shooting a wedding.
For example, let’s say you want to quickly move from on-the-fly shooting of guests to a more formal portrait with the bride and her parents. If you are lucky and have a specific setup with some monolights already set up in a certain area, and you have an A1 on your camera, it would simply be a matter of switching on and off the correct groups so that you are only triggering the lights you need. Or let’s say you simply wanted to boost the power on a light in the far corner of the room. Simply tap the plus button on the controller and you are good to go. Frankly, these are two of the simplest reasons why you would benefit from the use of the tools, but they are so useful when you do it during a job.
The real reasons to upgrade to radio specifically would be the improved reliability in the communication between the lights and your camera. Radio signals aren’t limited by line of sight and don’t require a sometimes-annoying pre-flash to confirm settings before the actual exposure. Also, if we get into the speedlight category, many of them can combine radio and optical systems so that you can integrate your existing and latest flashes into the same setup.
Profoto is far from the only brand to offer a radio system; other high-end companies like Broncolor are in the game, as well as more affordable options like Godox and its X System. And if you are lucky, you might find that your chosen brand has created its own options in recent years, making the entire process a lot easier. Speedlight aficionados will appreciate that this tech has made its way into these compact lighting solutions, arguably making them a more versatile option for many photographers who need a lighter bag.
Let’s say you don’t want to invest in a new system or lights, and your current lights have been doing the job for years and there’s no reason to replace them. Fortunately, PocketWizard and other brands have a variety of stand-alone options for you to use with nearly any light that has existed for a while, and are still a great standard. These trigger-and-receiver setups generally feature hot shoes for using speedlights, as well as sync ports, to work with a range of conventional studio strobes. When you are looking, make sure you get one with a good range and the appropriate connections for your light. Also, you will want to err on the side of having too much range—while radio isn’t as limited as line-of-sight systems, any type of interference can reduce the effective range, so if you need 100', get something rated to work at up to 150-200' or more.
Another few tips to help narrow your search are channels and groups. Basically, the more the better, and if you can have a Digital ID, like these Phottix models, then you can even further limit interference. You don’t want something else accidentally tripping your lights at an inopportune moment. Groups are beneficial because you can control more lights, faster, and they will greatly help with organization. Beyond this, features can vary dramatically, from having pass-through TTL only to full-fledged radio TTL support with high-speed sync. You should be able to find something easily that works for you and will make your life easier.
Have you upgraded to a radio flash system like Profoto’s Air or Godox’s X recently? Let us know in the Comments section, below!
0 Comments