Comments on: Elinchrom Skyport radio trigger review http://blewbmx.com/2007/06/20/elinchrom-skyport-radio-trigger-review/ Sun, 14 Mar 2010 15:15:49 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7.1 hourly 1 By: Per Baekgaard http://blewbmx.com/2007/06/20/elinchrom-skyport-radio-trigger-review/comment-page-1/#comment-9849 Per Baekgaard Sat, 02 Jan 2010 23:17:52 +0000 #comment-9849 I know this is a bit old posting, but nevertheless I'll add a few comments... On sync speed, the Elinchrom Skyport causes a delay of around 1 mS or a bit less, IIRC. A handheld flash (such as a Nikon SB-800 or similar) may in practical use need a bit more than 1 mS too, to dispose most of its light at full speed. Similarly for a studio flash, which in fact can be even slower in some cases. If you have a camera that has a fast sync speed (such as a D70 or a G11 or something else with an electronic trigger or not using a focal plane shutter) and your flash duration is short, you will get sync up to 1/1000. If you need time to dispose of most of the flash charge (full power on a handheld unit or lowest power on most studio strobes), you should not go above 1/500 with these triggers. If you have a more conventional SLR, such as e.g a Nikon D300, the curtains need a bit less than 2.5 mS to travel from one side to the other. When the first curtain reaches then other side, the flash can be fired. If the second curtain starts its travel before the triggers have sent the signal to the flash and before the flash has disposed most of its charge, you will get a dark edge on the picture. In practical use, the D300 is specified at 1/250th sync. It is actually capable of syncing at 1/400th if there is no delay and the flash duration is ultra short. At 1/250th, it leaves a bit more than 1.3 mS for the flash duration, with no trigger delay. As the Elinchrom Skyports delay the signal a bit less than 1 mS, at 1/250th there will be less than 0.5 mS (1/2000th) for the flash duration, which is too short for e.g. many studio flashes. If you want to have the same time for the flash duration as without triggers, you need to extend the shutter speed around 1 mS in this case. This means in practice that if you sync reliably without triggers at 1/250th, you need to go to 1/200th. If you sync at 1/200th, go to 1/160th, etc (roughly). So a good advice is to pick one 1/3 stop slower speed when using these triggers in the normal 1/250th - 1/125th range. ... and yes, this is not just theory. I've tested it in practical use and have burnt my fingers on this ;-) -- Per. I know this is a bit old posting, but nevertheless I’ll add a few comments…

On sync speed, the Elinchrom Skyport causes a delay of around 1 mS or a bit less, IIRC.

A handheld flash (such as a Nikon SB-800 or similar) may in practical use need a bit more than 1 mS too, to dispose most of its light at full speed. Similarly for a studio flash, which in fact can be even slower in some cases.

If you have a camera that has a fast sync speed (such as a D70 or a G11 or something else with an electronic trigger or not using a focal plane shutter) and your flash duration is short, you will get sync up to 1/1000. If you need time to dispose of most of the flash charge (full power on a handheld unit or lowest power on most studio strobes), you should not go above 1/500 with these triggers.

If you have a more conventional SLR, such as e.g a Nikon D300, the curtains need a bit less than 2.5 mS to travel from one side to the other. When the first curtain reaches then other side, the flash can be fired. If the second curtain starts its travel before the triggers have sent the signal to the flash and before the flash has disposed most of its charge, you will get a dark edge on the picture.

In practical use, the D300 is specified at 1/250th sync. It is actually capable of syncing at 1/400th if there is no delay and the flash duration is ultra short. At 1/250th, it leaves a bit more than 1.3 mS for the flash duration, with no trigger delay. As the Elinchrom Skyports delay the signal a bit less than 1 mS, at 1/250th there will be less than 0.5 mS (1/2000th) for the flash duration, which is too short for e.g. many studio flashes.

If you want to have the same time for the flash duration as without triggers, you need to extend the shutter speed around 1 mS in this case.

This means in practice that if you sync reliably without triggers at 1/250th, you need to go to 1/200th. If you sync at 1/200th, go to 1/160th, etc (roughly).

So a good advice is to pick one 1/3 stop slower speed when using these triggers in the normal 1/250th - 1/125th range.

… and yes, this is not just theory. I’ve tested it in practical use and have burnt my fingers on this ;-)

– Per.

]]> By: John http://blewbmx.com/2007/06/20/elinchrom-skyport-radio-trigger-review/comment-page-1/#comment-8192 John Thu, 10 Sep 2009 13:59:34 +0000 #comment-8192 @Wojtek: I have three Nikon SB-600 untits and three Skyport Universal receivers. Two of them are version 1.4 and one 1.3. One of the 1.4 versions is shutting itself off, just like yours. I believe it's randomly. The other two are fine. I have absolutely no idea why it shuts itself off. The battery is fully charged. I will return this unit for repair. @Wojtek: I have three Nikon SB-600 untits and three Skyport Universal receivers. Two of them are version 1.4 and one 1.3. One of the 1.4 versions is shutting itself off, just like yours. I believe it’s randomly. The other two are fine. I have absolutely no idea why it shuts itself off. The battery is fully charged. I will return this unit for repair.

]]> By: Lee http://blewbmx.com/2007/06/20/elinchrom-skyport-radio-trigger-review/comment-page-1/#comment-8130 Lee Fri, 28 Aug 2009 19:53:46 +0000 #comment-8130 F**k it. Getting Jrx's. F**k it. Getting Jrx’s.

]]> By: Lee http://blewbmx.com/2007/06/20/elinchrom-skyport-radio-trigger-review/comment-page-1/#comment-7435 Lee Fri, 10 Jul 2009 06:47:10 +0000 #comment-7435 sweet. might get a set of these instead of waiting for radiopopper to release jrx's. they were supposed to be out ages ago! sweet. might get a set of these instead of waiting for radiopopper to release jrx’s. they were supposed to be out ages ago!

]]> By: Vasily Sidorenko http://blewbmx.com/2007/06/20/elinchrom-skyport-radio-trigger-review/comment-page-1/#comment-7120 Vasily Sidorenko Sun, 28 Jun 2009 07:46:21 +0000 #comment-7120 Is the high voltage output of the Vivitar 283 an issue when connecting to the Skyport receiver. Does one need to use the Wien safe-sync adapter or will any hotshoe to pc adapter do the job? Just to make sure so not to cause any damage to my new skyport receiver Is the high voltage output of the Vivitar 283 an issue when connecting to the Skyport receiver. Does one need to use the Wien safe-sync adapter or will any hotshoe to pc adapter do the job? Just to make sure so not to cause any damage to my new skyport receiver

]]> By: Où trouver du matos Strobist (flashs nomades) en France ? « L’oeil et la maniere … ou les tribulations d’un photographe amateur… http://blewbmx.com/2007/06/20/elinchrom-skyport-radio-trigger-review/comment-page-1/#comment-6443 Où trouver du matos Strobist (flashs nomades) en France ? « L’oeil et la maniere … ou les tribulations d’un photographe amateur… Sun, 10 May 2009 13:36:57 +0000 #comment-6443 [...] je ne me suis pas penché sur les dispositifs de déclencheurs radios type Pocket Wizards, Elynchrom Skyport ou Cactus. Pour l’instant, je me contenterai du système CLS de mon [...] [...] je ne me suis pas penché sur les dispositifs de déclencheurs radios type Pocket Wizards, Elynchrom Skyport ou Cactus. Pour l’instant, je me contenterai du système CLS de mon [...]

]]> By: Ed http://blewbmx.com/2007/06/20/elinchrom-skyport-radio-trigger-review/comment-page-1/#comment-5159 Ed Sun, 08 Mar 2009 20:10:09 +0000 #comment-5159 Universal set is what you need, cable wise for the flashes you have you need a cable which has a mini-phone connector to go into the Skyport, and a hotshoe adapter for the flashes. Ebay it or paramount sell a cord, look in the review for a link somewhere... Universal set is what you need, cable wise for the flashes you have you need a cable which has a mini-phone connector to go into the Skyport, and a hotshoe adapter for the flashes. Ebay it or paramount sell a cord, look in the review for a link somewhere…

]]> By: keith valentine http://blewbmx.com/2007/06/20/elinchrom-skyport-radio-trigger-review/comment-page-1/#comment-5145 keith valentine Sat, 07 Mar 2009 20:57:58 +0000 #comment-5145 i want to use these for outdoor mountain bike photography.i was told i need a universal one for my two canon flashes (430exii & 550ex) & the cables to attach them to my flashes or camera or both.what comes with the twin pack and what models do i need for my canon stuff.? i want to use these for outdoor mountain bike photography.i was told i need a universal one for my two canon flashes (430exii & 550ex) & the cables to attach them to my flashes or camera or both.what comes with the twin pack and what models do i need for my canon stuff.?

]]> By: Michael Andrews http://blewbmx.com/2007/06/20/elinchrom-skyport-radio-trigger-review/comment-page-1/#comment-4794 Michael Andrews Tue, 10 Feb 2009 10:21:23 +0000 #comment-4794 Going waayyy back to the beginning of the thread RE the 430 EZ (*NOT* the the more current EZ model): you said if we change Custom Function 1 on the Strobe, it will NOT fall asleep in 90 seconds as is it's default. How do we access the CF's on this unit?? I can't remember how, and can't find anything (free) online that addresses this--seems silly to by the whole manual when all I need to know about is this one issue.... Which buttons do I press?? Going waayyy back to the beginning of the thread RE the 430 EZ (*NOT* the the more current EZ model): you said if we change Custom Function 1 on the Strobe, it will NOT fall asleep in 90 seconds as is it’s default. How do we access the CF’s on this unit?? I can’t remember how, and can’t find anything (free) online that addresses this–seems silly to by the whole manual when all I need to know about is this one issue…. Which buttons do I press??

]]> By: Ed http://blewbmx.com/2007/06/20/elinchrom-skyport-radio-trigger-review/comment-page-1/#comment-4783 Ed Sun, 08 Feb 2009 16:43:25 +0000 #comment-4783 I have, they work, but I had to bodge together my own cord from the Sunpak cord and a miniphone cord. I have, they work, but I had to bodge together my own cord from the Sunpak cord and a miniphone cord.

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