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I’ve been using camera triggers of one sort or another for over twenty years. I’ve even built some of my own. So, when I see claims like the one in the title, I’m always a bit dubious. The Luimionix Komet, though, does seem to tick a lot of the boxes.
It’s currently running on Kickstarter, where it’s already hammered its modest $15,000 goal by a very large amount. It’s currently sitting at just over a quarter of a million dollars.
Canon has announced a new Version 2 of their ST-E3-RT trigger for controlling Canon speedlights off-camera. If you were hoping for some massive upgrade, though, you’re in for a little disappointment. According to what I can see, it basically only adds only three new features over the original ST-E3-RT released in 2012. And not for everybody.
The first is that you (finally) get to be able to shoot rear curtain sync with your wireless Canon speedlights (if your camera is 2020 or newer and not an 850D/T8i). You get a minimum power setting that now goes down to an insane 1/8192 power (but only with the new EL-1 speedlight). And you get a new FE memory feature, allowing you to lock in E-TTL flash exposure levels (with everything).
The Godox smartphone flash and Bluetooth remote control unit, the Godox A1, has been discontinued. The Godox A1 was released in 2017 to quite some fanfare. It was the first device to really let smartphone users shoot images using the speedlights and strobes they already owned – Well, if you had an iPhone or one of a handful of select Android devices you could.
Since that initial release, though, and despite users constantly asking for better Android support, it hasn’t really seen many updates. And with the Bluetooth functionality now incorporated into the Godox X2T and Flashpoint R2Pro Mark II triggers, Godox has abandoned the original A1 entirely.
Nikon’s been long criticised for not having any decent kind of wireless control system since they switched from the optical CLS/AWL to the new radio system with the Nikon SB-5000 speedlight in 2016. With the optical system, Nikon shooters had the relatively inexpensive SU-800. Radio wireless hasn’t really had any option besides buying a spare SB-5000 to sit on your hotshoe as a commander.
Well now, that’s changed as Nikon announces their new and weird WR-R11a and WR-R11b pair of radio triggers along with a WR-T10 remote controller. They’re strange because instead of sitting on the hotshoe like every other flash trigger on the planet, these connect to either the 10-pin port or GPS/accessory port of the camera.
A couple of years ago, I made a post about why I could no longer recommend Yongnuo to flash newcomers over Godox. In short, their systems were just too fragmented, with one piece of kit often not being compatible with another, despite both bearing the same brand. It might have taken Yongnuo a couple of years to catch on, but it looks like they’re finally making an attempt to unify their flash systems.
Yongnuo has today announced the recently teased Yongnuo YN560-TX Pro trigger, a follow up to their previous YN560-TX trigger. The new “Pro” system, however, integrates Yongnuo’s two most popular radio trigger systems into one. Namely the YN560 and the YN-622 (their TTL/HSS triggers).
Godox first teased the X2T trigger back in February at WPPI. A refresh to the X1T, with a few extra buttons, easier adjustments and the new style locking foot. It also now incorporates the functionality of the Godox A1, their Bluetooth trigger for controlling your lights with a smartphone app.
In February, the model shown off was a pre-production prototype. Now, the design is final is complete and the new Godox X2T has been officially announced.
Most flash triggers today have a massive array of buttons and doohickies with a fancy LCD screen. Just look at the Godox XPro. According to Adorama’s research, photographers want more buttons, not fewer. Profoto’s research, on the other hand, suggests that photographers find such systems far too complex and would prefer to have none at all.
So, taking that feedback onboard, Profoto is taking an Apple approach to minimalism and has today announced the Profoto Connect. A flash trigger with absolutely no buttons on it whatsoever, nor an LCD screen.
When Adorama announced that they were starting to go in their own direction with their rebranded Godox kit and actually developing their own compatible products, it was something of a surprise. The initial announcement of the R2 Pro Mark II got a lot of people very excited. It also got a lot of criticism, too. What’s with all the extra buttons? You’re making it too complicated!
Well, now the trigger has started to ship, and the first reviews are out. Photographer Rob Hall has got his hands on one, and he’s put together his thoughts on it in this video after spending some time with it. The short version, though, is to just go get it.
In response to user feedback over the Godox XPro trigger, Adorama has now announced the R2 Pro Mark II trigger for Canon. Don’t worry, Nikon. Sony, Fuji, Panasonic/Olympus and Pentax versions will be coming soon. It’s got a whole lot more buttons (they’re backlit, too!) and some very cool enhancements over the original.
Almost a year later than originally scheduled, Godox has finally released an Android app for the Godox A1 mobile flash trigger. The A1 was launched in August last year. Originally it came with just an iOS app, and an Android app was to come in September 2017. Well, only 2 days away from August 2018, the Godox A1 finally works with Android.
There’s also a new firmware available for the Godox A1 to go along with it. But, there’s a catch. It only works on select Huawei and Samsung phones. Or at least, you only get complete functionality with some phones. Let me explain.
Udi Tirosh is an entrepreneur, photography inventor, journalist, educator, and writer based in Israel. With over 25 years of experience in the photo-video industry, Udi has built and sold several photography-related brands. Udi has a double degree in mass media communications and computer science.
Alex Baker is a portrait and lifestyle driven photographer based in Valencia, Spain. She works on a range of projects from commercial to fine art and has had work featured in publications such as The Daily Mail, Conde Nast Traveller and El Mundo, and has exhibited work across Europe
Dave Williams is an accomplished travel photographer, writer, and best-selling author from the UK. He is also a photography educator and published Aurora expert. Dave has traveled extensively in recent years, capturing stunning images from around the world in a modified van. His work has been featured in various publications and he has worked with notable brands such as Skoda, EE, Boeing, Huawei, Microsoft, BMW, Conde Nast, Electronic Arts, Discovery, BBC, The Guardian, ESPN, NBC, and many others.
John Aldred is a photographer with over 20 years of experience in the portrait and commercial worlds. He is based in Scotland and has been an early adopter - and occasional beta tester - of almost every digital imaging technology in that time. As well as his creative visual work, John uses 3D printing, electronics and programming to create his own photography and filmmaking tools and consults for a number of brands across the industry.
Dunja Djudjic is a multi-talented artist based in Novi Sad, Serbia. With 15 years of experience as a photographer, she specializes in capturing the beauty of nature, travel, and fine art. In addition to her photography, Dunja also expresses her creativity through writing, embroidery, and jewelry making.
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