PocketWizard updates expand support, bring improvements aplenty

Updated firmware for LPA Design's PocketWizard MiniTT1 and FlexTT5 radios today adds support for several new camera bodies and flash accessories from Canon and Nikon, as well as certain Sekonic light meters. The updates also bring improvements in quite a number of other areas.

Newly-supported camera bodies include the Nikon D4, Nikon D800, and Nikon D800E.  The expanded flash support, meanwhile, encompasses the Canon Speedlite 600EX-RT, Canon Speedlite Transmitter ST-E3-RT, and Nikon SB-910 AF Speedlight. Also supported are light meters equipped with the Sekonic RT-32CTL Radio Transmitter module. These include the Sekonic L-758DR DigitalMaster (which has the module built in), as well as the L-358 FlashMaster, L-758D and L-758CINE models.

Other changes for Canon users include:

• Improved default Aperture Priority combined with Rear Curtain Sync operation.

• Corrected FlexTT5 Pre-Trigger operation when used as a remote camera trigger with an ACC cable in Basic Trigger Mode with a MultiMAX.

• When selecting Basic Trigger Mode, the default channel is now 1 instead of 32.

• Improved reliability of getting the first shot when waking a Canon camera from sleep.

• Changed AC3 operation so that when a zone is switched off, it no longer allows a remote Speedlite on that zone to trigger at a very low power level.

• Fixed a situation where using an AC3 ZoneController on a MiniTT1 or FlexTT5 off-camera wouldn’t trigger a PowerST4 for the first TEST press.

• Small improvements made in “No Change Trigger Only” mode.

• Fixed a bug where -1.7 on an AC3 ZoneController in Manual mode used a -3.0 setting.

• Corrected an occasional issue when using the +1 manual setting on an AC3 Zone-Controller caused an incorrect power level to be used at certain HSS shutter speeds.

• Made camera selection on the Misc Tab alphabetical instead of chronological.

• Calibration shot no longer triggers any flashes, remote or on-camera. This conserves battery power and helps indicate the calibration shot. Previously any flash energy appearing in the calibration shot was purely coincidental and sometimes caused confusion.

• Default Settings Change: Rear Curtain Sync is now disabled by default. Most users were not using it and were confused by the operation. Users that understand when to use Rear Curtain Sync can enable it as needed.

• Improved operation at X-sync immediately after disconnecting a Canon MiniTT1 or FlexTT5 from a USB cable while running the PocketWizard Utility and not power-cycling the radio.

• Corrected a clipping situation with the 7D at 1/320 shutter speed.

• Improved 7D operation with Rear Curtain Sync when using a flash on-camera with a ControlTL transmitter.

• Improved 5D Mark II operation at 1/250 shutter speed when using a flash on-camera with a ControlTL transmitter.

• Improved HyperSync® Automation performance of the 1D Mark III and 1D Mark IV.

• Fixed an issue where a 580EX II in Master Manual mode wouldn’t send FEC commands for Zones B and C.

• Corrected logic when using an AC3 ZoneController so that when all Zones are turned off (A, B, and C), Standard Channel Zone D also turns off just like in the Nikon radios.

• Reduced the likelihood of clipping or banding in a 5D using rear curtain sync.

• Reduced the likelihood of bottom frame banding or clipping in a 5D at HSS shutter speeds.

• Fixed rear curtain sync operation when using an AC9 AlienBees Adapter.

Changes for Nikon users include:

• Improved default Aperture Priority combined with Rear Curtain Sync operation.

• Corrected a situation where pressing TEST after making a settings change on a MASTER flash would cause remote flashes to not trigger until the camera went through a sleep/wake cycle.

• Fixed a bug where a Speedlight on Zone C would occasionally cause an over-exposure.

• Improved D7000 HyperSync® operation.

• Improved Pre-Flash operation across all zones.

• Fixed a bug where an SB-800 would strobe as the camera wakes.

• Corrected SB-800 EV adjustments when used as a master (bug introduced in 3.022, corrected in 3.150).

• Corrected FlexTT5 Pre-Trigger operation when used as a remote camera trigger with an ACC cable in Basic Trigger Mode with a MultiMAX as transmitter.

• When selecting Basic Trigger Mode, the default Standard Receive channel is now 1 instead of 32.

• Dramatically improved reliability of getting the first shot when waking a Nikon camera from sleep.

• Corrected Nikon D7000, D5000, and D3100 banding when using Rear Curtain Sync at faster rear curtain-capable shutter speeds like 1/100 & 1/125.

• Corrected Rear Curtain Sync banding for some Nikon cameras when operating at faster FPS (Frames Per Second).

• Corrected general banding issues in Nikon Rear Curtain Sync for some cameras.

• Fixed minor HyperSync and HSS timing issue for D3x, D300, and D300s when using 14-bit RAW.

• Improved HyperSync operation for the Nikon SB-400 and SB-700.

• Addressed an issue with the Nikon SB-800 used in remote TTL firing intermittently at full power when not asked for full power.

• Changed AC3 operation so that when a zone is switched off, it no longer allows a remote Speedlight on that zone to trigger at a very low power level.

• Corrected a bug in SpeedCycler Mode where a remote SB-900 or SB-800 would always fire at full power if at an HSS/Auto FP shutter speed.

• Fixed a situation where using an AC3 ZoneController on a MiniTT1 or FlexTT5 off-camera wouldn’t trigger a PowerST4 for the first TEST press.

• Dramatically reduced the instances of frame clipping at 1/320 and 1/400 when shooting in Aperture Priority mode with Nikon cameras.

• Corrected over-exposure issues when using an SB-400.

• Small improvements made in “No Change Trigger Only” mode.

• Fixed a situation that could lead to occasional missed triggers.

• Fixed rear curtain sync operation when using an AC9 AlienBees Adapter.

More details and the update utilities for Macintosh and Windows platforms can be found on the PocketWizard website.