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(More customer reviews)The PocketWizard AC3 ZoneController for Canon flashes is a really nice add-on to the PocketWizard remotes. I own the FlexTT5 and MiniTT1 remotes, which I have come to love once the radio frequency issues were addressed (or perhaps more accurately, once I obtained flashes that limited any problems that might still exist), and the AC3 controller works great with my equipment. This guy works as advertised-- you can change the flash power of all your Canon flashes attached to your PocketWizards right from your camera. If you are like me and use a Speedlight in a softbox, or shoot portraits with a hair light, or light your background, then the AC3 controller will become your best friend. No more interrupting your shoot to open up the softbox, or walk to your to hair light or backdrop light to change flash power. Just set your flashes at 1/8th power and use the AC3 controller to add/remove flash power and you will be all set. The AC3 controller will give you the ability to change your flash power from 1/1 to 1/64th at 1/3rd increments. If you have a flash capable of shooting lower than 1/64th, you will need to set the AC3 to -3 for those flashes and use flash exposure compensation on the camera to lower the flash power further. Note, however, that this controller cannot enable additional power levels on your flash-- you will not be able to shoot at 1/128th on a Canon 430EX, for example.
The first time I used the AC3 controller, I did get into a state where nothing would fire when I had the controller in use. I know that the flashes were enabled on the controller, but they still would not fire. I changed the battery of the MiniTT1 that the controller was attached to, but still did not get a fire. I removed the controller for the remainder of my session. The next time I used it, everything worked fine, so I am going to chalk this experience up to something that I was doing wrong at the time-- for now, anyway. If I encounter this situation again I will update the review appropriately.
I really like this tool. Now the good people at PocketWizard need to create tool that allows me to FULLY control my flashes from camera position-- change zoom levels, switch from ETTL to manual, etc. Not sure that Canon flashes would support this, but if they did, THAT tool would be nirvana... The AC3 is a great step in that direction, however.
One final note: the Sekonic Radio Triggering Module RT-32, Transmitter for Sekonic L358 & L608 is NOT compatible with the AC-3 ZoneController. In order to use the Sekonic transmitter, you must configure your flashes to be in manual mode. However, the AC-3 requires your flashes to be in ETTL mode.
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Pocket Wizard AC3 ZoneController for Canon (Black)Simply slide the AC3 ZoneController into the shoe of an on-camera PocketWizard MiniTT1 or FlexTT5 and control three or more remote Canon speedlites mounted FlexTT5 transcievers. Three zones, marked A, B, and C, correspond to Zone Switch settings on the receiving FlexTT5 units. Each zone has a Mode Switch that enables manual or automatic flash control or switching off a flash completely. Clearly marked dials allow increasing or decreasing the power of each flash in 1/3-stop increments over a six-stop range.Remote flashes need only to be ON and set to ETTL and the corresponding zone set on the FlexTT5 you wish to control.Photographers can switch back and forth between auto and manual flash control and use both for the same shot, all right from the camera's position. The PocketWizard AC3 is a real game-changer and sure to be an immediate hit with Strobists. It will also be on the must-have list for Canon photographers using Alien Bee and Elinchrom RX flash units. Be sure to order now to be a part of the next wave of PocketWizard excitement.
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