PocketWizard AC3 ZoneController for Canon - Black

This tiny controller gives you three easy dials to set your flash output if you're using a Pocket Wizard setup for remote-triggered flashes. It's far far easier than going to your flash, unwrapping it, drilling down through the menus, setting the output, going back to the camera, and trying the shot again. If you have one flash you can set the output from the camera body, but with two flashes the AC3 really is a time-saver.It's smaller than I expected -- weighs about an ounce, and clips right on top of the camera transmitter. The dials are a bit lightweight plastic-feeling -- not like they're going to break, but we're not talking German machining here. You can set each flash's output to be controlled by manual mode (1/1, 1/2, 1/4, down to 1/64), or auto mode (+3 EV, +2.7 EV, down to -3 EV). Or you can turn each flash off.No obvious bugs or problems that I've come across. There are some well-known problems with the ranges on the TT1 / TT5 Pocket Wizard equipment in general but over the distances I use -- measured in feet, not miles -- they've always been reliable for me.In the end this product is well-designed and inexpensive (you can buy six of them for the price of a flash), and works great.p.s. The manufacturer seems to be overly ambitious about their new product introductions -- this one was 'Shipping at the end of this month!' for months and months, and it's a bit deceptive. I would deduct a point for that, but in their defense the manufacturer has also been very good with me regarding support -- they're good at responding to e-mails, and they quickly sent a stack of replacement hotshoes when I was having a problem with mine. (My flashes weren't locking onto the PW hotshoes properly, and would sometimes trigger at full output -- a manufacturing defect they acknowledged.)

I have always wanted the ability to easily adjust lighting settings from my camera position. This tool makes that a reality.It does feel to me to be a little cheap feeling in my hands, inexpensive, not well-built. But, it does do the trick.

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.

When this thing works it's wonderful. Unfortunately it was too inconsistent with my configuration.

Nice to have control of your alien bees strobes from the top of your camera but if you are shooting wedding receptions not having anything on your hotshoe that can emit an auto-focus assist beam makes things very difficult in dim situations. The Zone Controller isn't very responsive either. Takes a fire or two to callibrate it seems.I've since moved on to Yongnuo transceivers and they are way, way, way cheaper and more responsive. I can't control my alien bees with the Yongnuo's but they at least have a pass-thru function on the hotshoe for me to stack on an extra flash if needed and they have a focus laser too. They also are very responsive with my 580 EX II's. Goodbye, Pocket Wizard. You aren't ripping me off anymore. The rest of the industry has caught up.

After just 6 uses the button to take the item off broke.

prodotto come nella descrizione, non va mai fuori sincro, preciso e manegevole......da comprare per professionisti...ciao oooo dddf oo o oo o o o

Zum Ersten: Dies ist ein Zusatzelement zu PocketWizard, und macht nur Sinn, wenn Sie mit dem System Ihre Blitze steuern. Sollten Sie aber in PocketWizzard investiert haben, so kann ich diesen Zusatz nur empfehlen. Über Schalter teilen Sie Ihre Blitze in 3 verschiedene Zonen (A, B und C) ein und schon können Sie diese getrennt voneinander ein- oder ausschalten, die Blitzstärke verändern etc, ohne zu den Blitzen laufen zu müssen.Einziger Nachteil ist der Turm, den Sie aufbauen, da dieses Zusatzgerät noch auf den Wizzard der Kamera aufgebaut wird. Aber wenigstens hat dieser, im Gegensatz zu den Wizzards selbst einen Schalter zum Lösen der Verbindung.Also volle Punktzahl, aber nur nützlich, wenn man sich bereits im System eingekauft hat.

Si te has gastado una pasta en unos Mini TT1 y Flex TT5, no racanees 50€ y hazte con este aparato pero ya. Es super fácil de usar y aumenta tu productividad de forma increíble, ya que te permite controlar todos tus flashes de una forma fácil e instantánea desde tu propia cámara. Tardé un poco en comprarlo, y cuando me hice con él me pregunté porque no lo había comprado antes. No tengo más que decir, te animo a que lo pruebes.

Being able to control up to three flashes from the top of my camera is absolutely fantastic! Instead of walking back and forth, opening softboxes and tilting light stands to adjust the flashes I can now just turn a dial. I usually have my main light as E-TTL and a rim light and background ligt in manual mode - it can be mixed, switched and adjusted directly from the AC3. I just turn on my flashes in E-TTL mode and forget about them. Super!

Zwar nur manuelle, da ich kein eTTL betreibe, aber die manuellen an der EOS M aus- und einzuschalten ist schon sehr hilfreich, adäquate Gruppierung vorausgesetzt. Allerdings hatte ich an der 7D immer wieder Störungen, so dass ich dort meist den MultiMax verwende. Der AC3 geht gut mit der EOS M zusammen, die allgemeine Lethargie von PocketWizard ist zur Zeit aber ein guter Grund, das Gerät nicht zu empfehlen.