Review on PocketWizard PlusX Wireless Remote Trigger by Jim Reinhardt

After dealing with cheaper solutions from Calumet, Cowboy Studio and others, after reading the PDN review I started looking for the PocketWizard PlusX. After testing the pair for a few weeks, I ordered a third unit. The PlusX looks solid, is easy to use and has a good range. Here are some notes. I have old (mid 1980's) Broncolor studio flashes that still work, use a Nikon 800 and mainly shoot fashion and beauty. My studio is in a building with five other photographers in fairly close proximity, most of whom use PocketWizard gear. It pushes the limits of the PlusX range and continues to work well with light shelves and tables between units. After about 10,000 rounds I didn't have a single trigger miss. Physical Connection and Alignment The included cables and adapters are of fairly high quality. The PlusX guide recommends placing the device's antennas parallel, but that's not practical for me as I keep changing camera orientation with the PlusX transmitter in the DSLR hot shoe. I mounted the PlusX receiver vertically on the handle of a Broncolor flashgun so that the antenna is a few inches above the power supply. I had no trouble shooting with the antennas at 90 degrees to each other. Battery life Other devices have a shorter battery life. My average studio day is 9 hours and about 2500 shots. So far I have 8 days of shooting with original batteries behind me. The devices have a switch and I turn them off when not in use. Sync Speed With the Nikon D800, I found that I could reliably shoot at 1/250s. Lower cost units will start to trigger with a delay of about 1/100th of a second.