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04-29-2013, 04:35 PM   #1
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K-01 and Pocket Wizard PlusX radio wireless flash

Report -- on the K-01 and the Pocket Wizard PlusX radio wireless flash trigger, used with a Yong-Nuo 560-II speedlight.

For the money, the PlusX gives you a greatly increased range compared to other neat radio-wireless devices, like the Cowboy Studio NPT-04 set. The PlusX units are also VERY easy to use, with ready-lights so you can tell in the dark if they are switched on.

You will need to buy two PlusX trigger/receivers -- one goes on the K-01 hotshoe, the other attaches to the flash with the PlusX PC-sync cable. Note: you must have an external flash (speedlight) with a plug for a camera-to-flash cable.

Attach one PlusX to the hotshoe. Connect the other PlusX to the Yong-Nuo with the PC-sync cable. Make sure both units show the same channel number, like '1'.

On the K-01 flash menu, put it on 'Manual'. 'Trailing Curtain Sync' does not work with the PlusX (nor with the Cowboy NPT-04).

Turn on the Yong-Nuo 560-II, with the mode on 'Manual' or 'Multi'.

Turn on each of the PlusX units.

Adjust desired flash intensity on the Yong-Nuo. Example: in a room with a window, K-01 on M Manual, set exposure for the scene outside the window (the room goes very dark). Then take several test pictures, increasing the flash power to bring up the interior lighting. If you want to balance flash color-temp, get a set of Rosco speedlight gels from Strobist and tape an orange one over the flash.

That's about it. Now, Pocket Wizard assumes that you'll have the external flash on a tripod. But if you're like me, you won't -- you'll be holding it in one hand, with the K-01 in the other... or you'll put it somewhere, like on the top of a door to bounce the light off a ceiling. So you may want to get some gaffer's tape to attach the PlusX receiver to the flash -- or use some rubber bands. Just make sure the rubber-covered aerial is sticking out so it can pick up the trigger's signal from most any angle.

EDIT -- forget the gaffer's tape... all you need are a few rubber bands.

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Last edited by jon404; 04-29-2013 at 05:27 PM.
04-29-2013, 05:06 PM   #2
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QuoteOriginally posted by jon404 Quote
For the money, the PlusX gives you a greatly increased range compared to other neat radio-wireless devices, like the Cowboy Studio NPT-04 set.
QuoteOriginally posted by jon404 Quote
Now, Pocket Wizard assumes that you'll have the external flash on a tripod. But if you're like me, you won't -- you'll be holding it in one hand, with the K-01 in the other... or you'll put it somewhere, like on the top of a door to bounce the light off a ceiling.
How long are your hands?
04-29-2013, 05:55 PM   #3
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S-t-r-e-t-c-h! Look, what I really like about radio-wireless is that you can use it outdoors in daylight... in bright sunlight. Because that's where infrared-wireless just doesn't work. Like if you pop-up the K-01's flash, and use it with the Yong-Nuo's infrared detector to fire the Yong-Nuo 'slave' flash. Just won't work in sunlight. Indoors, infrared is OK as long as there's no sunlight coming in to interfere with the signal. But it is just nowhere near as convenient as radio-wireless.

As for handholding -- I don't have any trouble holding and using the K-01 with one hand. It's a good deal heavier than the flash with PlusX, but no big deal. What would be really cool -- if we could get Pentax to build radio-wireless right into their cameras and their speedlights... where the signal would also transmit the image info so you wouldn't have to set the flash power manually. But in the meantime, I'm all set.

EDIT, April 30 -- used the PlusX - YN-560-II combo today along with a YN-460-II... which does not have a PC-sync plug... so you can't use it with a PlusX attached. But you CAN use it as an optical infrared slave, set off by the flash from the YN-560-II/PlusX combo. To make it work, you have to set the YN-460-II in 'S1' mode... different from the M mode that you use on the YN-560-II with its PlusX.

Lastly, on the K-01, make sure your shutter speed is 1/180 or slower!

Last edited by jon404; 04-30-2013 at 02:52 PM.
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