Wednesday, March 4, 2015

Radio-based wireless TTL for Sony, Nikon and Canon

image by Nissin Group
 
Nissin is producing an affordable radio-based wireless TTL flash and trigger for Canon, Nikon and, starting this summer, for Sony as well.  There are already several radio-based TTL systems for Canon and Nikon.  However, for Sony, this is a welcome addition because the only such system available thus far is the Phottix Odin, and Nissin's system appears to have a lower total cost.

Nissin's wireless TTL system is called Nissin Air System ("NAS").  Nissin's system will consist of the Nissin Di700A flash, and the Air 1 commander.  In winter this year, Nissin will also have a wireless receiver that will work with existing Nissin flashes that do not have NAS built-in. 
 
image by Nissin Group

 
The Di700A flash is a medium-sized flash with a Nissin-specified guide number of 28 meters at ISO 100 at 35mm zoom, similar to that of the Nikon SB-700, and slightly more powerful than the Sony HVL-F43M.  It has a color graphical LCD display and a simple-looking interface.  It has a zoom from 24 - 200mm, and has a 180 degree swivel both left and right.  It can function in either TTL or manual mode.  According to Nissin, the Di700A has 3 wireless modes: an optical or digital optical slave, a radio-based NAS slave, or an optical TTL slave.  The last mode appears to imply that the Di700A can also function as a slave for the camera's optical wireless TTL system (in addition to the radio-based TTL).
 
image by Nissin Group
​The Air 1 commander can command up to 3 groups, either in TTL (+/- 2EV exposure compensation) or manual (with a range of 8 stops, to 1/128).  However, it is not clear whether it can mix TTL and manual in different groups.  It appears the Air 1 can also control zoom level, is compatible with high speed sync (up to 1/8000 shutter speed), and can sync with either the 1st or 2nd curtain.  The Air 1 also has a built-in AF assist lamp.
 
Regarding the Sony version of this system, Nissin hasn't said whether the Di700A and Air 1 will be using the Sony/Minolta auto-lock hotshoe, or the newer Multi-Interface Shoe.  If it uses the Sony/Minolta hotshoe, cameras with the Multi-Interface Shoe will need the ADP-MAA adapter to use the Air 1, and another for the Di700A if you want to use it on-camera.
 
In my view, the most attractive feature for Nissin's system is its affordability.  The MSRP for the Di700A is $238, and for $75 for the Air 1.  However, the Di700A and Air 1 will be available for preorder as a kit for $258.  By comparison, the Phottix Odin trigger and receiver kit costs around $279, and you would still need to add a TTL flash to that.  If you want wireless TTL on your Sony, this is probably the cheapest option.  I plan to get the Nissin Di700A flash and Air 1 commander, and will post a review.
 
More information here.

2 comments:

  1. That's great news. I will likely buy one myself if it used the new hotshoe on my A7. Please let us know when it's available.

    ReplyDelete

Thanks for your comment. It will be published as soon as we get a chance to review it, sorry for that, but we get lots of spam with malicious links.