Intro
I recently
reviewed
the Phottix Cleon wireless remote,
which was released by Phottix in February 2008.
Since that time, Phottix have not been resting on their laurels, but
were busy designing a new and improved version.
A new model, the Phottix Cleon II, was released earlier this year, in January 2009.
It provides a number of improvements and enhancements since the Cleon.
Thanks to
earlier review of the Cleon.
Overview of the Cleon II
The size and shape of the Cleon II transmitter and remote are identical to the previous
model, the Cleon.
However, there are a number of differences in the functionality of the Cleon II.
The back of the Cleon II transmitter indicates the model is "WXD-189",
and this review looks at the C8 model of the Phottix Cleon II wireless remote,
which comes with a cable that has an
N3 connector
to suit Canon 20D/30D/40D/50D/5D/1D cameras. I'm testing it on a Canon 50D body.
components: receiver, transmitter, camera cable, battery, wrist strap and clip
One of the immediately obvious differences between the Cleon and the Cleon II
is the fact that the Cleon II does not have the receiver cable
hard-wired into the receiver.
Instead, one end of the receiver has a 3.5mm stereo plug, which goes into
a corresponding 3.5mm stereo socket on the receiver.
This allows Phottix to manufacture a single model of receiver, and just provide
different cables to suit different model cameras
(this approach has also been taken with the
Phottix Nikos digital timer remote).
I'll be taking a closer look at other differences between the Cleon and Cleon II
in subsequent parts of this review.
A quick search on eBay indicates the Phottix Cleon II typically retails
for about AUD$56 (approx USD$36), which is about AUD$10 more than the previous model Cleon.
Update: Phottix are now selling the Cleon II
via their recently launched online store.
Features and Specifications
Specifications (as listed on the packaging):
|
Name of Product
|
Transmitter
|
Receiver
|
|
Power
|
12V / 23A
|
3V / CR2
|
|
Life of Battery
|
up to 3 years
|
20,000 Times
|
|
Smart Code System
|
16 000 000 combination codes
|
|
Range
|
100m (320ft) without obstacles
|
|
Monitor Light
|
Two color LEDs
|
Two color LEDs
|
|
Frequency
|
433 MHz
|
Differences Between Cleon and Cleon II
To summarise the differences between Cleon and Cleon II, I've listed
them in a table.
Note that this table does not include functionality that
exists in the Cleon and in the Cleon II; it only lists the differences between
the two models.
|
Name of Product
|
Cleon
|
Cleon II
|
|
release date
|
February 2008
|
January 2009
|
|
frequency
|
315 MHz
|
433 MHz
|
|
number of channels
|
16 (set with DIP switches)
|
16,000,000 (preset in transmitter)
|
|
transmitter-camera cable
|
hard-wired into transmitter
|
removable with 2.5mm plug
|
|
transmitter antenna length
|
75 mm
|
125 mm
|
|
2S switch
|
configured on receiver
|
configured on transmitter
|
|
multiple frames option
|
none
|
configured on transmitter
|
|
receiver power switch
|
4-position slide switch
|
hold down on switch for 3 seconds
|
|
terminate wireless bulb mode
|
half-press on transmitter
|
half-press or full press on transmitter
|
Synchronising the Transmitter and Receiver
The Cleon II supports 16,000,000 different channels, and I found that I had to
synchronise the receiver and transmitter before they would communicate.
Once this synchronisation operation has been completed, it shouldn't be necessary
to re-synchronise each time you use the Cleon II.
To check if the transmitter and receiver are synchronised, turn on the
receiver.
Holding down the "set/power" button on the receiver for approximately three seconds
will turn it on, and the red LED on the left hand side of the receiver
should turn on.
Move the mode switch on the transmitter to "S/B" and hit the shutter button on the transmitter.
If no LEDs light up on the receiver, then you'll need to synchronise them using the procedure
described below.
receiver, showing two status LEDs and socket for camera cable
To synchronise the receiver to the transmitter:
- turn receiver on by holding down "set/power" button for ~3 seconds until right hand side LED turns on
- press "set/power" button on receiver 5 times until LED on left hand side flashes red
- press shutter button on transmitter
- LED on left hand side of receiver should turn off
Now that the synchronisation has been completed, half-depressing the shutter button
on the transmitter should result in the LED on the left hand side of the receiver
going green, and a full press of the button should result in this LED going
red.
Note that multiple receivers can be programmed to respond to a single transmitter,
allowing you to trigger multiple cameras with a single transmitter.
After removing the receiver's battery for several minutes, I re-installed it,
and confirmed that the receiver was still synchronised to the transmitter,
so it appears that the synchronisation is a once-off exercise that won't
need to be repeated (unless you want to synchronise the receiver to a different transmitter).
Using the Cleon II
rDating I Discoveriloveyou Discover I Love You Review: Phottix Cleon II Wire/Wireless Remote Control Set
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wDating I Discoveriloveyou Discover I Love You Review: Phottix Cleon II Wire/Wireless Remote Control Set
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