My review of the Phottix Plato covers its use with the Nikon D90, but the principles remain the same with any compatible DSLR (digital SLR camera).

An overview of the Phottix Plato is given in the video clip linked to below – just click on the thumbnail to view the footage in high quality mode on YouTube.

Alternatively, you can download the entire movie (63.8 MB) off drop.io (right-click and save to your hard drive).

Where to Buy

The Plato is sold on eBay, and some models are available on Amazon. You must choose the correct model that corresponds with the camera that you will be using it with:

1. Plato Wireless Remote C6 (on eBay) – for Canon T1i / 500D / Kiss X3, XSi / 450D / Kiss X2, XS / 1000D / Kiss F, XTi / 400D / Kiss X, XT / 350D / Kiss N.
2. Plato Wireless Remote C8 (on eBay), also available on Amazon – for Canon 7D, Canon 5D Mark II, 50D, 1Ds Mark III, 1D Mark III, 40D, 30D, 1Ds Mark II, 1D Mark II, 20D.
3. Plato Wireless Remote N10 (on eBay) – for Nikon D90, Nikon D5000.
4. Plato Wireless Remote N6 (on eBay) – for D80, D70S.
5. Plato Wireless Remote N8 (on eBay), also available on Amazon – for Nikon D300S, Nikon D3X, D700, D300, D200, D2XS, D2Hs.
6. Plato Wireless Remote S6 (on eBay) – for Sony Alpha A900, A700, A350, A300, A200, A100

Related Posts

1. Phottix Hero Review
2. Phottix Cleon II Review
3. Phottix Nikos Review
4. Review of the Phottix Cleon Wired / Wireless Hybrid Remote Control N8 for Nikon D300S / D5000 / D90 / D700 / D300 / D200 / D3 / D3X
5. Review of the Phottix N8 (previously known as N1) Wireless Remote Control Set and my Nikon D300

My review of the Cleon II covers its use with the Nikon D90, but the principles remain the same with any compatible DSLR (digital SLR camera).

An overview of the Phottix Cleon II is given in the video clip linked to below – just click on the thumbnail to view the footage in high quality mode on YouTube.

Alternatively, you can download the entire movie (44.7 MB) off drop.io (right-click and save to your hard drive).

Where to Buy

The Cleon II is sold on eBay, and some models are available on Amazon. You must choose the correct model that corresponds with the camera that you will be using it with:

1. Cleon II Wireless Remote C6 (on eBay) – for Canon T1i / 500D / Kiss X3, XSi / 450D / Kiss X2, XS / 1000D / Kiss F, XTi / 400D / Kiss X, XT / 350D / Kiss N.
2. Cleon II Wireless Remote C8 (on eBay), also available on Amazon – for Canon 7D, Canon 5D Mark II, 50D, 1Ds Mark III, 1D Mark III, 40D, 30D, 1Ds Mark II, 1D Mark II, 20D.
3. Cleon II Wireless Remote N10 (on eBay) – for Nikon D90, Nikon D5000.
4. Cleon II Wireless Remote N6 (on eBay) – for D80, D70s.
5. Cleon II Wireless Remote N8 (on eBay), also available on Amazon – for Nikon D300S, Nikon D3X, D700, D300, D200, D2Xs, D2Hs.
6. Cleon II Wireless Remote S6 (on eBay) – for Sony Alpha A900, A700, A350, A300, A200, A100

Related Posts

1. Phottix Hero Review
2. Phottix Nikos Review
3. Phottix Plato Review
4. Review of the Phottix Cleon Wired / Wireless Hybrid Remote Control N8 for Nikon D300S / D5000 / D90 / D700 / D300 / D200 / D3 / D3X
5. Review of the Phottix N8 (previously known as N1) Wireless Remote Control Set and my Nikon D300

A newer version of the Cleon, Cleon II, is available for all Nikon digital SLR cameras (with the exception of the entry level models such as the D40, D40X, D60 and D3000) – read my brief review on the Phottix Cleon II.

There is also an entirely new remote, the Phottix Plato, which operates on a much higher, more powerful and more consistent frequency – read my brief review on the Phottix Plato. Again, the Plato has the necessary connectors for all models of Nikon digital SLR cameras except for the entry level models.

End update.

The Phottix Cleon N8 remote control set consists of a transmitter and a receiver, and works flawlessly with my Nikon D300.

In the photo below, the transmitter is on the left, while the receiver is on the right.

For owners of the D90 and D5000, the correct version to purchase is the Cleon N10, while the users of the D80 and D70s should get the Cleon N6.

Where to buy the Phottix Cleon N8, Cleon N10 and Cleon N6

The Cleon N8 is available on eBay and is sold by Titanium Powerseller HKSupplies, an eBay seller, the same folks who bring you the Phottix Wireless Set N8 (previously known as N1), which I reviewed here).

The Cleon remote is also available for other digital SLR cameras, with the only difference being the connector on the receiver is adapted to the terminal of the camera:

• Cleon N10 (on eBay) for the Nikon D90 / D5000
• Cleon N6 (on eBay) for the Nikon D80 / D70s
• Cleon C6 (on eBay) for the Canon Digital Rebel XSi (450D), XT (350D) / XTi (400D), Pentax K20D / K200D / K10D / K100D
• Cleon C8 (on eBay) for the Canon 50D / 5D Mark II / 40D / 5D / 1D and 1Ds series / 30D / 20D

As of the date of writing, the Phottix Cleon isn't officially available for sale from the merchant, HKSupplies. However, as reported by numerous customers in this forum thread, they initially made a purchase for the older Phottix N1, but were pleasantly surprised when they received the upgraded Cleon instead, at no extra cost. You might want to contact HKSupplies (you'll be asked to create a free eBay account, if you don't already have one) and raise the question of whether you would get the Cleon if you placed an order for the N1 now.

So, search ebay for Phottix N1 and purchase it to receive the Cleon. I'll update this section as soon as the Cleon is officially displayed in the ebay listings.

The Cleon is a significant update to the N1, and is designed to work with any Nikon or Nikon-compatible camera that has a 10-pin remote socket. Some examples include:

• D3, D3X, D700
• Nikon N90s
• F5, F6, F100, F90, F90X
• D1, D1H, D1X
• D2H, D2Hs
• D2X, D2Xs
• D100 with MB-D100
• D200, D300, D300S
• Kodak DSC-14N
• Fuji S3 Pro, S5 Pro

Before going into the details, here's a quick list of improvements found in the Phottix Cleon remote over the older Phottix N1:

1. Hybrid design allows for wired or wireless operation – I don't know of any other remote out there that has this capability.
2. When used as a wired remote, no battery is required. This is especially handy if you're operating the camera in countries which have strict regulations on the use of radio frequencies. Using the Cleon receiver purely as a wired remote allows you to get around this restriction.
3. The B position of the slider switch makes the receiver a HDR shooter's dream – I'll explain why in a bit.
4. The transmitter unit is now physically much smaller, a boon to photographers who don't like unnecessary bulk in photographic accessories.

Video clip on using the Phottix Cleon

I've created a 3-minute 14s video on using the Cleon, which is embedded below. You can view the larger version here. Hopefully, you'll be able to appreciate how well the remote works and the functionality that comes with it.

The Cleon Receiver

Like its N1 predecessor, the receiver has a 10-pin connector that plugs into any Nikon film or digital SLR camera having a 10-pin remote terminal.

The Cleon 10-pin connector

Impressively for an inexpensive product, the connector has a locking collar that screws on to the remote terminal on the camera body for a tight fit.

10-pin connector side-by-side with the remote socket on my D300

10-pin connector plugged in

Note that the head of the connector is designed to angle away from the lens release button. This ensures that there is no interference with the operation of the button, and you have sufficient space for your fingers to work the button if there's a need to.
The receiver component gets the biggest updates when compared with the previous Phottix N1 unit.

The Phottix Cleon receiver in wired mode

This, in my opinion, is the biggest improvement the Cleon has over its N1 predecessor. The receiver unit can now operate as a wired remote. Yes, that means you can use just the receiver unit to activate the camera's autofocus and shutter; you don't need to use the transmitter if you don't want to. You don't even have to purchase an additional wired remote. And, you don't need a battery to operate the Cleon in this mode.

The Cleon receiver, top view

For normal wired operation, simply use the button on the receiver. There are two distinct positions – a half-press and full-press. Half-pressing the button activates autofocus on the camera, while pressing the button all the way down takes the picture – exactly how the camera's shutter button itself works. The feel of the button is better with the Cleon than the one on the older N1 transmitter which didn't provide enough tactile feedback on whether the button is half or fully-pressed.

There is also a slider switch with four positions – Off, On, 2S (two-second delay) and B. In the wired mode, there is no functional difference between Off, On and 2S, meaning that pressing the button when the slider switch is in any of these positions will activate the shutter.

The B position is interesting. Suppose you want to fire off a sequence of high speed shots in Continuous mode, whether bracketed or not. Bracketing this sequence of shots implies you intend to use them for HDR (high dynamic range) photography. If you slide the switch all the way to the B position, the camera continues firing just as if you had pressed and held down the button. This is a convenient feature for photographers who don't relish the thought of putting too much pressure on the thumb while taking multiple bursts of 9-shot bracketed sequences.

After the shots have been fired, you must slide the switch away from the B position in order to either resume normal control of the camera (such as image review), or to take another burst sequence by sliding the switch to B again.

Because the B position simulates a full press of the shutter button, you'll need to know how you've set up your camera for shutter release priority. For instance, if you've set the camera up for release priority, sliding the switch to B will cause the camera to take the shot first, and then autofocus next. Of course, if you've configured your camera for Focus priority, then switching to B means the camera will autofocus first, and then take a photo once focus is acquired.

The Phottix Cleon remote control set in wireless mode

Using the Cleon in wireless mode means two things:

• You need the use of both the transmitter and receiver
• The receiver needs to be powered by a battery

The Cleon transmitter

There are four channel selector switches on the back of each of the transmitter and receiver. Each switch can be set on one of two positions, up or down. You need to set the switches identically on both units in order to pair up the transmitter and receiver. These switches were provided to allow up to sixteen sets of Phottix Cleon remotes in the vicinity to operate independently. My set came with all the switches in the down position.

The lettering on the switches aren't exactly top notch, but shouldn't be cause for too much concern since all they do is provide a numerical identification for each switch.

Communication between both the transmitter and receiver is via radio frequency at 315 MHz , so line of sight is not required. Claimed maximum range is 100 meters (320 ft) if there are no obstacles. The antenna of the transmitter can be extended as required.

The Phottix Cleon transmitter with antenna extended to the maximum length

The Cleon N8 operates at 315 MHz

There is one button, and an On / Off switch on the transmitter. Just like the receiver, the transmitter button has two distinct positions, a half-press and full-press. Again, the feel of the button is much better than on the older N1 – you can pretty much distinguish between both positions by feel on the Cleon; the feel is less distinct on the N1.

Folks who prefer a smaller transmitter (like me) will prefer the Cleon. In comparison, the N1 transmitter was much bulkier. The Cleon transmitter measures 9 cm / 3.5 in with the antenna retracted. The N1 transmitter measures 11 cm / 4.5 in. The Cleon is also less thick and not as wide.

Here are some photos comparing the size of the Cleon vs N1 transmitter.

Thickness of transmitter – Cleon vs N1

Transmitter antenna fully extended – Cleon vs N1

Front view of transmitter – Cleon vs N1

Rear view of transmitter – Cleon vs N1

Claimed battery life for the transmitter is up to 3 years. Unfortunately, like the N1, there is no easily-accessible battery compartment. Unlike the N1 though, the screws on the Cleon are slightly larger and much easier to access.

The Cleon receiver

In wireless mode, the receiver needs to be powered by a CR2 lithium battery. On the packaging, the claimed battery life is "20,000 times", which I take to mean as 20,000 actuations.

CR2 lithium battery for the Cleon receiver

The Cleon receiver can optionally mount on to the flash hotshoe of your camera. You lose the ability to use the internal popup flash or external flash when the receiver is mounted this way.

The Phottix Cleon receiver has an adapter for mounting on to a flash hotshoe

Cleon receiver on the flash hotshoe – top view

Cleon receiver mounted on flash hotshoe – side view

The cable on the Cleon receiver is much longer than the N1 unit, and is coiled. I find the Cleon cable a bit more convenient as I can stretch and wrap the cable around, say, the base of the lens to prevent it from flopping around when I don't mount the receiver on the hotshoe.

The adapter is non-directional, meaning you can mount the receiver with the battery compartment facing you (status LEDs face the subject) or with the status LEDs facing the back of the camera.

Cleon receiver on the hotshoe – status LEDs facing front

Cleon receiver on hotshoe – status LEDs facing rear

Receiver size comparisons
Here are two photos comparing the relative sizes of the Cleon N8 vs the N1 side-by-side. When viewed from the top, the Cleon N8 receiver looks slightly longer and slimmer. The addition of the flash hot shoe adapter on the N8 means that the receiver is about a quarter of an inch taller than the N1 receiver, when viewed from the rear.

BULB Exposures

Long exposures are a cinch with the Cleon. You can take BULB exposures in either wired or wireless mode.

First, put the camera into BULB mode. On the D300, this means setting the camera in M mode and choosing a shutter speed of BULB.

Then, if using the Cleon in wired mode, simply slide the switch to the B position. This opens the shutter and the exposure is initiated. To terminate the exposure, simply slide the switch away from the B position. I normally just slide it back all the way to Off. Remember that the receiver does not require battery power for this operation.

If you wish to go the wireless route, first slide the receiver switch to On (the battery is required). Then press and hold the transmitter button for 3 seconds or more – the shutter opens and the exposure is initiated. During the first 3 seconds, the LED on the transmitter glows red.

After 3 seconds the transmitter LED will turn off – this is a signal to you that you can let go of the button. The camera's shutter continues to remain open, and there is no need to hold the button down for the entire duration of the exposure (I'm stating the obvious just to make things clear).

To terminate the exposure, simply half-press the transmitter button and let go – you'll see the transmitter LED flash green briefly, and the shutter closes.

Sample photos and applications

One of the greatest convenience afforded by the Cleon is I can now include myself in group shots – click the thumbnail below for more information and larger images.

Because the Cleon trips the shutter directly (and wirelessly), I no longer need to set and re-set the self-timer. Multiple shots can be taken easily from wherever I stand.

Anytime you feel like not gluing your right finger to the shutter button to trip the shutter, use the Cleon remote. One example is when you're activating the mirror-lockup function on your camera in order to minimize camera shake.

Another example is if you're trying to grab a self-portrait. You know how difficult it is to hold your DSLR in one hand and trying to trip the shutter. In the photo below, my left hand is resting on the table behind me and holding the transmitter. My right hand held the D300 plus Tamron 28-75mm and framed the picture. It was super easy to trigger the shutter using the remote without having to contort my hands and fingers.

Where to buy

The Phottix Cleon N8 is sold on eBay.

Remember that if you're using the D90 or D5000, the correct version to get is the Cleon N10, also sold on eBay.

Owners of the D80 / D70s should get the Cleon N6, which is sold on eBay.

Related Posts

1. Phottix Hero Review
2. Phottix Cleon II Review
3. Phottix Nikos Review
4. Phottix Plato Review
5. Review of the Phottix N8 (previously known as N1) Wireless Remote Control Set and my Nikon D300

The Phottix Nikos remote controller has a built-in self-timer and frame counter, and allows you to perform the following:

1. Counts down the hours, minutes and seconds before triggering the camera to take the shot.
2. For applications such as time-lapse photography, the intervalometer, or interval timer lets you take a photo at preset intervals.
3. With the frame or exposure counter, you can pre-set the number of photos you want taken.
4. Take BULB or long exposures in one of two ways. Either program in the required duration in hours, minutes and seconds, or manually initiate and terminate the exposure using the B slider switch position.
5. Use it as a simple remote shutter release or cable with a two-stage trigger button that acts exactly like the shutter button on your camera.

An overview of the Phottix Nikos is given in the video clip linked to below – just click on the thumbnail to view the footage in high quality mode on YouTube.

Alternatively, you can download the entire movie (47.9 MB) off drop.io (right-click and save to your hard drive).

Where to Buy

The Phottix Nikos is sold on eBay, and you must choose the correct model that corresponds with the camera that you will be using it with:

1. Nikos Timer Remote C6 (on eBay) – for Canon T1i / 500D / Kiss X3, XSi / 450D / Kiss X2, XS / 1000D / Kiss F, XTi / 400D / Kiss X, XT / 350D / Kiss N.
2. Nikos Timer Remote C8 (on eBay) – for Canon 5D Mark II, 50D, 1Ds Mark III, 1D Mark III, 40D, 1D Mark II N, 30D, 1Ds Mark II, 1D Mark II, 20D.
3. Nikos Timer Remote N10 (on eBay) – for Nikon D90, Nikon D5000.
4. Nikos Timer Remote N6 (on eBay) – for D80, D70s.
5. Nikos Timer Remote N8 (on eBay) – for Nikon D300S, Nikon D3X, D700, D300, D200, D2Xs, D2Hs.
6. Nikos Timer Remote S6 (on eBay) – for Sony Alpha A900, A700, A350, A300, A200, A100

Related Posts

1. Phottix Hero Review
2. Phottix Cleon II Review
3. Phottix Plato Review
4. Review of the Phottix Cleon Wired / Wireless Hybrid Remote Control N8 for Nikon D300S / D5000 / D90 / D700 / D300 / D200 / D3 / D3X
5. Review of the Phottix N8 (previously known as N1) Wireless Remote Control Set and my Nikon D300

Just like the Phottix Wireless Remote Set N8 (previously known as Phottix N1), the new Cleon is compatible with all Nikon cameras such as the D3X, D700, D3, D2X / D2Xs, D300, D200, D80 and D70s.

Get the Phottix Wireless Remote Set N8 on eBay instead of the Cleon if you prefer the lower cost unit and don't require the more advanced features on the Cleon.

After examining various options for remotely controlling my Nikon D300, I finally decided to buy the Phottix N8 wireless remote control set off eBay.

It's hard to argue with having to only pay $37.00 USD (shipped, and the remote is cheaper for other makes of cameras – see the Where To Buy section towards the end of this article) for the Phottix Wireless Remote Set N8 which is available on eBay (interestingly, the $59.95 Opteka Wireless Radio Remote Release for Nikon D700, D3X, D3, D300, D200, D100, & D2x SLR Digital Cameras sold at Amazon looks exactly like the much cheaper version I bought), which I purchased from etefore, an extremely reliable merchant. Positive reviews on the product and the merchant from satisfied owners at DPReview.com helped a lot too.

I had four requirements for a remote trigger:

1. Must be easy to take BULB exposure with.
2. Must be light and small.
3. Must be able to operate in wireless mode, so that I could, for instance, include myself in a group portrait and trigger the D300's shutter from where I stand.
4. Must be low-priced.

The Phottix Wireless Remote Set N8 fulfills all four requirements nicely.

Exactly a week after placing the order with the eBay merchant, I received the set in the mailbox. Here is what you get in the package:

Phottix Wireless Remote Control – Set of Transmitter and Receiver

That's the receiver on the left, and the transmitter on the right. This unit works with any of the mid to higher range Nikon digital SLRs, including the D200, D2 and D3 series.

The receiver has a connector that must go into the 10-pin remote terminal on the Nikon D300, like so:

This is how the connector on the Phottix receiver looks like

Open the cover of the 10-pin remote terminal on the Nikon D300

Insert the receiver's connector into the D300's remote terminal

The connector cable does not interfere with the operation of the lens release button

For a device that's so cheap, it's a pleasant surprise that a locking collar is available on the receiver's connector. Screw this collar tightly in order to ensure a secure fit with the D300's remote terminal. For now, I don't use the locking collar – there's no need to as the receiver is very light, and once connected, the fit is secure enough that there is no fear of the receiver falling off. I save a bit of effort this way.

A CR2 lithium battery is required to operate the receiver, and is included in the package. Installation of the battery is easy enough, with a sliding cover for the battery compartment.

The transmitter has an antenna that can be extended. Communication with the receiver is via radio frequency, and the claimed operating range is 100 meters.

16 channels of communication is available, and you set it via 1 of two positions available for 4 switches labeled 1, 2, 3 and 4. The switches need to be set identically on both the receiver and the transmitter. The units arrived with all the switches already in the "Down" position as shown in the photo below – I did not have to change anything.

By the way, the build quality is good enough for me. If you have a macro lens and take a close-up of the lettering though, you might be less than pleased with the quality of the paint job . In my opinion, this in no way detracts from the functionality of the unit as the lettering is used only to label the channel selector switches. It's easy enough to identify which switch is which without having to rely on the labels.

How to operate the Phottix remote control

In order for the remote control to work, the receiver must first be switched on by pressing the only button found on the unit. Once this is done, the red LED on the right lights up.

Half-pressing the button on the transmitter simulates a half-button press on the Nikon D300's shutter release button. In this instance, the left LED lights up and turns green.

Pressing down all the way on the transmitter's button takes the photo. The left LED on the receiver turns red for an instant. If you're shooting in BULB mode, the left LED continues to glow red until the exposure is terminated.

Demonstration: Using the Phottix remote control to operate the Live View on the Nikon D300 and take a long-exposure photo in Bulb mode

The button on the transmitter simulates the shutter release button on the Nikon D300. There are three positions:

1. Unpressed (no battery power is consumed in this instance)
2. Half-pressed, LED on the transmitter turns green: Depending on how your D300 is set up, this activates Auto Focus (AF). In handheld Live View mode, this flips the mirror back down for AF to take place)
3. Fully-pressed, LED on the transmitter turns red: In normal exposure modes, this takes the picture. In BULB mode (or B mode), you must hold the button at this position for another 3 seconds until the red light on the transmitter goes out. Once the required time interval has passed, you just need a half-press on the transmitter's button to bring the camera out of BULB exposure.

I have made a video clip showing how I used the Phottix remote control to operate the Nikon D300 in Handheld Live View mode, and also how I took a long-exposure photo with the D300 in bulb mode.

First, Live View was activated:

Then, I put the D300 into BULB mode:

Here's the video clip (view a larger version) that explains how everything was done:

Sample Photos

I've taken quite a number of photos with the Phottix remote control, but I think this set of pictures shot at my Mother's 61st birthday celebration shows just how convenient the remote control can be. I managed to include myself in the photos by first setting the D300 on a tripod and pre-focusing on the scene. I then mingled with the crowd and let them do whatever they wished, clowning around and posing occasionally. With the remote in my hand, I randomly took the photos by pressing the button every time I wanted a picture. For a larger version of the shots, please go here, but bear in mind that they had been converted from the NEF files at the "Good Balance" quality setting in Nikon View NX.

Using the Phottix remote at this event made me realize one strong advantage it has over using the InfraRed ML-L3 remote to control the Nikon D70 in remote mode. On the D70, every time the exposure meter times out and goes to sleep, the D70 would exit from the remote mode and you can't use the ML-L3 to trigger the D70 anymore. I would have to walk over to the D70 and manually press a button and turn the dial to put the camera into remote mode again. This weakness on the D70 means you can't take your own sweet time and trigger the camera as and when you like.

Despite the Phottix remote system being bulkier than the ML-L3, I now have a very strong preference for the way the remote control system as a whole is implemented on the D300. As long as you have the receiver plugged into the 10-pin terminal, you're good to go and can trigger the D300 anytime you want – there's no such thing as a timeout. Furthermore, connecting the receiver does not in any way interfere with the normal shutter button operations on the camera – you can continue using the camera's shutter button normally.

Conclusion

I highly recommend this product for those who wish for an alternative to the Nikon-made remote controls. For a price that's almost a steal, you get a fully functional unit that I daresay works much better than Nikon's own (more expensive) products, such as the MC-30, which is a cable trigger, or the ML-3, which works with InfraRed (a hugely expensive device that does not have a locking feature for BULB photography, but has a trick function that allows the shutter to be triggered when a subject moves between the transmitter and the receiver).

Where To Buy

Search for the Phottix Wireless Remote Set N8 on eBay.

The Phottix Wireless Remote Set N8 remote is also available for other camera models. The only difference is in the connector type:

1. Phottix Wireless Remote Set N6 (previously known as N2) on eBay, for Nikon D80, D70s
2. Phottix Wireless Remote Set C6 (previously known as C1) for Canon 350D / XT, 400D / XTi and 450D / XSi
3. Phottix Wireless Remote Set C8 (previously known as C3) for Canon 50D, 5D Mark II, 1Ds Mark III, 20D, 30D, 40D, 1D Mark III, 1Ds series and 1D series

Nice To Have

About the only wish I have for all remotes, be they of the Phottix brand or Nikon, is: Make It Smaller!

Much smaller, something like the size of the Nikon ML-L3 infrared remote control that's made for the Nikon D40/s, D50, D70/s, and D80. In my opinion, that's the best size to have for a wireless remote.

Below are some size comparisons:

Phottix remote vs Nikon ML-L3, top view

Phottix remote vs Nikon ML-L3, bottom view

Just for the record, the Nikon ML-L3 needs line of sight from the remote to the sensor on the front of the Nikon digital SLR mentioned above, and can only simulate a full-button press on the shutter release. The Phottix uses radio frequency for communications, which means you can position yourself comfortably anywhere relative to the camera, as long as you're within a 100m radius (the caveat is that there must be no obstacles for this maximum range to be achieved).

Warning

The use of RF (radio frequency) devices is heavily regulated in certain parts of the world, where only certain frequencies are allowed or require a permit while others are forbidden outright. Read TOF Guy's post on why there is a high likelihood that the Phottix remote cannot be used in France.

Related Posts

1. Phottix Hero Review
2. Phottix Cleon II Review
3. Phottix Nikos Review
4. Phottix Plato Review
5. Review of the Phottix Cleon Wired / Wireless Hybrid Remote Control N8 for Nikon D300S / D5000 / D90 / D700 / D300 / D200 / D3 / D3X

Shown here is the LCD on the Hero with a live wireless video feed from my MacBook Pro.

Examples

These photos demonstrate the kind of applications the Phottix Hero can be used for.

Camera on the ground, taking a photo of the car's exhaust pipe.

More to come …

Related Posts

1. Phottix Cleon II Review
2. Phottix Nikos Review
3. Phottix Plato Review
4. Review of the Phottix Cleon Wired / Wireless Hybrid Remote Control N8 for Nikon D300S / D5000 / D90 / D700 / D300 / D200 / D3 / D3X
5. Review of the Phottix N8 (previously known as N1) Wireless Remote Control Set and my Nikon D300