Calumet Litelink Radio Triggering System

I decided to buy a set for my studio to trigger my Profoto packs. I don't like the 'profile' of the pocket wizard at all! I am a portrait photographer, and the Pocket Wizard makes the camera look really menacing; especially scary for kids: Like a walkie-talkie mounted on your camera - I want my camera to be unobtrusive - so I went with the Litelink's. The battery life is awesome, the profile of the units is also great - they don't stick out like a.... well you get the idea - nice form factor. They work - but as another reviewer noted they trigger the strobe for no reason all the time - it's really annoying to have your lights triggering when you don't expect it! It does keep your subject guessing - this can be a good thing sometimes, people get used to the strobe popping all the time and relax - but I could live without it!

Form factor-
Battery life-
Easy to use-
Reliable-

Triggers my lights at random all the time - very anyoying.. I still like the form factor over the PW though. No support for my Sekonic Meter like PW (no big deal)..

Pocket Wizard

I should call Calumet and complain about the random triggering - but I am in Australia...

First of all let me say i love the design of the litelinks. And battery life is second to none. but it ends theres...

I've experienced nothing but problems with these radio triggers. And after today i signed up with this website and other just bash this horrible product Calumet Calls "LiteLink".

And just for the record. I worked as assistants for other photographers and pocket wizards have never given any of the photographers i've worked for any trouble at all!

Design is intresting, Battery Life is good.

These radio slaves will trigger your strobes without warning. This is very minor but does get annoying when you've asked a model to hold her pose, and the strobes go off and the model thinks youve take a picture and such, he or she changes her position.

Major flaws with the design of the housing. Its plastic and it cracks, and crumbles. If you look at the hot shoe portion of these units it removable. probably because they realized it would be prone to cracks and structural flaws, But still cant you make them out of a metal or some sort more reliable material.

email me for a picture of my litelinks. one of them has litterally fallen appart.

Poket Wizzards

Customer Service at Calumet is terrible, I asked them to take it back and they refused. Needless to say i will not be shopping there any longer and more important I will stay away from any Calumet Brand product.

I 've used the Bowens Pulsars (the UK version of the LinkLites) for well over a year now, on both editorial and events assignment. They have worked flawlessly. No if's and no but's! I am not going to dispute the reliability of the Pocket Wizards because they have a proven record amongst us photographers the world over but some of the comments I have read on this forum about the Pulsar/LinkLite are severely wide of the mark.

I don't know about the US but here in Blighty, price alone have almost guarenteed that Pulsars are finding their way into many photographers kit bags. I've also had no problems finding places which hire them. The fact that they sit horizontally in the hotshoe instead of vertically (like the PW's) is another big plus. Battery life with these puppies is incredible. I use rechargable AAA's in mine and they haven't failed yet (touch wood).

There is alas one big difference between the UK version of the Linklite with that of the US. The UK version is fitted with an extra six channel "studio" selector, where the US version is fixed to one (which means that I can put clear bluse water between me and the other guy using and shooting on the same system. Sooner or later Bowens are going to have to fix this anomaly in Anglo-US trade relations because apart from the rather flimsy battery compartment door, I can't remember one serious problem I have had with this product.

Great price, flat profile, reliable triggering.

Flimsy battery compartment door. Securing knob can be bxxxh to handle.

Pocket Wizard Max.

I finally made the descision to purchase some remote triggers for my mobile portrait setup and really like the LiteLink setup. I really like how small the devices are and their extra low profile is an added plus. I have no problem using them while my camera is mounted on a ProT bracket. All the other brands would not allow this without some trouble. Another advantage to this setup is the ability to add sync cords too, so that I can trigger a neaby flash while remotely triggering another. Not the ideal setup but a nice option to have in a fix.

Low profile and price.

None.

Pocket Wizard.

Excellent.

So far I love these little guys. The through the wall test has been made & the full distance test may never happen due to being a portrait photographer mainly. The size of the Litelinks is great and easy to mount on light stands. Everything you need appears to be included, from sinc cord to socket adapter and mounting accessories. The test will come with a wedding I have next week. I will of course complete a few more test before then and will post another review.

size, accessories, distance possibilities, ease of use(you almost don't need the manual),price(saved $90 over the pocket wizards), 5 year warrenty

none so far

very helpful, answered all questions I could think of, which was alot. Fast delivery