Ojecoco H-550 – abolishing sync speeds as we know it?
Ojecoco, a Chinese start-up based in Shenzhen, have introduced a new transceiver flash trigger, the H-550. When every man and his dog seems to be producing flash triggers these days – including an increasing number of transceiver-based competitors – what can this new company offer that stands out from the crowd?
In this case, we have a device that is actually rather unique, for the H-550s are high speed triggers incorporating “hyper sync”. What does this particular bit of jargon mean?
Hyper sync, not to be confused with “high speed sync” or FP Sync, is a method by which remote flashes are triggered earlier than usual such that faster shutter speeds than the conventional sync speed may be used. The process capitalises on the long burn duration of studio flashes and speedlights at full power – providing light continuously throughout the entire exposure.
The PocketWizard ControlTL system also offers this feature, but at a steep price with many extra functions – such as wireless TTL – which you may not need. Moreover, in order to adjust the Hyper Sync timing on PocketWizards, the devices must be connected to a computer and calibrated using a computer programme. If you are switching between different settings, flashguns or cameras during a shoot, the last thing you want is to be lugging around a laptop and having to plug your triggers into it all the time.
Ojecoco, on the other hand, have made everything very simple. The H-550 offers basic manual triggering with the addition of hyper sync. To fine-tune the synchronisation delay with your particular flash-camera combination, simply turn the adjustment wheel on the trigger itself. Below, you can see how I managed to establish a perfect synchronisation at 1/8000 with a Nikon D700 and Speedlight SB-600 with just a few photographs and a bit of twiddling of the H-550 adjustment wheel.
Ojecoco H-550 tested at 1/8000 sec with a Nikon D700 and SB-600
Once the H-550s have “learned” your camera profile, you can change shutter speed at will and synchronise from below your X-Sync speed all the way up to your maximum shutter speed (1/4000 – 1/8000 sec). Can any other cheap Chinese trigger do this? See the comparison for yourself below.
There is a catch, however. In order to enable the high speed mode, the H-550 transmitter has to be plugged into the shutter release port of your camera at all times. This means you’ll have a loose cable to contend with while hand-holding your camera. Perhaps a minor inconvenience when compared to the benefits of all the extra shutter speeds available to you. And when using your camera at shutter speeds below X-Sync, you can dispense with the cable, turn off High Speed mode and use the H-550 like any other off-camera flash trigger.
In other departments, the Ojecoco H-550 is comparable to the Phottix Strato, Pixel Rook or Bishop, offering wireless flash grouping, TTL pass-through, standard batteries and non-proprietary connector ports. Communication over the 2.4GHz frequency band is reliable.
One peeve I did notice was with the Nikon D700 and SB-600 in High Speed mode. If the D700 ever took more than half a second or so to focus (for example hunting in low light) then the H-550 would fire the SB-600 prematurely. In other situations however, the H-550 dependably fired when it was supposed to and not when it shouldn’t.
The H-550 is compatible with almost any flash. On the other hand, the number of cameras supporting High Speed mode is limited to a subset of DSLRs with shutter release ports. Due to a change in the way newer video-enabled Nikons handle shutter-release signals, the likes of the D300s won’t work either.
The Ojecoco H-550 is available on eBay for $119.99 per 2-transceiver kit. Could this be an affordable alternative to PocketWizards or Radiopoppers for those seeking to use higher shutter speeds with flash? Let us know your questions and comments below.
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I noticed an odd omission from your comparison chart. The Pixel Knight. That thing will sync up to 1/8000th fairly reliably without any tweaking.
I’m actually about to do another video review of it, since there were things I missed on my last one:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lPKS32RzpEI
And here’s my last outing with them in broad daylight:
https://plus.google.com/photos/113934645215952069062/albums/5628694969906796033
Is there any reason why no one ever knows of or uses these?
The chart represents our own test results. We don’t have any Pixel Knights to experiment with.
Thanks for this review! That’s a very interesting feature indeed. I’ll take you up on your offer to answer questions.
Hi Gerard.
One more question! The Ebay listings only seem to include models designed for Canon cameras. Did you have one of those that you used with your D7000 or did you get a Nikon specific version?
We used a Nikon specific version on the camera. Though the Canon and Nikon versions are intercompatible (we have a Canon transceiver here too).
hi
i emailed the seller on eBay. he said when you buy them put in the notes that you want the Nikon version and which Nikon camera its for.
ordered the other week and just got it (dhl) (very fast)!!! had to pay $10.31 taxes (Canada), don’t mind. haven;t had a time to test them out yet..
Interesting! I use Pixel Knight and i achieve 1/4000(i use Nikon D90| without any problem. You should test and compare it to this trigger.
Here, you can see some of the results – http://www.flickr.com/photos/alexcubata/6321896858/in/photostream
http://www.flickr.com/photos/alexcubata/6321897044/in/photostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/alexcubata/6321898916/in/set-72157628073140696
Nice work!
The grouping function in Ojecoco’s trigger is interesting. It’s easier to work with a grouping trigger. For example for my photos i used one Freelander 300 power pack kit, but when i use two light bodies sometimes i need to turn off the fill light and i just make this from the trigger(with Flex TT5, MiniTT1 and AC3)
These look interesting when is the nikon set out..?
The Pixel Knights do not support Hyper Sync. They do support triggering flashes that have HSS built in to the flash. A significant difference.
markdphoto2000 What do you mean? I see the Pixel Knight with regular studio flashesh and battery power pack and i shoot at 1/2000 or more very often.
David, thank you very much for the review, in specific – and keeping me posted in the world of remote triggers in general.
I like your max speed sync test, however I was wondering if you tested some of the triggers that have TTL pass through with this “trick” that you put an SB-800 on top of the transmitter to enable HSS. If the remote flashes are set to full power, you should get probably the same exposure as with these triggers. Would be interesting to see how they compare.
-Peter
I’m aware of this trick but don’t have an SB-800 to try it out.
Ha, bummer. I have a SB-800, but only a D40…
So could you measure the light loss you get when shortening shutter times?
Could someone clarify if Pixel Knights can be used with non TTL system flashes (3rd party flashes)? Also, what is power loss with those?
wireless remote triggers? might be worth a look : )
You said:
“On the other hand, the number of cameras supporting High Speed mode is limited to a subset of DSLRs with FP sync and shutter release ports.”
I have tested it now with a D3100 (which does not have FP sync but does have a shutter port). FP Sync is NOT needed for the HSS to work. Which is great because the D3100 will only go to an x-sync of 1/200.
Thanks. Corrected!
Will this work with a D5000? In the article, you wrote, “Due to a change in the way newer video-enabled Nikons handle shutter-release signals, the likes of the D300s won’t work either.” At first, I thought that meant that newer video-enabled Nikons will NOT work with this technique, but it sounds like CotswoldPhoto confirmed that it works with a D3100.
is possible to trigger studio flashes at high speed (1/200) or only works with TTL flashe?