New strobe for i-ttl/e-ttl

Hi,

Anthena announced a interesting strobe housing AT-40X, supporting 2 different version of Sunpak PZ-40X strobe(G.N.20~40?). Canon version (PZ-40X-CA)fully support e-ttls through regular 5p connector & Nikon version (PZ-40X-NE)support i-ttl (D70, D200 as well) + 3D-TTL (F5.F100). It looks very compact. Anthena packaged strobe + housing & is priced at appr. U$780 (Japanese price) & target release date is 25 May. Looks good for Macro pic.

http://www.athena-opt.com/new.htm

Sam

I am really surprised about E-TTL with five pins only (instead of six). Didn't know this could work?

Julian

They are NOT using Canon strobe & Sunpak is made by TOCAD energy/Japan & they are in OEM business over 40 years, they said.

See this web page for more details.

http://www.sunpak.jp/e/products/pz40x/index.html

They are NOT using Canon strobe

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I have seen that they use Sunpak strobes but E-TTL cameras have 6 contacts. I am not aware of any E-TTL strobe working with less than six wires (this would be very new to me), no matter if converters or third party topside strobes. As Ike stated, that’s the reason why Ikelite hasn’t come up with external E-TTL conversion cables – no 6 pin bulkhead.

Do you know for sure Sunpak E-TTL strobes have only 5 contacts and deliver E-TTL?

Julian

For non-Japanese speakers, there's also an English version here:

Athenahttp://www.athena-opt.com/newe.htm

It does mention a 5-pin Nikonos connector somewhere in the middle (in the "Style" section")...

Ikelite is able to get eTTL to work with only 5 wires between the housing and strobe...:-)

Cheers

James

Athena has added some great new products to the line over the past year, but I thank the larger question here is would you want to pay more for a housing than you would for a new Inon Z-240 then put a strobe in it that has an eight to ten second recycle time just to get TTL?

Phil Rudin

Ikelite is able to get eTTL to work with only 5 wires between the housing and strobe...:-)

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Hi James,

you mean like it is now (conversion in the housing) or really just 5 pins from the hotshoe in the future for external conversion? :-)

Julian

I think time will tell ,in few weeks, how good or bad this thing is. Re price, it is strobe( U$180 ?) + housing package price. It use 2 AA battery & recycle time is 8-10 sec & no. of shots are 100+ but, I think it still has some value in Macro shots.

Sam