Phottix Plato N8 Wireless Remote Shutter Trigger

My Phottix Cleon II went malfunctioning not long after I got it: when it's connected to my Nikon D700, the camera's play back button stop functioning. So I purchased the Phottix Plato N8 to replace it.

The Plato differ from the Cloen II in a few ways:

• it has two-way wireless link to confirm the remote trigger is in range.
• Its range is better than the Cleon II due to the used of 2.4GHr frequency.
• There is no extensible antenna in the Plato remote like the Cleon II.
• The Cleon II, if you want to operate in wired mode, you use the base. unit which is always connected to the camera remote socket. Whereas the Plato, the remote trigger cable can be plug into either the base unit for wireless operation or plug into the remote trigger for wired operation. So the remote unit is ued for both wired and wireless operation..

The Plato remore has five trigger modes to control what happen when the remote trigger button is fully pressed down:

• S for sending a single trigger signal
• 2S is same as S but delay the transmission of the signal for 2 seconds
• Continuous mode sends 5 consecutive trigger signals at a rate of one shot a second.
• B bulb mode to keep the shutter in full press until the remote trigger button is press again. This is used for both when the camera is set to BULB, or continuous high speed mode on the camera. The frame rate is determined by the camera's capability.

Ths S mode in the Cleon II and Plato is different: if I hold the remote trigger button down on the Cleon II, the Camera shutter is in full press until I release the button. However, on the Plato, there is only one full press signal to the camera and that it even if I keep the remote button pressed fully. Nothing more will happen in the camera. Making the camera fire continously in CL or CH mode with the Plato is acomplished with the B mode: full press and release once to start the shooting sequence and full press again to stop.

Half press the trigger button on the Plato remote does two things: 1) confirm the remote and the base unit are in range with two green LED lights and sends a half press shutter release signal to the camera. If the LED for the down link from the base unit is red, that means the remote is out of range.

Reminder to self: smart code setting:

"To set/reset the code press power switch on the receiver five times continously until the light blinks, press the shutter button on the transmitter one time to confirm the code (indication ligh 1 and 2 on transmitter turns green). You can do it to unlimited receivers with one transmitter. One transmitter can trigger unlimited receivers for unlimited cameras even with different brands. One transmitter will operate up to 16,000,000 receivers without interference by someone who uses another Plato transmitter."

I bought the Plato from Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002X2T5F4/ref=oss_product.