Let me set the record straight right here; I am not a strobist. Ninety five percent of the time I shoot with available light, the other five percent I shoot with my flash set to rear curtain sync (It’s fun. You should try it!) I really don’t like the ugly flat light that on-camera flashes give a subject. Off-camera lighting is wonderful, but until recently with a Canon you only got E-TTL metering by using the short irritating OC-E3 cable.

But, in the last year or so a few companies like Pocket Wizard started selling outfits that would set you back a minimum of $500+ for off-camera E-TTL wireless flash systems! Then, recently I was sent a little gadget that made me feel like a real lighting pro. My good friends at Phottix sent me their latest creation the Phottix Odin TTL Wireless Flash Trigger. In seconds I went from feeling intimidated with off-camera lighting to a giddy little kid with a new toy. A new toy that boosted my self esteem right out of the box. Can you tell I am impressed? I wanted to communicate to you the value this little guy has and the best way I could think of was to shoot a photo or two with it and to let Steve Peer, the CEO of Phottix tell you about the Odin himself. So listen to this short podcast I made with Steve yesterday and while listening you can peruse the cold hard specs below. Enjoy!

Click here for Matt Brandons’s interview with Phottix’s CEO, Steve Peer

Shot using the Odin TTL Wireless Flash Trigger. Flash was off-camera left.

Shot using the Odin TTL Wireless Flash Trigger. Flash was off-camera right.

What can the Phottix Odin TTL Trigger for Canon do?

• Wireless 2.4GHz. TTL and Manual Flash Triggering
• Remote power control of groups in TTL with +/- EV adjustments (3 stops in 1/3 stop increments – 18 different levels.)
• Mix TTL and Manual flash – fire some groups in TTL, others as manual
• Remote power control in A:B ratio modes with +/- EV adjustments
• High speed sync – shutter speeds up to 1/8000 sec.
• Second curtain sync functions
• Remote manual mode flash power control
• Remote flash head zoom adjustments – auto or manual
• Compatible with Phottix Strato 4-in-1 and Phottix Strato II Multi 5-in-1 Wireless Triggers
• Upgradeable via built-in USB ports.

There are two things that stand out about the Odin over other E-TTL wireless trigger that I can see. The first is, Phottix created the Odin’s firing signal on a frequency quite different from the ones Canon uses. Some wireless triggers out there have had trouble with the Canon 580 and 580 EX flash’s own signal interfering with their units and causing significant issues. Their signasl get jammed and the unit fails to fire. Phottix learned from these issues. Also the price. At first glance the Odin seem comparable. But with the suggest price of $350 USD you get LCD controls on the transmitter and a receiver. With some of the other wireless triggers all these are extras. So this is exceptional value!

You can pickup the Phottix Odin at most photography retail shops across the US and Asia.