It seems Android users always play second fiddle to iPhone users when it comes to photography accessories that can be controlled via our phones. This happens because there are many variations of Android phones and thus subtle software tweaks that developers have to account for. Still, the fine folks over at Profoto have figured out a way to bring their Profoto Connect flash trigger to Android devices. Join us after the break for all the details.
If you’re unfamiliar with the Profoto Connect, let us fill you in quickly. Profoto listened to photographers who claimed to have a hard time with traditional remote flash triggers due to complicated menus, hard to read screens, and poor button layouts. To fix this issue, Profoto decided to make a trigger that would be easier to use. The Profoto Connect sits in the hot shoe of your camera, just like any other remote flash trigger would, and there are three simple settings; Auto, Manual, and Off. There are no screens or buttons; you control it via your phone through the Profoto app. So for those of you who struggle with regular flash triggers, this could be for you.
The Profoto Connect for Android could be the perfect companion for your Profoto B10 or any other AirTTL compatible Profoto light. But, keep in mind that the Connect has only been tested on a handful of Android phones so far. The phones that have been confirmed to work with the Profoto Connect are; the Samsung S9+, S10, and S10+; the Note 8, Note 9, and Note 10; the Huawei P20 Pro, Huawei M20 Pro, Huawei Mate 30, and Huawei P30 Pro; the Google Pixel 3, 3a, and 4; the Xiaomi Mi 8, Mi 9, and the Mi Mix 3; the OnePlus 6, OnePlus 7 Pro, and the HTC U12+. So, there’s not yet an extensive list of phones officially compatible, but honestly, you should be just fine with whatever Android phone you have as long as you have Android version 7 or higher.
There are Profoto Connects compatible with Canon, Sony, Nikon, Fujifilm, Olympus, and Panasonic cameras. The connect has a battery life of roughly 30 hours and a range of approximately 1000ft. The Profoto Connect is available through Adorama with a price of $299. For more information, head on over to the official Profoto website.
