I’ve been using PocketWizard products for a decade and a half now, and they’ve always been dependable out in the field, no matter the conditions. They’ve recently announced a new product to their lineup – the Plus Ve – and it looks like it’ll continue in their tradition of reliability.
Known for producing some of the most reliable and rugged remotes and triggers for working photographers, PocketWizard is a company that many rely on. When I’m out at the racetrack, every photographer, local or visiting, who has remote cameras lined up, has a PocketWizard of some sort mounted on them. I’ve relied on PocketWizard triggers in situations like this while photographing horse racing. Remote cameras placed along the track can capture moments that are hard to photograph from the normal shooting position. Using PocketWizard radios to trigger these cameras has been very reliable, firing exactly when the action happens. I’ve probably owned at least four different types of their transceivers to date, but the new Plus Ve has some distinguishing features.
Main Features Of the PocketWizard Plus Ve
The smallest PocketWizard made, the naming of the models continues the Roman numeral series we’re familiar with (I’ll explain later what the ‘e’ at the end is for. At its core, the PocketWizard Plus Ve is a transceiver. This means it’s a unit that can act as either a remote transmitter or a remote receiver, which can save time on set. For photographers who work with multiple remote units, this can be a very handy feature. Just put the units where they need to be and turn them on. No need to worry about flipping switches to change modes.
Unlike the Plus IV, the Plus V is a vertically designed unit, much like the earlier Plus III and Plus X models. But what’s unique about this model is the screen – unlike the LCD screens that we’re used to seeing on PocketWizards, the screen on the Plus Ve is an OLED. I have multiple rechargeable AA batteries in my kitty because of the number of PocketWizards I have, but none of those will be needed for the Plus Ve, as it has an internal 800 mAh Lithium-Ion battery that can last about 35 hours. This’ll help free up quite some space in my accessory bag.
What’s The ‘e’ For?
So sometime back in 2019, PocketWizard introduced the E Release firmware upgrade for many of its models. They don’t quite specify what the E stands for, but I’m guessing it’s for ‘Extended’. This firmware was introduced to give some Pocketwizard models a complete protocol change in how they send and receive signals. It translates into longer-range possibilities between remote and trigger units, as well as less interference from other radio signal units in the vicinity. In places like sports arenas, racetracks, or large studios, many devices compete for radio signals (think dozens at international sporting events). The E Release system helps radios maintain a strong, stable connection between transmitter and receiver units even in these tough conditions.
What was nice of PocketWizard was that they made this firmware update available to a lot of their older models too. The E Release protocol seems to have been the way forward for the company since then, and the Plus Ve protocol does too. This also means that the Ve only communicates with E release firmware upgraded or natively available earlier models of PocketWizard. The one catch though, for those with older models, is that there’s a fee for this firmware upgrade. Some units are unfortunately not capable of being upgraded (such as the Plus, Plus II, Max, MultiMAX, and MultiMAX II models).
No High Speed Sync?
Quite some years ago, we tested the Plus III and Plus X units from PocketWizard, and one of the things we noted was that the sync speed was limited to 1/250s for cameras with focal-plane shutters and 1/500s for leaf-shutter cameras. Unfortunately, PocketWizard hasn’t improved this in the Plus Ve, and the sync speed remains exactly the same – no high speed sync capabilities here. This is a major bummer for those who want to use external strobes and flashes to freeze action of any kind in their photos. PocketWizard’s Plus models have typically focused on straightforward, reliable manual triggering instead of advanced TTL or high-speed sync workflows.
Removable Hotshoe
In a first of sorts, the PocketWizard Plus Ve comes with a removable hot shoe. Once removed, you can see a standard 1/4-20 mounting thread, which can help attach the unit to rigs or clamps if needed, rather than just dangling off the side of your camera.
We’re not totally sure if it means that you can swap out TTL transmission or not.
The Plus Ve isn’t a revolutionary model by any means, not even with the addition of an OLED screen and internal battery in there. It appears to be more of a refinement for their product lineup. Photographers using remote cameras or off-camera flash systems can trust that the Plus Ve will continue PocketWizard’s long-standing approach: building dependable tools that work every time the shutter is pressed.