Wireless remote control: Phottix Cleon

For starters, let me state here that the Phottix Cleon should be seen as a wired remote that has the option to work wirelessly as well. The reason for the distinction is that as a wired device I can recommend this product as a very good accessory but I can’t say the same when viewed as a wireless remote. Its performance as a wireless remote is a bit of a hit and miss affair but if you are interested in its wireless performance and how to improve it, read on.

Wired remote

This remarkable piece of non-pioneering Chinese electronic engineering is maybe just what you needed for those rare occasions when you need a remote. The set consists of the transmitter and the receiver. The receiver has a shutter button also, just like the transmitter, making it a wired remote. So once you hook up the receiver to the camera, you can use it as a wired remote for those occasions, when you don’t won’t to induce movements, trebles or vibrations such as when shooting landscapes and macro shots. This is quite a nice alternative to the Nikon range of MC cords (MC-36, MC-20, MC-30 and MC-DC1) and the wireless remote control ML-3. So compared to the above Nikon products, the Phottix Cleon is a very competitive product any way you look at it. Not only is it cheaper, but it’s just as good and it doesn’t even require a battery when used as a wired remote. Of course, when using this as a wireless remote the supplied CR2 lithium battery needs to be used.

10-pin connection

The Nikon version of the Phottix Cleon comes with a 10-pin terminal together with a screw-on collar. This collar is made of cheap plastic though and the threads seem thin and weak so you need to be careful not to over-tighten the collar otherwise you may strip the threads.

Buttons

The shutter release button on both the transmitter and receiver don’t have the best feel but are nice enough and do offer a well defined two stage release. The transmitter has only a two position switch for the ON-OFF operation on the front together with the main two-stage release button. The other unit on the other hand, the receiver, has a four position switch on the front together with its release button. These are the ON position, the OFF position, the S2 position and the B position. The S2 position presses the release halfway and then waits 2 seconds before pressing fully. Personally I have no use for this feature since the D300 already has a delay function. The B position is to be used in conjunction with the cameras Bulb setting. It simulates the continuous pressing of the shutter release. Unfortunately you can’t control this with the release buttons (at least not when connected with the D300). Once you switch it in the B position firing commences. To end firing you need to manually move the slider from the B position. Even though the B position is designed for long exposures, you can use it for high speed shooting or bracketing as well.

This Roughtail lizard was shot utilizing the Cleon wireless remote control and Nikon D300. I used the AFS 12-24mm lens and the exposure was f/8 @ 1/500sec at 200ISO.

Batteries

The Cleon set comes with the necessary batteries, so as soon as you receive the package, you are set to go. Actually when you first open the box, the only battery you will find is a CR2 lithium as the other is already installed in the transmitter. The receiver has a sliding door over the battery compartment to house the supplied lithium but when the time comes to change the battery in the transmitter you will have to unscrew the bottom cover. With the lithium rated to last for 20,000 actuations and the transmitter rated to last for 3 years I don’t think you will be changing any of these batteries soon.

Quality and size

Now 20 euro’s want buy you a metal casing with weather proofing, but then again I think most of us can do without those characteristics. Both units are small and a little fragile. What I mean by fragile is that they are not something you would jam in your jean pocket. If you want this remote control set to last, unfortunately you will need to baby it a bit. One thing you will need to do as soon as you receive your set is to find some form of casing for it. I found an old Lowe-Pro pouch. The small transmitter has the size of a common lighter and can be inserted in any pocket and can be easily lost or misplaced. The release buttons on both units need to be used gently as I believe their life expectancy will shorten considerably if used aggressively.

16 channels

As mentioned earlier the set supports 16 channels. Choose any combination you like from the four dip-switches on the back panel of each unit. Make sure both units have the same selections otherwise they will not communicate with each other. The communication is via a radio frequency (315Mhz) so theoretically a little obstruction such as a brick wall wont affect it. Although for best performance a clear path between the two units will help secure a more positive response. Phottix claims 100m with no obstacles.

Using the Cleon set

On the D300 I had a hard time fitting the terminal. I had to remove the second rubber grommet to be able to get a good clearance for my chubby fingers. Once connected though, it felt secured though as I have already mentioned, the collar needs to be screwed on with care not to strip the threads. The connecting cord on the receiver is a nice coiled unit with a good length so you can wrap it around your tripod head or tripod hook. The receiver also has a flash foot so you can lock it in the hot shoe when not using flash.

When pressing the release button on either unit, it triggers whatever events are associated with the main shutter release on the camera body. So focusing, metering and vibration reduction will be activated. If however, you have selected the focusing to be activated only by the AF-ON button, then you will have no autofocusing when using the Cleon remote.

The built quality is such that I doubt it will outlast the life of the provided batteries, but at 20 euro’s I don’t think it was ever supposed to. Of course if the set is hardly used and it’s constantly tucked away, then that’s another story.

Real wireless range

Unfortunately, my testing has shown that 15m is about the longest distance achievable for constant wireless triggering. My unit may be faulty, but from experience with other remotes, I’m not surprised by this appalling performance. But there is one thing about this product that makes it shine over other similar devices. When grounding the antenna with your body, the 15m limit jumps to 80m. Not bad, but this means you now need to utilize both hands for taking a shot, one used for pressing the release button and the other to grab the antenna to provide grounding.

This was also shot using the Nikon D300 and the Cleon remote control. The lens was the AFS 12-24mm set at 17mm. Exposure was set at f/11 @ 1/250sec.

Last words

I’m no electrical engineer so if someone can come up with a fix to enhance the antenna performance it would be greatly appreciated. I also would appreciate your experience with regards to the wireless range of your Cleon set. Just add your comments after this post.

Considering what’s available at the moment on the wireless remote control market, this set is a good buy. At 20 euro’s including delivery to Europe, it is the accessory that shouldn’t be missing from any photographer’s bag.

PS: For pics and more info on where to get a Phottix Cleon remote look here

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