Review: Pixel Wireless Timer Remote Control TW-282

If you’re a photographer who depends a lot on long exposure shooting, astro photography, HDR or even studio shooting, you should own a remote trigger of some sort. Whether this should be wired or not is something you’ll have to decide. For a couple of years, I’ve been using various different options and recently acquired the latest triggering system from Pixel HK - makers of the Pixel Knight triggering systems, an alternative to Pocket Wizard MiniTT1s. It’s more inexpensive than the one from Canon, and the biggest advantage is the fact that it’s a 2.4gz wireless system.

Pixel TW-282 - Transmitter and Receiver

It can double as a wired remote if you so choose, but the main advantage of this unit is the ability to use it untethered. The size of the unit may seem intimidating, but it’s shaped very well to fit in my hand. The only thing I wish it had was a lanyard loop hole. I’m likely going to add something so I can hang this around my neck. Out of the package it comes with everything you need to get going. A transmitter unit, a cord for my cameras and the receiver (when you order the remote, you have to specify which cord you want), a hot shoe mountable receiver unit, batteries and owner’s manual.

The manual is horribly translated, but for the most part, easy enough to figure things out. I don’t understand why these oversea manufacturers can’t find a proper translator.

Like most wired remotes of this type aside from the standard single, multiple, and delayed shooting, it’s a full intervalometer which allows for a full range of timed shooting for long exposure or time lapse photography. There’s options to set how many shots you want to take (or infinite), a delay function (which is handy if you set your bulb function to work in mirror up mode), and the length of exposure time. All of this can be done wirelessly through the main remote.

One real handy feature of this remote is the ability to light up the display. This is really handy in low light and especially when I’m doing black card photography where it’s nice to see what the time is (in the past I’ve counted in my head, or tried to read the top LCD display which is very difficult to do in low light). Another handy feature is the ability to use this as a wired remote. The cord attached to the side of the receiver can be pulled out and plugged directly into the top of the main remote. I would recommend this course of action if you plan to do a time lapse series to conserve the battery power of the receiver.

Wireless remotes are very handy for shots like these: View on Black 

The range is very good. It’s rated for 80 meters (or above according to the manual), but I only tested it at 20 meters (65 feet). It has 99 channels plus a special ALL channel which would be handy to fire all at once if I have multiple cameras with the receiver unit as pictured on top of the camera. The transmitter is rated for 4 years on 2 AAA batteries. The receiver is rated for 400 hours on CR-2 lithium batteries.

Overall the product is very well built. A couple of weird glitches that takes getting used to (like when the remote times out in battery saver mode you need to select the bulb or intervalometer modes again) but for what I paid for this unit I highly recommend getting this over the overpriced wired name branded ones.

If you're in BC, you can order these through Kerrisdale Cameras or Lens & Shutter for around $150.  Booth Photographic Limited is now a Canadian supplier, so if you can get Cameron gear at your local camera stores, they should be able to order them in for you. For more specifications or product information, click on the link.