PIXEL – Mago – HSS Flash Hands On Review (from http://flashhavoc.com/)

Pixel have released their first HSS enabled ETTL speedlite in the new Mago, and they are available now from an incredibly low $90. This is around half the price of the current comparable YongNuo YN-568EX II, and very likely the beginning of the end of premium prices normally associated with HSS enabled TTL hotshoe flashes. UPDATE – 1st November 2014 - PLEASE NOTE – Although the initial Mago flash units where providing quite good ETTL exposures, this has unfortunately gone backwards with later firmware updates. And there have been quite significant issues reported with ETTL exposures and consistency with E9A_003 and E9N_004 firmware version units. This is not uncommon with Pixel firmware updates, and no doubt Pixel will improve the firmware again in time. Though at this point it may depend on which model flash you receive as to how useful the ETTL exposures are. Please see the “Firmware Updates” section at the bottom of the page for more details on these flash model and firmware variations. Pixel MAGO The Mago are surprisingly well built for flashes of this price, better than YN-568EX II in a some ways. And also providing a few significant extra features like – 20-200mm zoom (compared to 24-105mm) External HV Battery Port USB Port for Firmware Updates LED Video Light High Definition Dot Matrix LCD Screen Quick Lock Foot In terms of functions, the Mago really only lack the basic manual S1 and S2 optic slave modes. UPDATE – S1 and S2 may now have been added with later firmware updates. More of an issue for some people though, will be the lack of compatibility with other third party TTL radio triggers like the YongNuo YN-622C (currently working in TTL, but not in remote manual) and Phottix Odin etc. The Mago should offer a great inexpensive HSS enabled option for Pixel King and King Pro users though. Also at the time of writing this the Mago are still a work in progress to some degree regarding some TTL exposures and a few other small quirks, which will all likely be resolved over time with new firmware. The Mago are 90% of the way there already, and completely usable, though Pixel can sometimes to take a bit of time to resolve things completely with new firmware updates. Hardware wise the Mago appear to be fairly well resolved (though there a few small issues as mentioned below). Otherwise the Mago are full power flashes, with fast recycle times etc, and very well built for the low price. - See more at: http://flashhavoc.com/pixel-mago-flash-review/#sthash.YiprO1Iq.dpuf