I have 3 Schneider Digitar lenses I used to use with a multishot Jenoptik back that could control the shutters with just a cable from the lens to the back, with AC power to the lens coming via a wall socket in the studio.
I no longer use this back but have a Sinar eMotion 75LV back. The Sinar software cannot control the shutter with just a cable like the Jenoptik software could - the only way to fire these shutters is with hardware from Schneider - either a battery powered hand controller (the 'ES') or a USB box that operates the shutters via a small application on a computer. This application can communicate with most capture software so the software can fire the shutter when tethered. Both options are a cumbersome solution to fire the shutters and make my lenses usable again, but the only other option is to convert all my lenses to Copal shutters which costs more than the USB box or ES controller.
So I need to decide between the USB box or the ES controller - the former must be used with a computer so tethered only, although with a laptop I would still have a degree of freedom. The latter allows me to work untethered but with a large handset hanging off the tripod, but at least it's smaller than a laptop. However I don't know if the ES controller allows me to also release the shutter from the computer, giving me the best of both worlds. My intuition and a read of both the manuals seems to suggest it doesn't. There is some mention of 'external control' by the digital back in the ES manual, and I am clarifying that with my local Schneider dealer and Sinar, but in the meantime I thought I'd see if there are any users of these devices out there who can offer some help.
Ben
