FLASHPOINT R2 SPT Single Pin Transceivers – Overview

The Flashpoint R2 SPT Single Pin Transceivers are the first simple universal manual flash trigger set directly compatible with the Flashpoint R2 / Godox X Radio Flash System.

And they are available now from Adorama for just $24.95 each, or $49.90 a pair.

The R2 SPT Transceivers were designed to fill a number of commonly requested functions, either used as a stand alone manual flash trigger set, or expanding on the Flashpoint R2 / Godox X Flash System –

• Simple Manual Flash Trigger Set – Also compatible With Flashpoint R2 / Godox X System

• Inexpensive Receiver – Universal To Fire Non Flashpoint / Godox Enabled Lights
• Single Firing Pin Transmitter – Universal To Work On Any Camera With Standard Hotshoe
• Remote Shutter Release – Combined Shutter Release & Flash Firing (TRX Mode)
• Increased Range – Up To 150m, or 300m Using R2 SPT as both TX & RX

Originally released in August 2019, the R2 SPT Transceivers were developed exclusively by Flashpoint (there is no Godox branded version available), and manage to provide a number of convenient features, high build quality and performance, all into a very economical package.

For anyone looking for a simple manual flash trigger set to fire speedlights or studio lights, the R2 SPT now provide an easy choice. As they should work with just about any camera and flash, and are also directly compatible with the most common (Godox/Flashpoint) flash system.

Also people already using the Flashpoint R2 / Godox X System may find having at least one R2 SPT Transceiver in their kit pretty handy as well. Whether its for shutter release, stronger signal, or an inexpensive receiver unit to fire non Flashpoint/Godox enable lights.

The R2 SPT Transceivers not only fire your manual flashes though, they will provide Remote Manual Power Control when acting as a Transmitter to Flashpoint R2 / Godox X System enabled flashes. 

They unfortunately can NOT add Remote Power Control to your NON Flashpoint R2 / Godox X enabled flashes when acting as a receiver though.

FLASHPOINT R2 SPT FEATURES

• Flashpoint R2 / Godox X – 2.4GHz RF Radio System
• Range – To 300m (R2 SPT as TX & RX)
• Range – To 150m (Between R2 SPT and R2 / Godox X System)

• Flash Modes – Manual
• Manual Flash – 1/256 – 1/1 Output (1/3rd Increments)
• APP Mode (Sends Fire Signal Only)

• Remote Modelling Light Power (Global ON/OFF)
• Remote Beep Control (Global ON/OFF)

• Groups as TX – A / B / C / D / E  (5 Groups)
• Groups as RX – A / B / C / D / E  (5 Groups)
• 32 Channels
• Wireless ID 01-99
• Compatible with Flashpoint R2 / Godox X 2.4GHz System

• Backlit LCD Display
• 5 Individual Group Buttons
• Auto Memory Function
• Wireless Shutter Release (In Sync With Flash – TRX Mode)

• Type-C USB Port for Firmware Updates
• 3.5mm Sync Port
• 2.5mm Shutter Release Port
• Powered by 2 AA Batteries

The Flashpoint R2 SPT are Transceivers, in this case with the Transmitter and Receiver units being exactly the same device. A manual switch on the side simply assigns each unit as Transmitter (TX) or Receiver (RX) as required.

Being Single Firing Pin only, the R2 SPT do not provide TTL or HSS, though this allows them to work universally, as well as providing longer range.

Acting as a Transmitter to R2 enabled flashes, the R2 SPT will provide Remote Manual Power Control. (Not when acting as a Receiver though).

Acting as a Transmitter and Receiver Set, the R2 SPT will work with just about any camera and speedlight having a standard hotshoe and foot. Studio lights will require an appropriate sync cord to connect with the Receiver.

The R2 SPT simply fire the remote flashes in sync with the camera shutter. And radio range is increased to 300m when using R2 SPT as Transmitter and Receiver.

Remote Power Control is not available in this situation. Though each of the 5 individual Groups can be turned ON and OFF remotely from the R2 SPT Transmitter.

An R2 SPT acting as a Transmitter on the camera, can fire, and control the Remote Manual Power Levels of Flashpoint R2 / Godox X System flash units. As well as turn the Modelling Light and Beep ON and OFF remotely.

RX MODE

Functioning as a Receiver unit, the R2 SPT provide an economical way to simply fire you existing non-Flashpoint/Godox studio lights and speedlites in sync with the camera.

Whether using another R2 SPT as the Transmitter, or in combination with your Flashpoint R2 / Godox X System enabled Transmitter or Master flash.

(An optional sync cord is required to attach studio lights).

The R2 SPT provide a 300V safe trigger voltage on both the sync port and hotshoe, so even most older flash units should be safe to use connect to the receiver.

NOTE – In RX Mode all buttons on the R2 SPT (except the SET / TEST Fire Button) require a long press to have any effect. This is so that settings can not be bumped and changed accidentally.

TX MODE

Functioning as a Transmitter unit, the R2 -SPT (being single firing pin) are universal to work on most any camera having a standard hotshoe with a center firing pin.

The R2 SPT feature 5 individual quick access Group Buttons – A / B / C / D / E .

In TX Mode the R2 SPT provide Remote Manual Power Control of Flashpoint R2 / Godox X System flash units. As well as turning the Modelling Light and Beep On and Off remotely.

Only Remote Group Control (ON / OFF) is available when also using R2 SPT as Receivers.

NOTE – Double pressing a Group button turns that Group ON and OFF, and Holding a Group button turns that Group ON only (which is consistent with the Flashpoint R2 PRO II transmitter functionality).

APP MODE

When set to TX Mode, the R2 SPT also feature an APP Mode.

In APP Mode the transmitter only sends a fire signal to the remote flash units and other R2 SPT Receivers. No Remote Power Levels or functions are communicated.

To enter APP mode, while in TX Mode, hold the “GR” button for 3 seconds until “APP ” appears on the LCD display.

The APP mode allows another Flashpoint R2 / Godox X transmitter unit, or Mobile device with Godox APP installed, to be used in hand, only for remotely controlling the power levels etc of the flashes.

You may want to use an alternate Master interface in hand like this, simply because its easier to access when the camera is mounted high on a tripod, or because it offers a more detailed interface and adjustments than the R2 SPT Master interface provides.

NOTE – The R2 SPT do not have Bluetooth built-in. So a Bluetooth enabled device like the R2 PRO II or A1 / M1 will still required if you wanted to use the smartphone APP.

SHUTTER RELEASE – TRX MODE

The R2 SPT Transceivers provide a shutter release function which can be used to remotely fire a camera’s shutter.

And in TRX Mode the R2 SPT also provide the more complex function of firing both a remote camera shutter, and remote flash units in sync together, and with just one transceiver unit attached to the camera.

(Where previously a second shutter release set (transmitter & receiver units) would be required to trigger the camera shutter, plus another transmitter attached to the camera hotshoe to fire the remote flashes).

To fire both remote camera shutter and flashes, the R2 SPT transceiver must be set to TRX mode, and both mounted on the camera’s hotshoe, as well as connected via an appropriate shutter release cord.

To set the R2 SPT transceiver to TRX mode, set the switch to RX mode, and hold the SET button for 3 seconds until “TRX” is show on the LCD display.

Using a second R2 SPT Transceiver (set to TX mode) in hand as the remote shutter release button (as shown above) provides the most range, up to 300m.

Though any of the Flashpoint R2 / Godox X System transmitter or master flash units can also be used as the shutter release in hand (as shown below).

So effectively even owning just one R2 SPT Transceiver could be very hand for many people already using the Flashpoint R2 / Godox X Flash System.

TTL / HSS WITH SHUTTER RELEASE

Unfortunately there is no TTL or HSS possible with only an R2 SPT Transceiver attached to the camera hotshoe acting as TRX shutter release.

If TTL or HSS is required with remote shutter release, a TTL Transmitter must always be mounted on the camera hotshoe, and basically a second pair of R2 SPT Transceivers would be required as a separate remote shutter release set.

TRX MODE CHANNELS

Also an issue Flashpoint ran into while developing the R2 SPT Transceivers was that the shutter release unit in hand would unwantedly Test fire the remote flashes early, as you tried to release the camera shutter. The flashes could not recycle fast enough then to fire again when needed when the shutter was open.

To avoid this issue the TRX mode was set up so that the shutter release remote in hand must be set to one Channel higher than the TRX unit attached to the camera and remote flashes are set to (as illustrated below).

This way the TX in hand can not directly communicate with the remote flashes, and fire them early.

Though the TX in hand can be briefly set back one Channel to directly Test fire the lights while taking light meter readings, and remotely adjusting power levels.

BUTTON FUNCTIONS

Although not the ideal situation (as a lot more useful functionality was ultimately squeezed into the R2 SPT Transceivers than originally intended) access to a few of the functions is not obvious unless you know actually where they are –

– APP Mode – In TX Mode, Hold the “GR” button for 3 seconds to enter, and release.
– TRX Mode – In RX Mode, Hold the “SET / TEST” button for 3 seconds to enter, and release.

– LCD Backlight Stay On – Hold Group buttons A & C for more than 2 seconds to enter, and release.
– Factory Reset – Hold the “-” and “+” buttons for more than 2 seconds.

– In TX Mode – Double Pressing a Group Button – Turns that Group ON and OFF.
– In TX Mode – Holding a Group Button – Turns that Group on only.

Also accessing and adjusting Channel and ID can take a little getting used to. Its intentional that you must hold the Channel and ID buttons for 2 seconds before accessing them so that they are not changed accidentally.

And because a speedlite mounted on the transceiver hotshoe in RX Mode can block access to the Group Letter, “-” , “+”, and “SET” buttons, its also possible to adjust the Group, Channel, and ID, using only the corresponding “GR”, “CH”, and “ID”, buttons, by pressing them multiple times to scroll through to the desired setting.

PASS THROUGH HOTSHOE

Although when used as a Transmitter mounted on the camera hotshoe, the R2 SPT Transceiver does actually have an active (single pin) hotshoe available on top, this hotshoe was predominantly designed only for use when the R2 SPT is used as a Receiver unit.

That is mainly just because any flash or extra transmitter unit mounted on top of the R2 SPT will likely block access to the Transmitters LCD display and Master control buttons.

FLASHPOINT R2 SPT SPECS

PRICE AND AVAILABILITY

The Flashpoint R2 SPT Transceivers are available now from Adorama –

R2 SPT – Single $24.95 – Adorama, Amazon.
R2 SPT – Pair $49.90 – Adorama, Amazon

Shutter Release Cords –
Canon N3 – Adorama, Amazon
Canon 2.5mm – Adorama, Amazon
Nikon 10 Pin – Adorama, Amazon
Nikon DC-2 – Adorama, Amazon
Sony – Adorama, Amazon
Sony Multi – Adorama, Amazon
Olympus – Adorama, Amazon
Panasonic – Adorama, Amazon

Sync Cord –
3.5mm to 3.5mm/6.3mm – Adorama, Amazon

Flashpoint – Website

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