The Miops Smart+
The MIOPS Smart+ trigger is the swiss army knife of camera triggers. This single, compact and lightweight device, is a wireless camera remote, a lightning trigger, a laser and sound trigger and can also be used to trigger a flash!
Admittedly, I haven’t exploited its full potential as there are several functions which I do not use for landscape and Astro photography, such as the laser and sound trigger, or using it to trigger a flash. However, for landscape, severe weather and astro photography, the Miops Smart+ trigger is a great addition to my camera bag!
The Miops Smart+ has many different functions built in to it, these are:
Lightning - The Lightning Mode triggers the camera when the internal light sensor detects lightning strikes in front of the device.
Sound - The Sound Mode on the Miops Smart triggers the camera or flash when the internal microphone detects sound events.
Laser - The laser mode triggers the camera or flash when the laser beam from an external source being pointed to the Miop’s sensor is broken.
Timelapse - MIOPS Smart can take control of the camera, similar to an intervalometer.
Stormlapse -The Stormlapse mode is a combination of basic timelapse mode and Lightning mode. It allows the user to capture lightning photos while also shooting a basic timelapse.
Bulb Ramp – The Bulb ramping mode is required to capture the ‘Holy Grail’ of timelapse, this is a day to night or night to day timelapse. The Bulb Ramping Timelapse mode allows the exposures to vary, contrary to a regular timelapse, where all frames have the same exposure settings.
Remote - The Remote mode functions as an intervalometer, with the options of Cable release, Press & Hold and Press & Lock.
Timer – The timer function allows the device to be used as a simple timer to set a delay when triggering a camera.
HDR - This function allows the camera to capture multiple frames with different exposures, even if the function is not built in to the camera. These exposures can then be blended to give a high dynamic range image.
DIY - The DIY mode enables you to use external sensors to trigger the device, these include pressure, temperature, humidity. I haven’t had the chance to experiment with DIY mode, but with the ability to use any potential sensor, this makes the Miops Smart+ an incredibly versatile tool for all photographers.
Scenario - In Scenario mode the user is able to combine multiple features to create their own custom controller.
The Miops Smart+ in use on a rainy sunrise shoot
What’s in the box?
1 x MIOPS Smart+
1 x Rechargeable Battery
1 x Flash Connection Cable (PC SYNC)
1 x USB Charge Cable
An image of a storm captured using the Miops Smart+
First Impressions
I bought my MIOPS Smart+ camera trigger about 9 months ago, with the hope of using it to capture lightning from a summer thunderstorm here in Malta. Prior to buying the Miops Smart+, I had always captured lightning manually, (With longer exposures), but this meant I wasn’t able to capture lightning during the day without messing about with ND filters to give me longer shutter speeds.
The MIOPS Smart+ arrived with a battery which was already half charged, this is great as it allowed me to set it up and connect it to my phone prior to charging it. The unit is turned on by simply flicking a switch, once on, there is a simple menu with the different functions mentioned above. The menu is easy to navigate and the screen is bright and easy to see, even when used during the day.
When I received the Miops Smart+ it did not have the latest version of firmware installed, but this was easy to do by just connecting the device to the Miops Mobile app and following the instructions. This only took a few minutes to get done.
The connection ports on the side of the Miops Smart+
Build Quality
The device itself is well built and is made from solid, high quality plastic. The unit is compact and won’t take up much space in a camera bag. It is attached to the camera by sliding it into the hot shoe. The device also has a ¼’’ attachment in the base, meaning it can be mounted to any other accessories which have the same thread (Such as an Arca swiss plate or a tripod).
On the front of the device are the trigger’s sensors, used to detect lightning strikes and lasers. The sound sensor is in the pinhole on the underside of the device.
MIOPS Smart+ comes with a rechargeable and replaceable battery which lasts for ages (Miops state it can last upto 4 days of continuous use with a single charge), it has at times lasted over 6 weeks without needing to be charged when using it intermittently to shoot on different occasions. It can be charged with any device containing a USB port with the included Mini USB Cable and can also be charged on the go, such as from a power bank or even a car USB charger.
The MIOPS Smart+ uses connection cables to trigger your camera or flash unit, these are camera specific, meaning you may need multiple cables if you plan to use the device on cameras which have different connections. I now use both a Nikon Z6II and a Nikon Z7II, which use the N3 Connection. I previously used a Nikon D810 which used an N1 Connection. Each cable has a male 2.5mm stereo jack on the end to connect it to the Miops Device, the port is on the left side of the device under a protective cover.
An image of a storm captured using the Miops Smart+
Usability
The Menu system in the MIOPS Smart+ is very easy to navigate, there are 4 directional buttons and 2 main buttons in the middle. All of the buttons are easy to press and have a solid feel to them. Scrolling through the different modes and changing settings is quick and easy.
In addition to using the unit directly, you can download MIOPS’s smartphone app. It is available for both iOS and Android platforms and can be used to setup and control the device. The app is very well designed and simple to use with a great user interface.
I found the app more convenient to use than the buttons and menu on the device itself. Connecting the device to a smart phone via Bluetooth is also quick and easy, I have shot from distances of 10 meters away from my camera without issue.
My Miops Smart+ triggers
Using The App
The mobile app has a main menu which lists all the different functions in different categories. You can switch between different modes by just tapping on them. Once you select the mode / function that you want to use, a new screen loads where you can input the settings you would like to use.
When you connect your MIOPS Smart+ through the MIOPS MOBILE app, you will notice the word ‘Connected’ in green and the device ID. Connecting the device just takes a few seconds.
Screen grabs of the Miops App showing the clean and intuitive user interface
Using the Miops Smart+ to capture Lightning
The main reason I was interested in the MIOPS Smart+ was to use it as a lightning trigger. I was not disappointed, on the very first outing I managed to capture a lightning bolt during sunrise.
The only parameter which can be set in Lightning Mode, is ‘Sensitivty’, which is the device sensor’s sensitivity to changes in light. A lower sensitivity can be used when capturing lightning at night, but during the day, its best to increase this to improve the chances of capturing a lightning bolt.
When storm chasing, if the storm is close, I can leave the Miops on my camera shooting and can shelter in my car or a nearby building.
Although we have not had many storms this season, the few times I have used the trigger it has caught a few of the bolts, mostly around sunrise and sunset. I have found that throughout the day, the trigger doesn’t capture as many bolts as I would have liked, to be fair though, I don’t think this is because there is anything wrong with the trigger, but instead due to the fact that lightning bolts are less visible during the day since there is much more ambient light and therefore less contrast.
An image of a storm at sunrise captured using the Miops Smart+
A ‘Behind the Scenes’ shot of the Miops Smart+ in action at sunrise
Using the Miops Smart+ as a remote trigger
As a landscape photographer, having a reliable camera trigger which can be used to control your camera, (especially when set up in a precarious position) is critical. I’ve spent the past few years using wired intervalometers, although they worked, they were a nuisance! I always needed to remember to have a set of batteries charged for them, they had a habit of not working when you need them most and the wires always ended up in a messy bunch, apart from this, when shooting in wind, the wires would flap around and cause camera shake… If only there was an easy wireless solution, something which could be controlled by my mobile… Enter Miops Smart+! This was the perfect solution to all my problems!
I have found the Miops Smart+ perfect for shooting long exposures in bulb mode, where you can set the time of your exposure and not touch or disturb the camera. I have found this useful both when shooting landscapes, but also whilst shooting the Milkyway with my camera on a star tracker.
The final image of sunrise at Tal Hamrija, captured using the Miops Smart+ as a remote camera trigger
Using the Miops Smart+ for a Timelapse
I don’t shoot timelapse often, and prior to buying the Miops Smart+, I would use Nikon’s built-in interval timer to shoot timelapse sequences, however the interval timer is sometimes finicky to setup. I’ve used the Miops Smart+ to capture a couple of timelapse sequences already, the Miops Smart has been super easy to setup for timelapses and hassle free, especially when using Bulb mode on the camera and setting exposures which are longer than 30 seconds. I used the Miops Smart+ to capture a 3 hour timelapse of the Geminid meteor shower back in December 2020. The app shows a countdown of remaining shots too, which is really helpful.
Left: This image was captured using the Miops Smart+ to remotely control my Nikon D810 using my Mobile.
Right: This image was captured using the Miops Smart+ in timelapse mode, I captured 300 consecutive frames with a shutter speed of 30 seconds each and stacked them to achieve this final result.
Pros
The Device is compact and lightweight, it barely takes any space in my camera bag, and means I don’t need to carry old fashioned wired intervalometers anymore.
The Miops Smart+ can be used as a standalone camera trigger when connected to a smartphone with the Miops App installed. As a wireless intervalometer, it’s a godsend, you can set the number of shots you want, the interval and just let it do the job.
The ability to capture lightning strikes in broad daylight without needing to mess around with ND filters is probably the best feature of the Miops Smart in my opinion.
The Miops Smart+ is well designed / built and incredibly easy to use! The menu system is intuitive and can be navigated easily even without reading the instructions.
The huge number of functions means the Miops Smart+ can really be the one tool to rule them all for photographers interested in triggering their camera in multiple different ways (Laser, Sound, Lightning, etc).
Miops are so confident in the quality and performance of the Miops Smart+ that they offer a 2 year warranty and money back guarantee!
Cons:
Additional / replacement cables are pretty pricey! They are also very short, this isn’t an issue when the device is sat in the hot shoe, but if the device is setup off camera, it could be an issue. It would be great if Miops provided an option for a longer cable to be purchased separately, as it reduces the risk of the cables coming undone and messing up a shot or timelapse sequence.
The hot shoe adaptor is plastic and is a very tight fit on each of my camera bodies (Nikon Z7II, Z6II, D810 and Nikon D7200), at times, when dismantling my setup in a hurry, I am worried that I might snap this off. I assume that with a little more use, this will begin to loosen up, but it is an overly tight fit to get it on at the moment.
The Miops Smart is not waterproof, considering one of the main features is to use this as a lightning trigger, it generally means you will get rained on, so a water proofed design would have been better. You can cover the Miops with a clear plastic bag (Or shower cap), but this might affect the sensitivity of the device when in Lightning mode.
I found myself mostly using the device during the day time and at around sunrise / sunset, the device does falsely trigger several times and misses some lightning strikes, but I guess is to be expected due to the reduced contrast.
The on/off switch is very small, this is great to avoid it accidentally being switched on when in a camera bag, but can be a challenge to activate with cold hands or with gloves on whilst out storm chasing.
I now have 2 Miops Smart+ which I carry around with me at all times!
Verdict
In my opinion the pros far outweigh the cons and the MIOPS Smart+ is a must have piece of kit, although I originally bought it to help capture lightning strikes, it has now completely replaced my old intervalometers and is so easy to control from my iPhone. The Miops is compact, lightweight and has great battery life, its easy to use and well made. At $199, the MIOPS Smart+ is great value.
If you are looking for an all-in-one solution to help take your creativity to the next level, then you should seriously consider the Miops Smart+.
You can purchase the MIOPS Smart+ directly from the below Affiliate link. Miops ships with couriers, so you should receive it in no time! Miops sells the Smart+ as a standalone unit, this is called the Smart Pro Pack, but you can also buy bundles such as the Smart Expert Pack or the Trigger full pack depending on your needs! If you’re concerned about battery life (Not that you need to be, from my testing it last ages), you can also buy a spare battery.
Below is a gallery of some of my favourite Severe weather images
