Reviews |Hollyland Pyro S review

Hollyland Pyro S review

Incredibly easy-to-use wireless video transmission system that's a perfect match for mirrorless cameras

Hollyland Pyro S
Review

Price when reviewed

£420

$420
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Our Verdict

The Hollyland Pyro S is a wireless 4K video transmission system with a few added features, making it a nice solution for any small production company looking for a way for multiple people to monitor a camera feed. Setup and installation is incredibly easy: simply pop the transmitter onto your camera’s hot shoe or a cold shoe plate on a cage, bolt it in tight, and then plug either the HDMI or SDI into your camera. The receiver can then be plugged directly into a field monitor so that you can see a 4K feed from the camera.

What makes the Hollyland Pyro S stand out is that, first, it transmits at 4K rather than the more common HD, and second, it enables you to transmit from one transmitter to up to 4 receiver units, purchased separately, so that multiple people can monitor the composition and feed from a single camera. In this review, I’ve just looked at a single transmitter and receiver combo.

The build quality of the units is exceptionally high, with the alloy body providing a tough and robust exterior. However, the plastic antennae at the top of the unit feel a little bit flimsy in comparison with the rest of the build quality. Each unit is powered by a NP-F battery, which simply clicks into the back, but you also have the option to plug in the DC power supply. However, there is no option for USB power on these particular units, which is a bit of a shame.

The HDMI and SDI connections provide plenty of flexibility enabling connection to mirrorless as well as larger camcorders, such as the FX6, enabling the system to grow with you as your videography progresses.

Overall, the Pyro S is an extremely straightforward wireless video transmission system and will suit any individual or small production company looking for a straightforward solution.

For

  • Easy to use
  • 4K video transmission
  • Transmits to up to 4 receivers

Against

  • A little flimsy
  • No USB power option
  • Recording quality drops when recording feed

What is the Hollyland Pyro S?

There are several different models within the Hollyland Pyro range, with the Pyro S offering both HDMI and SDI connections; in contrast, the cheaper Pyro H only delivers HDMI, which will probably suit most mirrorless shooters. Along with the two Pyro transmitter-receiver options, there’s Pyro 7, which is a fully integrated field monitor with a built-in wireless transmission system. In this review, I’ll be looking at the Pyro S, which is designed for both mirrorless cameras and camcorders.

The system has a few unique features, such as the ability to transmit over 1,300 feet or 400 m to up to 4 receivers, or two receivers and two mobiles. Latency is 50 ms, so while there can be a slight lag in certain situations, what you see is pretty much live action without delay.

Essentially, the Pyro S is a simple 4K wireless video transmission system, so on one end, you have a camera and, on the other, a monitor.

Hollyland Pyro S

Specification

  • Port DC Input: 2.0mm Core Socket, HDMI Input: HDMI 1.4b, SDI Input: 3G SDI, USB-C: USB 2.0 OTG
  • Antenna: SMA Male
  • Power Supply: Battery Voltage Range: 6.8 – 8.4V, DC Voltage Range: 6 – 16V
  • Power Consumption: < 11W
  • Net Weight: 207g
  • Dimensions: L × W × H: 112 × 71.2 × 34.1mm (4.4 × 2.8 × 1.3in.)
  • HDMI Input: 720p60 – 3840*2160 30
  • SDI Input: 720p60 – 1080p60
  • Operating Frequency: 5 GHz, 2.4 GHz Frequency Band

Build and Handling

The Hollyland Pyro S units are simply designed, with both units almost mirroring each other in look and styling. The difference between the two is that the transmitter features a large red “4K Transmitter” symbol on the front while the receiver features a large blue “4K Receiver” symbol, all clearly marked so that, in the heat of action, you can easily identify which unit is which.

In the box, alongside the two wireless units, is a simple 1/4-inch to cold shoe adapter attachment that can be attached to the transmitter, allowing you to mount tit easily onto your camera. This simply screws in place and has a securing nut on the bottom to hold it to any cage or hot shoe that you mount it to. It’s a simple solution, but it seems to work well enough.

The units themselves are of a high quality, with the aluminium alloy casing providing a robust exterior. On the front are three buttons, which are rubberised and a small screen so you can check the settings and status. Likewise, as you check out all the ports and connectors, these are all good and secure, and there’s nothing cheap about the build quality of the units. The only area where things feel a little less well-made is with the three antenna positions on top of each unit. Whilst these are okay, they just feel a little bit cheaper and a bit of a step down from some of Hollyland’s other products.

Hollyland Pyro S

When it came to setup everything is really straightforward, as I used the Pyro S units with the Sony Alpha 7 IV, with a single HDMI cable connecting directly to the camera’s side.

The receiver unit was then plugged into an Atomos Ninja V, again with a direct connection through the HDMI cable into the monitor. When it comes to connection, it really couldn’t be easier. The final aspect of the setup is power, which can be supplied either from an NP-F battery or from a DC power source—great if you’re working on a longer production and you’re worries about the battery running out of juice.

Once these units are set up and connected to your camera and field monitor, you’re ready to go. The system will handle everything else for you, so there’s very little else you need to know.

Features

Considering these units are essentially a plug and play wireless transmission, the Hollyland Pyro S packs in a decent range of features.

First and foremost, as previously mentioned, you have one transmitter that connects to your camera through HDMI or SDI (depending on your system) and can transmit that signal to four receivers, enabling the director, director of photography, and others to monitor exactly what’s going on from afar. When it comes to distance, it has a range of up to 400 m, so if you are filming an event and you’re unable to get to a camera, utilising one of these systems is a great way to keep an eye on what’s going on, especially with that low latency of 0.05 seconds.

In busy locations, interference can be a real issue, but here, the system utilises dual-band 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz, which should provide a good, strong signal. Also, helping to ensure the best possible transmission, the units feature auto frequency hopping, so if they sense any interference, they will quickly swap to another clearer channel for an uninterrupted feed.

Hollyland Pyro S

One of the great features of the Pyro S is the multiple power options. You can either fit an NP-F battery, which should provide plenty of power, especially if you’re out and about on the move, or you can power it with a DC adapter so that you can feed it from the mains or a portable power station such as the DJI power banks . Unfortunately, there’s no USB power, and as these units operate at less than 11 watts, it’s something you’d think would have been included.

Another great feature is the UVC and RTMP streaming, which enables you to use these units for live streaming content directly to popular social networks.

When it comes to video transmission quality, these units are able to transmit at 4K 30fps for smooth video quality when monitoring your production. A standout feature of the Pyro S is that it’s compatible with all other products within the Pyro range. So, if you have a Pyro S, it will communicate with other Pyro S units, the Pyro 7, and the Pyro H, giving you plenty of flexibility in the field.

The unit essentially has two functions. Under the broadcast mode, when it’s activated, it is able to transmit to up to 4 other Pyro devices. When it’s deactivated, it can still transmit to up to 2 Pyro S units but will also transmit to up to 2 mobile devices. However, don’t expect the same range from a mobile device as you would with one of the Pyro units.

There are also two transmission options: Smooth mode and HD mode. Smooth mode drops the bitrate of the transmission to give you ultra-fast and smooth visuals, which is ideal for monitoring in most situations. In contrast, HD mode boosts the bitrate to 8 to 12 Mbps and is better if you need to record footage from the monitors.

Another feature that Hollyland has added to the Pyro S is the USB Video Class. This means that when plugged into a computer and utilising OBS software, you can transmit from your camera to the Pyro S transmitter, to a Pyro S receiver that’s plugged into a computer, and then stream to your favourite social media platform such as YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, or even TikTok.

While this is impressive, they’ve also taken things a little further. If you’ve got a 4G LTE Wi-Fi modem, you can plug that directly into the Pyro S. The Pyro S will then transmit to your mobile phone installed with the Hollyview app. From there, you can again transmit to your favourite social platform.
Essentially, the Hollyland Pyro S is packed with features, but at its heart, it’s easy to use. All you really need to do is plug it in and get going with filming, knowing that these other features are ready to use if and when you need them.

Performance

Getting started with the Pyro S really couldn’t be easier. Once removed from the box, the units are pretty much set and ready to go. All you need to do is plug an NP-F battery into the back of each unit. Then, mount the transmitter onto your camera using the small adapter that’s included so that you can attach it to a hot shoe or cold shoe with a cage. The receiver can then be mounted onto a tripod such as the Vanguard Altra Pro 3VRL https://camerajabber.com/reviews/vanguard-alta-pro-3vrl-303ct-review/ , or as part of your monitor viewing system.

Once the receiver and transmitter are mounted, you can plug them in using an HDMI cable for mirrorless or DSLR cameras. If you’re using a camcorder, you can utilise the SDI connector to make the connection.
Once that’s done, all you need to do is switch them on. It takes around 30 seconds for the units to find each other and connect. There’s no need for pairing; this happens automatically, making the setup nice and easy.

If you need to delve into the menus, three buttons on the side enable you to navigate through the LCD screens. You can switch channels or change the broadcast and streaming quality mode if needed. While it is possible to connect the receiver to a recording unit, such as the Atomos Ninja V, to record the video stream, the strength of these units lies in transmitting the video footage so that you can monitor what’s going on.

Hollyland Pyro S

When it comes to transmission, the signal comes through loud and clear. As long as your camera is on and the wireless transmission system is booted up, there’s little reason to worry about the connection quality—it just works from the outset.

If there’s any criticism of the Pyro S setup, it’s that while the SDI connector is designed for broadcast and the cables feel secure when plugged into the unit, the HDMI connector feels like a bit of a weak point, as it often does with many devices. Having some sort of clamp or clasp to hold it tightly in place would have been a good addition. Similarly, while the antennae are perfectly functional, compared to the build quality and design of the rest of the unit, they don’t feel as high quality—especially when compared with some of Hollyland’s other products.

However, when mounted on top of the Canon R5 C, the size and weight of the unit feel solid, giving it a good, decent-quality feel. It sits perfectly in place for a small production setup. The ability to transmit the signal to a larger field monitor makes it far easier to view, even for a one-person production. Being able to see the image on a larger screen, compared to the small screen of your camcorder or mirrorless camera, makes a huge difference.

When it comes to video transmission quality, as it’s coming through at 4K, the quality is exceptionally good, and I’m really impressed with the speed of transmission. Considering the signal is 4K rather than just HD, the transmission remains smooth over a distance. I was able to switch between Smooth and HD modes. For recording simple interviews, recording in higher quality made sense, although I couldn’t see a huge difference between the two modes.

Overall, what I really like about the Pyro S unit is its pure simplicity. While there are advanced features, such as connecting them to a computer or using a USB dongle to your mobile phone for wireless transmission, the primary use of these units—transmitting footage for monitoring—works flawlessly and makes production much easier.

Another standout feature is that with just one Pyro transmitter, you can transmit to up to 4 other Pyro units or 2 Pyro units and 2 people using the Hollyland View app. Transmitting to other Pyro units is simple, as the units automatically find each other. Connecting to the mobile app takes a bit more configuration, but Hollyland provides clear instructions, and once it’s set up, it will always be ready to go.

Considering their cost, the Pyro S units offer an extremely affordable and versatile video transmission option for individuals and small production companies.

Final Thoughts

Wireless transmission systems might seem like a bit of a luxury, but once you start using them for everyday filming, you realise just how useful they are. On a small scale, just having one connected to your camera and then back to a monitor so somebody else can keep a second eye on what you’re filming helps with any inconsistencies as well as the continuity of what you’re doing. Likewise, if you’re filming an event and set up several cameras, being able to transmit that signal from one camera back to a monitor is also a huge help, especially if you’re unable to access that second camera.

But then it goes much further. The core use of the Pyro S system is to enable multiple people to view the feed coming from a single camera. The setup for this is relatively straightforward and will be a huge benefit to any small production company. What really appeals, aside from the cost—which is relatively low for this style of device—is that it is just so easy to use. Really, it is just plug-and-play, and then you don’t have to worry about the unit at all.

I also really like the fact that with one NP-F battery connected, I was able to shoot an entire event without worrying about running out of power. For longer events, there is the option to plug directly into a power supply, but I have to say that the battery lasted a good length of time, and in no situation did I ever need to switch batteries during production.

Hollyland Pyro S

In use, the units performed exceptionally well, and if there were anything I’d nitpick, it would be the fact that the antennae feel a little bit cheap in comparison with some other products. But saying that, they’re not bad at all. Then there’s the lack of USB power, and this is something I really would like to have seen. I’m now powering cameras, lighting, and various other accessories using USB power, and having this integrated as part of my power management system would’ve been a great asset.

Another small issue is that the recording quality of the 4K video does drop slightly compared with footage recorded directly from the camera, but not so much that it’s a worry for most event filming. However, if you are doing a production or something more polished, you’ll want to make sure that you’re using footage recorded directly from the camera rather than through this wireless system. Its primary use is monitoring the feed.
Its other features, such as being able to transmit to social media with some additional accessories, allow for using these at live events, which will definitely appeal to many people.

Overall, when it comes to wireless video transmission systems capable of transmitting footage at 4K and doing so as smoothly as this does, I have to say the Pyro S is one of the best solutions out there at present. Its ability to transmit to more than one receiver makes it an ideal option for most productions.