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Newbie Trigger Buying Options

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tetsu

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Hey there folks, after spending the last two days doing some research on the net im quite confused about the best remote flash trigger setup that i can buy, my initial flash setup will be using my canon 40D with two 580 EX II (maybe add a 3rd flash in the future), the options ive found are:

the rolls royce of the offers is the great pocket wizards, but they are way too expensive for me for 180$ a piece and i need 3 of them!

i read about buying a STE-2 but it has lots of limitations specially in the outdoors

also read about the Elinchrom EL 19362 Skyport but im confused about them cause it seems they need aditional items to trigger flashes (instead of they own line of Elinchrom flashes)

and also read of the flashwaves and the allienbees and at the bottom the famouse cactus/ebay triggers...

i want a solid solution that is above all small and mobile and that can be setup with no much fuzz and also not that expensive...im willing to spend up to 250$ / 300$ maybe..

what are my options?

thanks in advance.. this is a great resource forum!
 
The most reliable inexpensive solution IMHO are the Alien Bees Cybersyncs -
http://www.alienbees.com/remotes.html

One CST transmitter for the camera and then however many CSR receivers you would need. If you have optical slaves then the flash of one can trigger others without extra receivers. Alternatively you can get optical slave hot shoes and mount the flash units on them assuming you are in range and have no competing flashes from other photogs.
--
  • Karen
http://www.karenengel.com

 
igirl...ase you saying that the radio from the transmitter to a radio flash receiver will fire ir slaves if in line of site and within proper distance?

I need radio to shoot interiors for real estate as the ir does not fire when not in line of site.

I am about to order the Alien Bees Transmitter and a receiver for my D300 and SB800. I also have two SB600s that I would like to set up utilizing the IR from the SB800 to fire the two SB600s. I don't want to spend te extra bucks if I don't have to. I hope this is possible and hope this makes sense to you.
--
Loren Sr
 
I use elinchrom EL-Skyport universals you can get a kit one transmitter and one receiver for around $185 and then you just buy extra receivers for every flash or strobe you want to fire. I do not know if the skyports are any better for the money then the AB's I have never had the chance to use the AB's but they are cheaper. I just know the skyports can fire from behind walls and at a really good distance.
--

AKA thread killer, when looking for a response you will usually get the last word. I know my spelling and grammar are poor some times my spell check says 'I got
nothing

for you' and there/ their is no grammar check yet so please forgive me Jesus did.
 
Loren D Sanders Sr said:
Loren D Sanders Sr said:
Loren D Sanders Sr said:
I also have two SB600s that I would like to set up utilizing the IR from the SB800 to fire the two SB600s.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
You said the IR didn't work because of no line of sight - so - I'm not sure I understand that - how that's intended to work - but let me restate my above post in another way.

Options using the AB Cybersyncs -

One transmitter on camera + one receiver for each light you wish to trigger -

(if you're using flashes that do not have a PC Sync port IN, then you would need adapters) http://www.gadgetinfinity.com/product.php?productid=16727 as an example

One transmitter + one receiver on ONE light - then use unlimited numbers of Alien Bees strobes which have optical slaves built into them (which is exactly what I do in my studio) - OR -

Use optical hot shoe adapters (in scenarios where this is possible) the first flash will trigger the others http://www.gadgetinfinity.com/product.php?productid=16730&cat=256&page=1 an example optical slave shoe.

I do not endorse or recommend the Gadget Infinity product over any others - they are simply very very cheap versions of what can be found through most major camera equipment retailers...

I have been using a CSRB battery receiver plugged into a PC port adapter shoe on one of my Sunpak hot shoe strobes as a background light in the past, but recently added more bees to get more lighting control and faster recycle time ( under 1s), so I gained back a CSRB to use for something else...maybe a light from another room or outside of a window, who knows? :-)
--
  • Karen
http://www.karenengel.com

 
that's not going to work as you want it to. If you're using the Nikon CLS system and want to continue using it even if the flashes are not in line of sight, you need to step up to the RadioPopper P1 which are more expensive and you'll need a receiver for a least 2 flashes with one flash acting as the commander on the camera's hot shoe.

http://shop.radiopopper.com/

You can set the flashes in manual mode and trigger them using radio but you lose the CLS benefits (ttl, ability to remotely control the flashes). You'll also need hot shoe adapters for the SB-600s since they don't come with a PC sync jack.

--

We have art that we do not die of the truth.
--Friedrich Nietzsche
 
First, of course, you need a flash meter.

Otherwise, you'll be busy guessing what settings to use on the flash units and on the camera, because the fabulous electronic automation the sceintists at Canon have invented simply will not work with the triggers you mention.

If you're going to skip ayutomation, you might as well buy a couple of wall-powered monolights.

Depending on where you place your lights, you can run a cord from camera to first light, and the burst of light from that will probably trigger the second flash head, assuming there's a decent sized doorway jleading to wherever you've hidden the second flash.

If therre's no doorway, how's the camera going to see whatever the second flash is iluminating?

You'll still need a meter, assuming there's something live inthe pictures and you don't want to spend a lot of time experimenting, popping the card out of the camera and looking at the image on a monitor, etc.

Once you get the hang of studio flash, you can buy a trigger set if you can't cope with the sync cord. Before you get experienced, chances are pretty good you'll buy a system that doe not really meet your needs.

BAK
 
also is a requirement to have a photometer? or i just can measure with my camera? thanks
 
No it has to be universal for most flashes and strobes the RX series is only for the elinchrom rx strobes
here is a link http://www.adorama.com/EL19360.html
--

AKA thread killer, when looking for a response you will usually get the last word. I know my spelling and grammar are poor some times my spell check says 'I got
nothing

for you' and there/ their is no grammar check yet so please forgive me Jesus did.
 
I'm not very familiar with Canon equipment, are you sure that your 40D don't already control the flashes remotely? On Nikon equipment some cameras can be set to 'Commander Mode' where they will remotely fire some Nikon flashes.

It's not ideal as it's line of site, but if you're just starting with the setup and already have the option (if you actually do), why not try it out?

--

Everything I write is a personal opinion. Even when I quote facts, they are the facts I personally choose to accept.
http://www.pbase.com/mariog
 
Alright buddy, I highly recommend the AlienBees CyberSyncs, not because I own them, but because there are plenty of positive reviews for them that it really seems like you can't go wrong with them considering the other options.

For the price of one pocket wizard at $190 (or just a little more), you can get one trigger and 2 battery powered receivers. They're still cheaper than the Skyports by a little bit and in the end of the day I would prefer to have batteries that I can replace if they die on location rather than having to recharge a unit.

Just read all of the positive comments:
http://www.flickr.com/groups/strobist/discuss/72157606215649015/
http://andrewedwardsphotography.ca/blog/?p=75
http://www.flickr.com/groups/strobist/discuss/72157607960071538/
http://www.flickr.com/groups/alienbees/discuss/72157605396161326/
http://www.flickr.com/groups/alienbees/discuss/72157607861548912/
http://www.flickr.com/groups/strobist/discuss/72157606724784820/
http://www.flickr.com/groups/strobist/discuss/72157607867952733/
http://www.flickr.com/groups/strobist/discuss/72157606871128554/
http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/662406

You'll read the same cons about the product:
  • The test button is easy to press
  • The trigger is/can be quite difficult to slip into the hotshoe
  • And a few others
If you must have E-TTL support, then RadioPoppers, ST-E2, or a 580 on-camera are your only options. Otherwise, if you're down with manual flash, you've got the Pocket Wizards, Skyports, CyberSyncs, and Ebay/Gadget Infinity/Poverty Wizards.

Price can rule out the PWs, reliability can rule out the Gadget Infinity triggers, so you're left between Skyports and CyberSyncs. Read those links above and do some "Skyport review" searches on Strobist and you'll most likely read more positive things about the CyberSyncs and more negative things about the Skyports (mainly people having issues with them not working). Plus I hear great things about Paul C. Buff's customer service if you do have any issues.

As for me, I use PWs and good old sync chords when I don't want to hassle with accessories. If I had to do it all over again, I would get the CyberSyncs (they weren't out when I bit the bullet on the PWs) because as I've added more flashes, I don't want to shell out $190 for every PW. I don't need the distance they provide.
 
thanks for the tips folks, im thinking carefully about the alien bees, they seem very simple and working out of the box, thats all i need, ill keep on checking the post for more thoughts....!
 
Mario Giannini said:
I'm not very familiar with Canon equipment, are you sure that your
40D don't already control the flashes remotely? On Nikon equipment
some cameras can be set to 'Commander Mode' where they will remotely
fire some Nikon flashes.

It's not ideal as it's line of site, but if you're just starting with
the setup and already have the option (if you actually do), why not
try it out?

--
Everything I write is a personal opinion. Even when I quote facts,
they are the facts I personally choose to accept.
http://www.pbase.com/mariog
Click to expand...
unfortunately only nikons have the capability as far as i know, you have to use a STE-2 in the flash hot shoe or a 580 EX II as a master flash in order to command the other flashes (using infrared)
 
I have two sets of these, and once I did the antenna mod, they have been rock solid. I may pick up some more for a possible class so each studient has one.

I do like the Alien Bees xmtr/rcvr kits for their studio strobes which allow adjusting power from the transmitter, rather than having to adjust at the strobe itself, if you have the AB lights.
 
Re> or i just can measure with my camera?

I would not have written that you need a flash meter if you did not need one.

The built-in meter inside your camera meansures ambiant light -- that's the light that is in the room, without flash.

With the 580EX II and other Canon high end flash units ending in EX, there's a pre-fl;ash system that allows the camera to determine the proper exposure -- it is not metering int he sense that it gives you numbers to set, but it IS metering in the sense it determine proper exposure.

For this e-TTL system to work, information goes back and forth between the camera and the flash, using Canon 's own wirelsss system, or the multi-wire cord called the Canon off camera shoe cord three.

No radio flash that actually exosts (try to find a radio popper) carries these signals back and forth.

So, there's no exposure automation, just like I said before, with a pocket wizard.

It's up to you do figure out how to set you camera -- you can guess, you can take test shots, you can tie strings to the flash units... but it gets complicated when you are using two flash units from two directons, set at two power levels.

BAK
 
RE.I'm not very familiar with Canon equipment'

That's true.

No commander on Canon's so he would need the ST-E2 trigger, and he doesn't like this because he read bad things.

Or he could put a 580EX on top of the camera, but he doesn't want to do this, either.

BAK
 
RE.and working out of the box, thats all i need,'

How are you going to choose your apertureÉ

If you see a weird E at the end of the previous sentence, that's really a question mark.

BAK
 
Depending on what you want, I think Cybersync or Flashwaves are two best choices.

1. If you are looking for a low cost solution with a good range, go for Cybersync.

2. If you want the convenience of built-in hot shoe (i.e., no need to bother with cables, etc), then go for Flashwaves.

3. I've not used Skyports, but didn't like the fact that it uses proprietary battery.

4. Finally, realize that even Pocket Wizards are not without problems.
http://www.flickr.com/groups/strobist/discuss/72157610061960393/

So, whatever you choose, each has its limitations and known problems.

I personally use Flashwaves. Here's more written about Flashwaves.

pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-camera-accessories/31950-those-considering-flash-triggers.html

If you choose to go with Cybersync, this is the simplest wire-less set up I know of.



Based on my limited trial of Cybersync, I liked it. If I did not know about Flashwaves, I would've bought Cybersync. But the great thing about Flashwaves is it's simplicity. You can even use it without any light stand. Check this out.



So, carefully think about how and where you will be using your equipment.

Gene
tetsu said:
Hey there folks, after spending the last two days doing some research
on the net im quite confused about the best remote flash trigger
setup that i can buy, my initial flash setup will be using my canon
40D with two 580 EX II (maybe add a 3rd flash in the future), the
options ive found are:

the rolls royce of the offers is the great pocket wizards, but they
are way too expensive for me for 180$ a piece and i need 3 of them!

i read about buying a STE-2 but it has lots of limitations specially
in the outdoors

also read about the Elinchrom EL 19362 Skyport but im confused about
them cause it seems they need aditional items to trigger flashes
(instead of they own line of Elinchrom flashes)

and also read of the flashwaves and the allienbees and at the bottom
the famouse cactus/ebay triggers...

i want a solid solution that is above all small and mobile and that
can be setup with no much fuzz and also not that expensive...im
willing to spend up to 250$ / 300$ maybe..

what are my options?

thanks in advance.. this is a great resource forum!
Click to expand...
--
http://genespentax.blogspot.com/
http://flickr.com/photos/genespentax/
 
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