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08/14/2007 08:56:48 PM · #1 |
I've been having great fun bouncing flash off walls and ceilings. But now I want to take it off the camera and get more inventive. From reading the strobist blog, there are two options;
1) Wireless triggers
or
2) PC sync cord and hotshoe adapter
Pocket Wizards are out of my price range at the moment. The ebay PT-04 triggers are cheap, but I'm not sure about their reliability. So should I just go with a PC Sync cord setup? Is this workable/flexible, or have people found wireless to be the best option? |
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08/14/2007 08:58:16 PM · #2 |
Originally posted by jhonan:
I've been having great fun bouncing flash off walls and ceilings. But now I want to take it off the camera and get more inventive. From reading the strobist blog, there are two options;
1) Wireless triggers
or
2) PC sync cord and hotshoe adapter
Pocket Wizards are out of my price range at the moment. The ebay PT-04 triggers are cheap, but I'm not sure about their reliability. So should I just go with a PC Sync cord setup? Is this workable/flexible, or have people found wireless to be the best option? |
You are pretty much accurate in everything you say here. |
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08/14/2007 09:06:49 PM · #3 |
off camera via wireless is good for location stuff (ie you want the same portion to be continuously lit) but a sync cord and flash in hand really can bring a whole lot of possibilities to the plate. it depends what you are shooting.
unless im doing like a portrait or something though i usually go with the cord...it's just easier and lets you get more good photos. keep it simple when you can. |
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08/14/2007 09:21:19 PM · #4 |
I use the wireless triggers all the time (the PT-04's) on both my strobes and flash guns. I find it's just easier not to have cords hanging all over the place. FWIW, I might have 1 in 100 (if that many) where the triggers didn't fire.
Both options are cheap enough to do both.
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08/14/2007 09:33:37 PM · #5 |
Thanks for the replies.
Originally posted by fotomann_forever:
I find it's just easier not to have cords hanging all over the place. |
Get thee behind me Satan! - It was you who got me into the strobist stuff to start with :)
TBH, I'm finding it hard to find somewhere that sells nice length sync cords, there aren't that many on ebay. So I might just take the $20 gamble and buy the cheap wireless trigger. |
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08/14/2007 09:48:21 PM · #6 |
Might as well buy the trigger, you would have had to bought PC and hot shoe adapters anyway... hehe...
Yes, I know I'm evil. LOL
Oh, btw, if ya need anything from B&H I've conveniently got it linked in my siggy ... LOL
Message edited by author 2007-08-14 21:48:49.
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08/14/2007 11:36:08 PM · #7 |
Cheap. Reliable. Wireless. Pick 2 out of 3.
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08/14/2007 11:38:25 PM · #8 |
| I just went with the Cactus triggers from Gadget Infinity and haven't missed a shot yet. There was one time where the red light stayed on one of the receivers and I just cycled it and it works perfectly. For the price, you can't beat it! And shipping was fast, considering it went from Hong Kong, to San Francisco, then from San Francisco to Korea! |
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08/15/2007 05:50:45 AM · #9 |
Originally posted by virtuamike:
Cheap. Reliable. Wireless. Pick 2 out of 3. |
"Cheap" and "Reliable" ;)
Well, I've ordered the cheap PT-04 wireless triggers (same as the Cactus ones as far as I know) - So I'll let you all know how they work out. |
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08/15/2007 08:09:27 AM · #10 |
Originally posted by virtuamike:
Cheap. Reliable. Wireless. Pick 2 out of 3. |
That's always the problem...
I am on a student budget so I am using a PC cord for one flash (really cheap 3rd party one) and an optical slave if I use a second one (a home made flash). When I get another proper flash I want to migrate to RF triggers. I cannot justify (or afford) the PW's, so I will probably go for the eBay ones.
Originally posted by jhonan:
TBH, I'm finding it hard to find somewhere that sells nice length sync cords, there aren't that many on ebay. So I might just take the $20 gamble and buy the cheap wireless trigger. |
Just take a short PC cord, cut it in half and add some mini stereo connectors (female) to each end, then you can use stereo cable to length your PC cord. Even if you get RF triggers a PC cord is always good to have handy. |
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08/15/2007 08:16:33 AM · #11 |
Ok i have a 30D and a 580EX, wanting to use a PC cord for off-camera, but embaressingly i don't know what one is, i've spied to sockets on both flash and camera, but what is a pc cord? How much, where can i get one from etc.
Simple basics, but i'd apreciate some easy answers. pics! :P
Ta |
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08/15/2007 08:37:13 AM · #12 |
Originally posted by Ben:
Ok i have a 30D and a 580EX, wanting to use a PC cord for off-camera, but embaressingly i don't know what one is, i've spied to sockets on both flash and camera, but what is a pc cord? How much, where can i get one from etc.
Simple basics, but i'd apreciate some easy answers. pics! :P
Ta |
Ive ordered a 6meter cord from my local camera store ( about $30), but you can get any lenght up to that. the PC bit is just the type of adaptor on the end.
the fitting on the left is the PC adaptor and the one ont he right plugs in to the flash unit.
Edit to add price of cord
Message edited by author 2007-08-15 08:39:18. |
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08/15/2007 08:40:21 AM · #13 |
Originally posted by Ben:
Ok i have a 30D and a 580EX, wanting to use a PC cord for off-camera, but embaressingly i don't know what one is, i've spied to sockets on both flash and camera, but what is a pc cord? How much, where can i get one from etc.
Simple basics, but i'd apreciate some easy answers. pics! :P
Ta |
The port on the 580EX is a power port for connecting an external battery like the Quantum Turbo Battery. Right next to that isn't a port, it's a screw adapter to mount the flash to a special bracket (I use the shoe cord though). No PC cord inputs on the 580, but I think they have one on the new 580EX II. I use the ST-E2 for my real off-camera stuff, but to use a PC sync, you'd need the cord and a hotshoe adapter with a pc sync. |
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08/21/2007 05:59:56 AM · #14 |
Originally posted by jhonan:
Well, I've ordered the cheap PT-04 wireless triggers (same as the Cactus ones as far as I know) - So I'll let you all know how they work out. |
The PT-04 wireless trigger arrived this morning. And it works! (I sound surprised)
I'm having great fun with it so far, I hardly know where to start. I've got the remote for the D40 as well as the wireless flash trigger. So I can put the camera in one room, me in another, and the flash in another. Just for the hell of it. :)
Message edited by author 2007-08-21 06:00:08. |
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08/21/2007 08:48:25 AM · #15 |
Originally posted by BHuseman:
I just went with the Cactus triggers from Gadget Infinity and haven't missed a shot yet. There was one time where the red light stayed on one of the receivers and I just cycled it and it works perfectly. For the price, you can't beat it! And shipping was fast, considering it went from Hong Kong, to San Francisco, then from San Francisco to Korea! |
totally second that!
first i bought only one cactus receiver/trigger, but it worked so well that i bought another receiver and now i have those two receivers with metz flashes connected, and one 200ws elinchrom strobe with a 140cm octagonal softbox, that can also be triggered wireless with the off camera flashes.
i also got me two of those cool inflatable small softboxes from the same shop (gadget infinity) that work great with the metz flashes. |
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09/12/2007 09:05:52 PM · #16 |
Not to resurrect an old topic or anything...
Am I right in thinking that if you use a pocket wizzard to synch, you also lose the automatic TTL power setting for those flashes?
i.e. you would have to go for manual power on the flash?
Thanks... |
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09/12/2007 09:07:43 PM · #17 |
Originally posted by Medoomi:
Not to resurrect an old topic or anything...
Am I right in thinking that if you use a pocket wizzard to synch, you also lose the automatic TTL power setting for those flashes?
i.e. you would have to go for manual power on the flash?
Thanks... |
Yup.
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09/12/2007 09:15:11 PM · #18 |
Originally posted by Raziel:
Originally posted by virtuamike:
Cheap. Reliable. Wireless. Pick 2 out of 3. |
That's always the problem...
I am on a student budget so I am using a PC cord for one flash (really cheap 3rd party one) and an optical slave if I use a second one (a home made flash). When I get another proper flash I want to migrate to RF triggers. I cannot justify (or afford) the PW's, so I will probably go for the eBay ones.
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I can appreciate the budget constraints...but when you have a D200 which can act as a master, you can buy the SB6600 or even the new cheaper nikon flash and be wireless with full in camera control of each flash, and ittl to boot. Why not just do that? |
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09/12/2007 10:42:53 PM · #19 |
Originally posted by basssman7:
Originally posted by Raziel:
Originally posted by virtuamike:
Cheap. Reliable. Wireless. Pick 2 out of 3. |
That's always the problem...
I am on a student budget so I am using a PC cord for one flash (really cheap 3rd party one) and an optical slave if I use a second one (a home made flash). When I get another proper flash I want to migrate to RF triggers. I cannot justify (or afford) the PW's, so I will probably go for the eBay ones.
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I can appreciate the budget constraints...but when you have a D200 which can act as a master, you can buy the SB6600 or even the new cheaper nikon flash and be wireless with full in camera control of each flash, and ittl to boot. Why not just do that? |
Because CLS requires line of sight, which may or may not be an issue.
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