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DPChallenge Forums >> Hardware and Software >> Firing a flash without wires...
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 10/04/2008 09:54:52 PM · #1
I really want to get my flash off-camera. Strobist-style. Best way to trigger wirelessly?

Canon Rebel XSi & 580EX II

- Pocket Wizards = $$$$
- Radio Poppers = $$$$
- Canon ST-E2 = $$$ (I think I like the E-TTL and HSS here, but I'd prefer radio to IR)
- Elinchrom Skyports = $$$
- AlienBees CyberSyncs = $$
- Gadget Infinity (EBay, 'Cactus') radio triggers = $
- Other (link, please!)

What do you use and why?


10/04/2008 09:58:00 PM · #2
I use eBay triggers because of the price. They are functional but just barely. Lots of misfires (the flash going off when it shouldn't). That's fine for still life but if I'm doing portraits the models complain.

I'm upgrading to Pocket Wizards by the end of the year.

10/04/2008 10:20:23 PM · #3
580ex ii and pocket wizards is the way to go, dont waste your time and money with the IR crap, because then you are limited because the flashes wont fire unless the IR port is in the line of sight of the master.
10/04/2008 10:30:39 PM · #4
I use ebay triggers. Functionality is the same as pocket wizards, and if you are just starting, the price is nice. Sure, if you are pro, don't muck around, just go for the pocket wizards and get on with using them. But if you are doing it for fun, the ebay triggers are fine.

I've never had it go off when it shouldn't, and only occasionally it fails to fire, but this can mostly be put down to flash recharge time. If you rapid fire, then you'll get no flash, because the flash doesn't have time to recharge. I think the triggers get blamed for this a lot. I've also had sync speed issues, where the flash fires too late, but this is the fault of the PC connector on the vivitar flashes, which is really dodgy. I bought some PC to hotshoe adaptors, and these work much better. I've used them up to about 15 metres range with no problem.

Of course they are only triggers, no HSS, no ETTL, nothing clever, just trigger, but PW are the same. If you want the extras, you should get another 580 on camera (many people will recommend a 2nd flash over the ST-E2), and get some radio poppers to convert the IR signal to radio.

Anyway, I have 2 vivitars, and a 550EX, and for basic flash triggering, I've been pretty happy with my ebay triggers.
10/04/2008 10:45:13 PM · #5
I use Pocket Wizards for my strobes and Radio Poppers for my flashes.

PW's for strobes because I set them up only in a stable environment. Things aren't changing. I'm not "on the go" with the strobes because they are too big and bulky to move around. The PW's work well because everything is in manual mode anyway. So all I need is a means of remotely firing the strobes.

Radio Poppers for my flashes because I pull them out when I'm on the move and don't have time to think. Radio Poppers still allow eTTL to function, which is just perfect for me because I don't want to have to figure out what manual settings are going to work when my subject is moving or when I'm moving my lights around.

So I use both and have very different reasons for each.

10/04/2008 11:42:37 PM · #6
I use PW Plus's for everything. I got 5 of them now and will be getting more. I love them 100% reliable and that's why I use them.
It's nice to be able to fire 'thru walls' at times - put a light in another room and fire through a crack in the door, or put the light outside and light thru a window, etc.

I don't bother with eTTL for off-camera strobes. I don't find it's needed - just like any strobe you'll build up experience that will get you in the ball park on the first shot and then one or two tweaks you're good to go.

But then I've not been able to use eTTL with multiple strobes - I'll be getting a 550 next week and I may change my mind.
 10/05/2008 04:47:41 AM · #7
I use 'Cactus' V2s triggers.

Used them yesterday for a shoot and didn't have a misfire because I was using a Nikon SB-26 and SB-28 with them. When I use them with my Canon flashes I do tend to get a few misfires.

Strobist members are really happy with the Cybersyncs from what I have read on the site. Just depends how much you want to spend. Radio Popper Juniors are coming but many are tired of waiting and have gone with Cybersyncs for reliability.


Message edited by author 2008-10-05 04:53:06.
 10/05/2008 07:03:10 AM · #8
I also use the 'Cactus' triggers and so far I haven't had a client or crew wait on me due to a trigger misfire. Btw, I use it with a Sigma 500 DG Super and two Vivitar 285 flashes. They are pretty flimsy though and for that I'll probably upgrade at some point.
 10/05/2008 07:09:43 AM · #9
I use the Elinchroms, they work well, never had an issue with them.
Never used the others so cannot give an opinion
 10/05/2008 07:19:42 AM · #10
3 pocket wizards plus II, I want two more. Use them because of their reliability.
 10/05/2008 08:38:48 AM · #11
i have the 'cactus' ones also. sure they're plastic and rickety (2 of the 4 i have will only work when you take off the battery cover...lol) but other than that they're well worth the 20 bucks. no problem triggering them up to 15 meters or even through walls and if you tune them (anybody have the link? i somehow lost it) with antennas and shit they'll work even better. i use mine with sb24 and metz flashes (as RamblinR mentioned the nikon flashes are probably the best value cus they work like a charm and are cheap and powerful).
 10/05/2008 09:57:50 AM · #12
Question since we have so many PW users here. Will PW Plus work with PW Plus II's for either transmitting or receiving? In other words, can you mix previous gen receivers/transmitters with current gen tranceivers?

Message edited by author 2008-10-05 09:59:14.
 10/05/2008 10:18:14 AM · #13
I use eBay radio slaves, from Gadget Infinity. I didn't like the V2 series that I bought the fist time, so I sold them and bought the 16-channel models, which are really meant for studio strobes (like AlienBees). I'd heard that they worked better overall.

I chopped off the studio strobe jacks and spliced on PC adapters so they'd connect to my Nikon Speedlights. I also followed the link I found through Strobist for the 'Cactus' Mods, and added an antenna to the transmitter. Before the antenna I had a hard time getting consistent results across my living room; since the mod, I can use them across a college gym without any problems at all.

The mods were easy - I don't have any real experience with electrical stuff, but was able to figure it all out myself and a single trip to the electronics store got me the few parts I needed (except for the antenna, which I ordered from the site suggested in the tutorial).

Setup works great, and I spent less than $100 for it all: 1 Tx & 3 Rx.

Honestly, I will never, for any reason, buy Pocket Wizards - they are way too expensive for what they do, and there are many cheaper alternatives that work just as well.
 10/05/2008 12:21:22 PM · #14
Originally posted by Mephisto:
2 of the 4 i have will only work when you take off the battery cover...lol


I used black electrical tape for a long time to stop the guts falling out.... but the issue is the cover pushed the batter terminal off the core of the battery... just twist it down a bit and if you get it in the right spot, it solves the issue.

I went from 'cactus' back to cable/optical because it's just far more reliable inside (I persist with radio outside only when optical & cable don't work). Next move for me is to Cybers (plus models) because of the future control over AB strobes as well as radio trigger.
 10/05/2008 01:07:59 PM · #15
Originally posted by robs:
Originally posted by Mephisto:
2 of the 4 i have will only work when you take off the battery cover...lol


I used black electrical tape for a long time to stop the guts falling out.... but the issue is the cover pushed the batter terminal off the core of the battery... just twist it down a bit and if you get it in the right spot, it solves the issue.


hey you're right, now it works!
thx :D
 10/05/2008 01:19:44 PM · #16
Originally posted by breadfan35:
Question since we have so many PW users here. Will PW Plus work with PW Plus II's for either transmitting or receiving? In other words, can you mix previous gen receivers/transmitters with current gen tranceivers?


I think they will- give PW an email or a call to be sure. I know the PWPlus2 and MultiMax are not interchangable - the multi's are digital encoded the PWs ananlog.
 10/05/2008 01:20:37 PM · #17
I use the 'Cactus' line of triggers. I've had them for 2 weeks now and I am more than pleased with them, inside or out. They used to work with my studio strobes but stopped, I think their PC connector is not of good quality and that's why my sync cord isn't making contact to fire the strobes. All three receivers work great when a flash is mounted though. I tested my flash to see how many flashes I could get out of a newly charged set of batts (4) and I didn't get one misfire in over 120 flashes in a row, at about 12ft distance. I'm more than happy with them. 100 bucks. One day when I make money from photography I'll get the real McCoy and purchase the PW's.
 10/10/2008 08:20:32 PM · #18


Went with the "Alien Wizards". It felt like I was really going out on a limb with Pocket Wizards, being just a hobbyist and all. These seemed like a decent mid-priced alternative (at ~1/3 the price and from a reputable source). I will say this: they worked right out of the box. There was even a mini-phone to PC jack to plug right in to my new 580EX II, and all I had to do was set the channels. BAM! Now, to go put these puppies to use.
 10/10/2008 09:13:39 PM · #19
Originally posted by david_c:


Went with the "Alien Wizards". It felt like I was really going out on a limb with Pocket Wizards, being just a hobbyist and all. These seemed like a decent mid-priced alternative (at ~1/3 the price and from a reputable source). I will say this: they worked right out of the box. There was even a mini-phone to PC jack to plug right in to my new 580EX II, and all I had to do was set the channels. BAM! Now, to go put these puppies to use.


I will have to research these and possibly sell my Canon STE2. After research I will have to use the two 430EX flashes in slave mode and use the ir. So this would be pointless unless I am using one flash.

Message edited by author 2008-10-10 21:33:31.
 10/10/2008 10:29:15 PM · #20
I too use the AB Cybersyncs. I use them for my 580EXII's and also for my AB set. I love them for the size, price and reliability. I've had one, yes one misfire since I started using them. Probably fired 1500 shots with them. And I'm pretty sure the one misfire was likely my fault.

Matt
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