Wireless flash triggers

[DamianBlades]

Hi been looking at wireless flash triggers on eBay and came across these.

I found this 5 pack which looks quite good
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Speedlight-Flash-Trigger-set...

But these looked rather kool, have their own umbrella holder. 3 pack.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/PT-04-Wireless-Flash-Trigger...

Would anyone else buy?

[jon-]

I own both. Never had any troubles with range (up to about 20ft) but one of them fires the flash randomly when you move it, which is slightly annoying when they're slow recharging YN460s!

You can hack them in all sorts of ways for eternal battery life and mega range.

[//dean]

I wouldn't touch them with a barge pole, not that I've tried them but I've heard bad things about eBay triggers.

I'd go for the PW's everytime, tried, tested and trusted. They're pretty robust although I've broken 2 out of six due to neglect (read: water damage and stamping on one..d'oh!).

[jon-]

//dean said:

not that I've tried them

Key issue.

The brilliance of the PT04 triggers is if you break them, you shrug and go to your backup set. I realise pocket wizards are fantastic but I'd rather carry 2 sets of PT04s (I've 2 triggers and 6 or 7 slaves all for the cost of around 1.5 pocket wizards)

If I was shooting pro I'd be singing a different tune and I'd have 2 sets of pocket wizards but for a bit of fun I don't think the £ per picture can be beaten.

[Olivero]

I used to use something similar. They worked 90% of the time in a studio. Fine for the price but can't really be relied on. Most people will recommend PWs, they are the industry standard. I use Bowens, but just because they came with some lights and are less bulky than the PWs. http://www.bowens.co.uk/content/pages/pulsar.html I am using them in a studio shoot as we speak (MUA is putting more gloss on lips) without problems.

[Simpo Two]

Olivero said:

Most people will recommend PWs, they are the industry standard. I use Bowens, but just because they came with some lights and are less bulky than the PWs.

There's also the Elinchrom Skyport system, which is another 'halfway house' between expensive PWs and unreliable eBay widgets.

[AndWhyNot]

I've just sold my eBay triggers (well, Cactus V4). They offer less than CLS.

Range is quoted as the same but CLS beats it. Radio rather than line of sight should enhance versatility but I've been pretty ingenious with CLS hacks and had them firing behind me or in different rooms.

If I was going to get new wireless triggers I'd go CyberSyncs or PWs.

NB I'm majoring on differences with CLS 'cos I know that's what the OP is presently using.

[DamianBlades]

AndWhyNot said:

I've just sold my eBay triggers (well, Cactus V4). They offer less than CLS.

Range is quoted as the same but CLS beats it. Radio rather than line of sight should enhance versatility but I've been pretty ingenious with CLS hacks and had them firing behind me or in different rooms.

If I was going to get new wireless triggers I'd go CyberSyncs or PWs.

NB I'm majoring on differences with CLS 'cos I know that's what the OP is presently using.

What are these CLS hacks Andy? Have any websites you can suggest? BTW using TTL/CSL how can you set each flash up manually? george said change an option in camera and you can set it up manually but it doesnt give me that option on the flash. It only gives me the option to change its group?

[DamianBlades]

I plan to get some vivitar 285hv's next is that a good flash to go for? or is there something else in the £100 range to consider?

[//dean]

DamianBlades said:

I plan to get some vivitar 285hv's next is that a good flash to go for? or is there something else in the £100 range to consider?

Damian,

This is what I use and I know many others that do so. It's a fairly blunt tool compared to the canon/nikon sppedlites as it's fully manual. But they're reliable, powerful, well made and you can run them off large 6v SLA batteries as I do, for improved recycle times and much greater battery life!

[DamianBlades]

//dean said:

DamianBlades said:

I plan to get some vivitar 285hv's next is that a good flash to go for? or is there something else in the £100 range to consider?

Damian,

This is what I use and I know many others that do so. It's a fairly blunt tool compared to the canon/nikon sppedlites as it's fully manual. But they're reliable, powerful, well made and you can run them off large 6v SLA batteries as I do, for improved recycle times and much greater battery life!

Lol, I noticed. This is what made me think get them haha http://www.flickr.com/photos/dobbophoto/2592425778...

How much on top do those SLA batteries cost?

[andy-xr]

DamianBlades said:

AndWhyNot said:

I've just sold my eBay triggers (well, Cactus V4). They offer less than CLS.

Range is quoted as the same but CLS beats it. Radio rather than line of sight should enhance versatility but I've been pretty ingenious with CLS hacks and had them firing behind me or in different rooms.

If I was going to get new wireless triggers I'd go CyberSyncs or PWs.

NB I'm majoring on differences with CLS 'cos I know that's what the OP is presently using.

What are these CLS hacks Andy? Have any websites you can suggest? BTW using TTL/CSL how can you set each flash up manually? george said change an option in camera and you can set it up manually but it doesnt give me that option on the flash. It only gives me the option to change its group?

It's channels and groups, in camera should be under Commander mode. Same as when you added that SB600 a while ago - just add another on the same or alternative group if you want a different reading out of it.

I'd love to use CLS more, but it hates me. So I bought some PW's

[//dean]

DamianBlades said:

//dean said:

DamianBlades said:

I plan to get some vivitar 285hv's next is that a good flash to go for? or is there something else in the £100 range to consider?

Damian,

This is what I use and I know many others that do so. It's a fairly blunt tool compared to the canon/nikon sppedlites as it's fully manual. But they're reliable, powerful, well made and you can run them off large 6v SLA batteries as I do, for improved recycle times and much greater battery life!

Lol, I noticed. This is what made me think get them haha http://www.flickr.com/photos/dobbophoto/2592425778...

How much on top do those SLA batteries cost?

The SLA batteries are about £12 a pop. Then all you need to do is modify the battery holder and away you go.

[AndWhyNot]

DamianBlades said:

AndWhyNot said:

I've just sold my eBay triggers (well, Cactus V4). They offer less than CLS.

Range is quoted as the same but CLS beats it. Radio rather than line of sight should enhance versatility but I've been pretty ingenious with CLS hacks and had them firing behind me or in different rooms.

If I was going to get new wireless triggers I'd go CyberSyncs or PWs.

NB I'm majoring on differences with CLS 'cos I know that's what the OP is presently using.

What are these CLS hacks Andy? Have any websites you can suggest?

Use your noddle, dude CLS works by infra red signals, if the flashes are within range but aren't firing, think how you can improve the likelihood of a strong enough signal reaching the flash.

damianblades said:

BTW using TTL/CSL how can you set each flash up manually? george said change an option in camera and you can set it up manually but it doesnt give me that option on the flash. It only gives me the option to change its group?

When you get to the menu for the built-in flash you should have a table of (I think) three rows and three columns. First column refers to which group of flash you're adjusting, second col controls how the flashes in each group will meter: off, TTL, M. If second column set to manual, third col adjusts the power

[Famous Graham]

//dean said:

I'd go for the PW's everytime, tried, tested and trusted.

Except with Sigma flashes.

(Mk 1 PWs anyway)