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Is that a wizard in your pocket or.....
Hey folks, I am considering my options for some wireless flash triggers. Pocket wizards are the bomb, but they are just too expensive. What other wireless triggers have you used? Which ones work well and which should I avoid. I want to use them with Vivitar 285hv's and have heard that the flashes are little temperamental with some triggers. I'm headed to bed, but I would love to see some info tomorrow though. Thank you everyone in advance. Jan 04 08 06:41 am Link Go to a camera store with your camera and try a few out. I didn't want to pay the money for the Pocket Wizard either and bought an inexpensive trigger/receiver set for $90. Oops, I meant I wasted $90 on a cheap piece of crap that works 60% of the time. The other 40% it mysteriously keeps firing my strobes. If I had tested it first, I would've discovered that. That being said, Alien Bees and JTL have inexpensive triggers. Jan 04 08 08:03 am Link cactus 16 channel triggers are what i use. they're fine for me now because i'm not a pro and i'm just experiementing. but you'll eventually bump up to pocket wizards. they're well worth the investment. i bought mine from here > www.gadgetinfinity.com he also has an ebay store. i'd recommend the 16 channel version over the 4 channel. it's a lot more reliable. below is the link for the 16 channel http://www.gadgetinfinity.com/home.php?cat=274 i'd also recommend reading the strobist forums on flickr (http://flickr.com/groups/strobist/discuss/) to see which one would work better with that particular flash. you'll also need the correct cord (pc cord adapter). rather than cutting cord yourself, i recommend flash zebra for the cords (www.flashzebra.com) have fun! Jan 04 08 08:09 am Link I use the combination of pocketwizards and 285HV's. I have several problems with them, but once I understand what the problems are, they work pretty reliable. The first problem that I have had is that it seems that the battery pack for the 285HV does not seat well. So I have to add a small peice of thick cardboard to the end of the battery pack so it gives a little bit more pressure to seat the battery pack. The second problem that I have is the triggering gets flaky whenever the 285HV's battery gets low. Whenever that happens I simply change out the batteries and I am back in business. I use them primarily for on-location shoots. They are not really for heavy duty studio work, although some, including myself, may use them in the studio. Just my experiences with this, others may have different experiences with them. Jan 04 08 08:27 am Link tigerfist wrote: mpex.com sells them. they are a company that also sponsers strobist Jan 04 08 08:49 am Link ooh! i forgot about them! i might have to get my second receiver from them. they're a hell of a lot closer than china! Jan 04 08 09:56 am Link Many thanks everyone! You guys rock! Jan 04 08 10:04 pm Link I recently asked the same question and found the perfect alternative that is cheaper than PWs... and not lacking as the ones that people "try" from ebay and ultimately get disappointed with. Elinchrom Skyport Kit Make sure you get the "universal" receiver or transmitter because the non-universal ones are only from Elinchrom lights. Jan 04 08 11:33 pm Link my wizard receiver melted because it was hanging to close to a light during the shoot. now its stuck on channel 1 which is difficult in a building full of other photogs. They tend to get angry at me. Jan 04 08 11:35 pm Link I love the wein ssr with a ultra slave . it fires with infra red and not sure how it does in full sun , but DO NOT get the Jr. It puts itself to sleep after a couple of minutes! Jan 05 08 12:20 am Link First I got the cheap ones you can get on eBay or at any camera store. They work fine. But since I have AlienBees, I went ahead and got the wired remote, and I'm a LOT happier. I can sync up to four lights and control the output independently without moving an inch, and I can still trigger other lights if I need to by switching them to optical slave. I haven't tried connecting the two (triggering the wired remote via the wireless receiver so my camera isn't tethered), but that's next on my list. Jan 05 08 12:32 am Link I've had incredible luck with MicroSync transmitters and recievers. Which would be these. http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/3 … Radio.html Jan 05 08 12:36 am Link I'm looking forward to this thread. I want an alternative to PWs but not because of the price. I bought a Hensel Porty kit which comes with its own transmitter, works fine. The bonus? It's a hell of a lot smaller and lighter than a PW. I didn't realize how much the PW's bulk and weight interfered with a multi-hour studio shoot until I got this kit. I'm looking at adding more lights and always get put off by not being able to use the great trigger I have on them. Anyone else have this experience? Jan 05 08 12:49 am Link I'm happy with the Alien Bee/White Lightning ones. I have two transmitters and four receivers, no problems. (I have that many because I often use multiple cameras during a shoot and it's just easier if they have their own, and I prefer having each light have its own receiver instead of using the optical strobe because the very directed light I typically use isn't a very effective trigger). Jan 05 08 12:55 am Link I've only tried infrared transmitters from WEIN about 10yrs ago. They were about 92-95% reliable, and would also be triggered by other people's flashes, and even safety warning lights (spinning red lights on forklifts similar to police cars). Pocket Wizards are a painful INVESTMENT at first (i have 3 sets), but it's one of those things you buy once and don't really think about because it frees you up to be creative and not worrying about if they will fire on not. Jan 05 08 01:01 am Link while i feel that you should get what's best for your pocket. i believe that pw's is the best way to go especially i you frequent other photographers studio. you can just switch to whatever channel is being used and start shooting. but if you intend to only use your lighting. then pw's are not needed, any other brand will do fine. Jan 05 08 01:02 am Link I couldn't imagine going on a shoot without my Pocket Wizards! I know they will perform, and when I'm shooting in front of a client I don't want to think about unreliable equipment. Jan 05 08 02:41 am Link More good info to digest. Thanks folks  Jan 05 08 03:42 am Link When I first started I have used the cheap brand and it cost me on the job, I invested on 4 PW and have been happy, no more worries if it will fire or not. Jan 05 08 04:15 am Link The best part nowadays is that the transceivers act as either receiver or transmitter. Jan 05 08 04:18 am Link BatchFoto Photography wrote: I've been eyeing these for some time, but I hadn't seen any reviews until you sent that link. There are only two reviews there, but both are very happy with them. I love the size of these things! Jan 05 08 04:29 am Link Jabari Hunt wrote: Having the 358 with the transmitter is priceless!! Jan 05 08 04:47 am Link If expense is an issue,wein makes some very good optical slaves that work in full sun upto almost 100'.It also depends on what you are shooting and where. Jan 05 08 04:51 am Link I just went with the pocket wizards to start with, they work everytime and I've never had any complaints. Everything else seems to work 'pretty well' or 'most of the time', after missing a few good shots that might get annoying. Jan 05 08 04:54 am Link John Lei wrote: Yes. Avoid purchasing the one's that say RX, which are setup for the Elinchrom series of lights, only. Jan 05 08 05:01 am Link I picked up a set of the V2 Ebay Triggers from China. So far so good. They seem to occaisionally misfire when they are placed really close together but otherwise I've had no problems . Adding an antenna and connecting them via sync cord helps with range and reliability. I keep a wired backup just in case. They're no pocket wizards but you can't beat the price. Jan 05 08 05:02 am Link My white-lightning/alien-bees triggers and remotes work great.. only $40 a piece. I can have like 5 for the price of one wizard. Sure I'd rather have wizards, but these do the trick just fine! Jan 05 08 05:11 am Link Richard Tallent Fashion wrote: I will say - the cheap ones from eBay ($40/set) worked for our studio for several years. Any problems just meant either batteries low, or needed to be reseated on the hot shoe. Then one day mid-shoot all four of our sets totally stopped working. Only one set was in use at the time and the rest were in a drawer in the studio. No environmental conditions or accidents had happened to them. I replaced ALL batteries in every transmitter and every receiver but they never worked again. I don't know if a new source of wireless interference moved into the neighborhood or what. It's the only explanation I can think of. Jan 05 08 05:32 am Link My vote is for Alien Bees. I could never figure out why I would want a heavy piece of equipment sticking up on my camera just because it broadcasts 1600 feet, when I am usually within 20 feet of my lights. Plus I have one transmitter and 3 receivers for $160, less than one PW. After a year I have never been embarrassed by a lack of performance and Alien Bees reputation is legendary. Must admit, though, when watching TV shows where photographers are shooting models, they almost always have PW. About all I can say is the antenna looks cool on the camera... Jan 10 08 05:41 am Link After much agonizing about radio slaves and becoming frustrated with cords after a few months of usage, I just took the plunge and ordered a pair of Pocket Wizard Plus II's from B&H. Jan 10 08 10:05 pm Link So if I get a Pocketwizard..do I need to buy some kind of receiver for my Vivitar 285 Flash? Jan 14 08 07:49 pm Link neoracer_xox wrote: Well you need a pair of wizards. A transceiver and a receiver. You will need the short PC sync cord that came (I think it came with it) with your Vivitar 285 to connect the Pocket Wizard to the Vivitar 285. Jan 14 08 08:02 pm Link cha-ching$! damn heh yea I got that cord with the 285 thanks for the info! John Ng wrote: Jan 14 08 08:17 pm Link Jabari Hunt wrote: I had considered the Microsync's as well because of the size, but in the end I went with the Pocket Wizards because of the transmitter in my Sekonic light meter. I love the PW's, have no regrets, and don't even notice the 5.2oz added to a 4lbs 12.3oz camera/lens kit. Jan 14 08 08:35 pm Link i gave up reading what others were saying after like the 4th post... my advice... save up and get the pocket wizards.. ( i did and dont regret it ) i hear all these horror stories of wasted money on cheap crap.. so imho its best to just buy the good stuff once..and keep it forever.. no one buys 13 kia's instead of one benz... Jan 14 08 09:43 pm Link I bought 2 sets of these.... http://www.adorama.com/FPRRS.html They work great and where cheap. I use 1 transmiter with my camera and the other on my meter. My only complaint is they have to plug in to 110v so they are hard to use on location. Jan 14 08 10:21 pm Link San Francisco Nudes wrote: Bees...Cheap and will take a beating... Jan 28 08 12:45 pm Link |
