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pocketwizard alternative ?
What is the best alternative for pucketwizard which can be used on location ? (with a reasonable price) Aug 17 09 10:02 pm Link http://sacramento.craigslist.org/pho/1320493856.html works well until you can save the $$ for "pocket wizards" Aug 17 09 10:33 pm Link Aug 17 09 10:37 pm Link Aug 17 09 10:39 pm Link The ebay and cactus triggers are shit. Alien Bees Cyber Syncs (http://www.alienbees.com/cybersync.html) are only about 70 bucks each and have near 100% reliability to about 100 yards. I've done some tests with them and pocket wizards and ran out of space in an open field before I encountered any problems. For what it's worth, I can find no difference between PW 2s and the Cyber Syncs. Aug 17 09 11:05 pm Link I gotta say Pocket Wizards are life savers!!!! Can't imagine living w/o them. ;-) -JULIAN Aug 17 09 11:11 pm Link those cactus v2 triggers are good for playing around, but definitely fail alot! I just got my pocket wizards and so far have a 0% fail rate ... my ebay triggers would fail 40%-60% of the time! Aug 17 09 11:14 pm Link mjw81 wrote: Have you used them? I have. Aug 17 09 11:17 pm Link mjw81 wrote: I agree 100%,I have tested my cybersncs up to 400',works every time.The only problem you will have is if there is metal structure in the way,building ,car ,steel fence. Aug 17 09 11:30 pm Link Another vote for cybersyncs Aug 17 09 11:31 pm Link You never know when you may want to set up an extra light and don't have enough radio recievers with you or the battery goes dead. If you are looking for some backup stuff that is dirt cheap( about $40),look at the Wien optical triggers with built in sunlight filters.Work up to 350' line of sight only,will work around corners provide the main flash bounce alittle light their way. Aug 17 09 11:37 pm Link Leroy Dickson wrote: I have one of these. It's more fragile than a Pocket Wizard, but it does the job. Aug 17 09 11:39 pm Link Leroy Dickson wrote: I 2nd the Cactus triggers. Aug 17 09 11:45 pm Link I just started using the Alien Bees Cybersyncs and am quite happy so far. Haven't done the extensive testing as some of the others have mentioned but wanted something more reliable than the Nikon CLS and not as costly as the PocketWizards .. so far so good. Aug 17 09 11:45 pm Link I know that Pocket Wizards are considered the "gold standard" when it comes to RF slaves, but I've been using the following for the past 3 years with absolutely NO problems whatsoever! http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/4 … w_PC_.html Compared to Pocket Wizards - they are MUCH less expensive, and the transmitter that slips into your camera's flash shoe is MUCH smaller (I really don't want something as large as a Pocket Wizard sitting on top of my camera if I can help it). Claimed range is 80' - I've never tried mine that far...but have used it at 60' with no problems. Aug 17 09 11:52 pm Link Cybersyncs are the best bang for your buck if you can't afford PW's. I've tried them before and have friends that love them. 100% reliable units. Optical triggers - practically worthless in sunlight and need to be in line of site of eachother. Ebay/Cactus/Gadget... - They do work but are not reliable enough for professional use. You will miss shots, they are not very reliable and have a small range. There are a few other brands out there with very reliable units that go for less than PW's, but Cybersyncs are the cheapest. Aug 18 09 12:03 am Link With some cameras, you can use the pop up flash to trigger strobes. I prefer to use Pocket Wizards myself. Aug 18 09 12:10 am Link Surprised no one has mentioned the Radio Poppers: http://radiopopper.com/blog/2009/08/14/ … ouncement/ Aug 18 09 12:41 am Link Before PW I use Quantum Radio Slaves http://www.qtm.com/?page=3500&qmode=c Aug 18 09 12:54 am Link i have some cactus V4 i bought from gadget infinity. the only, ONLY problem i ever had was the metal tab inside the battery compartment that holds the battery in place somehow got bent back so it wasnt making a connection with the battery. so no power. same problem happened in both my recievers, i guess it was probably something i did. i did drop one on cement. that couldve jarred it loose. i took it apart and bent the tab back to make the connection and no problems since. never ran out of room or had any failed shots. they do feel fragile and cheap build quality, but theyre great bang for the buck! i always compare the feel of their build quality to the difference in holding a motorola 2 way radio, and then picking up a pair of kids $10 walkie talkies. Aug 18 09 01:01 am Link Mickle Design Werks wrote: Forgot about those. For the price it might be worth it if they can answer the questions on the announcement page re: high speed sync. If they can do that I might go with them soon. Aug 18 09 01:04 am Link I have been using Elinchrom Skyports. Love em. Aug 18 09 01:10 am Link Another vote for Alien Bee Cybersyncs. I have been testing Elinchrom Skyports as well and they seem every bit as good as the AB triggers with the bonus of extra features. Aug 18 09 07:26 am Link navid sohi wrote: Best triggers around for shooting Union Gap concerts. Aug 18 09 07:29 am Link Cybersyncs are the best on the market for the price. I have both PW's and Cybersyncs and will only by Cybers in the future. Aug 18 09 07:30 am Link http://strobist.blogspot.com just posted about the new Radio poppers. They added remote adjustment for strobes like nikon, canon and Alien bees. I wouldn't buy until you at least looked at this option. Aug 18 09 07:31 am Link mjw81 wrote: Yup ... that was my choice and I haven't regretted it. Aug 18 09 07:35 am Link I use Cybersyncs. I loved that Buff gave me a credit for my old radio triggers and when one of the Cybersync receivers was faulty they replaced it quickly with no questions. I have not missed a single shot because they didn't fire. Aug 18 09 07:45 am Link Mickle Design Werks wrote: +1 Aug 18 09 07:54 am Link I used to be a Pocket Wizard Plus II user but switched to Elinchrom Skyports 1 year ago, and I have been extremely satisfied with them. Same reliability than the Pocket Wizards, but in a super sexy and small package. Cybersyncs look ugly side by side the Skyports  but they would be my second choice...Aug 18 09 07:59 am Link Bright Candle Photo wrote: +1 Aug 18 09 08:03 am Link Through Garys Eyes wrote: ^^^ Nice, very reasonable and includes 1TX, 1RX. Thanks Gary! Aug 18 09 11:47 am Link I use the Alienbee Cyber Cync's and they are fantastic. I have 1 transmitter and 2 receivers currently. NEVER had a misfire or a fire when they weren't supposed to. Excellent product. ~V Aug 18 09 11:00 pm Link lol, I use 15' to 33' sync cables with a triple-sync adapter to fire three lights at a time, then slave the rest. xD I'm so old fashioned.... Aug 18 09 11:03 pm Link I'm really surprised that pockwtwizard hasn't cut the price of their basic transceiver. Lots of competition out there these days. The new flex is very close to the plusII in price, but worlds apart In function. Aug 19 09 01:29 am Link Leroy Dickson wrote: +1 Aug 19 09 02:06 am Link I use Elinchrom Skyports and have had one misfire i 6 months (and that was because I accidentally dislodged the transmitter in the camera's hotshoe). I'd also wanna look into the Radiopoppers. Aug 19 09 08:20 am Link I'll add another vote for the Cybercyncs. I have not had 1 single miss fire. They go off without fail every time. About 2 years ago I had a lot of problems with the PW plus II's not firing once you got 100 feet away or had small objects obstruct line of sight. I have used the cybers in the same locations and been several hundred feet away and even lost line of sight. They worked every time. I am seriously interested in the radio poppers but have heard a mixed bag of results from people I know well and they know what they are doing. So I am holding out for future results. Aug 19 09 08:34 am Link |
