Wireless Systems

[ImagineTNT]

What wireless systems do people use? What's a good entry level setup to get that won't cost too much?

[Titus213]

Studio or portable?

[IamRoger]

Most people use pocket wizards, since you can add it to your sekonic light meter. Thats for studio. They will run you about $330 from B & H.

There are many other ways to trigger stobes but this is the most common and popular.

[Titus213]

...unless you use multiple EX series flash and use the Canon wireless system.

[Longwatcher]

Unless you have Alien Bee lights, I recommend Pocket Wizards. If have AB, then it is a toss up whether RR1 or Pocket Wizard is best given cost difference, robustness and better functionality with RR1 workign with AB lights.
RR1 fairly useless except with AB lights.

[ksource]

I use a runoff of the pocket wizard, made in China. One IR channel. $30 bucks =)

[ImagineTNT]

Thanks for the info, guys.

[SkipD]

What wireless systems do people use? What's a good entry level setup to get that won't cost too much?Precisely what do you mean by "wireless"? There are several basic wireless configurations. They include systems that merely use optical slaves to detect the presence of light from a flash source, radio transmitter/receiver systems, and systems like the Canon Speedlites with master/slave communication via a light beam.

[StealthLude]

I use canons wireless ETTL system, and i like it a lot. Works well.

[ImagineTNT]

I'm thinking about a setup like PocketWizard. I've used that receiver/transmitter setup at a friend's studio and liked being able to remotely trigger my studio strobes without using a PC sync cord. Not sure if it's worth it biz-wise to buy this (mostly convenience) item as we don't do enough studio work to justify it. But we have a big shoot this Friday and I am renting a PocketWizard setup for the day for $20 bucks.

[SkipD]

I don't think it makes sense to buy PocketWizard equipment for use in a personal studio. You can run a PC cord to the nearest light and let the rest trigger off the first. It's real easy to tape the PC cord down if you are worried about tripping on it.

In my opinion, the radio remotes really shine when you need to eliminate random triggering of your lights by other people with their camera flashes going off. If you and other folks are working an area you can each have your own lighting on radio remote systems but using different RF frequencies so you don't trigger each other's lights. Radio remotes are also quite useful when the distances between the lights, and/or the conditions in the area, are such that optical slaves don't see the other lights.

I'd suggest using the money for additional lenses or other more practical accessories. When there is a business case for the radio remotes, then you can invest in them. I do mean invest. You want to make money with them, because they are not cheap.

[ImagineTNT]

SkipD, those were my initial thoughts so I don't think I'll "invest" in a system yet. But for $20 it'll be worth it in convenience to use for our location shoot this Friday. It'll be in a night club with lots of models and moving around.