Help deciding which Cheapo Ebay Trigger to get....

[johnlo]

I have been reading and trying to figure out which ebay cheapo trigger will be best for me to get... I have come down to two buyers. At first I thought of getting one thats AC powered, like THIS ONE (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180079101145), which is great I can use it with my monolight. But I also would like to use it w/ my 550EX as well... on location, outdoor or something...

here's my two choices.

magic_trigger - http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=140079425157

or

photogearok - http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180078911892


I know I will need to get a Hot Shoe Adapter from them as well.


Keep in mind this will be working w/ the 550EX... and might be picking up another flash later... maybe the 430EX or 580EX.

One more thing - if i use these, it will be Manual Setting on the Flash?


Love to heard your feedback on them.. Thanks.

[nitekatt2006]

I really need something like this trigger rig to fire my AB setup. I can't see much difference between the 2 systems you mentioned, so if someone has advice which one is the best and most reliable, please pass on the recommendation

After my post here about the cable and WEIN problems not firing the strobes, i have about had it with flying by the wire and Pocket Wizards at $400+ per set is not in the cards right now.:cool:

katt

[FlashZebra]

I have been reading and trying to figure out which ebay cheapo trigger will be best for me to get... I have come down to two buyers. At first I thought of getting one thats AC powered, like THIS ONE (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180079101145), which is great I can use it with my monolight. But I also would like to use it w/ my 550EX as well... on location, outdoor or something...

here's my two choices.

magic_trigger - http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=140079425157

or

photogearok - http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180078911892


I know I will need to get a Hot Shoe Adapter from them as well.


Keep in mind this will be working w/ the 550EX... and might be picking up another flash later... maybe the 430EX or 580EX
One more thing - if i use these, it will be Manual Setting on the Flash?


Love to heard your feedback on them.. Thanks.

I suggest the second merchant (photogearok). I ordered about 30 sets of radio slaves from him (for my camera club). Some were defective but he replaced them promptly.

Also photogearok sells an accessory hotshoe adapter that is near perfect (than most), and I cannot find it anywhere else. He typically mentions it in his ads (look at the pic) and it is very inexpensive. It is only $5.00 or so. Do not leave this adapter off your order (you may want to get a couple of extras, I wish I had).

The particular adapter looks like an optical slave, but it is not.

It has a sync connection that in addition to attaching to the radio slave, will also accept the very inexpensive and nice Alien Bee 15 foot flash cord (only $8.00). So you will want one of the AB cords also as a backup for the radio slave. In fact, get at least two of the AB cords so you will have a spare and save on shipping.

So, do not forget to get this exact hotshoe adapter with your order.

With these radio slaves you get only basic flash tripping (same with Pocket Wizards), so you will need to use manual mode. Since much off camera flash work has a near static conditions (subject to flash distance), setting your flash in manual is not really a big deal.

I took some time with this reply, I would appreciate some feedback on your decision and purchase.

Please note that some have had problems with inexpensive radio slaves and Canon Speedlights, but if you are interested in that intrigue you will need to do some thread searching. The units are so inexpensive, I think they are worth a gamble.

Enjoy! Lon

[FlashZebra]

I really need something like this trigger rig to fire my AB setup. I can't see much difference between the 2 systems you mentioned, so if someone has advice which one is the best and most reliable, please pass on the recommendation

After my post here about the cable and WEIN problems not firing the strobes, i have about had it with flying by the wire and Pocket Wizards at $400+ per set is not in the cards right now.:cool:

katt
If just one problem with a sync cord/Safe sync has confounded you, and you intend to do a lot of off camera flash, I would throw in the towel now and move to another hobby.

An inexpensive radio slave is not necessarily the ticket for smooth sailing.

Enjoy! Lon

[nitekatt2006]

If just one problem with a sync cord/Safe sync has confounded you, and you intend to do a lot of off camera flash, I would throw in the towel now and move to another hobby.

An inexpensive radio slave is not necessarily the ticket for smooth sailing.

Enjoy! Lon

Hi Lon, sorry guy, but I am a pro jewelry photographer, not a hobbiest. I work 5-6 full days, plus all the PS CS post work, meeting with clients, etc. I am considering ordering the radio slaves just to get me by and of course I can always fire the Bees by the wire> The ebay slaves seem priced so cheap anyway, why not


katt

[blam]

would this be able to make my 430 a slave without having to buy a master flash??

[ToyTrains]

would this be able to make my 430 a slave without having to buy a master flash??
Yes, but you will lose eTTL and have to setup the flash in manual mode.
Dan

[ToyTrains]

I am a pro jewelry photographer
One thing to keep in mind is that if two of the receivers are close together (within about 5 feet) they are not reliable and will fire by themselves.

When photographing jewelry won't your units be close enough that wires would work OK? Why the need for wireless?
Dan

[nitekatt2006]

Well yes and no. Wires always get in the way and when I do get a chance to shoot a model, we end up renting Pocket Wizards anyway from Samy's LA. The wire shadow has even gotten through the diffusers and I had to airbrush it out and I have even tripped over them. Strobes can even be 3-6 ft away, depending on what I'm shooting, One time the Pocket Wiz's quit working in the middle of an important shoot, so I had the sync cord as backup and that got us through the shoot

Wireless is the way to go now katt

[johnlo]

I suggest the second merchant (photogearok). I ordered about 30 sets of radio slaves from him (for my camera club). Some were defective but he replaced them promptly.

Also photogearok sells an accessory hotshoe adapter that is near perfect (than most), and I cannot find it anywhere else. He typically mentions it in his ads (look at the pic) and it is very inexpensive. It is only $5.00 or so. Do not leave this adapter off your order (you may want to get a couple of extras, I wish I had).

The particular adapter looks like an optical slave, but it is not.

It has a sync connection that in addition to attaching to the radio slave, will also accept the very inexpensive and nice Alien Bee 15 foot flash cord (only $8.00). So you will want one of the AB cords also as a backup for the radio slave. In fact, get at least two of the AB cords so you will have a spare and save on shipping.

So, do not forget to get this exact hotshoe adapter with your order.

With these radio slaves (just like Pocket Wizards) you get only basic flash tripping, so you will need to use manual mode. Since much off camera flash work has a near static conditions (subject to flash distance), setting your flash in manual is not really a big deal.

I took some time with this reply, I would appreciate some feedback on your decision and purchase.

Please note that some have had problems with inexpensive radio slaves and Canon Speedlights, but if you are interested in that intrigue you will need to do some thread searching. The units are so inexpensive, I think they are worth a gamble.

Enjoy! Lon


Thank you Lon for your input. I have read a few thread you wrote.. so it was great to hear your input on this again.

The Manual setting wouldnt be a problem, but its good to know that's what I will be getting myself into if I pick up these ebay trigger. I'm guess if you are using PW, it wont be in manual mode?

Lon, One thing I didnt understand - you mentioned about getting a "Alien Bee 15 foot flash cord". why would i need that for? I dont have Alien Bee lights.. I have SP Studio.. plus the reciever has a 6mm plug which is what I need on my lights anyway...

I have another question... i also have a Nikon SB80DX flash. now if I am using the Ebay trigger w/ the Canon 550EX on the right side of the camera. and have the Nikon SB80DX on the left side of the camera (w/o the ebay trigger. - SB800DX has a built in feature Optical Slave). This should work right? ... of course as long as no one is using Flash, otherwise the Nikon will be flashing. heh!

[FlashZebra]

The Manual setting wouldnt be a problem, but its good to know that's what I will be getting myself into if I pick up these ebay trigger. I'm guess if you are using PW, it wont be in manual mode?
No, Pocket Wizards also only give you manual flash as I indicated in my post above "With these radio slaves you get only basic flash tripping (same with Pocket Wizards), so you will need to use manual mode."

Lon, One thing I didnt understand - you mentioned about getting a "Alien Bee 15 foot flash cord". why would i need that for? I dont have Alien Bee lights.. I have SP Studio.. plus the reciever has a 6mm plug which is what I need on my lights anyway...
I just mention this to give you an option to easily use the Canon flash with a cord also. Hedge your flash options with a way to fire the Canon flash with a radio slave OR a cord. Do not limit your options, especially since the cord only costs so little.

I have another question... i also have a Nikon SB80DX flash. now if I am using the Ebay trigger w/ the Canon 550EX on the right side of the camera. and have the Nikon SB80DX on the left side of the camera (w/o the ebay trigger. - SB800DX has a built in feature Optical Slave). This should work right? ... of course as long as no one is using Flash, otherwise the Nikon will be flashing. heh!
Yes, this would work.

Enjoy! Lon

[Lotto]

I ordered the 16 channel (RD616) Ebay trigger from maggic_trigger, will be here middle of next week. I will do some tests on the Alien Bees, Canon Speedlites, Sunpak 383, and possible Canon master/slave setup. Stay tune...


johnlo, I think what Lon meant was, If you get the hot shoe adapter with the 1/8 sync socket, you could use a standard AB 15' flash cord to connect with the DSLR, in case the Ebay tigger takes a poop.

The SB80DX should work optically with the 550, well, indoors anyway.

[FlashZebra]

Hi Lon, sorry guy, but I am a pro jewelry photographer, not a hobbiest. I work 5-6 full days, plus all the PS CS post work, meeting with clients, etc. I am considering ordering the radio slaves just to get me by and of course I can always fire the Bees by the wire> The ebay slaves seem priced so cheap anyway, why not


katt
Katt

The message I posted does not hinge on the word "hobby" in any way. So, the information offered is the same regardless if you just happen to be a hobbyist, or not.

Enjoy! Lon

[FlashZebra]

johnlo, I think what Lon meant was, If you get the hot shoe adapter with the 1/8 sync socket, you could use a standard AB 15' flash cord to connect with the DSLR, in case the Ebay tigger takes a poop.

Lotto,

That is it exactly. Nothing like a couple of good quality cords to fall back on, just in case. Especially with these inexpensive radio slaves (and the AB cords are so reasonable).

If your flash images are important, trusting everything to an inexpensive radio slave, or even just one flash cord is a recipe for eventual grand disappointment.

Enjoy! Lon (owner of several backup cords and even a backup inexpensive radio slave)

[johnlo]

johnlo, I think what Lon meant was, If you get the hot shoe adapter with the 1/8 sync socket, you could use a standard AB 15' flash cord to connect with the DSLR, in case the Ebay tigger takes a poop.

The SB80DX should work optically with the 550, well, indoors anyway.


Lotto,

That is it exactly. Nothing like a couple of good quality cords to fall back on, just in case. Especially with these inexpensive radio slaves (and the AB cords are so reasonable).

If your flash images are important, trusting everything to an inexpensive radio slave, or even just one flash cord is a recipe for eventual grand disappointment.

Enjoy! Lon (owner of several backup cords and even a backup inexpensive radio slave)

Thanks Lotto and Lon, that is true, always need a backup plans. Just like I always carry a box of 12 duracell AA battery in my bag in case my recharge didnt work or something.

I will plan to order on ebay before the night ends... will post my result.

[johnlo]

YHDC-B model is what i will be getting... i have decided. but one last question... 4 channel or 16 channel?

[FlashZebra]

YHDC-B model is what i will be getting... i have decided. but one last question... 4 channel or 16 channel?
I have no experence with the 16 channel model, but I seem to recall that it takes AAA cells in the receiver (not AA as the 4 channel unit does), is this correct?

Personally I would not want a unit that takes AAA cells as this would be just another stock of cell size to cart around, and I already cart extra AA cells (Am I correct on this AAA requirement, or am I delusional ?).

Otherwise I suspect that either would be fine.

Do not forget to order the exact hotshoe adapter I recommended.

Enjoy! Lon

[johnlo]

my cheapo ebay trigger came in today. I got the RD616 (16 Channels - AAA Battery). I didnt really take too many shots, but just to test it to make sure it works.. here's my result.

it work with the 20D and fuji s2 cameras.. and works with the 550EX and the Nikon SB80DX flash. I can do watever way i like.. use the 20D and use the Nikon flash.. or Fuji s2 with the 550EX Flash. TOTALLY AWESOME. I even use the 20D w/ the 550EX flash.. then because Nikon SB80 has a built in Slave mode... that went on too. WOOHOO!!!
:)

[FlashZebra]

Does your SP Excalibur flash system cord have a 1/4 inch (6.3mm) mono phono jack on the flash end?

If so, plug in the adapter that came with your radio slave and try you flash gear with the cord to the hotshoe adapter.

Enjoy! Lon

[johnlo]

my Excalibur and the rest of my portable studio equipments are at storage (at my parents) currently.... will be going there this weekend hopefully. I will try wat you said Lon and let you know what happen.

[kevbailey]

I have 4 of the 4-channel units. I've been very pleased with them so far.