Optical trigger vs PW

[GDHugh]

I want to use my 430ex as a backlight mounted to the backdrop stand. Optical triggers like this http://www.bhphotovideo.com/images/items/310643.jpg
seem to be what I would use instead of a pair of $180. PW and a $30. hot shoe. But, it seems that so many people use the PW or some other brand. What am I missing? Why would Not use the Speeditron or something similar?
Thanks

[PacAce]

Unless you have the 580EX II, chances are that the optical slave unit that you get will not work with the Speedlite EX flashes. And that probably explains why most Speedlite owners opt for something other than an optical slave triggering unit.

[Curtis N]

EX series Speedlites do not play well with optical triggers, generally. But you could use most any other flash unit with an adjustable manual mode with an optical trigger for the use you described.

The pros and cons are thus:
PocketWizards have incredible range and can be used anywhere. But they require adapters depending on what you connect them to, require batteries that eventually need replacement, and are expensive. They aren't difficult to use, but they do need to be turned on and set to the same frequency.

Optical slaves are cheap, compact and reliable in close quarters indoors. They are built into studio monolights. They require no batteries and have no switches or other adjustments. But they aren't reliable in large rooms or outdoors, and will fire from anyone's flash which makes them impractical for events with lots of cameras around. As mentioned, they are generally not compatible with EX Speedlites.

For simplicity's sake, I use optical slaves whenever the conditions allow, and use a radio trigger system only if the conditions require it.

[Titus213]

As already mentioned optical triggers don't work well with EX flashes for the most part. For the price of a PW you can get several Sunpak 383s and optical triggers.

[GDHugh]

Any ideas why they don't work well with EX flashes? What is it that doesen't work well?

[GDHugh]

I think I will pick up a Sunpack 383 at some point but I am thinking the lack of zoom might be a let down for the way I want to use it. I can imaging where firing at 35mm all the time might be a disadvantage.

[PacAce]

Any ideas why they don't work well with EX flashes? What is it that doesen't work well?
It's because of the circuit design of the EX flashes. After the flash fires, there is a stronger than normal (compared to other flash units) flow of current through the hotshoe and this prevents the semiconductor switching component from turning off after the flash fires. The net result is that the EX flash will fire once and then it won't fire again with the optical slave unless the flash is turned off and on or it's physically disconnected from the optical slave and then reconnected again.

[GDHugh]

WOW! Thanks Leo! Funny, I didn't expect an explanation that thorough. I appreciate it very much.

[bobn15]

If optical triggers won't work with a 430ex, will a cheaper wireless system similar to those on ebay work?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=370017435682&ru=http%3A%2F%2Fsearch.ebay.com%3A80%2Fsearch%2Fse arch.dll%3Ffrom%3DR40%26_trksid%3Dm37%26satitle%3D 370017435682%26category0%3D%26fvi%3D1

[Spazzmodicus]

If optical triggers won't work with a 430ex, will a cheaper wireless system similar to those on ebay work?


If you search this forum for "ebay tigger" you'll see that the answer to your question is "YES". There's even a post somewhere here in which somebody modified their cheapie ebay trigger so they could shoot at 100 feet with it. Search first....then ask if you can't find your answer......