What's the advantage of remote triggers??

[mrrod2001]

Here's the gist of it.
My friend and I went in on a set of Genesis 400's the kit so we both have a 1 light set up.
I also have a 550ex speedlite and a sunpak 383. I shoot with a 40d.
My friend says the lights work great(havent picked mine up from him yet) and says he uses the sync cable and optical slave mode, he even got it to fire his 430ex.
I want the cyber syncs or radio poppers but he says it would be better to get a 2nd genesis light
What are your thoughts????

[Curtis N]

In a studio setting, radio triggers are a convenience. Shooting with a wire attached to your camera can be kind of annoying. Conversely, a radio system can add an unwanted layer of complexity. With batteries, channels, frequencies, power switches and various connections, diagnosing problems can sometimes give you headaches.

In some situations beyond the studio environment, PC cords and optical slaving won't work. Sometimes a radio trigger system is the only feasible solution.

If your budget is limited, a radio trigger system should be considered less important than lights, modifiers and other equipment that can actually be used to improve your images.

[carpenter]

If you are on a limited budget and deciding between a second strobe or triggers I would think the triggers are going to be the better option since it can help improve your work.

triggers are VERY nice is a studio setting though. I have all strobes so one TX and one RCVR work great for me. $140 for both Cybersyncs.

[PhotosGuy]

Shooting with a wire attached to your camera can be kind of annoying. As a work around, I use a dialed down flash on the cam with optical triggers on the lights. But I don't shoot much in the studio with flash, so the PITA factor of a strobe on the cam is small.

[Curtis N]

If you are on a limited budget and deciding between a second strobe or triggers I would think the triggers are going to be the better option since it can help improve your work.Huh?

[eduardofrances]

Here's the gist of it.
My friend and I went in on a set of Genesis 400's the kit so we both have a 1 light set up.
I also have a 550ex speedlite and a sunpak 383. I shoot with a 40d.
My friend says the lights work great(havent picked mine up from him yet) and says he uses the sync cable and optical slave mode, he even got it to fire his 430ex.
I want the cyber syncs or radio poppers but he says it would be better to get a 2nd genesis light
What are your thoughts????

In a studio -be it home studio or professional) the less the number of cables crossing around the better, more cables means more chances of someone tripping on them, also it means you have a fixed distance from your monolight -the length of your cable- also sadly as it is sync cables aren't designed to last, the optical slave is great if you are in a pinch but depending on the quality they are quite a pain in the bum because if they don't manage to "see" the flash they won't fire, if you are outdoors some optical slaves aren't sensitive enough to "see" the flash if you are in sunlight.

So to sum it up radio triggers advantages are:
1) Less cables crossed or hanging means less accidents.
2) you are free to move because radio triggers don't have to "see" the receivers like optical slaves need to.
3) you are only limited by the distance between radio triggers (in the case of Cybersync's is 400 feet which is quite a lot :) )

[carpenter]

Huh?

"I want the cyber syncs or radio poppers but he says it would be better to get a 2nd genesis light "

I took that as "I have enough money to buy one or the other"

my comment........."If you are on a limited budget and deciding between a second strobe or triggers I would think the triggers are going to be the better option since it can help improve your work."



.....was just telling him that if it was coming down to "what should I get next" that a second strobe would aide in improving his work/more flexibility than triggers.

[robbrouse]

I'd get the cheaper of the two right now and then save up for the other.

You can do a lot with one light and after used to using one you can add another later.

The bottom line you have to decide what you want to deal with. You could try some of the cheap eBay triggers if they don't do what you need sell them here or back on eBay and then get something else.

I have a CHEAP JTL strobe as well as a few flashes and before I drop more $ on better lights I want to get the hang of using what I have.


Just my 2 cents worth.

[bobbyz]

If you shooting indoors I wouldn't mind starting with sync cord. That is what I did for a while before buying CyberSyncs. I ran the cord from my camera to the fill light, which is usually quite close to the camera, so not much hassle of cords lying on the floor. I owuld get 2nd light before getting CyberSyncs etc in money is tight unless you shooting in an environment where you need to move around a lot and RF triggers can help.

[Curtis N]

my comment........."If you are on a limited budget and deciding between a second strobe or triggers I would think the triggers are going to be the better option since it can help improve your work."



.....was just telling him that if it was coming down to "what should I get next" that a second strobe would aide in improving his work/more flexibility than triggers.Am I the only person who finds those statements contradictory?

That's why I'm confused.

[dynastysmartparts]

get cybersyncs..they DONT misfire

[PacAce]

Am I the only person who finds those statements contradictory?

That's why I'm confused.

Nope, you're not the only one. :confused:

[bobbyz]

Am I the only person who finds those statements contradictory?

That's why I'm confused.

I was wondering the same thing. Don't know how using RF triggers improve the pictures. They will definitely help in the shooting process.

[carpenter]

Am I the only person who finds those statements contradictory?

That's why I'm confused.

wow.. not only did I mess that up once.. I messed it up twice. :o

The strobe I meant would help make the product itself better not the triggers.

sorry about that.

[Curtis N]

That's what I thought you meant.
Thanks for the clarification.