Recently Purchased..

[-MJ-]

Brief introduction: This is my First 'Post New Thread' here. I love all the information from these forums and thank you all. I'm new to dslrs but have taken a couple semesters of photography at a community college.

..Flashes

I bought the July issue of ShutterBug today and they displayed a number of now and upcoming 2009 gear. One of which was the Zeikos ZE-680X Flash for EOS. (GN 185 at iso 100, however doesnt state focal length). So I searched this forum and other sites but threads or real review. But there were some on sale on Amazon from $106-180. And the magazine Says 149.00 MSRP. I did something reckless and purchased it without reading and researching about it as I normally would. This was probably fueled by not owning a hot-shoe flash, the $106 price and my new interest in strobist style shooting. And I am totally aware of you get what you pay for.

I also won a ebay auction for Quantaray QB-350A at $1.45 ea New and there were 4 available. So I took the whole lot of em. Totalled ~$16.00 including shipping. I guessing I would need 4 to even power a soft box lol. Only a couple Search results for this flash and were pretty vague.


A couple questions:

Has anyone heard of or have used these 2 Flashes?
Are they compatible with Radio Triggers such as Cybersyncs or Cactus V2s?
I have a T1i and does anyone know how much voltage the hotshoe can handle?
Would Voltage Trigger burn my camera electronics with a hotshoe-pc adaptor?
And finally, what else would I need to sync the flashes since my camera doesn't have a pc port and if the flashes dont have a pc port?

Thank you for reading.

[Curtis N]

Thank you in advance for your comprehensive reviews of those units. I'll look forward to reading them.
;)
Use a simple voltage meter to measure the trigger voltage across the hotshoe contacts.

[-MJ-]

Just got the Zeikos ZE680X in the mail today.

In short. Came well packaged with instructions and case. Recycle time is pretty fast at 1/1 about 4secs. Build is cheap chinese plastic. ETTL, Auto/Manual 1/1-1/64th power.

I'll edit and update this post when I come back..

[wernersl]

any updates on this little Zeikos unit?

[-MJ-]

Sorry forgot about this thread.

I was only able to test the zeikos unit on my T1i, no other bodies. It works, I've had no problems with it whatsoever. For off camera I use with Yongnuo CTR-301P, They are completely compatible. I have not had a single misfire. When I use it on-camera ETTL functions, the internal motor zooms to the approprate length, but noisy.
For the price of around $104+shipping. Its a good buy on Amazon. Link: http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B001F0G4TU/ref=dp_olp_new?ie=UTF8&qid=1247451947&sr=8-2&condition=new. Other places are up to 180+

Pros:
ETTL / Auto
Manual controls: zoom, power 1/1-1/64, Flash interval, LCD lights up
Very Inexpensive
Built in spreader for wider light
Auto Power off
Refresh time on 1/1 power around 2-3secs, instant on 1/2 and under (fresh batteries, I use eneloops now)

Cons:
Cheap plastic. Rotate/Bounce are a little stiff.
Noisy motor
Bulky (looks bigger than a 530ex II, dont have one to compare)
No PC port

Recommended for New/Amature Photographers on a budget.

-=-=-
side note: The High Sync Voltage ~300V Quantaray QB350A's are compatible with Yongnuo Triggers. (I think it was discussed somewhere that low sync voltages effect some ebay triggers)Only 3 settings on them so I use them with DIY gridspots or background light.
-=-=-

[datboynamsays]

thanks

[wernersl]

Sorry forgot about this thread.

I was only able to test the zeikos unit on my T1i, no other bodies. It works, I've had no problems with it whatsoever. For off camera I use with Yongnuo CTR-301P, They are completely compatible. I have not had a single misfire. When I use it on-camera ETTL functions, the internal motor zooms to the approprate length, but noisy.
For the price of around $104+shipping. Its a good buy on Amazon. Link: http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B001F0G4TU/ref=dp_olp_new?ie=UTF8&qid=1247451947&sr=8-2&condition=new. Other places are up to 180+

Pros:
ETTL / Auto
Manual controls: zoom, power 1/1-1/64, Flash interval, LCD lights up
Very Inexpensive
Built in spreader for wider light
Auto Power off
Refresh time on 1/1 power around 2-3secs, instant on 1/2 and under (fresh batteries, I use eneloops now)

Cons:
Cheap plastic. Rotate/Bounce are a little stiff.
Noisy motor
Bulky (looks bigger than a 530ex II, dont have one to compare)
No PC port

Recommended for New/Amature Photographers on a budget.

-=-=-
side note: The High Sync Voltage ~300V Quantaray QB350A's are compatible with Yongnuo Triggers. (I think it was discussed somewhere that low sync voltages effect some ebay triggers)Only 3 settings on them so I use them with DIY gridspots or background light.
-=-=-
Thanks for the update. might consider it for a second unit. does this happen to work as a wireless slave to a 580ex? thanks.

[-MJ-]

Sorry I dont own a 580ex to test it with, I highly doubt it though, I've never heard of any 3rd party flashes that can communicate with brand name flashes. Also, there is no optical slave on the unit, but you can with yongnuo triggers attached set to L.

[wernersl]

Sorry I dont own a 580ex to test it with, I highly doubt it though, I've never heard of any 3rd party flashes that can communicate with brand name flashes. Also, there is no optical slave on the unit, but you can with yongnuo triggers attached set to L.
i know the sigma 530 super will communicate. was just curious if this one would. thanks.

[arakyd]

did you find out the firing voltage on the T1i ?