Which flash triggers to upgrade to?

[yanz]

Hi. I am trying to decide which flash triggers i should upgrade to? I have cactus trigger right now and I really want something more reliable. I am thinking to get PW II but now with the new PW's I am not so sure. I am reading a lot about flextt5's and trying to understand if i really need the features. Are the old pocketwizard's firmware upgradable and would they be "obsolute" after pw works out all the issues with tt5s?

Also I read a lot of good things about CyberSync which might make more economical sense for me. I mostly going to use the triggers with alienbees/430ex to shoot in small studio and possilby outside.
Budget for me is an issue because i don't think i can justify spending 400+ on triggers, but I do want to buy something that will be reliable and will last for few years.

I do lean more toward the PWs II because it's the standard for pro's and i think ameatures. Even a lot of the strobist photographers use them.

What do you think at this time is the best bang for the buck?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Thank you very much in advance!!

Yan

[tim]

I'm a professional, I went with Skyports (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/505381-REG/Elinchrom_EL_19360_EL_Skyport_Universal_Radio_Slav e.html/BI/2312/KBID/3114), which have worked flawlessly. They cost about half what PWs cost. CyberSync triggers work well too.

[MT Stringer]

but I do want to buy something that will be reliable and will last for few years.

I use the Universal Elinchrom Skyports (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/505381-REG/Elinchrom_EL_19360_EL_Skyport_Universal_Radio_Slav e.html) with no problems encountered. I've shot basketball in the gym (some shots from the far end of the court) and used them to fire a remote camera set up beyond first base and I was near third base on a high school field.

NOTE: You'll need 1 receiver (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/505378-REG/Elinchrom_EL_19352_EL_Skyport_Universal_3_Channel. html) for each flash.

Under $300 for a 2 flash setup...and very reliable.
Mike

[scorpio_e]

I use cyber synchs all the time. No issues here

[yanz]

Thanks everyone for the responses! I was actually considering skyports before i was reading about sybersync. I thought that skyports is the next best thing after pws and best bang for the buck.
I am wondering if i would need to buy extra cables for skyports to work with alienbees and 430ex. I gotta do some more research but i think i am going to with skyports.

Thanks again!

Yan

[tim]

The skyport universal set I linked to above has all the cables you need to use it with studio strobes. I do use a locking PC sync cable to attach the transmitter to the PC port on my camera, that way I can have a speedlite and a transmitter on the same camera. I velcro it to the side of the flash head. To connect the receiver to the speedlite I use this cable (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/421306-REG/Paramount_PMMHSF1_Miniphone_to_Female_Hot.html/BI/2312/KBID/3114).

[yanz]

Tim thank you for your help! I am going to be purchasing this skyport set plus an extra transiver so i can fire 430ex and the strobes.

Yan

[tim]

Make sure you get the correct receiver - this one (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/505378-REG/Elinchrom_EL_19352_EL_Skyport_Universal_Radio_Slav e.html/BI/2312/KBID/3114).

[yanz]

Got it, thanks!

Yan