How do pros synch their strobes?

[Jamesino]

How do most professional studio photographers sync their strobes? Do they use radio triggers? If so, which brand is the most expensive?

[Wilt]

Pocket Wizards are the most pricey, if I recall correctly. Not sure why, apart from the fact that they set the premium product pricing standard probably 15+ years ago, when there was little competition, and all the newcomers try to beat on price.

[TMR Design]

I don't know if this has anything to do with pricing but I believe Pocket Wizard are still the only ones with 16 bit digital circuitry with the ability to have the frequency chipped for an individual, if needed.

[tim]

I use Skyports, I don't do much studio work, I mostly use them on location at weddings. They're smaller and cheaper than PWs.

[BCRose]

PC Buff CyberCync
Very good products.

[Jamesino]

These can be transmitted through walls right? Could I set up a few strobes and hide behind a wall and trigger them out-of-sight for a haunted house maze?

[TMR Design]

Yes, any of the radio triggers mentioned will do that for you.

[turbo212003]

Originally Posted by TMR Design

Yes, any of the radio triggers mentioned will do that for you.

ebay will not right?

[tim]

Ebay/gadget infinity are radio triggers like the others, poor quality but otherwise the same technology. If you get a good set they'll go through walls, but they're not reliable even without walls. They're definitely not for professional use.

[TMR Design]

I wouldn't count on the cheaper triggers going through walls. Part of what makes them cheap is the lower power transmitter and limited range. All the other popular name brand radio triggers will go though walls and have very good range, with Pocket Wizards having the greatest range.

[Vascilli]

I'm "pro" (Just did my first paid shoot, barely broke even but we were only after portfolio shots and we'll be doing prints for someone) and I use a PC sync cable that came with my strobes. Cheap, reliable, but it gets in the way.

[JBaz]

I've used PW multimax's before and it doesn't get any better than that. Very expensive but if you shoot sports and strobes, its worth it. The regular PW are still good, but I think their value is diminishing a lot now more advanced and cheaper radio triggers are out.

I currently shoot with PCB CyberSync's and they are absolutely wonderful and decently priced. They work really good and have not had a misfire yet, plus they are tiny and work a good distance. They run a 2.4ghz frequency so you won't get interference much from other photog's. Their new CS' should be coming out soon and should give you a new level of control with any PCB lights.

[Echo63]

i work two different "pro" jobs
for ball/prom photography we shoot using two stobes and a backdrom, synched with either the cactus triggers (ebay/gadgetinfinity) old quantum triggers, or if all else fails, a PC lead
becuase there is normally 2-8 of us all shooting in a small area, we need to use different channels, otherwise we would all be firing each others light.


I work part time as an image tech for one of the local papers, they use PC Leads and skyports in the studio, and with the elinchrom Ranger system that sometimes gets dragged out, and ste2/speedlight for off camera light out on location

[BCRose]

Not sure about the others but the PCB Cybersyncs can be relayed to double and triple the range..or more..

[TMR Design]

Originally Posted by zubee

I believe Pocket Wizard are still the only ones with 16 bit digital circuitry with the ability to have the frequency chipped for an individual.

Originally Posted by TMR Design

I don't know if this has anything to do with pricing but I believe Pocket Wizard are still the only ones with 16 bit digital circuitry with the ability to have the frequency chipped for an individual, if needed.

Where did I see that before?