cactus triggers, someone bring me up to date.

Hey guys,

Been away from the photo world for a bit, but I'm looking to get back on it.

The flash triggers I've been using are the cactus v2s, modified antenna etc. Although they work much better with the mods, they cause a banding / noise issue when used with my FF 5D.

A quick search has shown that there are cactus v5's out on the market, my main question is, does it still interfere with the sensor / cause banding issues? Or maybe there are some new / better alternatives i'm not aware of?

I'd love to just suck it up and buy some PW's, but on a student budget thats just not happening.

Thanks

as long as you are within your max sync speed of your particular camera model, you shouldn't see any banding from the shutter if that's what you mean.

I haven't had a single problem with my Cactus V5s.

Phamster, one of the members here, swears by the Cactus V5s, and has used Pocket Wizards, as well as other radio triggers.

http://www.flickr.com/​photos/-phamster-/

I don't think he has had any problems from them

sorry, i should have been a bit more clear.

I meant banding via some sort of electronic interference, not banding caused from the shutter being caught in the frame.

Here's what I've been experiencing -> https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=841178

Thanks for the link

The V2s weren't 2.4ghz where they? I read an article testing V5s against other manual only triggers including RF602, 603, and V4s. The V5 were considered the best of the group. The 602, 603, and V5s all did well at resisting interference. The more I research, the more I like the V5s. Although the Phottix triggers were brought to my attention recently so I'm researching those as well.

Thats all pretty much gone. I think the big difference in V5 over previous versions is that now they are all transceivers.

Thanks for all the responses,

I've seem to come across another brand, yongnuo? I'm assuming thats what BrickR's 602/603 were referencing?

e r y k wrote in post #13675679
Thanks for all the responses,

I've seem to come across another brand, yongnuo? I'm assuming thats what BrickR's 602/603 were referencing?

Yeah, the YN RF602 (similar to V4) and RF 603 (similar to V5) are a bit more popular, they are from YN and available from more vendors. I think you can get them via amazon in the US which is an advantage.

I believe that they changed the frequency on the new V5's to prevent interference. I think it's 2.4gHz.

2.4ghz is what many of those triggers use now-a-days and it helps prevent interference. My 602s have been dead reliable function wise. Design wise is why I've been looking more at V5s. 602s/603s are cheap but the lack of a hotshoe lock and the on/off switch getting blocked when you put a YN560 or 580exii on it is an annoyance.
The 602 transmitter uses one of those funky CR2 or whatever batteries so you have to buy a backup battery to carry with you just in case. 603s are transcievers and use AAAs but they still lack a shoe lock and the on/off swich is in the same place. My transmitter has fallen off my camera because of the lack of a lock. Not a lot, but you do have to be aware of it or use a DIY fix.
I got 2 recievers and 1 transmitter but the slave mode works so well with my Yn560 and 460iis that I only use one reciever. So $70 for a pair of V5s with the design advantages keeps tempting me.

I just bought a pair of pocket wizards, so I'm selling my set of cactus V5s. they go for roughly $70 + shipping (which when I bought mine from the manufacturer Gadget Infinity, took 2 weeks to get). I'll sell mine for $60 shipped (Priority 2-3 day). Just bought them this past July and haven't used them much.