Trigger me this

Okay, so I’ve just recently setup a home “studio” (and I say studio in the loosest of terms) and I’ve had a lot of fun with experimenting with my AB400’s and think I caught the lighting bug. I had my kids in the park this past weekend and came across a photographer using two 580’s – moving them in all directions around the family he was shooting. He was using Radio Poppers so of course I had to go home and do a little research and determined there is no way I am going to spend that kind of money. So I did the next best thing and I’ve spent a few hours on this forum looking for some recommendations but now I’m in analysis paralysis and have no idea what to get.

I really plan on using these to start experimenting with off camera flash outdoors with my 430 EXII and possibly another one in the near future as my buddy is selling his. A bonus would be to use these with the strobes inside but right now I have no issue using the sync cable. I was leaning towards PCB CyberSync’s since I love my AB’s and found many positive reviews of these. Does anyone have good/bad things about using these with Canon Speedlites? Alternatively, I read many good reviews about the Yongnuo RF-603’s as being very reliable and of course affordable.

Just looking for some feedback on what direction to take. Thanks!

I use the canon flash with my Einstein , no problem whatsoever, you of course you Can't control power output of the 580 though

If you can wean yourself off of ETTL its a lot cheaper to do off camera flash. I spent a lot of cash chasing ETTL in off camera flash and honestly the only reason I still use it is for HSS. For the cost of a second speedlite, you can get a nice two flash manual set with triggers and stands. Cybersyncs are nice, but for speedlite use I would lean toward the RF603 or 602. They have a hotshoe connection where cybersyncs require a cord. Since you already have the ab's spring for a vagabond mini and make them portable. Its not moch more effort than dragging speedlites, stands, and modifiers outside anyway and the extra power gives you more options when to shoot.

I've been running a set of CyberSyncs with Canon and Yongnuo flashes for a couple years now with no problems. The range, reliability, and price is great. If you can find a used set on the POTN Market, you've got a cheap set of reliable OCF triggers.

I have a total of (5) Canon Speedlites and almost always use the CyberSync system to trigger them manually off-camera. That said, you will need a hotshoe adapter for the 430EXII as it does not have a sync port. Here are (2) models of the ones that I own:

http://www.flashzebra.​com/products/0135/inde​x.shtml - This model requires a mini-phone to mini-phone cable to use with the CyberSync's (this cable is included with new receivers such as the CSRB).

http://www.flashzebra.​com/products/0138/inde​x.shtml - This model does not require the cable mentioned above as it is built into the hotshoe; I prefer this hotshoe as I don't have to keep track of the cables. However, the issue with this model is that if there is ever a short in the cable, you can't just swap to a different cable in the field. I'm pretty gentle with my equipment and don't foresee this being an issue for me.

I have not yet had any misfires, the CST and CSRB's have been very reliable for me. The only 'disadvantage' to using these is that you have to physically walk over to the Speedlites to adjust flash power (the benefit of ETTL triggers - you can make all adjustments from the camera position).

I use the CyberSyncs with my Lumopro LP120's and love the trigger system. Paul Buff states the range of the triggers at about 300ft without using one as a repeater. I have found I can easily trigger mine out to 500ft or so (furthest I have tested) with out going into repeater mode (only have one CSRB right now so can't do repeater mode anyways).

As mentioned you have to manually adjust the power of the lights from the light itself, but to me this is not a big deal.

I do plan on getting additional receivers (possibly the CSR+ or CSRB+ units since I ultimately want to get some Bees) and possibly a CyberCommander (want to play around with the light meter function of the CC and see how it compares to my Sekonic meter).

Thank you for all your responses. This might be a stupid question but is there any way to put an external flash on the camera while triggering an OCF when using the CyberSyncs? I will most likely be picking up another 430 EXII and thought I could use one on camera for fill light while triggering the other. It looks like a can do that with the RF603 and wondering how/if anyone does this with the CyberSyncs.

The only way that you could do this with the CyberSyncs would be to mount the flash in the camera's hotshoe, while using a PC-to-subminiphone cable between the camera's sync port and the CST... that's the only way that I can think of anyway. That said, I honestly don't know why anyone would really want to do this... If I'm shooting off-camera flash and want to provide fill, I simply setup another stand and light from a fill light position.

drvnbysound wrote in post #14604546
The only way that you could do this with the CyberSyncs would be to mount the flash in the camera's hotshoe, while using a PC-to-subminiphone cable between the camera's sync port and the CST... that's the only way that I can think of anyway. That said, I honestly don't know why anyone would really want to do this... If I'm shooting off-camera flash and want to provide fill, I simply setup another stand and light from a fill light position.

This. You have to have a camera with a PC sync port to do it. The reason you would want to do this is to use the off camera strobes bounced off the ceiling in the corners of a room to bring up the background, and still use an ettl flash for the subject. Wedding photographers often do this.

gonzogolf wrote in post #14605798
This. You have to have a camera with a PC sync port to do it. The reason you would want to do this is to use the off camera strobes bounced off the ceiling in the corners of a room to bring up the background, and still use an ettl flash for the subject. Wedding photographers often do this.

... that's what I get for not being interested in event shooting. That certainly makes a good case for when someone would want to do this. That being said, I'd be certain to use a sync cord that is a few feet long so I could put the CST in a pocket; the cable it comes with is about 10-12", and would dangle from the camera.

This sounds like a GREAT condition for the new 600EX-RTs and a 2012 model body... utilizing the new "Groups" function to put the room strobes in manual mode, and the on-camera flash in ETTL... while also utilizing the built-in radio trigger system. It just seems like this would be a MUCH more user-friendly solution.

drvnbysound wrote in post #14606199
... that's what I get for not being interested in event shooting. That certainly makes a good case for when someone would want to do this. That being said, I'd be certain to use a sync cord that is a few feet long so I could put the CST in a pocket; the cable it comes with is about 10-12", and would dangle from the camera.

This sounds like a GREAT condition for the new 600EX-RTs and a 2012 model body... utilizing the new "Groups" function to put the room strobes in manual mode, and the on-camera flash in ETTL... while also utilizing the built-in radio trigger system. It just seems like this would be a MUCH more user-friendly solution.

Assuming you were using speedlites perhaps. But many guys use monolights like alien bees for the background fill because its A) more bang for the buck B) quicker recycle and C) A.C. powered so you dont have to rely on batteries.