Which flash triggers for moving onward with lighting setup?

Been using a pair of YN-603c's for a while now to trigger my single 430 ex ii, but am looking to add better lighting and thus new/better triggers to my setup.

Currently, I'm looking at picking up an Einstein 640 but am uncertain as to what triggers provide which functionality for it. I know it's a bit unique in that certain ones can/can't trigger it appropriately or control it, and that the Cyber Commander is the option suggested by PCB (obviously), but that's about it.

This is where I would greatly appreciate some feedback and assistance on compatibility and functionality of current triggers on the market, from cheap to expensive. CyberSync, YN, Cactus, PW, ...

To throw another wrench into the mix, I use both a 5D (which I know limits some triggers' functionality and controls) and a 7D. So, please keep that in mind in any information provided.

Thanks, all. Looking forward to getting this all figured out.

The only triggers other than the Cyber Commander which can control the Einstein (more than simply firing them) are the PocketWizard TT1 or TT5 with an AC3 Zone Controller and MC2 receiver modules on the flash - http://www.paulcbuff.c​om/mc2.php

You can use any triggers to actually fire the flash, while using the Cyber Commander is basically in hand to control the flashes. I don't know if there's much need for that though unless you don't want the Cyber Commander on the camera hotshoe.

So basically if you want remote control you're going to need the Cyber Commander or the PW system. Any manual triggers would be on top of that. The PW system can link with Sekonic meters as well.

Other people can hopefully help you a lot more with Cyber Commander experience.
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You are fine with what you have. You would just need to add another transceiver for the additional light. Plus the appropriate cord.

Would a YN-622c work for controlling the Einstein or is that a no-go? I'd like to be using the Einstein as my main with my 430 ex ii as fill or key. So triggers that can control flash power/settings on both would be great.

Fligi7 wrote in post #16524466
Would a YN-622c work for controlling the Einstein or is that a no-go?

It doesnt really add anything to the Einstein. The 622s will allow for hypersync with some strobes, but not the Einstein. All you need is a simple fire signal, you already have that in the 603.

But it adds something to my speedlite for ETTL control. (I edited that and added it in after you quoted me, sorry). Just trying to minimize the amount of triggers I need to get ETTL control on both flashes. Is that possible?

Fligi7 wrote in post #16524502
But it adds something to my speedlite for ETTL control. (I edited that and added it in after you quoted me, sorry). Just trying to minimize the amount of triggers I need to get ETTL control on both flashes. Is that possible?

Yes you would add ETTL to your speedlite with the 622, although you might consider a two system solution. You already have the 603's, an additional transceiver is very cheap and for studio use you dont want/need ETTL anyway. Then buy a pair of the 622's for when you need ETTL with the speedlite. Considering that the 622's are roughly $45 each there isnt much benefit to replacing your current system when the primary feature of the new trigger wouldnt help. Think of it this way, Adding two more 603's cost you $31. Switching over to 622s would cost $120.

I don't do much studio shooting, actually. It's mostly on-location.

So, if I understand this correctly, I can have/control ETTL on both the Einstein and my speedlite with a 622c connected to both along with a CyberCommander to change settings, correct? Or do I not need the 622 for ETTL on the Einstein? Or am I missing something?

Fligi7 wrote in post #16524609
I don't do much studio shooting, actually. It's mostly on-location.

So, if I understand this correctly, I can have/control ETTL on both the Einstein and my speedlite with a 622c connected to both along with a CyberCommander to change settings, correct? Or do I not need the 622 for ETTL on the Einstein? Or am I missing something?

No ETTL on the Einstein. Its a manual only flash. All the cyber commander does is allow you to control the power of the strobe from the camera location rather than walking over and dialing it in. (it also has a flash meter of some sort built in), but no auto exposure function like ETTL. Even on location you will not want to mix ETTL on the strobe, and manual on the Einstein. In this type of work you want consistency and ETTL doesnt provide that.

Ok, so ETTL just isn't achievable through any combo of triggers with the Einstein, even through PW's? If so, you are right and I wouldn't care to do ETTL on another flash at that point.

If the above is true, I suppose it really doesn't matter what transmitter I use as it just needs to fire the Einstein. (I know this was stated earlier, just repeating)

Fligi7 wrote in post #16524718
Ok, so ETTL just isn't achievable through any combo of triggers with the Einstein, even through PW's? If so, you are right and I wouldn't care to do ETTL on another flash at that point.

If the above is true, I suppose it really doesn't matter what transmitter I use as it just needs to fire the Einstein. (I know this was stated earlier, just repeating)

No, once again. All studio strobes/monolights are manual only with the exception of the new Prophoto 500 thats $2,000. ETTL is a canon (and clone) invention But moreso you need to understand why you wouldnt want ETTL on a a monolight anyway. ETTL meters and exposes each shot individually, great for when you are at a wedding reception or birthday party and the distances and lighting change change from shot to shot. Its bad when you have static lighting and distances to the subject are fixed because you want shot to shot consistency. A minor change in position of a person in a scene may make ETTL change its exposure even though the scene is not significantly different from a lighting standpoint.

Got it. I'm tracking now. Thanks for the assistance.

With the Einstein, sounds like I'm fine with using my 603c's to fire both and the Cyber Commander to change the settings on the Einstein. Or, does anyone know if the 430 ex ii can be triggered by the Einstein as an optical slave (in which case I don't need any 603c's?

Fligi7 wrote in post #16524902
Got it. I'm tracking now. Thanks for the assistance.

With the Einstein, sounds like I'm fine with using my 603c's to fire both and the Cyber Commander to change the settings on the Einstein. Or, does anyone know if the 430 ex ii can be triggered by the Einstein as an optical slave (in which case I don't need any 603c's?

No, but you can go the other way, the Einstein has a built in optical slave so firing your 430 via the 603 would also cause the monolight to fire in turn. I suppose you could buy an optical slave module for the 430 at flashzebra.com but its nearly the cost of another trigger and the less optical slaves you use the better off you will be. BTW the cyber commander only works with the cybersync + triggers. To use it you would need to switch over to that system or make some sort of hybrid. But the CC is really an unnecessary item when you can just walk a few feet to change the power on the strobe.

All good points. Thanks for all of the info. It's been very helpful.

Sounds like I'll just pick up the Einstein and another 603c and get to work.

One last question, am I correct in thinking I need a 1/8" male-male jack to connect the 603c to the Einstein to trigger it?