looking for a simple flash trigger

I know everyone here is so helpful and since I need more advice, no better place to ask than here; I did my first paying job on the weekend. I did a maternity shoot and it went amazingly well. I have a simple set up: Canonn 6D, 85mm f1.8, 70-200mm f4 and 35mm f1.4 and 1 Canon Speedlight 430. I'm still new at using a flash but would like to purchase a trigger for off-camera flash. It was a nice sunny day and it would have helped to have this with me. I've read that the Pocket wizard, Yongnu and Gottix are good. can anyone suggest what I should get for just a simple user-friendly trigger for 1 flash?

If you want to have E-TTL (which I assume you do), then I like the Yongnuo YN-622C. They're about US$78 for a pair and they're pretty automatic to use. I personally have 4 of these, plus a separate transmitter module YN-622C-TX. Not as likely, but if you just need a "dumb" trigger (which means you need to set flash power manually and individually for each flash), then I have and use Yongnuo RF-603C which are US$32 for a pair. The 603s also give some remote triggering options as well.

After you get a pair of triggers, and for your next question, I like a 24" portable softbox on a light stand. With those three devices (trigger, light stand, softbox) you can create some very nice light.

This is just my opinion, but I would encourage: do NOT get any of those tiny softboxes that attach to the flash unit on the camera. The *size* of the modifier (softbox, umbrella) affects the quality of light more than anything else. Bigger is better (within limits!).

Godox makes such a unit for only about US$24.

There are several sources for learning about off-camera flash. Generally, the advice is to go slow. Get only one flash, learn it, and then grow from there. Don't dive in so quickly to get 4 flashes multiple lights stands, etc...

I believe that one of the most important things across all of photography is the direction and quality of light. The move that you're considering is a big step forward with the tools for that. Combining that with experience and learning can be a great thing!

anitaw2 wrote in post #19024662
I know everyone here is so helpful and since I need more advice, no better place to ask than here; I did my first paying job on the weekend. I did a maternity shoot and it went amazingly well. I have a simple set up: Canonn 6D, 85mm f1.8, 70-200mm f4 and 35mm f1.4 and 1 Canon Speedlight 430. I'm still new at using a flash but would like to purchase a trigger for off-camera flash. It was a nice sunny day and it would have helped to have this with me. I've read that the Pocket wizard, Yongnu and Gottix are good. can anyone suggest what I should get for just a simple user-friendly trigger for 1 flash?

It would help if you define your needs with a bit more precision for readers, so they can better point you in the direction of the RIGHT product to select!

1. Some radio triggers do nothing except trigger the flash
   
2. Some radio triggers allow you to manuall change power settings from the camera, and then it will trigger the flash at that power setting
   
3. Some radio triggers allow you to change power settings under nTTL control by camera, and then it will trigger the flash at that power setting
   
   

Wilt wrote in post #19024781
It would help if you define your needs with a bit more precision for readers, so they can better point you in the direction of the RIGHT product to select!

1. Some radio triggers do nothing except trigger the flash
   
2. Some radio triggers allow you to manuall change power settings from the camera, and then it will trigger the flash at that power setting
   
3. Some radio triggers allow you to change power settings under nTTL control by camera, and then it will trigger the flash at that power setting
   
   

Do you want 1, or you want 2, or 3, or you want ALL capabilities?

I would say both but 1 for certain. I'm just learning so nothing too complicated

In that case, in dasmith232 first reply, you can effectively ignore sentence 1, and pay attention only to the rest of that post.

That is what I mean about getting more appropriate responses to your current need/want.

OTOH, some products can do what you want AND have additional capabilities, so they can grow with you level of achievement.

I've used the yn622 ettl triggers as well as the godox triggers and I much prefer the godox. Plus godox has the additional advantage of easily integrating into an expanded system including more powerful flashes.

anitaw2 wrote in post #19024662
... I have a simple set up: Canonn 6D, 85mm f1.8, 70-200mm f4 and 35mm f1.4 and 1 Canon Speedlight 430. ... I've read that the Pocket wizard, Yongnu and Gottix are good. can anyone suggest what I should get for just a simple user-friendly trigger for 1 flash?

I'd avoid PocketWizard, there have been issues with radio interference and Canon EX speedlights. It's one of the reasons Canon created the RT gear.

Yongnuo's YN-622C/YN-622C-TX combo would work for low cost with your 430EX, if it's a 430EX II or 430EX III-RT. But if you only have a 430EX, you won't have full control (no M power levels) with either the 622, Godox, or Phottix TTL triggers. So, a lot depends on which 430 version you have.

Just me, but I'd recommend a US$110 Godox TT685-C or $180 V860II-C speedlight and the Godox XPro-C or Flashpoint R2 Pro II-C transmitter (either is $70), vs. add-on Yongnuo triggers; or, if your 430 is the 430EX III-RT, a Canon ST-E3-RT or Yongnuo YN-E3-RT transmitter. Built-in radio transceivers are much more convenient, robust, and convenient to use than ones you add onto the foot of the flash.

But the Godox gear is my first choice, because their system is more extensive than any of the others and offers many more expansion options. And the V860II-C offers the advantage of a li-on rechargeable battery pack that can drastically simplify battery handling for an all-day shooter. A single pack can roughly take the place of a dozen AA batteries. And with the combination, you'd have TTL, HSS, Zoom, and group control.

If you want to go cheaper and don't need TTL/zoom control, you could also just get a $60 Godox TT600 for off-camera use.

anitaw2 wrote in post #19025182
I just want a simple set up that triggers my flash, I don't need all the bells and whistles. I do use ETTL at the moment, I'm still learning the flash. But I'll eventually use manual once I get the hang of it.

Sorry, but the good systems come with bells and whistles and it would silly to buy an inferior system because you don't want to invest a few minutes in learning the system. Don't hamstring yourself buy buying a less capable system that really doesn't cost any less than a full fledged system.

inkista wrote in post #19025126
I'd avoid PocketWizard, there have been issues with radio interference and Canon EX speedlights. It's one of the reasons Canon created the RT gear.

Yongnuo's YN-622C/YN-622C-TX combo would work for low cost with your 430EX, if it's a 430EX II or 430EX III-RT. But if you only have a 430EX, you won't have full control (no M power levels) with either the 622, Godox, or Phottix TTL triggers. So, a lot depends on which 430 version you have.

Just me, but I'd recommend a US$110 Godox TT685-C or $180 V860II-C speedlight and the Godox XPro-C or Flashpoint R2 Pro II-C transmitter (either is $70), vs. add-on Yongnuo triggers; or, if your 430 is the 430EX III-RT, a Canon ST-E3-RT or Yongnuo YN-E3-RT transmitter. Built-in radio transceivers are much more convenient, robust, and convenient to use than ones you add onto the foot of the flash.

But the Godox gear is my first choice, because their system is more extensive than any of the others and offers many more expansion options. And the V860II-C offers the advantage of a li-on rechargeable battery pack that can drastically simplify battery handling for an all-day shooter. A single pack can roughly take the place of a dozen AA batteries. And with the combination, you'd have TTL, HSS, Zoom, and group control.

If you want to go cheaper and don't need TTL/zoom control, you could also just get a $60 Godox TT600 for off-camera use.

I went on Amazon and tried to order the Godox X2T-C TTL Wireless Flash Trigger for Canon, but in the Questions section, they said it didn't work with a Canon Speedlight. Any other suggestions?

anitaw2 wrote in post #19025393
I went on Amazon and tried to order the Godox X2T-C TTL Wireless Flash Trigger for Canon, but in the Questions section, they said it didn't work with a Canon Speedlight. Any other suggestions?

You understand that you will need a trigger an a reciever right? So you'll need 2 units,a trigger and a reciever. The godox units will not trigger the built in radio receiver functions of some canon speedlites but your flash doesn't have that anyway

anitaw2 wrote in post #19025393
I went on Amazon and tried to order the Godox X2T-C TTL Wireless Flash Trigger for Canon, but in the Questions section, they said it didn't work with a Canon Speedlight. Any other suggestions?

The product description says,
"Godox X2 Series TTL wireless flash trigger can work with Godox camera flashes, outdoor flashes and studio flashes with built-in Godox X wireless radio system."
The 'for Canon' simply means the hotfoot of the trigger is made to be compatible with Canon eTTL cameras, but unfortunately it is NOT compatible with Canon wireless flash radio system.

What you should be looking for is a 'transceiver' and then by buying two of them, you mount one (acts as the trigger transmitter) on the camera hotshoe, then you mount flash on the the second one (which acts as the trigger receiver)

• There are simple ones like the Paul Buff Cybersync transmitter and receiver, and this has no ability to remotely control flash power, etc. It only triggers.
  
• There are more complex ones like Pocket Wizard Flex TTn Canon Transceiver, which one unit can communicate with Canon flash in eTTL mode, or it can control it in Manual power.
  And it can also act as a simple trigger (in pairs) with any brand of camera and flash.
  

Not to be overly contrarian, but I've never had a problem with Canon's visible light flash control system. Granted, I don't work 50+ feet from my subjects in bright daylight. Your 6D, in combination with a shoe-mounted 580EX II, is capable of providing all the flash mastery you will need. It can control up to 3 groups (A:B, C) of flash units, with any number of individual units in each group. It can do full-auto on any and all slave flashes, all the way to full manual on any and all slave flashes.

You will want a 580EX II as your on-camera master. 430EX II, 580EX II, 580EX, 550EX (not sure about 430EX) are all full-potential slave units. All of this gear is dirt cheap, these days. I use 550EX as my primary slaves because they are easy to set up.

I heartily agree with those above who advise you to avoid 'tupperware' light modifiers. None of them work, unless killing your batteries is your primary objective.

Wilt wrote in post #19025680
The product description says,
"Godox X2 Series TTL wireless flash trigger can work with Godox camera flashes, outdoor flashes and studio flashes with built-in Godox X wireless radio system."
The 'for Canon' simply means the hotfoot of the trigger is made to be compatible with Canon eTTL cameras, but unfortunately it is NOT compatible with Canon wireless flash radio system.

What you should be looking for is a 'transceiver' and then by buying two of them, you mount one (acts as the trigger transmitter) on the camera hotshoe, then you mount flash on the the second one (which acts as the trigger receiver)

• There are simple ones like the Paul Buff Cybersync transmitter and receiver, and this has no ability to remotely control flash power, etc. It only triggers.
  
• There are more complex ones like Pocket Wizard Flex TTn Canon Transceiver, which one unit can communicate with Canon flash in eTTL mode, or it can control it in Manual power.
  And it can also act as a simple trigger (in pairs) with any brand of camera and flash.
  

There may be less expensive alternatives to both of the above, but I have not attempted to stay current with the Chinese knockoffs on the market today.

Thanks everyone, I contacted my local camera shop and they suggested the Godox x2t trigger and the Godox x1 ttl receiver so I'm off to buy it Saturday. It's going to be a steep learning curve !!

Read the manual regarding close proximity.
If you try it out with the transmitter and receiver close together it may not work.
I think it's the 'Mode' button you hold while powering on that allows it to work with the 2 devices close together.
Or just move the Receiver 2 or 3 feet away from the Transmitter.