Radio trigger poll

I'm not sure if this kind poll was done before, but I'm curious to know how many people use/own a radio trigger. Please cast the poll even if you don't have one.

Just got a B800 to go with the B400 and included two AB transmitters & receivers. Tried the units on one light and they seem to work well.

I have the cheap radio triggers with a cheap set of strobes, the only problem I found (only last week) was that my 5D doesn't sync as it should with them at the top sync shutter speed of 1/200.

This was easily solved by reducing the shutter speed to 1/125, no more problems.

steveathome wrote in post #2994358
I have the cheap radio triggers with a cheap set of strobes, the only problem I found (only last week) was that my 5D doesn't sync as it should with them at the top sync shutter speed of 1/200.

This was easily solved by reducing the shutter speed to 1/125, no more problems.

How many channels does your radio trigger have? If it has multi channels, you might want to try different channels. I also have a cheapo eBay trigger that was recommended by Lotto, and so far I'm pretty happy with it.

Only the two channels

AB triggers are just branded ebay triggers. There are several other places that market the ebay triggers (at a higher price of course). Just an FYI

And I don't have any yet, I'm considering Calumet Lite Link, Skyports (whenever they come out) as a cheaper alternative to PW.

Funny you should say that, my £15 pair look identical to a £80/90 pair I see advertised in the UK

Reading the instruction manual for my Elinchrom FX400s it does say that the sinc speed should be reduced from 200/250 to 125 when using their radio triggers (don't know why). I'm using a £20 2-channel radio trigger set from eBay which seems to be fine for studio work. No doubt if I were working outdoors or in a professional studio with several other photographers all wanting to trigger individual strobes then I'd look toward the top end of the market.

Pocket Wizards here........so far it is the only sure fire trigger I could find. I currently use 4 of them.

I just sold my ebay radio slaves to buy some Pocket Wizards so I voted for PW units.

The ebay ones worked pretty good for the money, but sync speeds were bad (like 1/160) and I wanted the PW since I am getting a L-758 light meter.

I have the ones sold by Alien Bee and I get 1/250 in basketball gyms.

Amazing that Quantum was the dominant radio slave for so long, for professionals and amateurs alike, and now it does not even get brand name mention in the poll! They are still sold, unlike products which have disappeared from stores.

Wilt wrote in post #2997762
Amazing that Quantum was the dominant radio slave for so long, for professionals and amateurs alike, and now it does not even get brand name mention in the poll! They are still sold, unlike products which have disappeared from stores.

I find this very odd also. There are likely of tens of thousands, possibly hundreds of thousands of quantum radio slaves in use.

They are dependable and a good product, and I am sure still being purchased.

But, it seems that most are unaware of this product offering since pocket wizard units are so pervasive.

Many think pocket wizards are the only highly reliable product offering for this type of product.

This is sort of like the situation with the Alien Bee flash units. Despite the fact there are numerous highly reliable and functional brands of flash gear available, and being purchased and used (Profoto, Speedotron, Elinchrom, Novatron, Dynalite, Norman, Bowens, Balcar, Photogenic, White Lightning, etc, etc, etc). Alien Bee is about the only flash gear that is discussed on this forum. It is not that the AB gear is not good gear, it is, but how can the banter have grown to seem it is the only gear with desirable attributes.

Enjoy! Lon

Bowens Pulsars all the way!

I've been using eBay cheapos for about a year. Reliable so far, but my livelihood doesn't depend on them and I don't do that much studio work. I'm pretty likely to test mine in the great outdoors this summer with some eBay Novatrons in a pretty grueling situation. If I do this, I may actually post a picture!