Pocket Wizards vs. eBay wireless triggers

I know the inexpensive wireless triggers for strobes have been discussed here before but I am curious at how much difference there is between them and Pocket Wizards.

Let me explain why. I just won an auction for some White Lightning strobes. The package also comes with a set of Pocket Wizard Plus units (one transmitter and one receiver.) Because of the high cost of the Pocket Wizards, I hadn't been planning on buying them. Now, I have a set coming to me.

The thought has occurred to me to sell the Pocket Wizards and then buy a set of the eBay wireless triggers. That would help me recoup some of the money I spent on the strobes.

I don't do photography full-time. I'm not even a weekend warrior at this point but I likely will be doing some part-time professional work. (I have more than 30 years experience as a photographer.)

What are the real negatives of the eBay units vs. the Pocket Wizards? Since I'll be using them for studio strobes, I can't imagine that I would ever need the tremendous range that the Pocket Wizards provide. I know there are some issues on sync speed but I don't see that as much of a problem for me. I don't see a need to use a sync speed of more than 1/200 of second.

Are there reliability issues with the cheaper units? My plan is to put a transmitter on the hot shoe of my camera and then the receiver on the LG4X wired remote so that I can control the three strobes from the remote. Optionally, I might buy additional receivers so that I can fire them remotely without the LG4X. (I plan on using them at some receptions and I prefer not to have the slaves active since people might be taking snapshots and would trigger the WL slaves.)

I prefer the lower profile of the eBay transmitters than the Pocket Wizards. The PW transmitter is kind of big. (Like a small external flash up there.)

I'd like to get some input from those that use the eBay remotes and the Pocket Wizards.

Thanks,
Michael

well it took all of one month for my ebay receiver (magic trigger) to stop working for no apparent reason. i was irritated enough to bite the bullet on pocket wizards. they are definitely gigantic by comparison, but their build makes the ebay set feel like junk. if you're going to be doing professional work and you already bought them, just keep them. i'm sure you will have better things to do than worry about whether or not the lights are going to go off.

Big difference. I would not sell the pair you won. That would be an, "I regret selling..." story in no time.

I would also recommend keeping the Pocket Wizards. Way ahead of the cheap eBay ones. you will regret selling the PW's.

I am going to agaist the grain and buy a set of the ebay ones, **** there $30 shipped. See which ones work for your needs over a month or so. Then sell or keep them both. I have the Aliem Bees and the ebay ones and to my supprise they both work just as I need them to.

My ebay trigger crapped out on me with only about 7 or 8 days of shooting with it. Even before it broke, triggering was iffy at times. For anything important, I just wouldn't trust them. I've never used PW's, but I'd buy a set in a heartbeat if I needed reliable wireless triggering; the price kinda scares me, but I'd rather pay more for something I know is going to work.

Not sure about the ebay item. But I use pocket wizards, and love em...

hmmm... 60 feet or sixteen HUNDRED feet. I'll take the pocketwizards. I love mine and don't use them enough. I take them anywhere just in case.

I should add that they have NEVER miss-fired...

cosworth wrote in post #3009199
hmmm... 60 feet or sixteen HUNDRED feet. I'll take the pocketwizards. I love mine and don't use them enough. I take them anywhere just in case.

and that is under ideal conditions... which never happens.

And the 60 feet is under ideal conditions too. Most people report 40, not 60.

Croasdail wrote in post #3010552
and that is under ideal conditions... which never happens.

True, thats the range "line of sight" a unit has. But it shows you the potential. I had ebay slaves, and sold then, and bought PW units and a L-758.

Ebay slaves don't peform very well outside period. You loose your max sync speed (sometimes) which for me was 1/160 with new batties. Range was like 100 feet (or less lol) and you did get a misfire every once in a while.

I dont have any problem at all with ebay radio slaves, why?, because I used them for a while and it was a great unit FOR THE PRICE. When used indoors in a home studio or something gave acceptable results.

Why did I move to PW?

Consistancy, peformance, peice of mind, built into light meter, and overall just a better system.

End of the day, if you can afford PW units, go for it.

I've read far too many stories about the ebay triggers being hit or miss. Sure, the ebay ones are fine for hobby work, but if you have to get the shot, pocket wizards are the standard. Keep the PW's, you'll save yourself more money in the longrun since you won't have to be replacing failed ebay units.

Rats! Now, I'm going to have to keep the PWs and find somewhere else to help pay for this setup I bought.

Thanks for the input. (I was hoping to hear that I would be just as happy with the eBay units as the PWs!)

Oh well. I'll think this through and see if I can live without them or not.

Michael

magicmikey wrote in post #3010643
Rats! Now, I'm going to have to keep the PWs and find somewhere else to help pay for this setup I bought.

Thanks for the input. (I was hoping to hear that I would be just as happy with the eBay units as the PWs!)

Oh well. I'll think this through and see if I can live without them or not.

Michael

If you need they money, I would go for the eBay units. You say you dont shoot for a living, you really can get away with ebay units. My first $ as a photographer was made with ebay slaves. If you are doing in studio work, you really cant go wrong for the price.

You can also sell your PW units to me lol.