Cheap optical triggers or cheap radio triggers for me?

Hi,

I have a Nikons SB-15 and Toshiba A25L (which were like 1/10th the cost of the rechargeable batteries :P) which ive been using with a 7metre PC-sync (cut down from 10m, 10m was too long to fire it) for the A25L and SB-15 from on camera bounce fill.

Anyway, I recently ordered a Sunpak 433D (manual power settings so it will be my new on camera main flash), 2xSunpak 433AF (one Nikon, one Minolta - which I can use pc-sync on and tape the contacts over if its one of the weird mounts, or do some soldering since it was $15), and a Vivitar one (3700 i think) all are GN120, swivel and bounce., the 3700 and 2x433AF's will be on stands or on floor and bounced, thus ND-gel'ing them isn't a huge inconvenience (especially since I get sheets of it for free).

I will be using these with my EOS 30D as well as my RB67 (for which I'll need a PC-sync terminal to hotshoe adapter for radio trigger since it only has pc-sync).


I dont want to spend a small fortune on triggers, so I'd be looking at ebay jobbies either the wireless stuff and 3 or 4 receivers, or 3 or 4 optical triggers.

I'm aware of the down falls of optical triggers outdoors and being fired by other people, in the future I may be in situations where I need radio (weddings, functions, etc).

So are the cheap radio triggers reliable for the job? and in the future for events as at least a stop-gap solution?

Or should I just go the optical triggers (probably cheaper), then when the time comes get better radio triggers?

I DO use the cactus V2S's at weddings for formals. I've never experienced a misfire with fresh batteries, granted I'm working within 20 feet of the flash and using a shutter speed around 1/125th second or less...

Point is, you don't have to break bank on wireless, depending on what your needs are. that being said, I have to admit I plan on upgrading to cybersyncs or skyports soon, just for peace of mind.

on the optical side, I also employ a Sigma 530 DG Super with the optical slave on for the cake cutting/dance floor. I set the power to 1/4 so I'm not in serious trouble if a point n shoot trips it, and use my on camera flash for a fill. it's convenient and I like the results.

I have cybersync's, and I have never had them miss fire yet!

Check them out here...

www.alienbees.com

I have these PT-04 TM Wireless Flash Trigger set with 3 receivers. I put a Vivitar 283, a Nikon SB-28DX, and a Digital Concepts 952AF and have no problems! Its great! Well, i bought the SB-28DX from ebay for 30 bucks but it doesn't fire from the hot shoe so I had to use the PC cable to get it to work.

I also bought my SB-28DX from ebay too

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I have some blazeo flash triggers from ebay they look just like the cactus triggers ( would't be surprised if they came for the same factory) they never misfire and there are some DIY fixes you can do to them to make them fire at much longer ranges.