CyberSync / 580EX II / Sekonic L-358 Review
580EX II in slave wireless manual mode.
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For ages now I have been making use of five 580EX II flashes. One was always on camera acting as master. Using manual power control the 580EX II gives excellent shot to shot performance in a light weight, small, fast recycling (using Maha PowerEX batteries) package. Probably the best buy without going to SunPak 622 Super/Normal 400B/Elinchrom Quantra units.
Two 580EXII units working together. Master on camera, slave on the stand.
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There are two downsides to using 580EX II flashes in manual/ETTL modes:
* Light pulses are used by the master to tell the slave to fire. Outside or in a large room was nerve racking lining up the master flash to the infrared receiver window on the slaves. Sometimes because of distance or other environment elements you can not get them to see each other.
* There was no good way to meter the slave power output by yourself. In order for a Sekonic L-358 to not react to the pre-flash (sent even in manual mode) you need to press the Test button on the back of the master flash to fire all slaves, or you could press the Test button on each slave to measure a single slave's power output. Of course pressing that button and holding the Sekonic in the right position is not always practical. Thus you need to place the Sekonic carefully on something or ask your subject to hold it. Again not always possible.
The only real solution is to use wireless RF triggers to fix both problems.
Two CyberSync units working together. CST on camera, CSRB on stand.
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PRO:
* Made in USA.
* AA batteries for the receiver.
* 2.4Ghz RF band compatible with 580EX II.
* Fairly priced.
* Remote camera trigger support.
* Repeater mode for unlimited range.
* Super small Transmitter.
* Transmitter compatible with Sekonic L-358.
CON:
* No manual on/off switch.
* No selective quad triggering.
Using the CyberSync in practice is a wonderful feeling of freedom. With my second CST transmitter I purchased I just walk around anywhere in my scene I wish to meter and press a button. Easy as pie!
Sekonic in Cord Flash Mode. You can set it to Auto Reset Cordless Flash Mode if you don't want to use a cable.
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As wonderful as RF triggers are they come with one downside. Attaching them to your flashes! I hate tape, I hate Velcro, I hate things dangling from cords. The solution was to purchase a Female Hotshoe with Miniphone (3.5mm) Jack and a 3.5mm to 3.5mm adapter. This provides for a very elegant, safer solution.
Hotshoe with a 3.5mm and 3.5mm adapter to the CyberSync.
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Other Options:
* It is true that I could have gone with RadioPopper JrX units as they are in the same price range as CyberSync. I could have also even gone with RadioPopper PX units (double the price) to remotely control the power level from the camera. For ETTL flash work I think the RadioPopper PX is a good idea. For manual flash work... not so much. For manual work you need to be at the subject location to meter and at that point your so close to the slave flash you might as well just change the power right there. Also until a sophisticated master control panel comes out it is a bear trying to remember which slave is set to which power. The rudimentary controls to change the power I find frustrating with current designs.
* I don't consider the illegal Chinese triggers worthy of professional use. Your mileage may vary.
* Pocket Wizards would have cost me $1,190 for seven units or $2,065 for the MultiMax versions. Nuff said...
Please don't take this as a bash of other products. I am just reporting what works for me and how I arrived at this conclusion.
Thanks
My daughter sends special thanks to Paul C. Buff at Alien Bee, Lon Coleman at FlashZerba, and John Doe at Canon for your excellent products, service and support. Take care!
Isn't she cute!
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