Remote flash triggers

I own a Canon ID Mark II, Canon 550Ex & JBL Mobilight 300. I have been trying out Rembrandt lighting etc & using the 550Ex as a master on camera to fire the JBL 300, I have the master turned off but it still fires a pre flash that sets off the strobe so my pics are dark. I was thinking of trying out the Blazzeo PT04RF wireless flash trigger that some one had mentioned on this forum. ttp://www.dealextreme.com/de​tails.dx/sku.6201
I know nothing about these wireless flash triggers. Can someone tell me, if I order this - is that all I need or do I need to order something else with it?
Thanks
Hazel

Hi Hazel,

If you want to have a Canon Speedlight triggering other non-ETTL strobes then you need to have the Speedlight in manual mode. It won't fire the pre-flash and the flash will be able to optically trigger any studio strobe or hot shoe flash with an optical slave trigger.

The link didnt work for me, but if you are getting the trigger and receiver in the kit you should be fine. You may need a sync cord to connect the receiver to your monolight. I dont know whether you've ordered from dealextreme before but twice its taken me over a month to get my merchandise. It might be good to consider another vender.

Hi, thanks so much for the quick replies. I will give my 550EX another go in manual as suggested. Many thanks.
I love this site - always help whenever needed!
Hazel

Soulful wrote in post #9565967
I own a Canon ID Mark II, Canon 550Ex & JBL Mobilight 300. I have been trying out Rembrandt lighting etc & using the 550Ex as a master on camera to fire the JBL 300, I have the master turned off but it still fires a pre flash that sets off the strobe so my pics are dark. I was thinking of trying out the Blazzeo PT04RF wireless flash trigger that some one had mentioned on this forum. ttp://www.dealextreme.com/de​tails.dx/sku.6201
I know nothing about these wireless flash triggers. Can someone tell me, if I order this - is that all I need or do I need to order something else with it?
Thanks
Hazel

you mean JTL ?

I use the cheap radio triggers made by yongnuo (have RF-602) on ebay. They are cheap but work like a charm. very consistent.

on the 1D Mark II you should be able to sync up to 1/250 (I trigger to 1/200 on 1DsII to play "safe").

all you need is the transmitter on the camera and the receiver on 1 strobe. The other strobes will trigger with their own optical slave.
the RF-602 are radio triggers, which means that the signal can even go through walls (unlike the IR that will need to "see" eachother)

the have RF-602 go for 29 bucks shipped , plus 19 bucks for any extra receiver (you use the extra receivers if you want to go via radio for all the strobes, to prevent other flashes to trigger the optical slaves for example
The other way will be to use your flash and trigger the optical slaves with it. It must be set in manual, bounced 90 degrees .

but with the cost of the radio triggers why bother?

Hi Sethultimate, your information is very very helpful. I'm really having a hard time with the set up now as is: using the 550ex as master on/off & JTL Strobe as slave, it's very hit & miss with more misses. I know it's me - not doing something right. I've tried different settings but I'm not getting the hang of the AB ratios I think. With the 550EX master flash off - & JTL as slave - my pic is dark. (both camera & 550EX in manual). I don't know what else to do but buy a trigger maybe!
Thank you, Hazel

Sethultimate , I'm just now starting to try flash on a more advanced level but still know very little. What did you mean when you stated on the 1D Mark II you should be able to sync up to 1/250 (I trigger to 1/200 on 1DsII to play "safe").

Hazel

Soulful wrote in post #9584540
Sethultimate , I'm just now starting to try flash on a more advanced level but still know very little. What did you mean when you stated on the 1D Mark II you should be able to sync up to 1/250 (I trigger to 1/200 on 1DsII to play "safe").

Hazel

Different bodies have different maxiumum sync speeds. Some inexpensive radio triggers cannot sync as fast as the camera because of the delay in processing the signals so rather than risk getting a black bar across the image because of trigger delay users just pick a slightly slower speed at their max. By safe he means conservative, there is no risk to gear or person involved.

Buy a set of those RF-602's. You can get a transmitter and a couple of receivers for about $60 or thereabouts. That way you can get your 550 off the camera and have two off camera lights.

Other trigger options include the CST/CSRB Cybersync's from Paul C Buff which a re a little more expensive. Then EL Skyports are a little more, and eventually, Pocket Wizards. All are very reliable.

I had a set of those triggers you linked to a few years ago and they wouldn't fire more than 6 out of ten times consecutively. Getting rid of them was the best thing I ever did.

Note: If your triggers don't have a hot shoe, you will need a hot shoe adapter like the one Flashzebra sells for the 550.

Good luck.
Mike

sethultimate wrote in post #9574956
you mean JTL ?

I use the cheap radio triggers made by yongnuo (have RF-602) on ebay.

Not to take away fome the org post, but how long haveyou had these, and how often do they misfire, and how far away can you be from them

The best off camera flash triger out there is the "pocket wizard"

primnumbers wrote in post #9588467
Not to take away fome the org post, but how long haveyou had these, and how often do they misfire, and how far away can you be from them

There is a thread about the rf-602's with many pages of posts. Do a quick search and you should find it.

I was probably the one you saw suggesting Blazzeo triggers as a surprisingly reliable low-cost alternative to a more expensive triggers but as they are quite limited in the connectivity options (without DIY modifications) you are probably better of going with the rf-602's. Don't have any experience with them myself but I believe they are considered the ultimate low-cost rf triggers.

Thanks everyone for all the help & information. Played with settings again today but I'm giving up (for now). Now I'm trying to choose between the Cactus V4s or RF-602 to see which is the better buy! Will scan the posts. Many thanks!

primnumbers wrote in post #9588467
Not to take away fome the org post, but how long haveyou had these, and how often do they misfire, and how far away can you be from them

they are great, honestly.

they don't misfire.

I have them for 4 months and I shoot catalogs on location (600-800 shots per session) . Never a problem.

of course the best are the PW but .. ya know ...



max sync on 1DsII : PW 1/200 , RF-602 1/200 tested and tested again.

the PW is big on my camera with that antenna erected and embarrassing , the RF-602 is small and light.

2 PW will cost a lot of money
2 RF-602 will cost 28.99

the PW will work for longer distances and that's about it. The RF-602 will cover 100-150 ft tops

now the real question is: why the PW are so expensive? is there any "politics" or "fashion" involved?

which is fine with me (fashion is important)

as long as we all understand eachother...