Wireless Flash Triggers for Cheapskates 101

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Wireless Flash Triggers for Cheapskates 101

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bmxdad

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One of these days I am going to get myself a some real Flash Triggers, but these PocketWizard are not really bought for pocket change. So being a bit of a Cheapskate myself I went for cheap and admittedly got what I paid for:

First I got these Cactus V2(They are sold with many Brand Names), 2 receiver and 1 transmitter, they work OK, but the Receivers are to tall and supports the flash poorly and I had to use tape to hold everything together. Also batteries are installed very poorly and sometimes will not connect. BTW one receiver died a few weeks ago, but they were Cheap, $30 but don't waste your money one these:

Anyway, So Cheapskate Pete went shopping for some new Flash Triggers, and after dusting out my valet, the new ones would again not be PocketWizards, so back to our beloved Ebay for another set of cheapskate triggers, and I would say that I found a winner this time and if you are in the market for some these are cheap, work great, support the flash perfect, I absolute recommend them, below is a picture of them and they are called IShoot and you can find them on Ebay

Hope you enjoyed this class for Cheapskates 101, next will be tripods!!!!!

Just kidding

Pete

Posted 3 years ago #
foofiebeast

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thanks for the reviews, I hadn't considered picking up any flash triggers before mainly because of the pricing, but these really aren't bad.

I mean I know I might not be getting the A+ goods, but for my price range C to B+ range is well worth it for me.

Posted 3 years ago #
foofiebeast

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Scratch the last post a big, it's more that I haven't considered picking any up because I thought they were out of my price range so much that I haven't looked into the point exactly. Actually this is a good chance for me to learn a lot about this area that I really know nothing about

Trying to learn more about them my first step was to go onto the pocket wizard site. This is the first image I was presented with.

Now I was under the impression that you used flash triggers in very laboratory type settings (aka studio settings). In what way could a flash trigger be used in the situation in the photo above?

Am I just totally off about what the purpose of flash trigger and transmitters are? A little help please!
-Foofie

Posted 3 years ago #
bmxdad

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I use them for many types of shooting, I have pc wires so they can connect to my studio lights, the wires are are not incl but only $3.00 on dear Ebay, I use them to fire 2 flashes outside my photo tent, I have them to shot Portrait pictures in shaded areas.
I have been trying to use them in BMX but not really figured that one out yet. My goal is a cool shot purposely underexposed on a Cloudy day, with the flash exposing the rider

Anyway the Flash and camera is setup in total Manual, I use my histogram and sometimes laptop to get the metering figured out.

People use them to take these water drop pictures

My Son used them to take the Motorcycle picture on my Flickr account

Pete

Posted 3 years ago #
NSXType-R

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I think what you used was what was suggested in the latest episode of DTown TV by Scott Kelby. Very useful if you need wireless shooting and you can't spring for a SB900.

Posted 3 years ago #
bmxdad

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I actually use the triggers on my SB900 also, set to manual power. Some pictures just don't expose in Auto. Mostly I use them with my Vivitar 285HV, I just love that flash, will get a few more before they are all gone. I have other flashes, but most of them go to sleep after a few minutes of standby, the vivitars does not

Pete

Posted 3 years ago #
foofiebeast

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Right, so they are used about how I expected.

I am still confused as to why pocket wizard has that surfing picture up there, how could that have been used? Unless they had a post sticking up out of the water randomly with a waterproofed flash and trigged it when the guy.....no that doesn't make any sense.

Posted 3 years ago #
bmxdad

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If I should guess on the left side just outside the picture one or more flashes are remotely triggered by pocketwizards, to kind of look like sunshine and freeze the action at the dusk light level

I would think that all equipment are waterproofed and the flash is carried by a person maybe on a post

Pete

Posted 3 years ago #
foofiebeast

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if he is surfing there though, doesn't that seem a bit deep?

Posted 3 years ago #
heartyfisher

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Probably a person On a jetski holding a flash pointed just infront of the surfer. also the photog probably just in the water waiting. It looks a bit like we can just see the wash from the other jetski. either that or its just another crazy surfer going too close to some structure or rocks where you can mount a flash.

Posted 3 years ago #
NikoDoby

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The shot was done with a Canon 1D Mark II N, 15mm lens, and a Canon 580EX. Frederico, the photographer, built his own water-tight housings for both his camera and flash. Thanks to the pocket wizard plus II, an assistant floating in the water holds the flash up while he takes the shot.

Posted 3 years ago #
bmxdad

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Wow Niko neat stuff, where did you find that, is there a link to more information

Pete

BTW do you agree that the flash is the light source that looks like a sun from the left

Posted 3 years ago #
jonnyapple

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Thanks for the review, Pete. I ordered some of the ones with a hotshoe and a 3.5mm out today because I've been looking for a non-optical way to trigger my studio lights (3.5mm input) now that I don't have a PC out on my camera. I also looked at pocketwizard but I wasn't going to pay that much money. I love this forum.

Posted 3 years ago #
NikoDoby

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Yes the flash inside it's custom housing is just outside the frame to the left.

Posted 3 years ago #
foofiebeast

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haha, poor poor assistant.

Posted 3 years ago #
Kamerad

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I have been using the cactus V4 Trigger and receivers for about a year now, they have never failed however I can say they are not the best build quality so you have to be a little careful with them, they battery door on the receivers is not the best. I have used them indoors and outdoors and they have preformed each time.

Posted 3 years ago #
bmxdad

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Your style of cactus are better by far than the V2 that I had to begin with, they look a bit like the Ishoot that I just purchased
Thanks for sharing and I hope that you have fun with your Triggers, I actual think they a blast to use and always thinking of neat ways to use them

Pete

Posted 3 years ago #
chancetlu

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Question from a noob...how would the IShoot work on a D90 since I do not think the D90 has a PC Sync port.

Posted 3 years ago #
chancetlu

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nevermind, answered my own questions. http://www.adorama.com/NKAS15.html The hotshoe to pc adapter.

Posted 3 years ago #
jonnyapple

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chancetlu, those MultiBlitz lights don't have a PC input, and neither do the alien bees. It looks like it's 3.5mm like the bees have (see my comment above).

Posted 3 years ago #
chancetlu

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Oops, like I said, I am new at this studio stuff. Is there a way to convert the 3.5mm to PC or is there a specific trigger set that uses 3.5mm that are relatively cheap. Its an extra 100 USD for the IR transmitter to use with the strobes.

Posted 3 years ago #
bmxdad

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I use these PC to 3.5mm sync cords, can be bought on Ebay for $3.00

Pete

Posted 3 years ago #
bmxdad

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Now this trigger can be used both for studio lights and regular flashes

Pete

Posted 3 years ago #
jonnyapple

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But I was saying you won't need PC anywhere, chancetlu.

The ones you have pictured have PC out, Pete, but the ones I bought (same brand) have 3.5mm out and come with a 3.5mm-3.5mm dual-sided plug. I'm just doing my part to kill the PC connection like strobist.com suggested. ;-)

Posted 3 years ago #
gelu88

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To be clear, all of these are non-ttl right?

is the main difference between these and pocket wizards the lack of TTL, or am i missing another factor.

I was looking at these on ebay and the number of choices surprised me. thanks for the info!

Posted 3 years ago #