Wireless Triggers for Canon Flashes

[adamadam]

How much did you pay for the Elinchrom Skyport mate? The antenna is kinda fragile don't you think? :angel:

hoho, sorry, didn't see this until now
I paid AUD$305 for the universal trigger set.
The antenna indeed looks fragile, but it's flexible metal piece surrounded by rubber. More worried about the connection to the unit breaking but it can swivel all the way around, just not in the other degree-of-freedom haha. Not so scared about it though, looks like it'll take some pulling to get it off. Or just repeated bending backwards and forwards cycles for fatigue failure.

 

[grantyale]

Wow. Flash sync at 1/2000s. You can definitely kill the midday sun with 1/2000s.

But are you able to extract full power from the flash when your shutter speed is so fast...?

I'm also wondering if current wireless systems can sync accurately at 1/2000s... the window of opportunity is so tiny, any miscue and the flash would fire either before or after the shutter opens/closes.

My cam does not have an electronic shutter so at 1/800s (triggered by PW) 3/4 of the frame is dark already.

Oops... that was a while ago...

Full flash output usually takes 1/1000s, so that's the practical limit of lighting ratio - but going to 1/2000s allows me to use 1/2 power output on the flash which significantly reduces recycle time and hopefully less likely to fry my flash.

Nikon's actual output duration seems a bit longer than specified, or there might be a little extra delay after triggering. Metz is not suitable for this application.

 

[Danntbt]

hoho, sorry, didn't see this until now
I paid AUD$305 for the universal trigger set.
The antenna indeed looks fragile, but it's flexible metal piece surrounded by rubber. More worried about the connection to the unit breaking but it can swivel all the way around, just not in the other degree-of-freedom haha. Not so scared about it though, looks like it'll take some pulling to get it off. Or just repeated bending backwards and forwards cycles for fatigue failure.

That sounds ex...CP carrying this for around S$380..might get better price if you know them well.

 

[adamadam]

That sounds ex...CP carrying this for around S$380..might get better price if you know them well.

Things are EX. here
I was quoted prices of $295, $300, $305 and $330, but the $305 had immediate stock and I wanted to play

 

[xl1]

Cathay does bring those lovely Pocketwizard but only as export sets. Crap! ;(

i have one set PW II transmitter and receiver extra if u want to buy

 

[etegration]

Packaging: The packaging from HK is rather terrible. Just a simple bubble envelop with some flimsy box.

What's inside: 1 transmitter + 3 receiver + 3 CR2 batteries (wrapped in plastic) + Manual + PC sync cord. The manual is in well written English. (Thank God).

Build quality: The trigger and receiver build is rather flimsy and not really well made. But for the price I've paid I can't really complain much. I have problems fitting my flashes into the receiver's hot shoe. It seems very tight to slide it in and getting it out is another problem. I need to force it in but I hope over time of usage it gets much easier.

Operation: No hardware modification necessary. Just plug and play. The receiver has a switch to turn it on but the transmitter doesn't. I did a simple test at home with my setup. 2 580EX + 430EX + 5D. Suprisingly, it works as advertised. However, (yes folks, there is a but) you'll get the occasional misfiring. On the 430EX, it triggers itself randomly every few minutes but not on the 580EX.

In summary:
Total damage to wallet: US$70 (about S$100)
Pros: Affordable and works as promised, lightweight.
Cons: Build quality feels like a last minute school project. Random misfiring. Random triggering on the 430EX.

Would I bring it on an important job? No way and I am not leaving my ST-E2 behind. Who would love this? Cheapo like me and people who love to experiment with lighting.

Hope that helps. Cheers!

here's some pic of my package to share.

more pics here.

 

[hazmee]

Ahoy! I thought no one was interested in this anymore. Hehe.

Have fun with your new toy ya? Do post some sample pics here. I hope yours is a better version than mine. (as in no misfiring or random triggers).

Cheers!

 

[Yatlapball]

hw much would a st-e2 set you back?

 

[aloyyolaaloy]

hw much would a st-e2 set you back?

2nd hand would be $250

 

[Yatlapball]

brand new?

I've got abit of an aversion to used electronics. Heh.

 

[hazmee]

brand new?

I've got abit of an aversion to used electronics. Heh.

About 290 - 310.

If you shoot a lot of indoors, its a great investment. There are lots of limitations using it for outdoors. If you're feeling rich, I'd say its a like buying a porche for a wireless trigger. Cheers!

 

[etegration]

Ahoy! I thought no one was interested in this anymore. Hehe.

Have fun with your new toy ya? Do post some sample pics here. I hope yours is a better version than mine. (as in no misfiring or random triggers).

Cheers!

no time really. still playing tons of my panos still. tomorrow will be trying out with 3 flashes as meeting 2 friends. heheh did triggering test with my 580EX and a nikon SB800, no problem, just the settings still...

no, there's no random misfire at all. no matter the distance of the flashes or transmitter. seems ok so far still. will post some sample if i take some!

 

[hazmee]

no time really. still playing tons of my panos still. tomorrow will be trying out with 3 flashes as meeting 2 friends. heheh did triggering test with my 580EX and a nikon SB800, no problem, just the settings still...

no, there's no random misfire at all. no matter the distance of the flashes or transmitter. seems ok so far still. will post some sample if i take some!

Ah great! Have fun with it.

Just some update: For serious work, I DON'T recommend it at all! I just got back from a corporate shoot using that damn thing and gave me a hell lot of problems. Regretted not renting the pocketwizard...

 

[xl1]

Ah great! Have fun with it.

Just some update: For serious work, I DON'T recommend it at all! I just got back from a corporate shoot using that damn thing and gave me a hell lot of problems. Regretted not renting the pocketwizard...

learn from mistake......

 

[Danntbt]

Actually if the ST transmitter cost above 200, why not just get another flash as slave..like 420Ex at 250 plus(secondhand), or 550ex at 300 plus (secondhand). Also better than getting unreliable China brand transmitter, not forgetting with canon system, you can play with ratio and ETTL is also available as an option.I just got another 550Ex to matcch with my existing 550Ex....works great, plus you gat a bckup flash at the same time.

 

[xl1]

Actually if the ST transmitter cost above 200, why not just get another flash as slave..like 420Ex at 250 plus(secondhand), or 550ex at 300 plus (secondhand). Also better than getting unreliable China brand transmitter, not forgetting with canon system, you can play with ratio and ETTL is also available as an option.I just got another 550Ex to matcch with my existing 550Ex....works great, plus you gat a bckup flash at the same time.

range...different, one use infrared, the other use radio, small room setup no problem, but in bigger space there is a problem.

PW is the Best!

 

[adamadam]

Skyport 2nd best horhor

 

[hazmee]

I am considering getting the Skyport now! Woohoo!