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Author Topic: A question about radio triggers  (Read 2125 times)

LightQuarry

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A question about radio triggers
« on: April 18, 2012, 02:01:10 pm »

Hi,

My cameraclub wants to rig a "Backpackers Studio",
with flashes, radio triggers, soft boxes, light stands, etc.

We need radio triggers that:

* Only need to fire the flashes manually - we don't need TTL.
* Should work with any brand camera (also Sony through the use of a hot shoe adapter).
* Should work as both a receiver and a transmitter.

If the trigger is both a receiver and a transmitter, with 4 triggers
we would be able to have 1 photographer using 3 lights, or 2 photographers
using 2 lights each (taking turns), etc.

I have a feeling that most available triggers are one or more of the following:

1) Specific for either Nikon or Canon - offering brand specific TTL.
2) Transmitter and receiver is not the same unit.
3) Rader pricey.

We could settle for separate transmitters and receivers,
if we got 3 receivers and 2 transmitters in stead of the combined 4 "tranceivers".

Anyone with any advice or suggestions on what to buy?
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John Nollendorfs

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Re: A question about radio triggers
« Reply #1 on: April 18, 2012, 02:46:49 pm »

Sounds like these "cowboy" triggers should work for you. I've been using this set for about a year. Works fine!
http://www.amazon.com/CowboyStudio-NPT-04-Speelights-extra-receiver/dp/B005IQRMN4/ref=pd_cp_p_1

They have 4 channel selection. Price is right! good range.

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Ken Bennett

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Re: A question about radio triggers
« Reply #2 on: April 18, 2012, 04:16:59 pm »

You are describing the Pocket Wizard Plus II, or the new Plus III units. They are not inexpensive, but they are exceptionally reliable. And the new Plus III are about $30 less than the previous version.
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LightQuarry

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Re: A question about radio triggers
« Reply #3 on: April 18, 2012, 07:00:31 pm »

One problem is that we're located in Norway,
and it seems like Pocket Wizards are not sold over here.

With radio triggers the allowed frequencies differ between countries/regions,
so it's not a good idea to use US versions over here.
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LightQuarry

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Re: A question about radio triggers
« Reply #4 on: April 18, 2012, 07:07:21 pm »

I must correct myself.

The 433 MHz versions are suitable for Norway/EU, and they seems like they're actually
sold here in Norway.

Edit:

One thing that would be very handy, is if the chosen triggers do NOT rely solely on
Sync cables - We would prefer light stand -> Trigger -> Flash, using a hot shoe on
the trigger. I'm not sure if PocketWizards have hot shoes or just use sync cables?

Edit II:

In fact - the ONE thing that I don't like about the PocketWizards is that sync cables
seems to be the only way of connecting a light source.
« Last Edit: April 18, 2012, 07:24:29 pm by LightQuarry »
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Ken Bennett

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Re: A question about radio triggers
« Reply #5 on: April 18, 2012, 07:46:36 pm »

Well, the PW units I mentioned don't have hot shoes, of course. PW does make a TTL unit that fits the way you want, but they are specific to Nikon or Canon, and not transferrable.

I know I've seen plenty of less expensive radio triggers on eBay from various Chinese manufacturers, many of which have a hot shoe. I have no idea if they are legal in the EU, but some of them get good reviews. This Cactus v5, for example.
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LightQuarry

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Re: A question about radio triggers
« Reply #6 on: April 18, 2012, 07:50:29 pm »

I realize now that the PocketWizard Plus III is probably our best bet,
working with any camera make - even Sony cameras, using a hot shoe adapter?

We plan on using Westcott Apollo softboxes with Manfrotto light stands and umbrella adapters.
With no hot shoe on the PW Plus III, we must use a cold shoe adapter on the light stands,
and PC sync cables from the PW to the flash.

What is the best way of securing the PW in this scenario?
Attach it to the top of the flash with velcro, strapped to the light stand,
or some other, totally different way?
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Petrus

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Re: A question about radio triggers
« Reply #7 on: April 19, 2012, 01:06:54 am »


One thing that would be very handy, is if the chosen triggers do NOT rely solely on
Sync cables - We would prefer light stand -> Trigger -> Flash, using a hot shoe on
the trigger. I'm not sure if PocketWizards have hot shoes or just use sync cables?


I thought that a hot shoe is a one way connection, meaning that you can only trigger a flash (or in this case a PW transmitter) from the camera, but I have never heard about a system where the flash could trigger the camera, i.e. in this case the receiver would trigger the flash with a hot shoe connection. I admit that the normal sync cable connection is not the best engineering feat in the world, but we have been living with it for almost a hundred years now and it is not going away soon.

We use PW at work, they are either velcroed to the light stand or the flash, I usually just have them hanging by the wrist loop on the light stand knob. I have the Plus II version, simple and reliable for manual flashes.
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Ken Bennett

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Re: A question about radio triggers
« Reply #8 on: April 19, 2012, 08:34:56 am »



We plan on using Westcott Apollo softboxes with Manfrotto light stands and umbrella adapters.
With no hot shoe on the PW Plus III, we must use a cold shoe adapter on the light stands,
and PC sync cables from the PW to the flash.

What is the best way of securing the PW in this scenario?

This is fine. The best cold shoe adapter is the Frio, found here. You can also buy a hot shoe adapter with a cable for the Pocket Wizard, here. I have one and it works, though it's not as secure as the Frio.

The Pocket Wizard can be hung from the handle of the umbrella adapter (the one that lets you adjust the angle of the umbrella.) There are also adapters that let you attach a PW to a light stand. That and many other cool things can be found here. Note that he also has his own PW > hot shoe adapters, as well as many ways to mount speedlights inside softboxes, etc.

Finally, realize that a speedlight in an Apollo does not put out much light. I've had up to 4 speedlights in the larger Apollo, and it doesn't do much to overpower daylight. But if you want to go that route, try the Lastolite Tri Flash bracket, which will give you 3 speedlights inside one softbox or umbrella rig. Works pretty well.

Cheers,

Ken

EDIT: Here's the Pocket Wizard holder that attaches to a light stand. This is for the Plus II, though I expect he'll make one for the III at some point.
« Last Edit: April 19, 2012, 08:42:09 am by k bennett »
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Ellis Vener

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Re: A question about radio triggers
« Reply #9 on: April 19, 2012, 11:21:01 am »

What is the best way of securing the PW in this scenario?
Attach it to the top of the flash with velcro, strapped to the light stand,
or some other, totally different way?

 It should come with a lanyard ( a woven loop with a hook on the end that connects via a split keyring to the PW. I just use that to hang my PWs (I have 4 MultiMAX II transceivers as well as Pocketwizard ControlTL systems for Nikon and Canon) from the stand or the flash mount.

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