Tom, would love some more of your "user reports"

Amanda, this review from Amazon suggests that you can indeed control all modes from the camera - this set are ticking all the boxes for my needs, and I'm definitely going to be reading up on them as much as possible!

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5.0 out of 5 stars Wow, better than expected, <nobr>March 12, 2012</nobr>
By
IDH (FL) - See all my reviews


Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: PIXEL King Wireless Radio E-TTL II E-TTL Flash Trigger for Canon DSLRs & Flashes, 1 x Transmitter + 2 x Receiver Kit (Electronics)
Having reached the limits of Canon's built in optical trigger system, I've been using less expensive radio triggers that simply instruct remote flashes to fire. All work was done in manual mode and required running around to each flash to make adjustments. I needed something that allowed me to get shooting faster.

These triggers sit in the mid price range between what I was using and the Pocket Wizards I thought I needed. These are simply awesome. For 1/3 the cost of Pocket Wizards I picked up one transmitter and three receivers. They are simple to set up and allow you to control your flashes remotely using the camera's built in flash menu. They support ETTL on Canon gear, but make note, all connected flashes fire in A+B+C mode. In manual, you can control up to three groups individually and set each flash group output from the camera menu. You can shoot in A+B+C, or A:B or A:B C. They also support high speed sync which is great for when you need fast shutter speeds to cut down ambient light in certain situations. They are reliable, simple and have changed my workflow dramatically.

They come with a nice padded case, cords and a base that's a bit larger than the standard Canon flash bases. The battery covers feel a bit flimsy, but I don't abuse my gear, so I think they will be fine. To fit the 580EX IIs on them, I had to remove the rubber weather seal from the locking mechanism, which took about 5 seconds and they are easy to replace when needed.

Battery life is great (lasts longer than flash batteries) and the indicator lights confirm the units are receiving a signal from transmitter. I am very pleased with these units.
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If I understand your shooting context, you would prefer to use ettl, but are willing to use manual to keep down the cost of radio triggers. And you want to use radio triggers because sometimes the places you put the flashes are inconvenient to get to and optical control doesn't work. However you do have time to do setup, test and even retake a shot if need be.

Just to list a couple of things you probably already know

Shooting manual with simple radio triggers still will require you to access the flash to make or change settings.

Have you considered using a cable, like http://ocfgear.com ? Having the master or even your ST-E2, on the end of a cable, instead of on the camera, can make it easier to set things up so that all the slave flashes work. Gaffers tape over the cables helps to prevent tripping... but even so Syl Arena has said he has broken equipment tripping over cables.

Originally Posted by divamum Any other recommendations? Thanks in advance!

Good questions. To clarify:

If I understand your shooting context, you would prefer to use ettl,

It's worked very well for me.

but are willing to use manual to keep down the cost of radio triggers.

Also, sometimes it's just nice to have full manual control and keep the camera's opinion out of the result

I am anticipating radio triggers to be an added convenience rather than a necessity, although of course I may change my mind once I start using them and see that I have more flexibility/control than I have to date!

And you want to use radio triggers because sometimes the places you put the flashes are inconvenient to get to and optical control doesn't work.

And for those times when the light makes IR trickier (eg outside in superbright light), and/or when I just don't want to have to faff about with constantly moving the IR sensor on the flash every time I change my camera angle from one side or the other.

However you do have time to do setup, test and even retake a shot if need be.

The bulk of my paid shoots are portraits (indoors and out), usually adults who can take direction, and usually without serious time limits. I'm not typically shooting action sequences (eg sports/weddings/kids) where speed is my prime directive (although I think of course one should always be prepared to jump into a range of scenarios as needed, and also be as quick and efficient with gear as possible!)

Cables would be possible, I suppose, but my indoor shooting space is small, and outdoors I think they'd be a liability for me - I'm pretty good at tripping on things when I have the camera to my eye

Originally Posted by ilbcnu Angevin1 correct me if I'am wrong as you do manual and I just have played with it. You can control flash power through camera can't you with the Pixel triggers?

Yes Amanda. Using ttl on the Pixel trigger's gives you the typical control within the Camera and/or camera menu. I liked it just fine, but simply changed my go-to brand of camera so they didn't get much use.

If you were Shooting Nikon Diva, I'd send you the trigger set of Pixel I own to try :(

I was a died in the wool Nikon CLS addict when I chose to get the Pixel trigger set. And I wanted the ttl function simply because I like to control Stuff on-Cam, like you do. I admit the manual that comes with some of my made in China stuff is lacking-some in the grammar dept...but so is msnbc. Basically I found the settings within a few moments of playing with the trigger set and they worked. Which for the price floored me!

But the biggest joy of all was not having to worry over where my IR-eye was in relation to the camera. That in itself made switching from CLS one of those questions that we all ask: What took me so long?

Good Luck!

What I use now with my Canon is Seculine twin links when I want triggers. And YonguoYN60 Flashes that trigger-from-flash when I don't want to set up triggers. When using the Yonguo's sans trigger, I mount a Nikon SB600 on the Canon to fire the flashes.

Interesting timing on this Strobist post http://strobist.blogspot.com/2012/06...-in-photo.html about Photix triggers.

I am reading some good things about Ojecoco H550 radio flash transceivers. They appear to relay TTL transparently through and including 1/250th sync. With "some" camera/flash combinations they also appear able to "hypersync" to 1/8000th. Camera models which appear to work at high shutter speeds include Canon 40D and 5D MKII and Nikon D700 (various sources and user accounts of success). I believe that they are sold in manufacturer specific models, even though they don't seem to communicate any data themselves.

These appear to only be available through EBay. There is a firm selling a 2 - unit set for $120USD. These are too new to make any serious recommendations (IMO).

http://www.lightingrumours.com/ojeco...e-know-it-1490

http://www.flickr.com/groups/strobis...7627493192848/

http://www.flickr.com/groups/h550/

http://www.flickr.com/groups/h550/di...7627508168162/

Great reading on both counts.

Diva, if the PixelKing radios are as hotshit as they appear at first glance, they sound like a nice solution for you. That being said, PW reliability and updatability finally sold me on a FlexTT5, MiniTT1 and AC3 system. I wanted every thing you wanted for my Nikons, and had become frustrated with the limitations of CLS, and simple triggers just left me irritated. Yes, the PW set was tres cher, but oh, my, am I happy with my setup now. It's like L glass. Hurts for a little while, but the longer you have it, the better you like it.

I totally forgot to mention that the units I use (linked in above post), are used with: Nikon SB900's, Paul C Buff white lightning 5000's / White lightning Ultra 1800, Alien Bee 800, Sunpak Super Pro 622's and vivatar 285HV ... ... I needed a set up with various plug styles and sizes and that set was the fix to my dilemma and was recommended by that fellow from OZ... ... Gus .... never had a problem with them and they have triggered flashes thru concrete walls & floors and over 300 feet in distance .... thru the concrete walls it was a little over 50 feet and also from one floor to another thru concrete floors and walls ... .... I tested the crap out of them before I did my first shoot with them........

Originally Posted by Icebear Diva, if the PixelKing radios are as hotshit as they appear at first glance, they sound like a nice solution for you.

They're top of my list at the moment. I'm not quite ready to buy, but they pretty much tick all the boxes, especially with a couple of "personal" reviews from trusted dgrinners

That being said, PW reliability and updatability finally sold me on a FlexTT5, MiniTT1 and AC3 system. I wanted every thing you wanted for my Nikons, and had become frustrated with the limitations of CLS, and simple triggers just left me irritated. Yes, the PW set was tres cher, but oh, my, am I happy with my setup now.

Unfortunately, I use a 580ex now - isn't this the setup that's had all the radio interference issues?

It's like L glass. Hurts for a little while, but the longer you have it, the better you like it.

True 'dat. That said, I buy my L glass secondhand, so the pain is minimal....

Originally Posted by divamum Unfortunately, I use a 580ex now - isn't this the setup that's had all the radio interference issues?

I'm pretty sure they have an easy fix for that. Since my Nikon speedlights don't have that cute quirk, I don't have the details.

I don't think I can afford them anyway so it's a moot point, but obsessive researcher that I am, just checking

Originally Posted by divamum They're top of my list at the moment. I'm not quite ready to buy, but they pretty much tick all the boxes, especially with a couple of "personal" reviews from trusted dgrinners

I was introduced to the pixel kings by a friend who needed rear curtain TTL and they were the only solution for him. They worked perfectly for him until one of the transceivers started to have issues and now, it's totally dead after less than a year of use.

I'm not saying that you shouldn't buy them or that they shouldn't be on the top of your list; i'm just saying there is a reason why I wrote about the quality/longevity issues of various third party manufacturers earlier in this thread.

I really doubt that a perfect, one-solution ratio trigger exists. In some ways, I think they're like camera bags and you'll always be looking for a better one.

Originally Posted by aktse I really doubt that a perfect, one-solution ratio trigger exists. In some ways, I think they're like camera bags and you'll always be looking for a better one.

Diva, I've purchased a set of Yongnuo RF-603 triggers/receivers last year and I've been really happy with them. I believe for a set of 4 it was about 60-70$ via an Ebay seller located in the USA. The newest Cactus triggers were my next choice but the price is about double at about 100-120$ for a set of 4. I think they're better suited for use with Speedlites. My only gripe with the RF-603 triggers is that there's no locking mechanism for when its mounted on the camera body's hot-shoe, a simple rubber band fixes that problem though. Overall all of these new triggers should be sufficient for what you need to do, mine are pretty reliable. The only times they exhibited problems is when I decided not to change out the batteries after months of no-use. If you're shooting weddings and such a lot though, best bet will be using Pocket Wizards; they have always been the most reliable but the priciest. They're all a lot of fun to play with though, I've used my set on weddings and in-studio, they're very reliable. They're a good place to start.

Thanks! If I decide to go the cheap/disposable-before-buying-PW's route, these are probably the ones I'd go for. Not quite ready to buy yet, but we'll see!

Btw, I don't do weddings, so don't have that kind of time/event-critical pressure for what I do. It's more my own frustration level that needs the reliability

:) I used to use cables for flash syncing when I first started, those were pretty reliable. Then I experimented with non-2.4ghz triggers from eBay, those worked indoors well but they had their reliability issues. Then I used the RF-603s by Yongnuo, they're as reliable as cables so long as the batteries were kept charged. I used PocketWizards from time to time when I worked with and assisted a friend during editorial shoots when we were using his gear, I have to say, they're probably the most reliable, but its size was a major turn-off for me (they're huge in comparison!).

These newer 2.4ghz triggers from China are no joke though, they could be 'disposable' but when used correctly, they're pretty reliable equipment. With that said, with whatever you use, I guarantee you'll have loads of fun learning how to strobe. The sooner the better though!

This is a really good flash triggering guide about the various options.

Maybe dont put any money into 3rd party triggers and start slowly replacing your existing flashes with the new canon 600ex flashes...wireless, TTL, simplicity, massive reliability. No extra devices to tote around, hook up, extra batteries, dealing with misfires, efc.