Off brand transmitter/Receiver

fredjclaus

Ok, Im looking into picking up an inexpensive wireless pack to build up my business, and possibly afford something like the Pocket Wizard. What are your thoughts on this set?

http://cgi.ebay.com/DSLRKIT-4-channel-Wireless-Studio-Flash-Trigger-PT-04_W0QQitemZ250486030712QQcmdZViewItemQQptZCamera_Flash_Accessories?hash=item3a52218178&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

ziggy53

I do not recommend the very cheap 4-channel units as I find lots of dissatisfied users on the Internet. I use 16 channel simple radio units that have worked well in both church and outdoor environments for me. Mine are very similar to the old/original Cactus units and we have a number of users with the Cactus units so I would probably recommend them. You might also need some simple adapters, depending on your exact equipment and configuration.

http://www.gadgetinfinity.com/product.php?productid=17204&cat=274&page=1

fredjclaus

Ziggy,

Which ones do you use personally. This kit you posted is my price range to start with, but I wanted to know what the other good ones were.

ziggy53

fredjclaus wrote:

Ziggy,

Which ones do you use personally. This kit you posted is my price range to start with, but I wanted to know what the other good ones were.

I bought some EBay specials but I don't remember who it was. They were identical in appearance and function and specifications to the original Cactus, which are no longer available. (The name of my units is "YHRD", and the model number is "616". I do not find them available for sale anywhere.)

If I were to purchase today I would personally purchase the new Cactus units.

time2smile

I just received the rf602 from evilbay, 1 transmitter and three receivers, they work as a flash trigger and a shutter trigger, so far they seem great. One drawback that you don't seem to be able to use them for both at the same time. When the shutter is activated the flash seems to have a delay that causes no flash effect in the photo. but as two different devices they seem to be on the ball.
I liked the specs on this one the best as far as pysical size and flash distance goes. will give it a distance test, hopefully this weekend

Chiriqui Charlie

Just get the RF-602! Much better than the older ebay units, great range and reliability, also works as a remote camera trigger. Trans and two receivers $50

fredjclaus wrote:

Ok, Im looking into picking up an inexpensive wireless pack to build up my business, and possibly afford something like the Pocket Wizard. What are your thoughts on this set?

http://cgi.ebay.com/DSLRKIT-4-channel-Wireless-Studio-Flash-Trigger-PT-04_W0QQitemZ250486030712QQcmdZViewItemQQptZCamera_Flash_Accessories?hash=item3a52218178&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

Art Scott

fredjclaus wrote:

Ok, Im looking into picking up an inexpensive wireless pack to build up my business, and possibly afford something like the Pocket Wizard. What are your thoughts on this set?

http://cgi.ebay.com/DSLRKIT-4-channel-Wireless-Studio-Flash-Trigger-PT-04_W0QQitemZ250486030712QQcmdZViewItemQQptZCamera_Flash_Accessories?hash=item3a52218178&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

Fred,

Here is a link to the FLASH TRIGGERS I use....(link is to the slave triggers and the trusted ebay seller I use)...they have worked great for me.....I like them cause they work with my studio lights, my sunpak 622 handle mount flashes and my speedlights with a hotshoe adapter.......they are 16 channels.....not 4....I wanted to make sure if I was shooting at a fashion show or bridal show or some where else other photogs might bew around I could custom set my channel(s).......also since no one at teh time I purchased them had anything that would ttl with a speed light any way so I wasn't spending hundreds on a manual firing slave (manual in that none relayed any flash info to cam.....so I took the lesser expensive road and bought a total of 2 transmitters and 5 recievers for less than $90.....the prices have went up a bit but they are still very reasonable.

Tim Kamppinen

I just ordered the Yongnuo RF-602's on ebay. One transmitter and four receivers for $99 shipped from Hong Kong (you don't have to buy four though). Haven't got them yet, but I bought them based on the fact that my old 4 channel ebay triggers (cactus v2s) suck bad and I wanted something reliable. The general consensus seems to be that these are worlds ahead of any previous ebay trigger and consistantly reliable to over 300 ft, and work just fine through walls, etc.

Art Scott

Tim Kamppinen wrote:

The general consensus seems to be that these are worlds ahead of any previous ebay trigger and consistantly reliable to over 300 ft, and work just fine through walls, etc.

How often do YOU shoot thru walls with your x-ray lensesroflrofl

wildviper

I have bought these earlier this year:

http://cgi.ebay.com/CTR-301P-Wireless-Flash-Trigger-3-Receiver-w-PC-Sync_W0QQitemZ180380461258QQcmdZViewItemQQptZPortable_Flashes_Strobes?hash=item29ff8368ca

This is a 4 pack (1 trigger/3 rec). They have not let me down at all. The only misfires come from battery being low.

If yours misfire, replace the batteries.

I don't know how far I have gone outside in blazing sun, but it was at least 100ft. They worked! I have even tested(for test purposes) firing the camera at one corner of my house while the flash was in the 2nd floor opposite corner in a closet...it worked(per my wife)!!!

Tim Kamppinen

How often do YOU shoot thru walls with your x-ray lenses

Never, but I can think of many instances where I would want to have my flash somewhere that wasn't in direct line of sight to my camera, whether behind a wall, tree, vehicle, subject, or some other obstruction.

Wil Davis

I bought one of these on eBay ( Plato Wireless Remote N8 for Nikon D200/D300/D700/D3x ) for my D300 back in Feb, and have used it without any problems at all.

HTH -
- Wil

time2smile

Art Scott wrote:

How often do YOU shoot thru walls with your x-ray lensesroflrofl

Scott, your the Sigma guy, he's using the 500 2.8. Doing a shot from 3 blocks away. Now if Sigma would only come out with a flash for that lens his life would be much easier.

time2smile

Tim Kamppinen wrote:

Never, but I can think of many instances where I would want to have my flash somewhere that wasn't in direct line of sight to my camera, whether behind a wall, tree, vehicle, subject, or some other obstruction.

You are very correct. I have seen some fantastic shots of deserted houses with the windows lite up in different colors. They were done with either a wireless or long exposure and walking from room to room with the flash.

deb22

Help Please
Could you help me with a simple explanation. I want a remote [wireless] for my simple rebel xt.I have read almost everything on this forum and linked to ebay and can't understand bees wizards etc.I just have a 2 foot cable I use for panning[I have only left arm so it's held and clicked with that hand] but I would like to sit and have tea and not scare anything away so I need something at least 30 feet.Can you tell me what I can get that is not ir I usually am behind the scene.THANKS FOR ANY HELP OR LINKS YOU MAY HAVE.

ziggy53 wrote:

I bought some EBay specials but I don't remember who it was. They were identical in appearance and function and specifications to the original Cactus, which are no longer available. (The name of my units is "YHRD", and the model number is "616". I do not find them available for sale anywhere.)

If I were to purchase today I would personally purchase the new Cactus units.

time2smile

deb22 wrote:

Could you help me with a simple explanation. I want a remote [wireless] for my simple rebel xt.I have read almost everything on this forum and linked to ebay and can't understand bees wizards etc.I just have a 2 foot cable I use for panning[I have only left arm so it's held and clicked with that hand] but I would like to sit and have tea and not scare anything away so I need something at least 30 feet.Can you tell me what I can get that is not ir I usually am behind the scene.THANKS FOR ANY HELP OR LINKS YOU MAY HAVE.

Here you go look at this one...
http://cgi.ebay.com/RF-602-Wireless-Shutter-Release-fr-Canon-XS-XSi-XTi-T1i_W0QQitemZ120535828344QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item1c107ec778

kdog

time2smile wrote:

Here you go look at this one...
http://cgi.ebay.com/RF-602-Wireless-Shutter-Release-fr-Canon-XS-XSi-XTi-T1i_W0QQitemZ120535828344QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item1c107ec778

I recently started using them as well, and they're great. I got them from this seller. http://shop.ebay.com/hkyongnuophotoequipment/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_from=&_ipg=&_trksid=p3686

time2smile

FYI, if you want to use the 602's as both a shutter release and a flash trigger, you need two transmitters, both on different channels. If you only use one transmitter you get a lag, and the flash fires after the shutter goes off. I still did not get my second set to try this myself, hopefully soon.

Art Scott

Ebay seller PHOTOGEAROK is who I purchase my triggers from......I wanted realiable and simple triggers that only trigger the flash units and this have worked flawlessly for over 2 yrs now.

You do have to shoot in manual mode.....the linked triggers above work with all of my different flash units, Nikon SB900, Vivitar 285HV, Sunpak 622, and White Lightning studio flashes......for some shoe mount flashes an option hotshoe adapter is required as some flashes do not have a pc sync port so the adapter is required...............

time2smile

Art Scott wrote:

Ebay seller PHOTOGEAROK is who I purchase my triggers from......I wanted realiable and simple triggers that only trigger the flash units and this have worked flawlessly for over 2 yrs now.

You do have to shoot in manual mode.....the linked triggers above work with all of my different flash units, Nikon SB900, Vivitar 285HV, Sunpak 622, and White Lightning studio flashes......for some shoe mount flashes an option hotshoe adapter is required as some flashes do not have a pc sync port so the adapter is required...............

Art, I think deb22 is looking for a shutter release for the Canon not really a flash trigger. Your units are very nice, and the only main difference I see is that yours are more in line with sync cables were the 602's have the hot shoe built in, and an external sync if needed.
Can you use yours as a shutter release also.

Art Scott

time2smile wrote:

Art, I think deb22 is looking for a shutter release for the Canon not really a flash trigger. Your units are very nice, and the only main difference I see is that yours are more in line with sync cables were the 602's have the hot shoe built in, and an external sync if needed.
Can you use yours as a shutter release also.

Dang did I miss read it.........no the triggers I linked to are flash triggers............the shutter release I use is like this ............... Yong Nuo Shutter Release 16 channels ...................

deb22

Thanks Ted Do you know if these remotes work with auto focus or only manual? Thanks Art I'll look at that too.

time2smile wrote:

Here you go look at this one...
http://cgi.ebay.com/RF-602-Wireless-Shutter-Release-fr-Canon-XS-XSi-TTi-T1i_W0QQitemZ120535828344QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item1c107ec778

time2smile

deb22 wrote:

Thanks Ted Do you know if these remotes work with auto focus or only manual? Thanks Art I'll look at that too.

On my Nikon D90 they are auto focus. When you press the button the camera acts as if you pressed the shutter. It meters focuses and fires. That may be part of the reason why you need two transmitters if you want to fire both the the shutter and an off camera flash. I just ordered the second set for me, so I can try this out.

deb22

time2smile wrote:

On my Nikon D90 they are auto focus. When you press the button the camera acts as if you pressed the shutter. It meters focuses and fires. That may be part of the reason why you need two transmitters if you want to fire both the the shutter and an off camera flash. I just ordered the second set for me, so I can try this out.

Thanks again Ted, I ordered one with just 1 transmitter as i don't need flash yet because I really don't know how to use one until I learn more. In the future when I have things mastered a little better I will upgrade. Thank-You for all your help it is much appreciated,take care D

GSbiker

For longer range shutter control I picked up a pair of controllers from www.trlcam.com. I have only had them for a few weeks but so far at about half mile or less they work great. I use them for wildlife photography.

NeilL

Tim Kamppinen wrote: »

I just ordered the Yongnuo RF-602's on ebay. One transmitter and four receivers for $99 shipped from Hong Kong (you don't have to buy four though). Haven't got them yet, but I bought them based on the fact that my old 4 channel ebay triggers (cactus v2s) suck bad and I wanted something reliable. The general consensus seems to be that these are worlds ahead of any previous ebay trigger and consistantly reliable to over 300 ft, and work just fine through walls, etc.

I was recently mulling the idea of getting radio controls, and got onto the trail of these Yongnuo. I followed it to an extensive Flickr thread which spans the appearance of the newer models up to the present. There were yelps of delight over the latest iterations which transformed into groans of dismay over a period of months as the units began to fail. Seems the quality is just not in these. I would look seriously at the new Cactus as a much better option.

Neil

kdog

NeilL wrote: »

I was recently mulling the idea of getting radio controls, and got onto the trail of these Yongnuo. I followed it to an extensive Flickr thread which spans the appearance of the newer models up to the present. There were yelps of delight over the latest iterations which transformed into groans of dismay over a period of months as the units began to fail. Seems the quality is just not in these. I would look seriously at the new Cactus as a much better option.

Neil

Well, I've been very happy with my Yongnuo RF-602's and haven't had any reliability problems. In fact, I had one fall into a stream when a light stand blew over. The receiver was dead when I pulled it out. However, weeks later, just for grins I put in new batteries and it works perfectly again. I just used it in a shoot. In fact, I just ordered my second set of 1 transmitter and 3 receivers for $70 delivered. So now I'll have two transmitters and six receivers for less than the price of a single Pocket Wizard II. If one of them does fail, it won't bother me in the least with all those spares.

NeilL

kdog wrote: »

Well, I've been very happy with my Yongnuo RF-602's and haven't had any reliability problems. In fact, I had one fall into a stream when a light stand blew over. The receiver was dead when I pulled it out. However, weeks later, just for grins I put in new batteries and it works perfectly again. I just used it in a shoot. In fact, I just ordered my second set of 1 transmitter and 3 receivers for $70 delivered. So now I'll have two transmitters and six receivers for less than the price of a single Pocket Wizard II. If one of them does fail, it won't bother me in the least with all those spares.

Yes, that's good. I'm happy for your sake, of course. And it's a possibly necessary balance to the Flickr thread I referred to. However, if it were me I think I would be going for the new Cactus, as I said. I don't think the price difference is huge, is it? Though they don't have inbuilt life jackets, either!:D

Neil

kdog

NeilL wrote: »

Yes, that's good. I'm happy for your sake, of course. And it's a possibly necessary balance to the Flickr thread I referred to. However, if it were me I think I would be going for the new Cactus, as I said. I don't think the price difference is huge, is it? Though they don't have inbuilt life jackets, either!:D

Neil

Don't really know anything about the Cactus triggers, except there have been reports that the V2 version "sucks". See earlier in this thread for example. http://www.dgrin.com/showpost.php?p=1230013&postcount=8

Certainly a year ago, when this thread was started, the RF602's were the rage as evidenced by all the earlier posts in this thread, as well as widespread reviews around the internet. I don't know why that would suddenly change, but then again I don't follow Flicker. Please do order the new Cactus units and let us know how they work out for you. Remember, you can tell the pioneers by the arrows in their backs.