Looking into buying a wireless slave adapter. Suggestions?

mr peasmr peas Registered Users Posts: 1,369 Major grins
edited September 16, 2006 in Accessories
Hi everyone. I'm not sure where to start to shop for a wireless slave trigger/adapter. I was looking into the PocketWizard Plus series and the Wein HS products. Now.. all I need is to be able to use my flash on one hand while holding the camera on the other...I dont plan to use it too far. I normally use a pc-to-pc cord to do it but the cord keeps going out on me after a rigorous use and I'm sick of having my flash failing to fire when I need it to.

So I need to know which one to invest on. Hopefully its something under $150 for the entire kit (transmitter and receiver).

I use a Sony F828 and an old Canon Speedlight (always in manual) btw.

Help a brother out! :D

(question about the wein products: do I just need to purchase two of the Wein HS adapters and plug them to the flash's and camera's end or do they sell diff receivers and transmitters for them?)

Comments

  • Shane422Shane422 Registered Users Posts: 460 Major grins
    edited September 3, 2006
    Cheap slaves
    I bought a set of 4 channel radio triggers off of an ebay seller <http://stores.ebay.com/Gadget-Infinity> which had a female hot shoe connection as well as a PC connection. One Trasmitter/reciever set was $20 and a second reciever was $12. Several members over on the Strobist<http://www.flickr.com/groups/strobist/> flickr group had recommended this seller. I figured the advantage with these is that I can fire speedlights without a PC connection (i.e. Nikon SB600) as well as anything with a PC connection such as my Alienbees. I've only used them for one shoot, but they seemed to work well. You will have to be operating the strobes in manual mode though(i.e no TTL)
  • JimMJimM Registered Users Posts: 1,389 Major grins
    edited September 5, 2006
    I just received these off of ebay.


    rtCurve.gif
    Item number: 280019605813

    I spent $30 including shipping for 2 sets of them. Just received them, but so far I am very pleased.

    Cameras: >(2) Canon 20D .Canon 20D/grip >Canon S200 (p&s)
    Glass: >Sigma 17-35mm,f2.8-4 DG >Tamron 28-75mm,f2.8 >Canon 100mm 2.8 Macro >Canon 70-200mm,f2.8L IS >Canon 200mm,f2.8L
    Flash: >550EX >Sigma EF-500 DG Super >studio strobes

    Sites: Jim Mitte Photography - Livingston Sports Photos - Brighton Football Photos
  • mr peasmr peas Registered Users Posts: 1,369 Major grins
    edited September 6, 2006
    Shane422 wrote:
    I bought a set of 4 channel radio triggers off of an ebay seller <http://stores.ebay.com/Gadget-Infinity> which had a female hot shoe connection as well as a PC connection. One Trasmitter/reciever set was $20 and a second reciever was $12. Several members over on the Strobist<http://www.flickr.com/groups/strobist/> flickr group had recommended this seller. I figured the advantage with these is that I can fire speedlights without a PC connection (i.e. Nikon SB600) as well as anything with a PC connection such as my Alienbees. I've only used them for one shoot, but they seemed to work well. You will have to be operating the strobes in manual mode though(i.e no TTL)

    Very cool. I was thinking about spending 30$ on a cheap set-up shipped, I just didnt know which seller to buy it from.

    So you recommend this seller? How long did it take for you to receive the things you ordered? No complaints or anything?

    I dont mind waiting right now, I already ordered an extra set of adapters for my cords so if they break oh well, they dont cost too much to replace, but the wireless ones should hold up much longer, but if they break, I'm just out $30 bucks which isnt bad haha. I'll have to buy a PocketWizard set in the near future though, I think it would be a wise investment. I'll save for a new camera first though.

    Thanks for your inputs! Let me know if I should trust this seller!
  • Art ScottArt Scott Registered Users Posts: 8,959 Major grins
    edited September 6, 2006
    JimM wrote:
    I just received these off of ebay.


    rtCurve.gif
    Item number: 280019605813

    I spent $30 including shipping for 2 sets of them. Just received them, but so far I am very pleased.


    Prob with this set up is the AC connection....if buying a slave set up you should be able to use it out in the wilderness also....I am sure these will work great as long as you stay close to a working electrical outlet.....

    I am thinking of going for a set from GAdget-Infinity also as I have both shoe mount (KM 5600HS) and pc cord (sunpak 622 & white lightening studio) strobes.....but waiting to see how those on here like their slaves before I take the plunge.....:D
    "Genuine Fractals was, is and will always be the best solution for enlarging digital photos." ....Vincent Versace ... ... COPYRIGHT YOUR WORK ONLINE ... ... My Website

  • mr peasmr peas Registered Users Posts: 1,369 Major grins
    edited September 6, 2006
    Art Scott wrote:
    Prob with this set up is the AC connection....if buying a slave set up you should be able to use it out in the wilderness also....I am sure these will work great as long as you stay close to a working electrical outlet.....

    I am thinking of going for a set from GAdget-Infinity also as I have both shoe mount (KM 5600HS) and pc cord (sunpak 622 & white lightening studio) strobes.....but waiting to see how those on here like their slaves before I take the plunge.....:D
    I just submitted an order for this (from GadgetInifnity):

    http://cgi.ebay.com/4-Channels-Wireless-Flash-Trigger_W0QQitemZ170026121627QQihZ007QQcategoryZ64354QQtcZphotoQQcmdZViewItem

    Well, mine is on a different page but its the very same one.
    I've read on flickr's 'strobist' group that it tends to misfire setting off the flash when its connected to a Canon flash via the hot-shoe connector. I hope this problem isnt apparent on my flash because everyone else uses the EX series flashes when I'm still using the older Canon EZ series made for film cameras (on manual mode) with my Sony camera.

    The seller seems credible. People on the strobist group which Shane referred me to says the same. They even emailed me back the same day telling me when my order will be shipped. The average amount of time for return as I have seen on their feedbacks looks like about 9 business days, which is not bad.

    I'll definitely post a write up when I receive it though. If you order one too Art, def drop a line about it with mine. Same with you Shane and Jim. ;)
  • Shane422Shane422 Registered Users Posts: 460 Major grins
    edited September 6, 2006
    Mine came from Gadget Infinity and were shipped straight from China. I think that most of those on the Strobist site had also bought from Gadget Infinity. So there seems to be a lot of good evidence that they are an OK vendor. I had my doubts, but they were here in about 10 days and work great. The ones I got are battery powered and so far they have worked great for firing my Nikon SB600 from the hot shoe, and an Alienbee B400 from the PC connection. Someday I'lll have Pocket wizards, but these are just dandy for what I do. If I were a more serious photographer, I'd probably put out the cash for the PWs. I really like the fact that the transmitter is so low profile, unlike the pocket wizard transmitter.
  • mr peasmr peas Registered Users Posts: 1,369 Major grins
    edited September 16, 2006
    quick review on the ebay wireless adapter!
    Okay, I just received my wireless-flash adapter. First things first, it didnt take long to receive it, just a week and half, thats very good for something coming from China! Second, it works out of the box with the batteries all included, both batteries fully charged and not weak. During my first test flash attempts, it worked well with my old Canon 420EZ Speedlight. However! On my flash, it has red and yellow-green colors on the trip/test button. When its green, it will fire off perfectly fine, but when its red (fully charged), it doesnt fire! I dont know whats up with it. otherwise it works well. Im sure it will work even better on other flash bodies, but im not too certain because this is the only flash body ive owned ever. If you know how to get around the red vs green color thing, let me know lol, but for now, i think i will stick with cords because its less of a hassle and save for a non-canon flash.
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