Cheap ebay radio flash triggers

Hi there,


Has anyone used one of the cheap radio flash triggers from ebay. I'm just a tad nervous of using something cheap and non standard on my beloved K10d.

eg. Like this one.


http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Wireless-Radio-Flashgun-Trigger-PT-01-UK_W0QQitemZ110153157289QQihZ001QQcategoryZ3860QQtcZphotoQQcmdZViewItem

Cheers


Rob.

The trouble with radio units is you'll need both transmitter and receiver.

I use something similar to this:

http://www.7dayshop.com/catalog/product_info.php?manufacturers_id=&products_id=102740

Most flash heads have a slave mode and pick up this IR signal without messing about with receivers.

I recently got one of those, only used a couple of times so far but been fine. The one I got also came bundled with an adapter to mount on a tripod. Good for battery flash guns but may be better things for studio flash?

I recently got to try a few at a studio flash course and found the only really reliable one on my K10D was the pocket wizards. The ebay ones are not much to loose though if they dont work in your case.

Does the IR transmitter allso work with the AF-360FGZ?

Dont know about a flash trigger , I recently bought an infra red remote release for my K100D for £6.99 all in from Ebay ....works a treat

No.

G

Do the optical slave shoes you can buy react to light in the Infra red range as well as the optical range?

I can't be sure, generally, but the two (different makes) I have do.

Lenscape - Which ones are they? I was going to go for the cheap ones on ebay. I took some smoke shots last night using the test button on the flash but you need to have the arms of an octopus without a trigger!

http://www.flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id=1065659688&size=l

Cheers


Rob.

Hmm...one has stopped working completely since I last used it. The one that is still working is a Vivitar SL-2.

It just so happens...

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Vivitar-SL-2-Remote-Flash-Trigger_W0QQitemZ160145848205QQihZ006QQcategoryZ64354QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

(Nothing to do with me, I might add.)

Cheers. I've ordered an ebay one anyway as it was 6 quid delivered. I'll bid on that vivitar if it doesn't work. Thanks for your help.

I have a similar one (the transmitter is identical but I have the Rx for studio heads) bought from this vendor. The trigger is excellent. I've bought quite a lot from this guy and his service is excellent

I didn't buy from Ebay but got a similar "economy priced" flash trigger from one of the local retailers.

It has generally worked fine for everything I wanted to do and, for the price, was a great investment.

Compared to some of the more exotic units, I understand the limitation of this device is distance but again, more than adequate for my current endeavours.

Only two problems to report:
First, the battery contact became weak in the sender and was remedied with a quick open, clean and re-tension of the contact.
Second, using a setup at the local club meeting, had erratic firing of the flashes happening. Couldn't figure out what was the cause and it hasn't happened anywhere else since. As the building we were in has a lot of electronic and communications circuits, the manufacturer's rep felt it might have been picking up an external signal. Seeing the picture of the unit you are reviewing (with the assumed channel selectors) this may have remedied the problem as the unit I have is an earlier edition with a fixed channel.

In summary, I've been happy with the unit. Someday, when I win the lottery, I'll investigate the Pocket Wizard.

Al

Thanks for all the help on this question - I've been playing with the optical/radio solutions and I wanted to give something back to the forum on my experiences in case any other people are following the remote flash/strobist route.

I initially went for the cheap (6 quid each) cube optical slaves from ebay which work great indoors although the sensor only points in the same direction as the flash - Not a problem if you have a flash which can swivel/tilt.

I then purchased the 7 day shop IR transmitter to trigger these but unfortunately you cannot change the direction it fires in so this causes problems when your trying to use flash guns if they are to your side. The slaves also have a problem is that these only work indoors or when it's cloudy and only if the slaves can see the IR trigger. They just don't work reliably when your trying to do macro work as the sensors/ir transmitter is so directional.

So I decided to go for the ebay triggers (Cactus Version 2s) from Gadget Infinity despite hearing some negative press about them but I reckoned that it's probably only the people who've been unlucky that complain. Had the same battery compartment problem as above but this is easily remedied. Got the full sync at 1/180 and a range of about 25 yards.

Checked on instructables/flickr and used the well documented method of extending the range and reliability using a 6 inch bit of wire. In the end I cut this down to 3 inches with no difference and used a wifi antenna cover over this and glued it on. It looks almost as if it was designed that way!

Now the range is 300 yards and I'm over the moon with them - I can't recommend them highly enough.


Cheers


Rob.