which remote trigger setup to buy

been tying to avoid a dumb question but can't find a definitive answer anywhere, I just go round and round.

I have minimal budget and need to control two flashes by radio.
The eBay ads are really confusing and I have just had a load of hassle from a seller in China so I need to start again, preferably in the UK.

If someone out there can give me model numbers or a nice inexpensive English-speaking dealer that would be great!

Are you sure you mean radio?

Flashes can be triggered by:

light (another flashgun. Some have built-in sensors, most need an external one);

infra-red (the standard studio-flash triggering system);

cable;

wireless (meaning two intelligent flashguns swapping exposure information by small flash bursts, and then firing properly);

studio radio (where a small transmitter is mounted on the hotshoe, and a receiver on the flashgun);

proper radio (which allows outdoor cameras to be triggered from a considerable distance).

Which of these do you want, and what flash units are you using, or do you plan to use?

G

Yes I need radio triggers. Studio distance will do but longer would certainly be fun.
I have a Metz 58 af-1 which is great, but light triggered flash has a number of limitations, notably - blind spots.
But I want to get creative and fire 2 or 3 flashes (cheap manual slaves) so I need radio triggers.

If studio distance will do, then cheap sensors mounted on cheap flashguns would be the cheapest option. You'll probably need a cheap flashgun on the camera to do the triggering.

If not, and you want something that works at long distances, then you are probably talking big money. However, I have heard that people have been able to use cable at 100 ft or even more.

If cost is the issue, then a hotshoe-mounted pc adapter attached to a long wire attached to a flashgun with a pc socket might work. The wired camera can trigger the other flashes using cheap sensors like this:

http://tinyurl.com/24jm7h

G

yes I might buy one of those light triggers for when light can cut it. But it is the radio triggers that offer the best solution.
Sometimes I just want to be able to leave a flash under a bush or round a corner and radio is the way to go.
the cheap slaves I have don't have any PC connections. we're talking 99p plus P&P!

for the radio triggers there's loads of confusing info about voltage, Version numbers and mixing them up and what versions work with what flash. I just need a kit sold in UK to cover my K10, new Metz and maybe 2 old slaves.

Why do you need all this information? You will have to buy a transmitter for the camera and a receiver for each flash, and presumably you will get them together so you will know they are compatible.

The only question you might want to ask is what range they have.

What was the problem with the ones you bought before?

G

From Ebay:

This wireless trigger is control discreteness for camera to trigger the studio flash synchronously. It's made up of two parts named signal transmitter and receiver. Receiver power type: Battery. The signal transmitter makes use of advanced circuit design and comport. It can transmit wireless signal that is being encoded. It can totally control four different flashes as the picture above showing us.
Notice: Power supply of the signal transmitter: 23A 12V mini-battery (in the transmitter) Power supply of the receiver: two AAA batteries (not included) Max available in distance range: 50M (Open fields, no fraise) The output socket has two size are 6.35mm and 3.5mm

I am beginning to understand your confusion!

G

Well, Cactus V2s are safe for DSLR.

As I understand, there is confusion on other triggers by Gadget Infinity whether they work with Pentax flashes, although I could not figure out why they may not work. The paragraph above is one of the more intelligible ones I've seen -- I've been looking to compare brands for some time and went with Cactus V2s because it is the only one I found that comes up repeatably as successfully/safely working with Pentax DSLR and flashes.


Anyway, the Cactus V2s is a safe way to go. But read up on the issues and see if the low cost is worth the potential troubles.

Relatively low working distance.
Potentially inconsistent/unreliable triggering of flash.
Potentially low flash sync speed.

So far for $35, I am happy. Will see today as I'll do some real life testing.
The mods are quick and easy so I may try that to increase range and sync speed.
For my use I only need one receiver. The rest of the flashes will work off flash sync. Obviously for obscured locations, and outdoors you may need multiple receivers.

The Cactus will connect to the camera via hot shoe or via PC cable.
The receiver will connect to flash via either hot shoe or cable (not a PC connector on the transmitter). It includes a short cable to connect from the receiver to the mono block or other flash. (You could probably even connect a flash to each - hot shoe and PC cable - and control two flashes this way with each receiver. Don't know if that might overload th circuitry but I've seen other brands advertised with that capability. )


In short - go with Gadget Infinity (a.k.a. Harvest One Limited) remote named "Cactus V2s".

Right! I've done it. one Gadget Infinity V2s Trigger and two V2s receivers.

There is still a load of ambiguous info about voltages but I figure I can always buy a more appropriate slave to go with the Metz if my cheapo slave doesn't fire with this receiver.
I haven't the faintest idea what my 99p wonder flash is! there's no name on it... the makers must have been embarrassed So far I have only popped it by hand for macro work.

Incidentally, the hassle I had with the Chinese eBay seller was a lack of communication - I wanted to confirm they would dispatch everything together and not try and bust me for postage of the various items. (eBay shops are really crap, you have to buy everything separately and hope the seller will notice and dispatch together) anyway he refused to reply and slapped a non payment thingy on me but I got it overturned.

I have used ebay shops without any problems as you describe, particularly good is http://stores.ebay.co.uk/Mr-Studio-One

I have this wireless tx/rx kit http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Wireless-Remote-Radio-Slave-Strobe-Flash-Trigger-RD616_W0QQitemZ110225504190QQihZ001QQcategoryZ3860QQtcZphotoQQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1742.m153.l1262

I bought the v2s from Gadget Infinity after trying the optical slave/IR transmitter route. I think they are excellent value for money and even better after the addition of an aerial.

The instructions are here - http://www.flickr.com/groups/strobist/discuss/72157594463784267/