Wireless Flash recommendations

dnme

Hi folks,

I'm looking at flash kit and wondering what you might think/recommend ?

Canon 430EX II coupled with either their ST-E2 infra red or a pocket wizard set. The ST-E2 can be unreliable as its infra red where as the pocket wizards use radio. Is there a cheaper solution out there?

Chochese

I use a set of these bad boys, the Cactus V4 triggers.

Have a set of 4 receivers for my strobes and they work perfectly, much better than the previous V2 model.

dnme

Chochese wrote: »

I use a set of these bad boys, the Cactus V4 triggers.

Have a set of 4 receivers for my strobes and they work perfectly, much better than the previous V2 model.

reading the link you posted, I see they don't transmit TTL information

Borderfox

Currently the only wireless TTL transmitters are the Flex/Mini TTL Pocketwizards. I tried some of the cheaper options but the only one that works everytime all the time are these.

Whats the budget too?

dnme

budget... hard to know, maybe 4-500 quid. What about the new radiopoppers?

Borderfox

I havent used them and havent heard anything except the initial specs. The Flex transmitter/receivers are approx £200 each

dnme

actually folks, just came across this.
To hell with TTL, for 30 quid how wroing can you go. Have a look, give it a chance to get goin, the review starts 2-3 mins in and is much better sound quality.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XubxjllV00k

Borderfox

Cheap and cheerful, should work grand

dnme

yeah methinks Borderfox. For 30 quid, even if they never worked it wouldn't kill me. Yer man reviewing em says 100% fire rate which'll do me.

Borderfox

I tried some Calumet brand ones and they were far away from 100% but as you say they will do you.

Chochese

Not transmitting TTL is the only downside to the Cactus V4's.

If you have the bucks, the PocketWizards are the job, but if you want to save some cash the "PovertyWizards" are the way to go!

ValueInIreland

Elinchrom Skyports are less than half the cost of Pocket Wizards and every bit as good for tirggering flash (Flash only though - won't trigger cameras). Thery are avalilable for less than €150 from the main Irish camera shops.
See: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b1sdHD1kuxE

democrates

The Yongnuo CTR-301(/p) though still available is being replaced by the RF-602 line with specific models for specific cameras, thanks for the link though or i wouldn't have found them.

The RF-602's are a bit more expensive with a stated range of 100m via 16ch at FSK 2.4GHz - you're into ISM band interference from wi-fi to baby monitors so range depends on environment. Still no ETTL.

While I baulk at the price of PW's I began to wonder what I'd be losing by not having ETTL/II, so from wikipedia:

wikipedia wrote:

The main improvement of E-TTL II is that it gives a more natural flash exposure, by being able to handle tricky scenes where normally the old E-TTL system will be thrown off. Such improvements are possible because E-TTL II now incorporates lens-to-subject distance information in its calculation (where available) to assist in determining an approximate guide number for flash output. The flash metering system is also no longer linked to the AF system, where in the old E-TTL metering bias is given to the selected AF point. Rather, E-TTL II compares the ambient and the pre-flash light levels of the scene to determine where the subject lies. This gives the photographer flexibility to lock focus and recompose the scene without fooling the flash metering system. 'Hotspots' (areas of high reflectance) that will normally throw off the flash metering system are also ignored in the calculation.

To muddy the waters there's now a rumour of an ETTL3 replacement for the 580EXII.

Hmm. Still reluctant since a Yongnuo tx + 3 rx is €57.11 free shipping on eBay, or this Chinese job 1 tx + 2 rx on amazon.co.uk for £24.99 with three 5 star reviews so far.

Thinking out loud - as it is we control aperture, shutter speed, and iso, we can also set flash power and coverage, but ETTL if I have it right makes it more fool-proof by also automatically adjusting flash power and coverage. If that's all it does is it worth the extra money which could be used for other kit?

Borderfox

It also opens up the world of high speed synch into sports and for outdoor wide aperture shooting, I love them. Switch them on and its the same as having the flash on camera, I have three flashes fired by them and its like plug and play. For shooting Weddings were time is tight they make my job a lot easier..