What do I need for wireless flash firing, on the cheap...

[timswim78]

I want to setup 2 or 3 flashes on umbrella stands and have them fire when I take a shot with my camera. I will set the flashes manually, so I don't need TTL or anything like that.

Basically, I need a transmitter for the camera's hot shoe and receivers for the flashes. Is that right? Can you recommend any brands? (I prefer cheap and somewhat reliable, since I am not a pro and not using a pro budget).

I have the stands, my camera (Canon 40D), and flashes (various stuff from Canon, Sigma, and some cheapies).

 

[angry hampster]

A lot of people I know use the RF-602 units from ebay. They're cheap Chinese parts. I bought a set and the receiver stopped working while I was on a paid shoot. I'll never buy cheap Chinese stuff again.


Having said that, I'm now using a set of CyberSyncs from Alienbees.

 

[rootaxs]

Are you using monolights with optical slaves? If so, those eBay triggers/receivers will work just fine. At the least, you'll need one receiver. The other strobes will pick up on the triggered flash through the optical slave.

One thing to note about most affordable eBay units, the batteries that come with it are pretty weak. I suggest replacing them off the bat. Also, they're prone to cellphone interference. I found that out early on while shooting some clients -- at first i thought the batteries died, but when they walked out the room to take a call, it started working again.

 

[timswim78]

Are you using monolights with optical slaves? If so, those eBay triggers/receivers will work just fine. At the least, you'll need one receiver. The other strobes will pick up on the triggered flash through the optical slave.

One thing to note about most affordable eBay units, the batteries that come with it are pretty weak. I suggest replacing them off the bat. Also, they're prone to cellphone interference. I found that out early on while shooting some clients -- at first i thought the batteries died, but when they walked out the room to take a call, it started working again.

I don't know what monolights or optical slaves are. I have a Sigma EF 500 Super, Canon 380EX, and some cheap Sunpak flashes.

Thanks for the tips on the batteries and the cell phone interference.

 

[Dark Penguin]

My ebay triggers are triggered by my 430ex flash. This is not good. The cheap optical triggers I've purchased have never worked. The wireless triggers work fine with my vivitar flash.

mpex has some strobist kits. You might want to try them.

 

[Dark Penguin]

I forgot to mention that RadioPopper has some low cost transmitter/receivers. Haven't tried them. I want to.

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

I use the cheap chinese RF-602 sets and they work fine. Be sure to buy two sets and more receivers than you think you need for spares. I've had the wire break on mine (applicable only if you want to attach a receiver to your camera) and one receiver go battery dead during a shoot. But they are so cheap and I have a lot of spares lying around...

 

[Dark Penguin]

I agree about the spares.

I have the Cactus V2s. They work great with my non canon flashes.

I can't find a brand on my optical triggers. They came from mpex. I never got them to fire. If I had to get those again I'd go with the wein ones...