Remote radio flash trigger

[The Dark]

Hi everyone,
Just want to know. I went to a camera shop recently and saw a set of China made non-dedicated remote flash trigger on sale (not sure of the brand). It consist of a hotshoe mounted transmitter and a seperate reciever that can be mounted on a tripod/lightstand and takes a hot shoe flash or PC cable contact. My question is can this device be used safely on a DSLR w/o the risk of frying the hotshoe contact? Anybody have any experiance in this device?

[ShaolinTiger]

Yeah they are pretty good, something similar to Pocket Wizards, but don't expect them to last as long or be as reliable.

Some people have reported problems using them with Canon equipment, but you can make a small mod to fix the problem.

They should last about a year or so.

[astroboy]

These radio triggers don't last long. I had one and it lasted like 3 months or so. Apparently the wire holding the dangling piece of receiver gets loose over time.

I am back to using the cheap but more reliable infra-red triggers. Infra red triggers need "line-of-sight" however, while radio triggers can work even if your flash is blocked and out of view.

As to everything in life, there r pros and cons.

[mitmivec]

Yeah they are pretty good, something similar to Pocket Wizards, but don't expect them to last as long or be as reliable.

Some people have reported problems using them with Canon equipment, but you can make a small mod to fix the problem.

They should last about a year or so.

may i know what are the small mod? cos cant seem to use it on my EOS system :(

thanks in advance

[ShaolinTiger]

You can find some info and the solution here for mis-firing problems (http://www.flickr.com/groups/strobist/discuss/72157594172539497/page3/).

[mitmivec]

You can find some info and the solution here for mis-firing problems (http://www.flickr.com/groups/strobist/discuss/72157594172539497/page3/).

thanks for the reply :drunk:

[jetfynn]

I've used the china made ones and they may have some quirky problems like it will trigger when the handphone rings like that. But then I've been using it for the past 2 years.

Note: still works!

[jayhan]

Note down on notebook : "Still last after 2 years of usage"
Thanks Jet!!

[nairud]

Bout this china made trigger that looks like GadgetInfinity's.. GI came out with a newer version codenamed Cactus which works well with 430ex and 580ex and those china company's really made their move fast by copying it. I've got the lastest china-made GI's Cactus and so far it doesnt misfire like the previous GI codenamed Foven. But it does misfire once in a while.

another prob with the china made ones, which the GI unit also encounter is that it doesnt fire if you leave it for a while and then after your first shutter, your second shot will trigger the flash.

[leboone]

where to find this here and how much ? I was thinking of buying it from ebay.

[ShaolinTiger]

You can buy them from Digicolor at Mutiara Complex, Jalan Ipoh.

[pauline]

Mine's also the Cactus PT04, but the unit only fires after a lapse of 15-18 seconds depending on which mode used on your flash. For something which works (thought not 100% reliable causing missed shots), I'd say it's a pretty neat item to have.

I now mainly use it (remote flash) to set custom white balance under mixed lighting conditions. Other than that, only if you're taking still life shots.

Pauline

[jayhan]

i still cat figure out where the heck is this place which sells this remote trigger item. darn...

[norrafi]

Hi guys, what the price PT-04 I can get at digicolor?

[myjunk_]

you can also get them from YL camera. I got the last of theirs yesterday. RM120 (I got 2 sets cos I thought my 1st set was spoilt after 1 week!!)

[note: thought! It wasn't really spoilt, just contact issues. have to "knock" some sense into it and it'll work"

[donnyyeo]

i still cat figure out where the heck is this place which sells this remote trigger item. darn...

Map to Mutiara Complex, Jalan Ipoh, KL.
http://www.streetdirectory.com/malaysia/kl/travel.php?frommap=1&ismap=1&&star=1&x=798046.29&y=352867.38&xyfile=&travel_id=11508&travel_site=37&nline=&viewmode=&level=7?34,298

GPS = 3°11'20.41"N :: 101°40'50.59"E

[atria83]

how much will it sell in Mutiara Complex Jln Ipoh..??

[myjunk_]

1) no stock when I went there 2 weeks ago
2) open mouth price = rm170

[Freaky]

shop arun... prices varies

[ageell2004]

i have two vivitar old flash. and i would like to triger both togather with RF type wireless. so is it posible to use more than one receiver and one transmitter for cactus? or i really need solution from pocket wizard? because i did not see any one sell receiver separately.

[luisteo]

i have two vivitar old flash. and i would like to triger both togather with RF type wireless. so is it posible to use more than one receiver and one transmitter for cactus? or i really need solution from pocket wizard? because i did not see any one sell receiver separately.


digicolor got new stock already last week
if want add receiver , RM70/pcs
yes , u can use more than one receiver

[ageell2004]

o. oh one more thing. is it usable on nissin di622? heard is not usable. whats the set price from digicolor?

[atria83]

o. oh one more thing. is it usable on nissin di622? heard is not usable. whats the set price from digicolor?

no is the answer...i've bought mine at digicolor...but sadly..i wont work at nissin di622..because ? nissin is not capable for "full manual mode"...mean u have the capability to control the zoom and power output...nissin speedlight only allow u to adjust power output and not the zoom...but they kind enough to refund back my money...but i insist...since i'm going to change my speedlight to sb800...so i can use the radio trigger....

btw...it cost me RM120 at digicolor...they say its a promotion price...so can't promise this price still valid or not...but hey...give them a visit...they got so much stuff for strobist...radio trigger..normal strobe to studio strobe...umbrella...etc etc etc...

ooo...to add the excitment..i test with my fren sb600...and it work awesomely..

[ageell2004]

means that it will never work with pocket wizard also? emm. anyway do you know where to buy those manual flash from sunpak and vivitar? wanted to add my collection but seems hard to find one. prefer online store

[skysaw]

btw...it cost me RM120 at digicolor...they say its a promotion price...so can't promise this price still valid or not...

ooo...to add the excitment..i test with my fren sb600...and it work awesomely..

when u buy it with this price RM120? think to hv 1 oso...

[atria83]

when u buy it with this price RM120? think to hv 1 oso...

bought it last saturday (14th June)..come buy...welcome to the storbist club...:D

[skysaw]

bought it last saturday (14th June)..come buy...welcome to the storbist club...:D

i went to there today (17.06.08), they told me the transmiter is out of stock d, will get stock on next week. then i asked for the price, they gv me RM110...
i bought a victory 3080 tripod on april 08, with RM180, they told me the price is cheap enough d...but after few days, a forumer from other forum get it with RM160...:0 saw at there today the same tripod but with lower price...RM155...:run_away:
BTW, prices there r very good!:D

[atria83]

rm 110 already....haiyaaaa

[ShaolinTiger]

They are opposite of most shops, they work on wholesale method.

The more people buy the cheaper it gets, rather than other shops inflate popular items to increase profit.

[xandman]

i got myself the pt-04 yesterday...
and guess wat?
i returned it today...
it misfires like mad...and i couldnt even trigger it within 10m distance...
and it couldnt even fire 2 flashes consistently within 3m range...
thats super weird...

yeah it's cheap...
but it's PWs or skyport for me...=)

[skysaw]

i got myself the pt-04 yesterday...
and guess wat?
i returned it today...
it misfires like mad...and i couldnt even trigger it within 10m distance...
and it couldnt even fire 2 flashes consistently within 3m range...
thats super weird...

yeah it's cheap...
but it's PWs or skyport for me...=)

from Digicolor?

[myjunk_]

mind I ask what sort of flashes are compatible for these triggers?

[xandman]

as far as i know...
any flash with hot shoe is compatible.

[jayhan]

FYI all forumers... xandman just got the elinchrome skyports! :D

[xandman]

...and he said...they are damn nice! :p

[skysaw]

just got my pair of RF-04 n PT-04 radio transmiter at DigiColor yesterday with RM110. just only got time to try it betul betul today...use it on my 430EX. my wife just bought her 1st pair of nike shoes ever, so use my new toy to try to shoot, the transmiter is working perfectly with my 350D + 430EX.:D

here is the link of my wife's 1st nike:
http://www.shutterasia.com/forum/showthread.php?t=15195

[atria83]

as far as i know...
any flash with hot shoe is compatible.

no laa xandman...not all..mine not working..now saving for sb800...

[xandman]

get a skyport...
it's worth it...
any flash with a 50V trigger voltage can be fired...
and very reliable...
so far no misfire...

[skysaw]

get a skyport...
it's worth it...
any flash with a 50V trigger voltage can be fired...
and very reliable...
so far no misfire...

how $ for that?

[xandman]

not that expensive....
only 650 for a kit...1 transmitter 1 receiver...
300 for 1 receiver...

[oracle]

not that expensive....
only 650 for a kit...1 transmitter 1 receiver...
300 for 1 receiver...

Sounds good. Please tell me where you got this.

Thanks

[ShaolinTiger]

Yah that's not bad, way cheaper than PW and very reliable too.

Can they trigger camera too like PW?

Skyport vs PW = http://poocs.net/2007/5/9/elinchrom-skyport-vs-pocketwizard

Skyport Review = http://www.blewbmx.com/review,,skyport.php

[xandman]

Sounds good. Please tell me where you got this.

Thanks

i got it from regnum.

Yah that's not bad, way cheaper than PW and very reliable too.

Can they trigger camera too like PW?

Skyport vs PW = http://poocs.net/2007/5/9/elinchrom-skyport-vs-pocketwizard

Skyport Review = http://www.blewbmx.com/review,,skyport.php

thats the only downside...no camera trigger...
but that can be solved using some other cheap wireless trigger...
yes very reliable indeed. although it doesnt have the range of PW...
the range is very very usable @ 100m...=)...

[andrewng88]

not that expensive....
only 650 for a kit...1 transmitter 1 receiver...
300 for 1 receiver...

wah ! value for money leh !

[xandman]

update on the skyport performance :

it rivals the PWs...i can trigger the flash from my bedroom on the 1st floor...and the flash is under my dining table on the ground floor...
so i say this little thing is VERY reliable...
for those who r thinking...think no more and juz get it...the bad news is...regnum ran out of stock for it...
good news is...it'll be back in stock next month! ;)

[noruazumi]

the funny thing about my ebay trigger, i can't lock my SB to the receiver even though i turn the lock lever to the right.

[oracle]

I did some reading about Skyport VS PW, found that it very much depends on your working range. PW have a great working distance which is if i'm not mistaken more than 1000 feet! While the Skyport range is around 140 feet. Another short fall of the Skyport is that it only supports up to 4 channels? Correct me if i'm wrong.

[xandman]

the funny thing about my ebay trigger, i can't lock my SB to the receiver even though i turn the lock lever to the right.

true that.
and the reliability makes me sick...
thats y i sold it off...=)

I did some reading about Skyport VS PW, found that it very much depends on your working range. PW have a great working distance which is if i'm not mistaken more than 1000 feet! While the Skyport range is around 140 feet. Another short fall of the Skyport is that it only supports up to 4 channels? Correct me if i'm wrong.

140feet?
i think u mean 140m...
and the channels...is...
8 channels per group...and u have 4 groups...
so a total of 32 channels...

[noruazumi]

true that.
and the reliability makes me sick...
thats y i sold it off...=)
i got no misfire issue tho'.
only the stupid hotshoe. i use gaffa tape to secure it.
but for something dirt cheap, i guess that's what u get.

skyport really tempting, i have to say. :P

[oracle]

true that.
and the reliability makes me sick...
thats y i sold it off...=)



140feet?
i think u mean 140m...
and the channels...is...
8 channels per group...and u have 4 groups...
so a total of 32 channels...


My bad. I must have got it wrong. Thanks for rectifying that :redface:

[jassed]

Anybody knows of anyone who uses radiopopper and any ways of getting one?