Recommend (cheap) speedlights for strobist setups

[myjunk_]

Hi all,

Need some recommendations on what sort of flashes would be good to have for some off-camera strobist setups.


bear in mind that I'm looking for _cheap_ flashes which can go variable power and can be remotely triggered either via optical (built-in) sensors (or Ican just get an optical trigger for it)

BEST would be if they're compatible with those cactus remote triggers.

I read that a lot of strobist are using SB28/SB600/SB800/vivitar 285 type of flashes.

I'm a canon user BTW.

[noruazumi]

if you want cheap, i mean _cheap_, u can use fluorescent lamp. and i'm not kidding. u need to figure out the fixtures to hold the lamps.

[jmaguireokm]

if you are shooting indoor or within a room, i would reconmend you Nissin speedlite, it will trigger easily. Set your 580EX as primary/master and Nissin as slave, then u can trigger indoor strobe. i have one unit 580EX and two units of Nissin, it work fine for indoor.

but if u wanna shoot strobe outdoor, this is not a good choice as Nissin cant trigger outdoor, myself have been looking for this solution since last year till now ......... cant find any wireless remote trigger :(

BTW, i'm also a Canon user here :D

[noruazumi]

the cactus cannot trigger the Nissin i think. tried it a few times using other people's Nissin.

[myjunk_]

I have a CFL setup already using floodlights, but it's only suitable for indoors. (then I found out that getting those portable batteries/generators will cost serious $$$)

not good then if it can't trigger.

Additionally, I've tried a friend's pentx flash, it triggers, but the output doesn't register in the camera picture.

[noruazumi]

even triggering Nissin (Canon) using Nikon speedlight is pain in the a$$.

[azharariff]

the cactus cannot trigger the Nissin i think. tried it a few times using other people's Nissin.

That's right. I've tried the cactus trigger on a canon mount Nissin. Signal went thru from the transmitter to the receiver (red led's blinked), but the flash somehow did not fire.

[funkiller]

Sunpak 383. Programable and more control too. And cheap too. No pro using ebay trigger.

Vivitar 285 HV (new) heard got problem. If you can find the old batch, then better. But it really build like a tank ! Recharge time take long time. No problem with ebay trigger too.

[ShaolinTiger]

Nissin can work with the new radio trigger from Direct Photo, can try out Sunpak and Sigma too.

[jmaguireokm]

That's right. I've tried the cactus trigger on a canon mount Nissin. Signal went thru from the transmitter to the receiver (red led's blinked), but the flash somehow did not fire.

use the mini wizard, it can trigger the Nissin speedlite ;)

[Saigo]

use the mini wizard, it can trigger the Nissin speedlite ;)

How much is that normally?

[jmaguireokm]

How much is that normally?

is not mistaken, should be around RM300 per piece.
you can try it at directphoto ;)