Been looking for a cheap wireless flash trigger, and the place to find them all is Ebay. So far in my search for my poverty wizard, I have come across a few of these triggers, yes they are all pretty darn cheap, but they do vary in price. The few I have found are:
1.
Cactus V2s
2.
Phottix pt-04
3.
Blazzeo V2s
4.
Yong Nuo
5.
Cactus V4
The cactus is the most expensive right now, with one of the shorter distances, although what the companies claim in the specifications are hardly anywhere near correct. The blazzeo is a funny one, as it's got an antenna built in, but the receivers do not have a PC sync port, so it only triggers flashes that are able to be triggered from the hot shoe.
I have been mostly considering the blazzeo due to the price being the cheapest, and that the reviews are as good as the cactus V2s, and they are probably built by the same factory. Will be looking for reviews on the new cactus V4 to see if it's really much better than the V2s.
Which ones would you all rather use or are currently using, and any of them you wouldn't poke with a stick?
Some of the models mentioned above are the same with different branding.
I am using the Phottix PT-04. There are a few issues with being 'cheap'.
The way they mount to your flashes is via the hot shoe. If you go the expensive wizard route, you require a hot shoe mount and a pc sync port. Strength wise, this is much stronger and SAFER. I have had my flash lights drop off as the cheap phottix receivers give way at their joint. So you might save some $$$ on the receiver and might lose a SB600.
I would get one with a PC port on the receiver. I strongly recommend NOT stinging as it might cost you alot more!
If you are only shooting portraits, a range of 20m or so is MORE than sufficient.
The yongnuo ctr-301p has a different build style and does away with that stupid L bracket. It's also apparently much more more reliable than the cactus along with having a larger range. I might just get a set and then write up something on how they went. I just picked up a sunpak 433D off trademe for 40 bucks.
yes some of the models are pretty much the same, just with different branding. but the Cactus V4 looks like is a new better version.
Anyway I got some pt-04 triggers. But i don't really use them because of the following reasons:
1. range is far too short and misfire is a problem. If i'm shooting static objects, it's okay as i can just shoot it a few times and my remote flashes will fire eventually, but no way i'll want to use it to shoot any moving objects as the success rate is just a bit too low
2. If you open it up, you'll find the build quality of the receivers are really not that good. I keep getting the feeling that my flash will fall off when i'm using it.
3. I read from a few forums/flickr that people are having interference problems with the ebay triggers. like this:
http://www.guyjbrown.com/blog.html
4. And I'm just too lazy.. and i hate going back and forth to the trigger to adjust power.
so I only use CLS now.
but if you really want to buy one, I would recommend you to buy the most expensive and highest quality one you can afford.
I think get the cybersyncs! Buy once and problem solved!
How many receivers you are getting? Transmitter I presume is 1?
HEY, the first 4 receiver / trigger sets are the SAME with just different names! Actually the 1st one is not, but the following 3 are. Last one is different.
1 Transmitter and 3 receivers, and more possibly. I'll probably go for the youngnuo just because of build quality and the apparent good reviews. I would like the cyber syncs but I can't afford to spend about 250USD just for wireless flash, it's far too dear compared to 55USD. If I had the money, I would get the cyber syncs.
Why so many receivers??????
They are all effectively the same with different branding. I suggest you get the middle of the range one and get the HOT SHOE to PC sync adaptor to connect to trigger. Stronger / safer.
Let us know how you go, I have the PT-04 for Phottix and it works OK, no misfires yet, but I only shoot indoors and in close quarters.
What did you end up buying?
hi there...
Currently I have on hand a Nikon D40, I intend to purchase one unit of used Nikon D90 and I want to be able to trigger this off camera in manual mode....In the future I want to be able to trigger at least 3 units of Nikon D90 concurrently.
I ended up with the yongnuo ctr-301p's. They're really good in my opinion, I have yet to write up a review due to my exams. They have worked great and rarely misfired. They've misfired only once on me and that's an extra flash instead of missing a flash.
I currently run 2 flashes off my D200. A sb-600 and a sunpak.