Wireless Radio Flash Triggers
With all of the playing that I have done using the Strobist technique of off camera lighting, I was interested in using wireless radio triggers to fire my SB-600 off camera. I had been using Nikon CLS up to now where I had the pop-up flash set to 1/128 to trigger the SB-600 without affecting the exposure. My hope was to abandon this method in favor of a completely wireless way of getting the SB-600 to fire.
Through searching the Strobist Group on Flickr, I learned about Pocket Wizards, Cybersyncs, and Cactus Triggers. Here is a quick breakdown of the three:
- Pocket Wizards – Work on a radio signal that is sent from the transmitter when the shutter is released to a receiver that is mounted on the flash unit. The receiver can be up to 1600 feet away. They are TTL capable, 16 channel selectable, highly reliable, and the preference of most professional photographers. The downside is that one transmitter/receiver set will run close to $400.
- Cybersyncs This system is also 16 channel selectable and has a maximum range of 400 feet between the transmitter and the receiver. One transmitter/receiver set will run close to $150 which is attractive, but with the loss of range, you also loose TTL capability.
- Cactus Triggers This is the least expensive route to go down when exploring wireless radio triggers. A transmitter/receiver set runs for less than $50. With the decrease in price, you also lose performance. The Cactus Triggers have a very limited range (~20 feet), are only 4 channel selectable, and (are reportedly) highly unreliable.
Being a complete beginner in this area I opted to try the Cactus Triggers first. I figured that using them would be a great way to play around with the technology with minimum investment seeing as how I will mostly be using them around the house where my need for range and channel selectivity will be at a minimum. I am sure that once I really start playing with them I will learn if they are right for me or if I need something more. Seeing as I only have one SB-600, I only got one transmitter/receiver set. Additional receivers are under $20 but I believe that I can pick up a second strobe with an optical slave so that I can fire it that way.
I should also mention Radio Poppers. They are another option to consider that are priced a closer to the Pocket Wizards.
Another good option is the Elinchrom Skyports. I just upgraded to them from the Cactus Triggers and have been working wonderfully. Range is awesome and they are less than half the price of the PocketWizards.
I’m yet to have a misfire either!