V2's Pocket wizards, Skyports etc Which do you have and use? - Page 2

skaktuss · 05-07-2008, 11:57 PM

I have V2s and it works perfectly. I soldered a bit longer antena (google for mod instructions) and now it fires about 60m from camera.
I've heard about unwanted triggering at places where other similar radio waves are, but I live in outskirts and it's not problem for me.

*LaRee* · 05-08-2008, 01:11 AM

Originally Posted by Mike Cash

I'm eagerly awaiting the promised summer release of the RadioPopper Jr.

You may wish to look into those.

They finally have the RadioPopper released. I wonder if they really will get the Jr. available by summer. I am very interested.

I bought the V2 cactus trigger. I had problems with it on probably my only really *important* shoot. I had used them a few times and they worked well. I had everything working flawlessly the night before. Show time and I couldn't do anything to get it going again. I bought all new batteries (and that dang wee battery inside the transmitter at the camera shop before the event). Still no joy. I contacted gadgetinfinity and told them of my problem. They said they would service them if I sent the whole lot in (1 transmitter, two receivers). It cost me almost $30.00 in postage to mail them back overseas to them. I was so disgusted that I haven't even tried them since receiving them back. So my cheapo triggers that I thought were working so well for me ended up bumming me out. They really are built shoddy, but they sure are a heck of a lot cheaper. I'm just not sure they are super reliable or durable. Dang there really needs to be a middle of the line option ! They really are a relatively simple electronic aren't they? I don't get the high price they have on the pw's.

jshurak · 05-08-2008, 09:19 AM

Originally Posted by Groundloop

Snip...

Elinchrom Skyport transmitters, and Pocket Wizard Transceivers, both have hot shoe contacts. Any connection problems come at the flash end if you're not using studio flash. But that's a "shoe mount flash without a PC socket on it" issue, not a radio slave issue.

that's what I meant. I assumed Peter would be using a Pentax flash. which to my knowledge does not have a pc-sync built in and would need something like this.

alinla · 05-08-2008, 02:59 PM

Originally Posted by jshurak

that's what I meant. I assumed Peter would be using a Pentax flash. which to my knowledge does not have a pc-sync built in and would need something like this.

Actually if he's using PW's he'll need a 3.5mm Mini plug to hotshoe adapter. PW's don't have PC connections. I'm not sure about the Elinchrom's but it looks like it uses the mini plug too.

alinla · 05-08-2008, 03:03 PM

Originally Posted by OniFactor

i would personally go for the skyports, myself, unless i had a while to wait, and see if radiopoppers come out with pttl support..

I think its unlikely we'll see a PTTL version anytime soon. I believe the radiopoppers are protocol specific units & the market for wireless Pentax triggers has got to be pretty small compared to the iTTL & eTTL markets. I think the Jr's will be the best bet for pTTL users (at least for a long while).

woof · 05-08-2008, 05:29 PM

Originally Posted by Peter Zack

What do you use? If you have V2's how reliable are they and if not, how often do they misfire? Any other strange things or advice about them? I know I shouldn't go cheap but at $ 45.00 for 1 transmitter and 2 receivers, It's hard to compare the costs when any of the others are going to run $500 ++ for the 3 parts.

I use them. No misfires on their own, but I find they do not quite work at a sync speed of 180... have to dial it down to 125. Batteries do not seem to be the issue here.

Also the receiver shoe that I have is pretty tall. It causes a lot of undue leverage on things. It will tilt so you can aim your strobe, but it is not the best arrangement in the world, and I just know that one of these days the strobe is going to bash itself face-first against the stand. The version I have is an 8 or 16 channel version of this: Wireless Flash Trigger for Canon 580EX 430EX 550EX - V2 - eBay (item 370049621419 end time May-14-08 02:23:36 PDT) This is the receiver I would avoid.

If you are going to get a set of these, get the receiver that plugs into an additional shoe. here is the set I'd get Wireless 16 Ch Radio Slave Flash Trigger x 2 Receivers - eBay (item 350056967206 end time May-10-08 08:57:07 PDT)

To use the latter, you will need an adapter for the shoe. I was turned onto these by someone here: FlashZebra.com: Female Hotshoe to Miniphone Jack (female) (Item #0067) Looks like they are out of stock, but I am sure there is something comparable on eBay.

There are a few advantages to going with this setup... 1. batteries in receiver are standard AAA, and therefore easy and cheaper to keep up with. 2. The receiver is not tall and problematic with respect to having to cant it forward and risk damage to your strobe and/or the shoe on your stand. 3. These triggers will work well with any standard studio strobe you currently have or may get in the future, thereby extending their utility. There are other advantages I am sure.

Another thing... I have a radio remote for triggering the shutter, and it seems that the two do not play nice together. In normal mode with the v2 and remote, when I trigger the camera, no flash. Nothing. I find this more than annoying. The workaround: If I set the shutter release to 2 second timer, and the V2 fires (at 125) every time.

Overall, I'm not too hot on those units. The price is good and they are functional to a point, but frankly I would only buy them as a bridge KNOWING that I am going to upgrade when time and funds permit; if I had it to do again, I'd go with the mini-jack receivers.

Kind regards,

woof!

*Peter Zack* · 05-11-2008, 02:57 PM

I've decided to get a set of FlashWaves. The receivers are coming from the marketplace here and the transmitter was linked to me by Gene's Pentax to some place in Korea. These are solid units from what I've heard and everyone just seems too uncertain abbout the V2's. Probably just fine for fooling around with but not when time and money is on the line.

Thanks everyone for your advice, experiences and thoughts. Just the "don't be cheap" kick in the ass I needed.

Here's the link Gene sent me:

G9Chon - FlashWaves

He ordered some from them and they came in within a week.
I used these units at a seminar in Halifax on portrait shooting and after a full day and at least 200 shots, they never missed a shot.

*LaRee* · 05-11-2008, 07:50 PM

Peter, please keep us informed as to how you like them. I may be selling my v2's and upgrading depending on your report.

*Peter Zack* · 05-12-2008, 03:57 AM

I will, I expect to have everything in about 2 weeks since parts are coming from 2 different places. They will get a through workout before any paid shoots happen.

As I said earlier, I used a set for the seminar and they seemed solid and reliable.

*Peter Zack* · 05-24-2008, 06:59 PM

All the parts showed up this week. A trans/rec combo from G9Chon - FlashWaves and the extra 2 receivers from the marketplace here. They got a decent workout today. About 100 shots with the flash as much as 100 feet away and a building in between the camera and the flash. Worked perfectly. I took them to a mall where there would be lots of interference and they fired the flash perfectly each time.

So I'm happy with these units and the kit is quite nice as well. Cables and adapters enough for various tripods or other mounts. I think for the money, these are probably the best value around.