One of the other members here encouraged me to post my current thoughts on this product here on this forum. So, here it is.
I’ve been using FlashWaves (aka Flashwave or g9chon trigger) since January this year, i.e., 7 months. From what I hear, it was introduced in Korea late last year. They are available from
G9Chon - Serving Photographers Worldwide!.
Bottom line: I recommend it wholeheartedly for 99% of users.
To whom it is NOT recommended: If you are one of those rare individuals who like to light up a very large object from the other side of a football field for some reason, I do not recommend Flashwaves.
Here are the pros and cons.
Pros:
1. Built in hot shoe on the receiver + 1/4" common tripod mounting thread on the bottom for easy mounting on a light stand/tripod.
2. Reliable
3. Small
4. Common non-proprietary power source, i.e., AAA batteries.
5. Includes cables you may need (if you decide not to use the flash on the built-in hot shoe for some reason.)
6. Can trigger 3 flashes with one receiver. You can trigger flash using the built-in hot shoe, the pc sync port, or the 3.5mm port, or all three at the same time.
7. Can be used to trigger a camera, i.e., use it as a wireless shutter release. The only limitation with this mode is that it will not activate the AF function of the camera. (But then which flash tirgger does?)
8. Can be used as a quick flash stand also (when necessary). See the picture below.
9. Can sync up to 1/1250s with cameras with electronic shutters, e.g., Nikon D40. For cameras with mechanical shutters, it can sync up to 1/250s, e.g., with Canon 40D. With Pentax, the camera limits max sync speed to 1/180s. So, this is not much of an issue. Picture below is Pentax 540 flash with Canon 40D at 1/250s.
10. With an extra transmitter + receiver, can use it as a repeater to extend the range.
11. The transmitter can be easily modified to add an antenna. Adding an antenna on the transmitter extended the range to well over 120 yards (360+ feet)! Took me only 15 minutes to actually add an antenna.
12. Also, it's got 10 channels.
Cons:
1. Transmitter uses 23A battery. Would've been great if it also used a AAA battery. But this would be a very minor gripe. 23A battery is cheap and easy to find. Just go to your local grocery store (in the U.S.)
2. Max range is about 50 yards. According to my test at a high school football field, the max was 40~45 yards. For 100% reliability, I had to be within 35 yards. Beyond that, I started getting some misfires.
3. Transmitter does not have an antenna. (This is related to #2 and 11 above.)
Othe competing products. (Not in any particular order.)
1. Pocket Wizard.
Pro: the gold standard of all. Longest range or 1600' (but don't think anyone really tested it and verified it).
Con: Very very expensive and BIG.
2. Skyports.
Pro: Long range. 300+ feet (or over 100 yards) according to the manufacturer. Good price.
Con: Uses proprietary battery.
3. Radio Popper.
Pro: Only trigger that can do TTL + long range.
Con: Very expensive. May not work with Pentax.
4. Pulsars.
Pro: good range. 300+ feet.
Con: From what I read, it has a habit of firing more than once with one pull. Also, not cheap.
5. Microsync.
Pro. Simple and small. (Smallest of them all.)
Con: short range + battery difficult to replace on the transmitter.
6. Cybersync.
Pro: Price, small size, and long range.
Con: Unknown quality. But presumably pretty good. Compared to Flashwaves, it doesn't have a built-in hot shoe.
7. Cactus (aka E-Bay trigger, Poverty Wizard, Chinese made cheap stuff, etc.)
Pro: Dirt cheap.
Con: You get what you pay for.
MY EXPERIENCE
Before using Flashwaves, I've used at least two different versions of Cactus triggers and then Microsync.
CONCLUSION
When I switched to Flashwaves from Microsync, the only ones that were unavailable are Cybersync and Radio Popper. But Radio Popper is just as expensive, if not more so, than Pocket Wizard. So, that's out of the question. Cybersync with it's attractive pricing may have been my choice, if it was available. But I'm sure glad I got Flashwaves with its built-in hot shoe. The built-in hot shoe makes it sooooo easy to set up. When I was using Microsync and was trying to set up the lights for a family portrait, my wife used to ask me "why do you have those things dangling from the light?" Also, as for the cost, after buying the wires and hot shoe adapters, the cost of Microsync wasn't much of a bargain. I came to the same conclusion when I considered Skyports. At the time I chose to Flashwaves, I was hesitating between Flashwaves and Skyports. But after adding up the cost, Flashwaves won out easily. Nonetheless, looking back, even if the cost of use were the same, I think Flashwaves would have been a good choice.
Below are some more detailed pictures of the latest version of Flashwaves. The one pictured above with longer antenna is an older version.
Questions or comments are welcome.
Gene
Last edited by Genes Pentax; 08-10-2008 at 04:30 AM.