E-bay triggers

[Toshido]

Previously I mentioned I ordered some E-bay triggers with a unique mount for the flash.

Previous thread (http://www.dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=154700)

E-bay ad (http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=280413373093&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT#ht_10564wt_939)

Well they finally came in today. They were shipped on Jan 4, 2010 according to the seller. They arrived today, Feb 2, 2010. I do not truly blame the seller for the delay. I think customs held up the package.

Initial impressions are mixed.... I had one receiver triggering an old flash from roughly 200 feet away. I stopped backing up because I had already crossed a street and was walking up the driveway of the house across the street. Same receiver inconsistently fired my 430 EXII from a max of about 30 feet (I had put away the tape measure).
None of the receivers worked well through a brick wall either. Again I plan on further testing.
The other two receivers have a serious lackluster performance as well.

I also question the batteries I was using. I have a set of Energizer rechargables charging for later testing.

I do have pictures that I will post up later tonight. I also plan on retrying a distance check and maybe try it on a few different frequencies.

Well for now I got to serve up supper for the family then take the kids swimming.

I think I am going to like off camera flash.

[ziggy53]

Congratulations on the new radio slaves/triggers. :clap

Yes, please do keep us informed especially regarding the distance for reliable performance.

[mud390]

Very interesting. I'm curious to see how the further testing works out.

Kris

[Toshido]

Well just got from swimming and kids not in bed yet but have a second while they have a snack...


Put in new AAA rechargable batteries and it seems to have improved the range considerably. Still need to get them outside and check to be sure. With the iffy batteries 5 feet through a wall was too much for the triggers. now from the far side of the apartment (20 feet) an old fully walled over chimney and a wall away the flash will trigger using the transmitter test button.
Looking forward to getting the kids settled and hitting the driveway again. Will be overjoyed if I am getting 200+ feet with all three of them. Considering they claim 100'.

Just as an aside, off camera flash in manual mode does not seem nearly as daunting a task as I was thinking it would be. Already got a neat moody shot of my son and had fun playing with it a little inside. This is gonna be fun.
Hopefully by next Christmas family portrait time my family will be coming to me instead of.... Zehr's....

[Toshido]

Okay a little more playing and I got much better results.

With clear line of sight I am getting 80-90% firing at 50', a much poorer 20% or so at 100'. With a brick wall in the way I am getting around 80% at 30'.
It seems to be more consistent with the test button than hot shoe though. So maybe tomorrow I will do the same thing again using the sync cable that was included.
Tonight all the testing was done one receiver at a time using my 430EX.

Overall I am happy with what I got. It is a far cry from pocket wizards, but then again so is the price. For some simple portraiture and relatively short ranges from camera to flash I think this will work great. If you are trying to light up a gym or stadium, then you will be sorely disappointed, I think.

There is still more testing I want to do, especially concerning the sync cord and using an older flash to test ranges though.

Then of course the playing around to see what I can do with two off camera flashes, that is what I am really looking forward to of course.

[Toshido]

http://tag-photos.smugmug.com/Photography/tests/triggers/triggers-1-of-4/780078910_q7ypu-M.jpg (http://tag-photos.smugmug.com/Photography/tests/triggers/11132361_w4Jmg#780078910_q7ypu-A-LB)

Package almost as received. I jumped the gun and cut the top open to see them quickly. But as you can see the box was damaged when delivered. Contents safe and sound though.


http://tag-photos.smugmug.com/Photography/tests/triggers/triggers-2-of-4/780079020_SsLSG-M.jpg (http://tag-photos.smugmug.com/Photography/tests/triggers/11132361_w4Jmg#780078910_q7ypu-A-LB)

Contents of box. Minimalistic but sufficient.

http://tag-photos.smugmug.com/Photography/tests/triggers/triggers-3-of-4/780079156_tDb7K-M.jpg (http://tag-photos.smugmug.com/Photography/tests/triggers/11132361_w4Jmg#780079020_SsLSG-A-LB)

Contents unpacked waiting for batteries.

http://tag-photos.smugmug.com/Photography/tests/triggers/triggers-4-of-4/780079263_S8KPy-L.jpg (http://tag-photos.smugmug.com/Photography/tests/triggers/11132361_w4Jmg#780079156_tDb7K-A-LB)

Finally an unwilling target. Poor batteries in the triggers meant only one flash triggered. Also this was shot at SS 1/400. Faster than the camera can sync with flash. Black on bottom is where shutter (?) blocked flash.
I also have not had luck with high speed sync on the 430EX. So it looks like max shutter speed will be 1/250.

[www.SGphoto.us]

i have ebay triggers, they work well for me. i think what causes misfires for most people is a bad connection from the unit to the flash, once you have fixed the connectivity issues, they r about 90% reliable.

i use a cord like this, it pretty much eliminates my connection issues

http://www.angelfire.com/ex/intelogue/dicflaadasycb_1.jpg

[Toshido]

i have ebay triggers, they work well for me. i think what causes misfires for most people is a bad connection from the unit to the flash, once you have fixed the connectivity issues, they r about 90% reliable.

i use a cord like this, it pretty much eliminates my connection issues




Not an option for me.

First the 430 EX does not have a Sync port. Second the receivers do not have a sync port either.

The hot shoe connection to the receivers is one of the reasons I went with these receivers. I wanted low profile hot shoe mount receivers so I could avoid using an adaptor between receiver and flash.

[time2smile]

Thanks for the input, I was looking at those, but decided on the rf602 instead.

I'm a dark side shooter, but I know Ziggy will have an answer for you shutter sync issues.

good luck

[nickeverett]

Thanks for the input, I was looking at those, but decided on the rf602 instead.

I'm a dark side shooter, but I know Ziggy will have an answer for you shutter sync issues.

good luck

Whats a Dark Side Shooter? Forgive my ignorance

[ziggy53]

Whats a Dark Side Shooter? Forgive my ignorance

Sometimes Nikon shooters call their following the "Dark Side", but it's just a bit of good fun. :thumb

[time2smile]

Whats a Dark Side Shooter? Forgive my ignorance

The dark side is Nikon, since we generally dont have white lens.
:rofl :rofl :rofl :rofl :rofl