Good flash transmitter for a cheap price?

<p>I am sort of new to flash photography, but i was wondering what would be a good and cheap wireless flash transmitter that i can simply connect to my camera hot shoe and then have another part of it that can connect to my nikon sb-600 flash. I would also like to have to be able to have multiple receivers that come with it, so i can do two flashes at the same time. Can anyone tell me a place where i can get a simple, basic and cheap one that does these things?</p>

<p>Depending on the camera body you're using, you may want to try the Nikon Creative Lighting System (CLS) capabilities built in to the flash itself.<br>

Benefits: It's free! The SB-600 can act as a wireless slave flash with many Nikon DSLR bodies. You can control the speedlight settings from your camera (remotely). It supports multiple flash units, so you can add SB-600, SB-800 and SB-900 speedlights as needed for more light.<br>

Drawback: It's a bit limited in range, so if you're planning on shooting from more than several yards away, you might encounter some problems. Additionally, Nikon CLS is based on a series of "pre-flashes" from the main (controller) flash. There is a small sensor on the flash which "sees" these main flash, so they must be within sight of the main flash (the main flash, in many cases, is simply the built-in flash on the camera body).<br>

If you need a true radio flash, there are several options. I happen to use the Elinchrom Skyport, which works remarkably well. The receivers and transmitters are affordable, in the low $100-130 range. Drawback is that you can't control the SB-600 settings from the camera. Many professionals and serious amateurs use the PocketWizard system, and are very pleased with it's performance.</p>

<p>the best of the inexpensive ones are the US made Paul Buff 'Cybersync' series.<br>

You will need a cord->shoe adaptor (flashzebra.com and others) since the SB600 doesn't have a sync jack (shame on Nikon)</p>

<p>Check out the <a href="http://www.mpex.com/browse.cfm/4,12662.html">Cactus V4</a>. $45 for transmitter plus receiver (I bought 3 more receivers for other flashes I have). You'll want to electrical-tape over part of the receiver hot shoe where it contacts the pins on the SB600, otherwise it triggers kinda funky. Also I found the default channels didn't work as well as flipping two switches up, the other two down. Also not super duper robust, construction-wise. But they've worked flawlessly for me - not a single failure to fire.</p>

<p>I recently purchased the Elinchrom Skyport system, and returned it a few days later due to a serious flaw IM[-H]O:</p>

<p>You cannot change or replace the battery in the 19347 Skyport Universal receiver. It's rechargeable, and hopefully will remain so throughout the user's lifetime. If it dies, your only option is to buy a new $100+ receiver. Mighty expensive battery. I think the reason is pretty obvious. This was a way to cut both size and cost of the receiver.</p>

<p>When I tried to use the receiver, having been idle for about three days since a full recharge, the battery was dead. </p>

<p>I'm sure it would have recharged without any issues (about three hours). But had this happened at the beginning of a real shoot, I would have been down during that time. I realize you can operate the receiver with the charger plugged in, but that assumes an available electric outlet within a rather short distance of the receiver.</p>

<p>I'm still looking for a good transmitter/receiver pair. Too bad. Elinchrom is a good company.</p>

<p>Just one man's opinion. Worth every penny you paid for it.</p>

<p>- Leigh</p>