Trigger/Wireless remote for canon flashes

<p>Ok, this is one thing that I know pretty much nothing about. Products or otherwise.<br /> Spending as little as possible, I am looking for a flash trigger to enable me to use one or two flashes off camera for sports shots. (Canon 550EX master, 420EX slave. I also have a 540EZ lying around that I never use.) I will need to be able to get a fair distance from the subject (10 meters or so). I am aware of numerous cheap 3rd party triggers such as http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Wireless-Flash-Trigger-Canon-580EX-II-550EX--2-Receiver_W0QQitemZ280370149236QQcmdZViewItem<br /> and that Canon make the ST-E2. Im not sure why its £100 more than the others. I also know of the pocket wizard and I assume it is similar to the ST-E2 but uses radio waves instead of infra-red?</p>

<p>Also question 2: the dumb one. What are the differences between a flash trigger/transmitter/remote/transciever? or are they the same thing. Actually thinking about it the remote probably allows you to control the flash settings, which I won't need to do I don't think.<br /> Hope that all makes sense, cheers.</p>

<p>Decisions, decisions. Any wireless system is going to need a transmitter (master) and a receiver (remote). No way around this. Canon gives you a built in IR (infrared) system. This allows the master to send a signal to the remote. The advantage being that you already have the IR system AND it allows you to control your flashes either with manual power adjustments or using TTL. The huge disadvantage to this system (besides only being able to use Canon flashes) is that you don't have a very long working distance and it doesn't work so well (if at all) in bright light. So it's somewhat unreliable. For more reliability, you need a <em>radio</em> signal. Again, a radio signal will need a transmitter to transmit the signal and a receiver to get the signal and thus trigger your flash. Times are changing. Now you have the options of the newer Pocket Wizards or something like the Radio Poppers system. Both of these systems, each in their own way, will use a radio signal to transmit TTL information allowing you to control your off-camera flashes. Yippee! You get the advantage of a radio signal and the convenience of on camera flash control. </p>

<p>Now the link you provided isn't a transmitter or a receiver. Take your 420 flash for example, it does NOT have a PC terminal. So if you were using an older generation Pocket Wizard that required a pc terminal to plug into, well, you would be out of luck. Unless you have something like what you linked too! Now you have the socket- but you still need the transmitter & receiver. So depending on the wireless system you choose, you may not even need that little piece.</p>

<p>Ewan, adding to what John wrote, you can save on the cost of radio remotes, such as Radio Poppers, Pocket Wizards, or Paul C. Buff remotes, by just getting the version that fires the flash. You would set your flashes manually then trigger them with a simple radio transmitter & receivers.</p>

<p>my 50 cents is - buy the best right away. You will spend more in the end if you start with DIY or any 3rd party triggers. Maybe they work for some, but I already regret buying ST-E2. I should of just saved and invested in Pocket wizards. (and i have been doing photography only for a year so far)</p>

I've been searching/researching 'Flash' to get me started with flash photography myself!<br> You may find these links useful to pick up all the many nuances /products /possibilities/ etc...<br><br>

<a href="http://dpanswers.com/canon_flash.html">Canon Flash Primer by Gisle Hannemyr</a><br><br>

<a href="http://photonotes.org/articles/eos-flash/#eosflash"> Flash Photography with Canon EOS Cameras by NK Guy </a><br><br>

 

<a href="http://strobist.blogspot.com/"> Strobist: Learn how to Light </a><br><br><a href="http://www.theflashcentre.com/"> The Flash Centre /London </a> is a shop site which has some video tutorials as does the...<br><br><a href="http://www.pocketwizard.com/"> Pocket Wizard </a>site.

<p>Sorry been away. Thanks everyone.<br>

Greg, can you tell me where I can get a radio transmitter and recievers?</p>