jonathan_marmand Posted December 7, 2007 Share Posted December 7, 2007 Madams, Sirs, I would like to firstly apologize because I am sure this question has already been posted. I have made a search and, not being sure of the posts I red, probably because of my so-so English, I prefer to ask it anyway. I am new to Studio Flash Photography(I was doing Continuous Lighting before then), and would like to buy a Radio Slave to trigger the Flashes. I am currently using a Canon EOS-1D Mark III, and sometime a Canon EOS 20D as backup. So my question is: is there any way, any possibility the Ebay type low expensive Radio Slaves, such as the following one: http://cgi.ebay.fr/C157-Wireless-Radio-Remote-Flash-Slave-Trigger- 2channel_W0QQitemZ370002396348QQihZ024QQcategoryZ48515QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD2VQQc mdZViewItem might harm my Cameras? I am not sure to have understood the voltage possible issues, and really would like to be sure of what damages it might cause or not to my beloved bodies, before purchasing one. Thank you very much for your patience and kindness. Very Best Regards, Jonathan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clay_ransom Posted December 7, 2007 Share Posted December 7, 2007 I think, not ever using the slaves you are asking about, that you would be safe with them. But, with the cost and quality of your equipment why not go with a beeter product such as pocket wizards. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pge Posted December 7, 2007 Share Posted December 7, 2007 Jonathan There is no danger to your body whatsoever, lots of people use them. These little radio triggers are fairly good, and vastly cheaper then the pocket wizards. They always fire for me. And besides for the price of them you have nothing to loose. Phil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nickwhite Posted December 7, 2007 Share Posted December 7, 2007 They should not harm your cameras, however you get what you pay for! Some people seem to get lucky with them, however my experience has not been good. Mine was sent with a faulty jack adapter, (not worth posting back to Hong Kong), so I had to buy a replacement. The batteries in the receiver keep draining - even when switched off - so have to be removed every time. I find it far, far easier to use my camera's on-board flash to trigger the strobes. You can have mine for the cost of postage if you like. (I'm in England) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zigzag Posted December 7, 2007 Share Posted December 7, 2007 The eBay slaves have been known to cause banding on Canon 5Ds (at least), do not always trigger when asked, have a limited range which can be extended by fitting a DIY antenna (fitting this antenna increases the chance of banding) etc. There is no voltage concern with the camera as they effectively isolate it. The eBay triggers have a max flash sync speed of 1/160s<br><br> If you want to know more about this then there is a lot more detail on strobist.com and flickr.com. For the record as a hobbyist and not owning a 5D (I have a 30D) I have great fun with them but I wouldn't trust them on a pay job. If you have a 1DMkIII I would consider the Pocket Wizards, apart from anthing else I believe they have a 1600ft range. Nick, I would take yours off your hands and pay postage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zigzag Posted December 7, 2007 Share Posted December 7, 2007 Banding: http://www.flickr.com/groups/strobist/discuss/72157603230295239/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ian_mazursky Posted December 7, 2007 Share Posted December 7, 2007 Ive used similar ones bought off of ebay. You do get what you pay for though. They dont always fire. Sometimes they fire late. If you are shooting fast, ive found that they will not be able to keep up. The good thing is that wont damage the camera at all. The trigger voltage is very low. I think it was around or under 6 volts. -ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colinsouthern Posted December 8, 2007 Share Posted December 8, 2007 Some of the slaves have an issue with Canon flashes - they work once, and then the power to the flash has to be turned off and on again. Surely if you can afford to shoot with 1 series cameras, you can afford a quality radio slave solution like Pocket Wizards? Many of the eBay units are mediocre/junk quality. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonathan_marmand Posted December 8, 2007 Author Share Posted December 8, 2007 Thank you all for your replies. PocketWizard are not available in France, and require rather expensive shipping, etc. Is there a cheaper alternative to PW, while still being reliable? I mean, is there another brand/manufacturer you could kindly advise me, please? P.S.: Thank you Nick for your proposition. I am not interested in it, because still have to order all my Studio Strobes! Thank you for your kindness. Best Regards, Jonathan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stwrtertbsratbs5 Posted December 8, 2007 Share Posted December 8, 2007 I bought a set of eb*y slaves just to play about. And now I'm ordering PocketWizards. The cheap triggers aren't very reliable (for me, at least) and the build quality does not inspire confidence. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
picturesque Posted December 8, 2007 Share Posted December 8, 2007 I use e-bay triggers and they work fine for me, and I use them every weekend shooting weddings. Mine aren't available anymore, though. However, a cheaper alternative are Skyports, made by Elinchrom. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonathan_marmand Posted December 9, 2007 Author Share Posted December 9, 2007 Hello Nadine, Thank you for your message. It seems Elinchrom Skyports are not very expensive here in France, and I might as well get them for my 1D Mark III. Did you already hear about some issues such as banding with the Skyports? Best Regards, Jonathan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nickwhite Posted December 9, 2007 Share Posted December 9, 2007 Jonathan, You can get the Pocketwizard in Europe eg http://www.warehouseexpress.com/?photo/trigger/Pocketwizard.html#PC314119, but the price is about 450 euro! The Elinchrom Skyports look good to me too (one third the price of PW here in UK), I wasn't previously aware that they are 'universal' - does anyone know of any issues using them with Multiblitz or Bowens? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zigzag Posted December 9, 2007 Share Posted December 9, 2007 http://www.flickr.com/groups/strobist/discuss/72157594562668506/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonathan_marmand Posted December 9, 2007 Author Share Posted December 9, 2007 Thank you Nick, but PW are far too much expensive for me. I can get Skyports for so much less here in France. I plan to use them on Walimex Studio Strobes. I think I have red the Skyports are Universal, but one should confirm. Sincerely, Jonathan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nickwhite Posted December 9, 2007 Share Posted December 9, 2007 Yes the Skyports certainly look the way to go - the more I read the better they sound (thanks for that link Glen). The universal kit is about 160 Euro here - how does that compare with the price in France Jonathan? You can download a pdf brochure from the Warehouse Express site. http://www.warehouseexpress.com/?photo/studio_lighting/elinchrom.html#PC313217 more info here- http://www.theflashcentre.com/skyport-remote-system-c264.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonathan_marmand Posted December 9, 2007 Author Share Posted December 9, 2007 Hello Nick, Thank you very much for those links and informations. In France, the EL-Skyport Set costs 185 Euros, including both the Transmitter and Receiver: http://www.missnumerique.com/lumiere-et-eclairage-flash-de-studio-accessoires/elinchrom/elinchrom-el-skyport-pack-emetteur-recepteur-universel-radio-pour-flash-p-2911.html?ref=2 It seems Skyport really is the way to go for me! Are you also going to get one for you, Nick? Yours, Jonathan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nickwhite Posted December 9, 2007 Share Posted December 9, 2007 Jonathan, I'm surprised it's a bit more expensive in France than England, I would have expected the opposite. I am very tempted to buy one, but it will have to wait till after christmas - I can't justify it right now. Let me know how you get on if you get one in the mean time. Joyeux Noel, Nick. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonathan_marmand Posted December 9, 2007 Author Share Posted December 9, 2007 Hello dear Nick, Thank you for your reply. Yes, the price in England seems somewhat lower. I think I will get mine, as well as some Studio Strobes soon after Christmas, at the end of December. Maybe will we buy them at the mean time?! I am rather impatient to try them! I wish you a Merry Christmas as well, if we don't chat before. Take care, Jonathan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonathan_marmand Posted December 10, 2007 Author Share Posted December 10, 2007 Hello, Please, can anyone confirm that the Elinchrom Skyport Universal Radio Slave are compatible with the Walimex flashes? Here is the Walimex Flash(in German): http://foto-walser.biz/shop/default.aspx?TY=item&ST=1&IT=73&CT=24#1 And here is the Skyport Manual: http://www.elinchrom.com/... .../Literature/Skyport/EL-Skyport%20EN.pdf Thank you for your help. Best Regards, Jonathan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nickwhite Posted December 10, 2007 Share Posted December 10, 2007 Jonathan, I visited the foto-walser site and found this - http://foto-walser.biz/shop/default.aspx?TY=item&ST=1&IT=156&CT=28 - English version @ http://www.profilmgear.com/Items/12374? It looks like this would wirelessly trigger the Walimax strobes (via infra-red) for only 25euro! Just in case you had missed it. Regards, Nick. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonathan_marmand Posted December 10, 2007 Author Share Posted December 10, 2007 Dear Nick, Thank you for your reply and link. Yes, it's true that the Walimex IR Transmitter costs only 25 Euros, but I would like to use Radio Slaves instead. That said, 25 Euros is rather a low price! I think I will get the Skyport rather soon, maybe before Christmas. Talking about Walimex Strobes, all the reports I have red about them seem extremely positive. I am not concerned at all by the slower recycling time, since I will only use those Strobes for products shots. :-) I think you might get them in England too, through this website: http://www.prophotofrance.com/Items/12971?sck=4563365 Despite its name, the Company seems located in U.K.. Maybe this could interest you. Take care, Jonathan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
badtz Posted December 12, 2007 Share Posted December 12, 2007 In case it happens to come in helpful for a future search "The eBay triggers have a max flash sync speed of 1/160s" is incorrect. I can sync at 1/250 fine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonathan_marmand Posted December 21, 2007 Author Share Posted December 21, 2007 Hello Nick, How are you doing? I have just received my Elinchrom EL Skyport Universal Set this morning, and they work perfectly with my Walimex Strobes. I am also very satisfied by the Radio's small size, that preventing to bother me while using the camera. Merry Christmas to you! Yours, Jonathan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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