Radio Triggers... i know, i know

Dom_Cabarete

Dom_Cabarete

Suspended / Banned
Messages
1,615
Name
Dominic
Edit My Images
Yes
:help: Its a subject thats come up many a time, but ive used the search tool and ive had a read and i still feel like i need to ask a few questions.

Im getting into BMX photography and general park photography more and more and some of the guys want to do a night shoot... Now

We will have flood lights in the park which i think will add a nice ambient light. But i dont have any way of triggering my flash and ill borrow a mate as a second.

I need a, (as cheap as possible without comprimising reliability), solution to this. Can someone point me in the right direction as to which triggers can be used, and could you point me in the right direction as to were i can aquire them from :D

Thanks for your help im going to go hide now :$:coat:
 
the cactus triggers on fleabay are cheap. they are unreliable, but there is a simple modification you can make to them to make them much more reliable.
alternatively you'll want some elinchrom skyports. the universal kit is £115 and you'll need a couple of leads that will probably set you back about £20. for a second flash you'll need another receiver at £70ish.
 
were would i inform myself of the mod to be made?

Oh and do you know what i would put into fleebay to find these?

I will eventually get some skyports or some Poverty Wizards just cant afford this soon after crimbo :D
 
foodpoison said:
the cactus triggers on fleabay are cheap. they are unreliable, but there is a simple modification you can make to them to make them much more reliable.
alternatively you'll want some elinchrom skyports. the universal kit is £115 and you'll need a couple of leads that will probably set you back about £20. for a second flash you'll need another receiver at £70ish.
Click to expand...

Yah, whats the simple mod?
 
Google: cactus trigger mod. Our very own Strobemonkey has written on these matters.

Source of the gizmos: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/8-Channel-Hot-Shoe-Flash-Wireless-Remote-Trigger-Studio_W0QQitemZ330282234674

This type uses AAA cells in the receiver. The receiver has a better bracket than the Cactus, and the system is 8 channels. As well as a hot shoe, there's a PC sync socket, for those of us who prefer our flash mounted securely to a good tilt head. The seller can also supply strips of batteries for the transmitter. Unless you're really skint, I'd order two sets (plus additional receivers, if you see the need), as insurance against some of the kit not working.
 
cheers for that photon. Ill see how much it all adds up too... im not that skint just cant afford 120 quids worth of skyports just this month but would still like to have a play with something
 
foodpoison said:
I read about it on here. Lets find some links for you.

Heres the mod links. It isn't simple in comparison to making pancakes, but it is simple in the grand scheme of things.

Talk Photography forum topic
Click to expand...


photon said:
Google: cactus trigger mod. Our very own Strobemonkey has written on these matters.
Click to expand...


Here is a cheap and cheerful way to mod the old V2s.

Please note that the new V2s according to people, are more reliable now and you don't need to mod them. They have different internals from the old type V2s.

Good luck.
 
strobemonkey said:
Here is a cheap and cheerful way to mod the old V2s.

Please note that the new V2s according to people, are more reliable now and you don't need to mod them. They have different internals from the old type V2s.

Good luck.
Click to expand...

Thats fantastic, a really simple mod and unobtrusive unlike the ones that have a big antenna sticking out the top. Mine should be arriving tomorrow, I think I will try this mod. Cheers Strobemonkey!
 
well thanks for all your help guys just ordered some triggers from gadget infinity, i hope they get here before the 15 days stated :D

And ill be reading the mod when i get them :thumbs:
 
Dom_Cabarete said:
well thanks for all your help guys just ordered some triggers from gadget infinity, i hope they get here before the 15 days stated :D

And ill be reading the mod when i get them :thumbs:
Click to expand...

Just to let you know, my Vivitar flashguns and Cactus triggers just arrived, delivered by UPS (sent airmail from Hong Kong from Gadget Infinity only on Monday!).

BUT, the delivery driver just asked me for £41 import duty! Maybe it was written on their website and I may have missed it but it was a shock I can tell you. Luckily I had the cash in my wallet but it looks like I wont be going out tonight after paying out:(
 
Dom_Cabarete said:
Does anyone that has the V2's find that they have been fairly reliable for simple(ish) situations
Click to expand...


No.....I found that they always failed just when you needed them most. They're cheap n cheerful and okay for a wee play about, but you most definitely get what you pay for - almost everything I have bought from Gadget Infinity has died after a short while. Fortunately they have excellent after sales service - the 285HV they replaced, but the triggers were more hassle than it was worth to send back.....
 
BigLoada said:
Just to let you know, my Vivitar flashguns and Cactus triggers just arrived, delivered by UPS (sent airmail from Hong Kong from Gadget Infinity only on Monday!).

BUT, the delivery driver just asked me for £41 import duty! Maybe it was written on their website and I may have missed it but it was a shock I can tell you. Luckily I had the cash in my wallet but it looks like I wont be going out tonight after paying out:(
Click to expand...

£41 :eek: what the ...k!!!! well im having them delivered at our work building and i doubt i'll be paying out for it. Ive never had to pay import duty for american items before whats that about
 
Dom_Cabarete said:
£41 :eek: what the ...k!!!! well im having them delivered at our work building and i doubt i'll be paying out for it. Ive never had to pay import duty for american items before whats that about
Click to expand...

If it's just a set of triggers you've ordered there shouldn't be any vat or duty to pay. Technically there would be a small amount, £3 or so, but I've never been asked to pay any duty on any small purchases from overseas, unlike the big ones :bang:
 
Dom_Cabarete said:
£41 :eek: what the ...k!!!! well im having them delivered at our work building and i doubt i'll be paying out for it. Ive never had to pay import duty for american items before whats that about
Click to expand...

Just checked and it is actually on their site that import duty is the responsibility of the buyer.

But like Flash says, for a couple of triggers it will be nowt. I got two flashguns as well so the total order was something like 250 dollars (whatever that is in pounds). I have too ordered from abroad small items and I have never paid duty on cheap stuff. Maybe its a percentage of the value, I don't know.
 
fffewwww :lol: lets hope they dont ask me for anything then
 
My cactus v2 from ebay turned up yesterday, got a bit worried as initially they didnt seem to work, thankfully I changed the battery for a decent one and they worked perfectly (so I suggest you do the same).

Taken about 50 shots (varying distances, indoors / out) and no problems yet, no misfires or anything.

2 thumbs up from me :)
 
andrewc said:
Appeal the duty.

It used to be a limit of £ 18 then a % duty, 15% vat and a handling fee.

The limit of duty was raised to over £ 100 on 1st Dec.
Click to expand...

To be honest it was just initial shock. I don't mind paying it, but I wish I had known beforehand thats all.
 
andrewc said:
Appeal the duty.

It used to be a limit of £ 18 then a % duty, 15% vat and a handling fee.

The limit of duty was raised to over £ 100 on 1st Dec.
Click to expand...

That only applies to non-commercial imports, even inter-eu imports (of any value) are technically subject to import duty/vat if you buy them from a commercial source
 
jeffrobjent said:
My cactus v2 from ebay turned up yesterday, got a bit worried as initially they didnt seem to work, thankfully I changed the battery for a decent one and they worked perfectly (so I suggest you do the same).

Taken about 50 shots (varying distances, indoors / out) and no problems yet, no misfires or anything.

2 thumbs up from me :)
Click to expand...

What batteries do they take? hope your having some good fun with them :D
 
CR2 lithium :)

Not cheap at a fiver a pop though, but they last a hell of long time.
 
Some of that £41 will be a handling fee from the shipping agent because they paid HMRC on your behalf and now you're paying them. Varies from courier to courier but can be quite steep. UPS charged me a £25 handling fee on an engine I bought from thailand about 6 years ago.
 
Yes it was UPS and a quarter of that 41 quid was broker surcharges.

On the subject of radio triggers, although it says its fine to mount the trigger on a camera hotshoe, can I ask if it relly is safe? I dont want to damage my new D80! I will normally be using the trigger in my hand and firing the flashes whilst I am not actually near the camera, but if I want to mount it on the camera will it be okay to do that?
 
Yeah it'll be fine.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top