Hello, I am new to studio lighting and keen to learn. Someone has given me an old set of Bowens Espirit gm500 but they need a trigger to get them to be compatible with my Canon 6dmkii. Someone local is selling PocketWizard Flex TT5 & mini TT1. Do you think this is compatible? I can't find anything definitive online. Or is it worth just buying a new set of basic lights to begin with? If so, what would you recommend on a budget? Thanks!
Which trigger for old Bowens lights
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Harlequin565
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Hi Patricia. Welcome to the forum.
I used to have a pair of those lights and I just bought some cheap triggers off Amazon (like these) The key thing was that the receiver was in-line and powered through the mains that supplied the lights. The trigger is a basic hotshoe jobbie and comes with the kit I linked to. You have to adjust the power on the lights themselves, but I found that to be really helpful to my learning vs buying a complicated TTL set of triggers (and I also got lost trying to figure out what would work. I'm still not sure if you can control light power on GM500s remotely).
I'm sure someone with better knowledge will chime in, but the GM500s were my first lights, and they were super simple to use. I'd say stick to something simple to begin with.
I used to have a pair of those lights and I just bought some cheap triggers off Amazon (like these) The key thing was that the receiver was in-line and powered through the mains that supplied the lights. The trigger is a basic hotshoe jobbie and comes with the kit I linked to. You have to adjust the power on the lights themselves, but I found that to be really helpful to my learning vs buying a complicated TTL set of triggers (and I also got lost trying to figure out what would work. I'm still not sure if you can control light power on GM500s remotely).
I'm sure someone with better knowledge will chime in, but the GM500s were my first lights, and they were super simple to use. I'd say stick to something simple to begin with.
Phil V
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Hi @Photohelp and welcome to the forum.
As Ian says, just some cheap dumb triggers is all you need.
I’ll add some detail re the PW Flex though. When they were launched they were an absolute game changer, and allowed TTL control of the Canon compatible speedlights completely wirelessly. They were quirky, sometimes requiring a very specific start up sequence, and I had horrible issues at one of my local venues with interference.
They were superseded in my bag by some cheap Yongnuo alternatives, which were then superseded with a Godox transmitter and speedlight combo.
In short the PW’s are just short of obsolete unless they’re free or very cheap and you already have a couple of Canon speedlights.
As Ian says, just some cheap dumb triggers is all you need.
I’ll add some detail re the PW Flex though. When they were launched they were an absolute game changer, and allowed TTL control of the Canon compatible speedlights completely wirelessly. They were quirky, sometimes requiring a very specific start up sequence, and I had horrible issues at one of my local venues with interference.
They were superseded in my bag by some cheap Yongnuo alternatives, which were then superseded with a Godox transmitter and speedlight combo.
In short the PW’s are just short of obsolete unless they’re free or very cheap and you already have a couple of Canon speedlights.
Scooter
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Yep - these are the things (no batteries in the receives to worry about - bullet proof tbh)
ah5168
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When I am using studio lights indoor I normally just set them to slave and use either the pop up flash or a a camera mounted one turned down to it's lowest setting. I don't know about Canon but Nikons allow you to control the pop up flash manually and turn it down to it's minimum setting. You shouldn't see any effect of the pop up flash on it's minimum setting but if you do a bit of white card tapped to the front bouncing it onto the ceiling will sort out the problem.
Andrew HATFIELD | Architectural and Interior Photographer
Andrew HATFIELD | Architectural and Interior Photographer