Triggers for Speedlights

[SciAggie]

Hey folks,

I confess I am a complete beginner to off camera flash with speedlights. I am wanting to add some new capabilities for outdoor portraits, accent lighting in night photgraphy, even some extra punch in dark gyms for basketball.

I have the Nikon SB800 and SB600 and Canon 580ex speedlights. I'm thinking about the Paul Buff Cyber Commander unit to trigger the speedlights. My understanding is it has a built-in flash meter to help with exposure settings. Is that correct?

My second question is would you recommend the Cyber Sync Plus or standard recievers. I know the plus will only trigger the speedlights - and won't control the output. I am thinking if I add an AB800 or two later I will have that capability already in place. What's your opinion? Is remotely controlling the flash output that big a deal?

I appreciate your thoughts and opinions.

[KenJulio]

You could probably get away with what you already have in the SB800, 600, and 580EX by shooting manual and in the optical slave mode. Possibly using the SB600 to trigger bot the SB800 and 580EX optically.

Have you checked out PocketWizards Transceiver Plus II?

[Khary L. Dixon]

Controlling the flash output is awesome if you can afford it. But Ken's way is the cheapest option.

[arich]

The cybersyncs do not have a meter. You will only able to control output on alien bee strobes if you buy the cyber commander as well. I would recommend the Cactus V5's, great dependable triggers, multiple channels, option for remote firing of cameras.

[Lightdances]

I use the Paul C. Buff units and love -em, two of my assistance have these also, and they really work great for way less $$$ than the pocket wizards. Plus PC Buff stands behind there products better than any one I have ever dealt with. best wishes DD

[Todd Lambert]

RF-602/3s are great, super reliable, cheap and and work with anything.

That said, you won't have ETTL, but if you're learning flash exposure, you should learn manual anyways.

[picman]

The Canon 580ex will not optically trigger on its own and won't trigger with most standard optical slaves. Check out the green ones here:
FlashZebra.com: Optical Slaves

[KenJulio]

Originally Posted by picman

The Canon 580ex will not optically trigger on its own and won't trigger with most standard optical slaves. Check out the green ones here:
FlashZebra.com: Optical Slaves

<-- Learned something new everyday

[Tom]

Pocket Wizards are the industry standard and will run you about 200 each.

I have PWs and Elinchrom Skyports and prefer my skyports. They are much smaller than the PWs (I can fit a transmitter and three receivers in the same space as two PWs) and they are much cheaper (About 120 each per transmitter or receiver.) The Skyports are also rechargeable (receivers anyway.)

The negatives are that the transmitter is a transmitter only and the receivers are receivers only. PWs are Transceivers, which mean they can do either.

[picman]

Originally Posted by KenJulio

<-- Learned something new everyday

I fully credit the excellent Speedlighter's Handbook

[SciAggie]

Thanks for all the responses.

I am still a little overwhelmed with options and choices. It's funny how too many choices makes it difficult - especially since I don't really know what I'm doing.

[KenJulio]

strobist.com is a good resource to start with

[picman]

I've had my eye on the just released Pixel Kings and Phottix Odin. Very interesting, waiting for some real world testing.

[Nikonfan]

Originally Posted by KenJulio

You could probably get away with what you already have in the SB800, 600, and 580EX by shooting manual and in the optical slave mode. Possibly using the SB600 to trigger bot the SB800 and 580EX optically.

Have you checked out PocketWizards Transceiver Plus II?

You may already know this and just reversed it, but the SB-600 does not have a commander mode. It can not trigger the SB800. However, the SB-800 can trigger the SB-600.

[stephenpinn]

Hopefully not to add to the OP's confusion let me add a couple of pieces of information

1) The PCB CyberCommander does have an integrated flashmeter
2) The Cybercommander will not be able to control the power of your strobes
3) The SB-600 does not have a external sync port so the standard PCB Cybersync or Cybersync+ will not be able to trigger that flash
- This is also true of any trigger that cannot fire the SB-600 through the hot shoe
- There are repair shops that can install a sync port on a SB-600
4) The PCB Cyber system is an excellent triggering system, when combined with the Cybercommander/Cybersync+/PCB Lights (AlienBees, White Lightning, Einstein). The system allows for power setting, model light settings, light personality, preset light combinations. This is probably one of the most sophisticated control systems available, especially at the price.
5) Pocket Wizards ETTL compatible triggers must match the light system hence Nikon triggers OR Canon triggers. The standard trigger will have the same issue with the SB-600 (no sync port)

I use PW ETTL (for SB-900) and CyberCommanders (PCB Lights) and like them both. PW makes adapters to control and fire the PCB lights through the PW (Multimax??) controller

I know I didnt answer your question about which system to use, just wanted to clear up a couple of in consistencies in other posts