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Home: Video University Forums: Digital Photography for Videographers:
$20 eBay Wireless Flash Trigger

RustyB
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Apr 8, 2007, 3:50 PM

Post #1 of 17 (1583 views)
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$20 eBay Wireless Flash Trigger	Can't Post

http://cgi.ebay.com/...ZphotoQQcmdZViewItem

I've wanted a radio flash trigger, but they all seemed to cost a few hundred bucks. Then I found these on eBay. I'm a firm believer in,"you get what you pay for", so I Googled the model number.

From what came up on other forums, these things actually work, with the exception of some Canon flashes and the Olympus FL-36 (which I have, but it's too weak for "real" use anyways). I'm getting the wireless to use with my Sunpak 383 on a light stand, which is an awesome non-dedicated flash, and only costs $79.

The eBay ad says this model doesn't work with the FL-36, but ironically that's the flash they're using in this scientific diagram explaining how the unit works:
Laugh

Anyways, I guess I'll find out in a couple of weeks when it finally arrives from China. For $30 shipped, it was more junky eBay crap that I couldn't resist. For the important high-level photography I do, like taking pictures of my cats and the pencil holder cup on my desk, this should be fine. Laugh

Anyone else took the bait and bought one of these?

Faith Poison Wedding Films Blog
Intergalactic Award-Winning Epic-Cinematic Wedding New-Doc Style Indie Bridal Movies on Hi-Definition Blu-Ray Disc

(This post was edited by RustyB on Apr 8, 2007, 4:04 PM)

Shadow
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Apr 8, 2007, 11:51 PM

Post #2 of 17 (1561 views)
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Re: [RustyB] $20 eBay Wireless Flash Trigger [In reply to]	Can't Post

In Reply To

http://cgi.ebay.com/...ZphotoQQcmdZViewItem

Anyone else took the bait and bought one of these?

No, I've got an off camera cable that I can hold the flash or set it somewhere, but I'm limited to the extent of my cable.

I've been thinking of getting one of those fake fish eye lenses. Ever tried those?

Did you go on your cruise yet?

RustyB
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Apr 9, 2007, 12:02 AM

Post #3 of 17 (1560 views)
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Re: [Shadow] $20 eBay Wireless Flash Trigger [In reply to]	Can't Post

In Reply To

http://cgi.ebay.com/...ZphotoQQcmdZViewItem

Anyone else took the bait and bought one of these?

You mean those fisheye adapters, like you use on a video camera? I've seen them, but I'm just not a fan of fisheyes. I do, however, like undistorted super-wide-angle shots, and I really want the Olympus 7-14mm (14-28 35mm eq. on Olympus)...but it costs more than my car. Laugh

Going on my cruise at the end of the month. After seeing all the recent stories about passengers falling off the ships, disease outbreaks, and finally seeing that cruise ship hit a reef and sink off Santorini last week, I'm getting nervous. Laugh

On top of that, I just saw Titanic for the FIRST time a couple of weeks a go on TV.

Faith Poison Wedding Films Blog
Intergalactic Award-Winning Epic-Cinematic Wedding New-Doc Style Indie Bridal Movies on Hi-Definition Blu-Ray Disc

Shadow
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Apr 9, 2007, 12:19 AM

Post #4 of 17 (1556 views)
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Re: [RustyB] $20 eBay Wireless Flash Trigger [In reply to]	Can't Post

The guy that jumped off the boat a few weeks ago was on my sister's cruise. I find it funny that the cruise ship stopped and looked only for a little while then went on its merry way.
I'm surprised he wasn't eaten by sharks. Oops, not that I should mention that before you go on a cruise.
I will tell you this however, do not eat the salad in Belize.

I like fish eye shots, but only a few, after that it gets annoying.

7 - 14mm, that would be a cool lens!

RustyB
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Apr 9, 2007, 12:34 AM

Post #5 of 17 (1554 views)
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Re: [Shadow] $20 eBay Wireless Flash Trigger [In reply to]	Can't Post

In Reply To

That's right, I remember you saying that about your sister's cruise! I read on the cruise critic forum that the other recent one where a young couple fell overboard, was becuase they were doing the 'Titanic' scene on the railing. Laugh

Idiots. To add insult to injury, they were trained in this sort of thing, so the dude took his clothes off to make them into floaties, so he was found naked. Laugh

Faith Poison Wedding Films Blog
Intergalactic Award-Winning Epic-Cinematic Wedding New-Doc Style Indie Bridal Movies on Hi-Definition Blu-Ray Disc

Shadow
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Apr 9, 2007, 12:41 AM

Post #6 of 17 (1552 views)
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Re: [RustyB] $20 eBay Wireless Flash Trigger [In reply to]	Can't Post

In Reply To

I read on the cruise critic forum that the other recent one where a young couple fell overboard, was becuase they were doing the 'Titanic' scene on the railing. Laugh

Idiots. To add insult to injury, they were trained in this sort of thing, so the dude took his clothes off to make them into floaties, so he was found naked. Laugh

That's very funny.
Good thing my most embarassing moments weren't newsworthy.

Brackish
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Apr 9, 2007, 12:48 AM

Post #7 of 17 (1548 views)
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Re: [Shadow] $20 eBay Wireless Flash Trigger [In reply to]	Can't Post

In Reply To

No, I've got an off camera cable that I can hold the flash or set it somewhere, but I'm limited to the extent of my cable.

I worked with a photog who didn't use a flash bracket at all. He would shoot with the flash in his hand, extended out to the side maybe in a 10 o'clock position. The flash was attached to the cam with a coiled cord. He shot the cam one handed.

Shadow
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Apr 9, 2007, 1:08 AM

Post #8 of 17 (1544 views)
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Re: [Brackish] $20 eBay Wireless Flash Trigger [In reply to]	Can't Post

I've seen a couple of photogs who did this as well. I muck about with the camera and shoot like this. It's kind of fun.

RustyB
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Apr 16, 2007, 11:25 PM

Post #9 of 17 (1475 views)
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Re: [RustyB] $20 eBay Wireless Flash Trigger [In reply to]	Can't Post

Well, 6-8 days after ordering, the cheap-o wireless trigger arrived direct from Hong Kong. Worked perfectly on the first shot!

The housing is just cheap plastic, and I wouldn't trust that light-stand/shoe bracket in the picture for run-n-gun/wedding stuff. The receiver has a sync connection, so I'm going to try removing the bracket, velcro'ing the receiver to the front of the flash, use a metal shoe adapter on my light stand, and connecting with the sync cord that came with the flash. That should be sturdier.

Anyways, not bad for $30 shipped.

Sandy B
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Apr 17, 2007, 12:53 AM

Post #10 of 17 (1469 views)
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Re: [RustyB] $20 eBay Wireless Flash Trigger [In reply to]	Can't Post

O-M-G ..... !!!!!!!

Twitter - Sandy Buller
SSPBLOG

RustyB
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Apr 17, 2007, 1:29 AM

Post #11 of 17 (1465 views)
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Re: [RustyB] $20 eBay Wireless Flash Trigger [In reply to]	Can't Post

Funny, the adapters one can find laying around after years of buying crap from B&H.

This setup should be sturdier. I tried mounting the receiver on the front, but then it started firing randomly. Laugh

No problems stuck on the side.

Faith Poison Wedding Films Blog
Intergalactic Award-Winning Epic-Cinematic Wedding New-Doc Style Indie Bridal Movies on Hi-Definition Blu-Ray Disc

RustyB
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Apr 17, 2007, 1:31 AM

Post #12 of 17 (1462 views)
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Re: [Sandy B] $20 eBay Wireless Flash Trigger [In reply to]	Can't Post

In Reply To

O-M-G ..... !!!!!!!

OMG

Faith Poison Wedding Films Blog
Intergalactic Award-Winning Epic-Cinematic Wedding New-Doc Style Indie Bridal Movies on Hi-Definition Blu-Ray Disc

Sandy B
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Apr 17, 2007, 2:31 AM

Post #13 of 17 (1455 views)
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Re: [RustyB] $20 eBay Wireless Flash Trigger [In reply to]	Can't Post

Your camera has ASA on it, L-O-L.

Twitter - Sandy Buller
SSPBLOG

RT Steele
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Apr 23, 2007, 10:29 AM

Post #14 of 17 (1389 views)
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Re: [RustyB] $20 eBay Wireless Flash Trigger [In reply to]	Can't Post

I've wanted a radio flash trigger,

This flash trigger thing...

My last wedding I was trying to get a quick shot of the couple for DVD artwork with my cheapo Canon powershot. (With the photog's blessing of course).

But every time I snapped with my flash turned on, his 2 giant flash stands would "pop" and fire. He started to turn them off but I just told him not to worry about it.

Is this what he had? Some kind of auto flash thing that is triggered by light?

And I have to say this guy being one of the few I've worked with that shot digital, really kept things to a minimum all day. I think he took less pics than those I've worked with that use film.

- RT (photography challenged)

RustyB
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Apr 23, 2007, 12:17 PM

Post #15 of 17 (1377 views)
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Re: [RT Steele] $20 eBay Wireless Flash Trigger [In reply to]	Can't Post

In Reply To

I've wanted a radio flash trigger,

Must have been an "optical slave", which is triggered by another flash. I'd think you'd have to be a moron to use one of those at a wedding, since all the guests are snapping away as well. Laugh

That's funny!

Faith Poison Wedding Films Blog
Intergalactic Award-Winning Epic-Cinematic Wedding New-Doc Style Indie Bridal Movies on Hi-Definition Blu-Ray Disc

RT Steele
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Apr 23, 2007, 2:12 PM

Post #16 of 17 (1370 views)
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Re: [RustyB] $20 eBay Wireless Flash Trigger [In reply to]	Can't Post

Must have been an "optical slave", which is triggered by another flash. I'd think you'd have to be a moron to use one of those at a wedding, since all the guests are snapping away as well.

Well, this "slave" flash washed out everything I took with my powershot. Christ, it looked like a nuclear test site every time I snapped!

There were no other guests taking pics at this time. Maybe he isn't so stupid? Laugh

And I've never seen this kind of setup before - three big-ass umbrellas mounted on 15 foot lightstands. I don't know why he needed them to be honest. The rear of the church had 30 foot window facing right into the sun. I had exposure problems during the procession.

During the ceremony he just shot with one hand while holding up his coiled cable flash with the other.

I'm taking notes and just generally lurking here in the photog forum. We'll be getting our oldest daughter something nice for Xmas I think.

- RT

Sandy B
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Apr 25, 2007, 2:00 AM

Post #17 of 17 (1322 views)
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Re: [RustyB] $20 eBay Wireless Flash Trigger [In reply to]	Can't Post

... I'd think you'd have to be a moron to use one of those at a wedding, ... Laugh

That's funny!

Aren't you been insensitive to morons? You know that they have feelings, too and should deserve your respect.

Respectfully yours,

A. Morons

Twitter - Sandy Buller
SSPBLOG