CyberSyncs or Pocket Wizards ???
I'm looking to venture into the world of strobe/off camera flash photography using a Canon Rebel XSi and two Canon 430ex flash units. I'd like to know of any helpful info on which brand to go with. I'm aware that CyberSyncs are a lot cheaper price-wise, but how do they hold up performance-wise?
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Jason Holzworth on -
don,
i have cybersyncs and i have the pocketwizard flex stuff.
i am going to get these though:
http://www.phottix.com/phottix-atlas-professional-wireless-flash-tr...
they are a better design than the pocket wizards w/ how the speedlite attaches and they are also compatible w/ the pocket wizard stuff.
they are around $115 after the currency conversion.
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Permalink Reply by Brent Halstead on
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Why not go real cheap and get a speedlite transmitter (STE 2 I think)? For approx. $200 you can control every Canon flash you have with no flash attachment needed. It's a lot easier to carry too, I leave my PW at home all the time, as I'm sure to on the photo walk Saturday. Unless your shooting in direct sunlight or around objects that is.
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Permalink Reply by Shane E. on -
For slightly more than the cost of one PW Plus II, you can get a Cybersync transmitter (CST) and two receivers (CSRB). If you are just looking to trip a set of lights, the Cybersyncs are fine.
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Permalink Reply by Don Lehman on -
So when do you think the Pocket Wizards would be better ?
Shane E. said:For slightly more than the cost of one PW Plus II, you can get a Cybersync transmitter (CST) and two receivers (CSRB). If you are just looking to trip a set of lights, the Cybersyncs are fine.
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Permalink Reply by Don Lehman on
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I forgot to mention that they would be used more so outdoors. Are there any major differences in the distance the flash units can be from the transmitters?
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Permalink Reply by Jason Holzworth on
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i think AB told me the distance for the cyber syncs was 200 feet.
the canon infrared system is hit or miss outside, but i think indoors its around 20-30 feet.
the PW's are pretty long range, overkill in the long range.
Don Lehman said:I forgot to mention that they would be used more so outdoors. Are there any major differences in the distance the flash units can be from the transmitters?
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Permalink Reply by Shane E. on
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PW's are rated to about 1600ft and Cybersyncs are rated to about 400ft. I'm sure both fall short of that in most situations. You can extend the range beyond that by making a chain of receivers basically. I don't think I've ever used a receiver beyond 150ft, maybe 200ft.
We use wireless transmitters because radio signals are more reliable than the built-in line-of-sight system.
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Permalink Reply by Artem K. on -
I got a set of Cactus V4 triggers - never got to use them to be able to do a review, but you are welcome to borrow them to try...
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Permalink Reply by John Adkins on -
Don, I've been using Cybersyncs since they came out and they've yet to fail me. Very worth the money imho and I've triggered them up to 240 feet away (but why you would ever want to do such a thing is beyond me :)
Check out my blog post on the Cybersyncs: http://jwadkins.blogspot.com/2009/03/cybersyncs-review.html
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Permalink Reply by Charles on -
The Phottix system that Jason mentioned earlier looks interesting but for 'known' reliable systems I would go with Cybersyncs. The Flex stuff is nice too but expensive. It would be good to try said Cybersyncs through whatever lighting system your contemplating if possible...as in 'try before you by'. The reason I say that is because I have two sets of Interfit strobes. THe lower wattage set WILL NOT fire reliably with the Cybersyncs. I have to revert to my caveman sync cable when using them. My higher wattage set of Interfit strobes work great and has never failed to fire while using the Cybersyncs. Just go with the basic models that Shane mentioned. (the CST & CSRB)
In fact you're welcome to borrow mine Don if you ever want to try them out. The ST-ET works fine indoors and in shade outdoors, but is too limited by the line-of-sight requirements. Too much time-consuming trial and error to make sure your flash unit is actually going off, when doing anything out of the ordinary. It's OK for portraits and stuff like that. Well heck.......you remember the night we shot the pics by the Quadrangle and were freezing out butts off? I had to get the flashes angled just right so they would go off. No such requirement with the Cybersyncs.
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Permalink Reply by Jason Holzworth on
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i was shooting some clients and hanging w/ some photogs in my studio last night and discovered that you can use cyber syncs and pw flex mini in conjunction w/ each other.
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