Cactus V5 or ??? New at off camera flash. HELP

06/26/2011 01:04:27 PM · #1

Does anyone use the new Cactus V5 with Canon? I'm leaning toward these because the price is right and I cannot afford the Pocket Wizard since I just shelled out all my $$$ for the Canon EF 70-200 L IS USM lens *sigh*. Seems all the reviews I'm finding are from people that received them before their release. For all I know, it's the company posting all those reviews. So I would like some feedback from you guys that I trust.

If not the Cactus V5, what brand would you suggest with an affordable price tag? I do like that each unit can be used as a transmitter or receiver. AND they take AAA batteries which is a plus.

I use the Speedlite 580EX II on my camera and the 430EX's as the off camera flashes. So I also want to make sure it works with both flashes I own.

I will be using this set up mainly at wedding receptions and sometimes off site portraits. Because of the reception rooms being large at times, I also need a unit that can communicate at least 40 feet away and still work with obsticles in the way. Right now I'm using the second flash as a slave with no transmitters, so it doesn't work very good since the on camera flash has to point toward the off camera flash and if anyone steps between the two, forget it! NO BUENO!

Lastly, should I but an umbrella adapter and use an umbrella with it? Or just use the flash with a diffuser? Would love to hear what you do to capture they best images.

All suggestions are welcome =)

elsapo

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Canon EF 50mm f1.2L

06/26/2011 01:11:52 PM · #2

A couple months ago I purchased the Cactus V5 to go along with my canon 550ex flash and it works great! So far not a single miss fire. I used it recently in a job I did in Switzerland and I could set the flash on a tripod and fire from across the room (probably a 20ft room) no problem.

mgarsteck

Canon EOS-7D

Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM

06/26/2011 01:23:25 PM · #3

Im pretty sure its all the same hardware, but I use the Cowboystudio triggers. They are dirt cheap and havent had a problem yet. I dont need to shoot over 50 ft away.

06/26/2011 01:25:09 PM · #4

Elsapo,

Thank you for replying! Good to know you've had luck with it. I wonder if it will work ok with the smaller 430EX? And when you used it across the room, were there many obsticles in the way? I want to make sure it will still work with 40 people between the camera and flash on the dance floor. =)

elsapo

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Canon EF 50mm f1.2L

06/26/2011 01:32:50 PM · #5

Originally posted by nfulton:

It should work fine with the 430ex but I would double check their website, and there was probably around 20-30 students in the room eating/walking around and worked fine...

Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III

06/26/2011 01:41:20 PM · #6

Thank you guys.. =)

Mgarsteck, I'll look into the Cowboystudio triggers too.

Yo_Spiff

Olympus 12-100mm f/4.0 M.Zuiko ED IS PRO

06/26/2011 02:21:04 PM · #7

I have tried the Cactus V4's and had unreliable results. Gave them away at a Chinese gift exchange last Xmas, and the Nikon owner using them now says they work perfectly for him. I replaced them with Yongnou RF-602's which have worked flawlessly for me. Might be worth also looking at the RF-602 or new RF-603's

Added: Using the above with a 430EX and some of Yongnou's own flashes.

Message edited by author 2011-06-26 14:22:00.

RamblinR

Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III

Olympus 12-40mm f/2.8 Pro

06/26/2011 05:06:24 PM · #8

I also have the RF602's and love them. I use them mainly on the SB26, SB28 and a Sunpak PZ5000 but I have also used them on the Canon flashes and they worked without a problem.