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DPChallenge Forums >> Hardware and Software >> Cybersync transmitters
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 01/12/2009 02:16:49 PM · #1
Anyone have any good or bad comments about these things? I really want/need a remote trigger for my flash and have the cactus ones but they have proven to be nothing but a hassle so Im looking to bite the bullet and get some more reliable ones.

I know the Pocket Wizards are supposed to be the best but they are also expensive so I was wondering if there were reliable triggers for less money and the Cybersync ones from //www.AlienBees.com seem pretty good. Id like to stick to radio transmitters so I dont need a "line of sight" to them.

Thanks in advance,

-dave
 01/12/2009 02:20:38 PM · #2
I hear you. If I ever get in the black again, one of the first things I'll do is upgrade from my Cactus.
:-/
 01/12/2009 02:28:44 PM · #3
yeah the cactus one's slowly start to suck!
the elinchrom skyport's also seems to work well for many and are resonably priced...
 01/12/2009 02:50:11 PM · #4
Originally posted by Mephisto:
yeah the cactus one's slowly start to suck!
the elinchrom skyport's also seems to work well for many and are resonably priced...


Thanks for that link, those look promising. now to research prices lol

The only thing Im not liking about them is the non removable battery in the receivers...

01/12/2009 06:43:59 PM · #5
Dave I use the battery powered Cybersync receivers and transmitters with both my strobes and my 580EXII's. I have maybe one misfire in 150-200 shot shooting in a wide open gym. In studio I have not once and had a misfire. In shooting in wide open spaces, I've gone long distances and not had any misfires either. They are well worth the money, and I'd buy another set if needed. I have two transmitters and two receivers, and will soon add a third receiver.

Matt
 01/12/2009 07:17:07 PM · #6
I will second that...not that I have any experience with Pocket Wizards or Poverty Wizards, but the Cybersync has done everything I've asked it to do, and some stuff I haven't...like trigger my flash downstairs from upstairs (just testing!).



Having pimped that, you can get the Skyports at Vistek. You wouldn't have to wait for customs to clear your AlienWizards.

Message edited by author 2009-01-12 19:31:24.
 01/12/2009 08:05:19 PM · #7
Good very good..... I waited for the plus models cause I plan to have some bee's at some point...... works great and even turned it into a remote for the camera :-)

I hated poverty wizards and PW's are great (have used them a fair bit but never sprung for then) but I find the form factor awkward on the camera.

Message edited by author 2009-01-12 20:06:04.
 01/12/2009 08:28:51 PM · #8
Hey Dave,
I picked up a set before the holidays and they work awesome. No problems at all, and most people in the Calgary strobist group are going the Cybersync route, and I haven't heard any complaints so far.
 01/12/2009 09:52:14 PM · #9
Originally posted by Foolish Ice:
Hey Dave,
I picked up a set before the holidays and they work awesome. No problems at all, and most people in the Calgary strobist group are going the Cybersync route, and I haven't heard any complaints so far.


sounds good, how much was it to bring them in if you dont mind my asking? my only thoughts are exchange, taxes and fricken UPS brokerage fees... thats why the Skyports were appealing to me but then again I REALLY don't like Vistek and prefer not to shop there unless my life depends on it lol. But hearing all the good about the Cybersync's I may go that route even with the bull**** UPS brokerage fees...
 01/12/2009 09:59:50 PM · #10
Originally posted by dknourek:
Originally posted by Foolish Ice:
Hey Dave,
I picked up a set before the holidays and they work awesome. No problems at all, and most people in the Calgary strobist group are going the Cybersync route, and I haven't heard any complaints so far.


sounds good, how much was it to bring them in if you dont mind my asking? my only thoughts are exchange, taxes and fricken UPS brokerage fees... thats why the Skyports were appealing to me but then again I REALLY don't like Vistek and prefer not to shop there unless my life depends on it lol. But hearing all the good about the Cybersync's I may go that route even with the bull**** UPS brokerage fees...


You could always have a DPC friend buy them and resend them USPS to avoid the UPS crap. I have friends who do that all the time with companies that wont ship with anyone but UPS.

Matt
 01/12/2009 11:03:03 PM · #11
I ordered 2 receivers and 1 transmitter which came to $199.85USD, if you order over the phone you can get the worldwide saver shipping which was $37.85USD which includes the brokerage fees. Although when the UPS guy delivered them he charged me $12CDN in tax. With the exchange rate all in it was under $300CDN.
 01/12/2009 11:50:39 PM · #12
Originally posted by MattO:
Originally posted by dknourek:
Originally posted by Foolish Ice:
Hey Dave,
I picked up a set before the holidays and they work awesome. No problems at all, and most people in the Calgary strobist group are going the Cybersync route, and I haven't heard any complaints so far.


sounds good, how much was it to bring them in if you dont mind my asking? my only thoughts are exchange, taxes and fricken UPS brokerage fees... thats why the Skyports were appealing to me but then again I REALLY don't like Vistek and prefer not to shop there unless my life depends on it lol. But hearing all the good about the Cybersync's I may go that route even with the bull**** UPS brokerage fees...


You could always have a DPC friend buy them and resend them USPS to avoid the UPS crap. I have friends who do that all the time with companies that wont ship with anyone but UPS.

Matt


Yea I thought about that but, but have some reservations about it...

The one thing I really like about the Cybersync is being able to change the batteries...

Foolish Ice: Thats good to know, thanks for the info. Ill look into that :)
 01/13/2009 12:35:24 AM · #13
hey i just bought one of these today. its via radio waves(i think, im never sure about anything) and i love it already. im gonna play with it tomorrow at a few basketball games to see how it really works with me.
 01/13/2009 11:06:49 AM · #14
i just got them and they r awesome. they r tiny and well built. i think they feel more solid than the pw's. the pw's wiggle n creak a bit when mounted on the camera. the cybersyncs feel rock solid. i haven't had any problems misfiring. and the best thing...they r 1/3 the price of pw's. go for it!
 02/13/2009 09:30:12 PM · #15
I recently bought the cybersync transmitters, to be used with a canon 50D and two speedlites, the 580EX and 580EXII. I try to use the 580exii as a master conected to the receiver, and the 580ex as the slave, but it does not work propertly. The master fires right away but the slave does not fire all the time and when it fires it does is with like 2 seconds delay. Is this normal or it is a malfunctioning? Do I have to buy another receiver for the other flash??

Thanks for your help
 02/13/2009 09:59:20 PM · #16
I don't own them (yet) but have used them at a couple of studio shoots: they worked reliably for me, as did the Alien Bees lighting at the studio. So, when I do spring the bucks for such things, these will be the ones I buy.
 02/13/2009 10:13:21 PM · #17
Originally posted by phlover:
I recently bought the cybersync transmitters, to be used with a canon 50D and two speedlites, the 580EX and 580EXII. I try to use the 580exii as a master conected to the receiver, and the 580ex as the slave, but it does not work propertly. The master fires right away but the slave does not fire all the time and when it fires it does is with like 2 seconds delay. Is this normal or it is a malfunctioning? Do I have to buy another receiver for the other flash??

Thanks for your help

For whatever reason, Canon decided that if you were triggering the EX II via the pc port (where your CS receiver would be), the master/slave functions are disabled. There is a fellow that will re-wire your EX II's pc port for a small fee...which would also void your warranty, of course.

Some information.


02/14/2009 12:35:12 AM · #18
I've had mine since November, and I LOVE them. Super reliable. I haven't needed any extra distance yet, but they do have a repeating mode if I ever need to shoot further than 400 ft away.

And as Cory said, it's also really helpful at the Calgary Strobist meet-ups, as there are a lot of people who have them here.

Message edited by author 2009-02-14 00:35:55.
 02/14/2009 12:23:16 PM · #19
Nothing but good from here.... Cybers don't have the range of PW's but ya know... If my lights are 1600feet away then they are been stolen! Only benefit to me for PW are they are still common (although that will change a little over time) and if you need to rent gear they are available everywhere.

I think PW are losing their monopoly (I see they have a new product they are trying to hype also) and I think that is great.... They help the revenue up for a long time by keep prices higher then they needed to be.
 03/07/2009 12:30:25 AM · #20
Here's another vote of confidence for the CyberSyncs. I've been shooting with the transmitter and 2 battery powered receivers (not the + models) for a couple of months now and not a single misfire in around 500 pops. I've hooked them to my Alien Bees, SB-800 and Metz 45 CL-4 (using a female to female pc adapter) and everything is hunky dory.

I've not run into an issue where distance has been a factor in shooting. Just to test I walked down the street holding the transmitter, manually triggering my strobes as I walked backwards. I realized this was a ridiculous test after walking about 3 blocks backwards... without a misfire. Who realistically needs to shoot and trigger lights from more than 50 ft away? Seriously, who are these people and what kind of strobes are they using? From that far away the inverse square law would have your light falling off at around 1 stop per half inch (not literally, but you get the point).

I also don't get the people who push the whole pocket wizard light meter modules like they are driving demons out of your soul. There is a very simple and very effective work around for this... take the transmitter off your camera, insert the PC cable from the transmitter into your flash meter and hit the button on your meter. BAM! Your meter now wirelessly triggers and meters your light.

They are worth every penny and are every bit as dependable as a pocket wizard setup at 1/4th of the price.
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