Paul C. Buff, Inc. Technical Forum

Hey guys I'm about to order 4 Einstein lights and am torn between what I use to trigger my lights off. I just heard about the now more affordable industry standard Pocket wizard plus x for under$100 bucks.

Does anyone have any advice or knowledge on this before I go and just through down a few hundred dollars.

I don't want to upgrade at anytime for trigger devices, so should I go with pocket wizard plus x or the cyber series?

Any help with save all this gear thinking in my head haha :shock:

Thanks Guys
:)

Cyber Syncs, when used with the Cyber Commander will allow remote power adjustment for up to 16 lights, as well as sync. Cyber Sync will trigger up to 400'. Total cost for CS system minimum cost would be $180 for basic triggering (this would have a receiver on each light), $300 for total control (though most people like to toss a basic transmitter in for another $60).

For a PW set up, you will need a $500 investment to get a receiver on each light, and that is with no power control.

With the new Plus X it would be more like $400 with many more options that PW's offer. Power control is a nice feature and if you need remote power control then it is defiantly an option.

It would be at least a $500 investment for a receiver on each light, as you also need one on the camera, for a total of 5 remotes.

Yes you are correct the camera does need a transmitter but to play the devils advocate why would on need a received on each strobe? Don't the PCB lights come with a slave/IR receiver?

Yes, the Einstein does have optical triggers. However, optical triggering has its pitfalls.

Other photographers' flash units can set them off (think weddings).

They can be shielded by walls, modifiers, etc.

They can be blinded by bright ambient light, like direct sun.

They can have limited range.

A receiver on each light eliminates all of these problems.

However, if one transmitter and one receiver is sufficient for a user, that is perfectly fine. A CyberSync set up would then be about $90 for an Einstein user, vs $200 for the PW's.

Various remotes have their advantages. For maximum control and low cost, CyberSync wins. PW offers some remote control, but it is limited to 3 groups, and is limited in what it can control.

I realize you must sell your product but price is a get what you by issue. You might pay more for PW's but you get the world standard in triggers, many years of experience, and most of all reliability with the test of time in its favor.

Just depends on your objective when buying triggers, do you want proven reliability or the product at the lowest cost. Are you a professional or are you an amateur? Is your reputation based on affordability or reliability and quality?

To each their own, everyone has their own preferences, but personally I choose the PW's

Another option that PW offers is the AC9 unit that is designed specifically for the Alien Bees and White-lightning units which makes the PW's more versatile than the cyber-sink radios. Yes, they are more expensive but once again you get what you pay for!

? The cybersyncs (spelled correctly) have been regarded as reliable by a lot of people. Ditto Radiopoppers. We're not talking Cactus V2 fleabay triggers...even fleabay triggers have gotten a *lot* more reliable and have TTL support now.
And there have been complaints by some PW users that they've had problems as well, so they're not 100% bulletproof either. The PW TT had a *huge* issue w/ Canon speedlight interference when they were released.

So it's mostly a feature thing nowadays...find out what works for you. I'm actually amazed the fleabay triggers have hacked the Canikon TTL protocols. I only thought PW would be able to do this :o

I just went through this decision myself, and the Cyber Commander system easily wins. The PW system, that is not considered, 100% reliable by those that use it(do some forum research on the net), ends up being much more expensive, and will only allow control of 3 groups, where the Cyber Commander will control 16. The Einsteins have 9 stop adjustability, but the PW system will only allow 6 stop adjustability.

In the end the decision was easy.