Advice needed for 2nd flash

[erincarter]

I currently have a D60 and use an sb600 off camera...triggered by a cactus v2 trigger. I'd like to add a second flash as I'm starting to do some more portrait work...want to get more into the white seamless stuff as well.

Just wondering if there is a good inexpensive flash I could use or if I need to pick up another sb600 or something like that?

Also, to have it fire along with the sb600 do I just need to pick up another cactus v2 reciever?

Thanks

[inkista]

It doesn't have to be an SB-600 unless you want to use CLS and iTTL (or high-speed sync).

You could just get a cheap all-manual flash like an Lumopro LP120, LP160, or Yongnuo YN-460 II or YN-560. All four of those flashes have built in "dumb" optical slaves, and since your SB-600 has to be in manual for you to use the Cactus V2s, anyway, you could use those to trigger the second flash--as long as you know there aren't going to be any random strangers walking by popping off a flash.

A second Cactus V2 receiver, though, would probably be nicer for outdoors situations or situations where you don't want to be limited by line-of-sight (i.e., if you want to tuck a speedlight out of sight behind a doorway or something) or range/reliability issues. But in an indoor studio-type situation, dumb optical slaves can get you pretty far.

[bhursey]

Originally Posted by inkista

It doesn't have to be an SB-600 unless you want to use CLS and iTTL (or high-speed sync).

You could just get a cheap all-manual flash like an Lumopro LP120, LP160, or Yongnuo YN-460 II or YN-560. All four of those flashes have built in "dumb" optical slaves, and since your SB-600 has to be in manual for you to use the Cactus V2s, anyway, you could use those to trigger the second flash--as long as you know there aren't going to be any random strangers walking by popping off a flash.

A second Cactus V2 receiver, though, would probably be nicer for outdoors situations or situations where you don't want to be limited by line-of-sight (i.e., if you want to tuck a speedlight out of sight behind a doorway or something) or range/reliability issues. But in an indoor studio-type situation, dumb optical slaves can get you pretty far.

I would though dump the cactus v2 system The v4 is much more reliable and the v5 is about to be released.. I would get a LP160 i just got one for Christmas and I love it.

[erincarter]

thanks for the replies.

I don't know how often I will use the second flash outdoors...I think it will be mostly used indoors for portrait type stuff. But then again...things change so quickly I'm sure I would probably find myself wanting to use both outside when the weather is nicer.

The LP160 would be a good choice and would work with another receiver on it?

I haven't had any issues with my v2 trigger...not yet anyways...

[inkista]

Yes, the LP160 is a good choice, although for $160, you could possibly find a third-party flash with (limited) TTL capability, too: Yongnuo YN-468 or Nissin Di-466). The LumoPro LP160 has four-way synching: you can use the hotshoe, the PC port, the 1/8 (3mm) minijack port, or the built-in optical slave. So you could easily connect up a V2 receiver either to the LP160's hotshoe or the 1/8" minijack port with the provided cable.

The V4s are newer than the V2s, but they are not compatible (i.e., you can't mix Rx and Tx units from the two systems together). They have better build quality and reliability and don't add as much to the height of a flash when it's on a stand. But if you don't see the need for them, then maybe hold off and see if you'd prefer the V5s (or Cybersyncs, or Yongnuo RF-602s, or PocketWizards, or ...)

The V5s, like Cybersyncs and the Yongnuo RF-602s operate at the 2.4GHz frequency, while the V2s and V4s are at 433MHz.

[erincarter]

thanks again.

anyone know where I can find the LumoPro LP160 here in Canada?

[bhursey]

From my understanding mpex is the sole distributor.. Im sure they would ship to Canada...

[inkista]

The other distributor is cameratools.nl, who will also ship to Canada. No idea who'd be cheaper, although my guess would be MPEX, as they're in Ohio, not the Netherlands.

[jml79]

Originally Posted by erincarter

thanks again.

anyone know where I can find the LumoPro LP160 here in Canada?

Watch your shipping method. Most (all) couriers charge at least $25 brokerage fee plus tax and duty. This can add significantly to the cost plus the shipping to Canada is usually more expensive as well. If something is sent by USPS then you only have to pay $5 brokerage fees if they even bother at all.

Almost everything shipped from Hong Kong and China come by regular postal service and include the shipping in the purchase price. Often things sent by mail don't get stopped for duty and tax, it's really hit and miss but at least it's less than Purolator will charge you if it gets stopped. If you shop around on Ebay, you could get a Yongnou 460-II from china and a light stand, adapter and umbrella from a guy in BC (i can send you the sellers ID) all for less than the LP160 itself and mostly avoid the ugly US/Canada shipping issue. There are a few Yongnou's available in Canada as well but they are still rare.

These rules are what killed my plans of buying a 2 light studio kit from Adorama. The kit was $199 but by the time I got it into Canada I was looking at around $350 or more.

[Arstine]

When it comes to flashes, I stay away from the Chinese stuff. I need things to work every time I pull them out of the bag and the quality control just isn't there with the Yongnuo and things like them.

Now I'll contradict that and say that I love the Cactus V4s.

My suggestion... Grab a couple more V2 receivers and look at the Vivitar 285HV (~$85 US) for extra flashes. The flash is more than enough to use indoors or outside and it's built like a tank. I have a half dozen of them and they are my go-to when I am using off camera flash.