Another Inexpensive Radio Trigger

[zona5101]

Calumet Photographic has some inexpensive triggers now... Reciever & Transmitter On sale $40us

Calumet Four-Channel Radio Flash Trigger Set - CF0048 - RT-05K-4

[equilution]

Have you tried it? The last couple budget triggers I've used fired intermittently due to surrounding radio noise, regardless of the channel I used. For every picture that it fired on, it fired 5 times without being triggered.

This one LOOKS a little better, so maybe I'll try it. Thanks for the head's up.

[zona5101]

Originally Posted by equilution

Have you tried it? The last couple budget triggers I've used fired intermittently due to surrounding radio noise, regardless of the channel I used. For every picture that it fired on, it fired 5 times without being triggered.

This one LOOKS a little better, so maybe I'll try it. Thanks for the head's up.

No, I haven't (i already own RadioPopper JrXs). But I am a big fan of Calumet gear and stores. I believe if you have problems, they will make it right. They have stores in big cities so some folks will be able to check them out in person.

[pahowes]

I have a Calumet store nearby and asked about these triggers. The sales rep told me that they are about the only thing in the store that he cannot recommend. They're not very reliable and they're VERY cheaply made.

[zona5101]

Originally Posted by pahowes

I have a Calumet store nearby and asked about these triggers. The sales rep told me that they are about the only thing in the store that he cannot recommend. They're not very reliable and they're VERY cheaply made.

This is good info (unless he gets a spiff for selling PWs
Yet compared to a set from ebay, I like knowing if I have a problem that I have a store to go to to get it resolved. Also salesman advice I take with a grain of salt... they tend to like (and justifibly so) the high end gear. Thanks for passing that along...time (consumers) will tell how bad they really are!

[ReenaG]

I have a set of these. As I had never used anything like this before, I was pretty happy with them at first....now sometimes it works and sometimes not. I just put new batteries in the receiver and am waiting for my battery to get home (from the store with my hubby) to put a new one in the transmitter. I hope that is the reason why it's been so intermittent!

I ended up having to use the pc sync cord and I hate having that wire draping off of my camera.

[111t]

Those calumet triggers are junk. I speak from experience. When i bought mine, they were selling the same kit for $100. The first set had a bad transmitter. The test button worked fine, but the hotshoe contacts didn't work. I returned it. The second set had a working transmitter, but the receiver was prone to interference. So prone in fact that i discovered the only way to avoid rapid firing of my lights was to wrap the receiver in 4 layers of tinfoil. I noted with dismay that they had dropped the price to $60 at that point. They agreed to buy the set back at the original price paid, provided i had the original packaging. I did. They did.

So now they've lowered the price to $40. I wouldn't have another set if they were free.

I bought a set of Cybersyncs for $140. At some point it's worth the extra money to get something that works right. The calumet triggers caused me grief on 2 separate shoots. I managed to get the shots i needed, but not without looking a bit the fool.

YMMV