Simple Radio Light Trigger: Most of my pro work is at events, usually with a single light, corded off the camera. A couple of years ago I switched to Olympus M4/3. Recently I have been...

flashbang

Most of my pro work is at events, usually with a single light, corded off the camera. A couple of years ago I switched to Olympus M4/3. Recently I have been in a few situations where it would have been great to have a second light that I could trigger remotely, but only occasionally, using a radio trigger. Some shots would be just that remote light, not the on-camera one. Being totally 'old school,' I prefer working totally manually (after 50+ years, it is a hard to habit to break!). So what I think would be the simplest set-up would be a transmitter on camera and 2 receivers (or 3 transceivers). This is a set-up that I would only use on a few jobs, so I am hoping to avoid buying into one of the expensive lines of triggers. So, any recommendations?

(and as always, my thanks in advance for any advice!)

blackest Loc: Ireland

How complicated? if you just want to fire then there are rf603's from yongnou about $15 a transceiver if its more complicated than that i'm sure you will find something to suit.

E.L.. Shapiro Loc: Ottawa, Ontario Canada

Also look into radio triggers made by Paul C. Buff. Not too expensive and very reliable.

CO

Since you use the flash in manual mode, you would not need radios that supports TTL metering. The Phottix Ares II transmitter and receiver set is out now and is $65 but Amazon still has brand new Phottix Ares I sets for $45. I have that set and they're totally reliable. They're also very well built. The transmitter can be swiveled down to give it a lower profile. You could buy another receiver separately.

I don't know anything about the Olympus hot shoe so I don't know if it's compatible. I know the Phottix triggers are compatible with Nikon and Canon hot shoes.

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blackest Loc: Ireland

CO wrote:

Since you use the flash in manual mode, you would ... (show quote)

It could be a little complicated, I adapted a rf603n to work on a panasonic g5 there is a "wake up" pin on the right side i forget which one is wired in the nikon trigger the bottom right or the one above it. because its a transceiver i can still use the other one as normal. I've marked the modified trigger so its on the g5 when i use that camera and on the flash when i'm using pentax (or nikon). Its likely panasonic and olympus use the same flash pins.
I keep meaning to get an rf603c for my canon. they use the same 16 radio channels.
all i needed to do to mod the foot was to run a wire between the 2 pins. The triggers also have a shutter release half press to focus full press to fire. This lets you trigger from the slave flash or even have a trigger in your hand so you can meter the flash from the subject.

CO

blackest wrote:

It could be a little complicated, I adapted a rf60... (show quote)

I don't know anything about adapting the Yongnou triggers. I've used the Phottix transmitter and receiver set on Nikon but I don't know about the Olympus hot shoe. I know there is a compatibility problem with using those on Sony hot shoes. There is an adapter available for Sony. The OP would need to look into it.

tcthome Loc: NJ

Goddox from B&H.

cmcaroffino Loc: Sebring, FL

Look at Godox, I use their flashes and triggers for Nikon but they are available for Olympus also.

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

blackest wrote:

How complicated? if you just want to fire then there are rf603's from yongnou about $15 a transceiver if its more complicated than that i'm sure you will find something to suit.

I second this!

I've been using the earlier RF602 - which is a transmitter and a receiver pair. They have proven indispensable and 100% reliable.

Chris981 Loc: Pacific Palisades

I like Pocket Wizards because you can use them with speed lights/strobes and they seem very rugged. I never had a failure. Also, I use a Sekonic light meter to test the exposure on subjects. The meter has built in trigger which has compatibility with the Pocket Wizards.
They are about $130 each. You would need 3 transevers, one for your camera and two for each speedlight/strobe. Pocket Wizards are compatable with Olympus, I believe.
There are lots of options out there. Talk with other photographers to see what they like and why. No clear answer here, in my opinon.

delkeener Loc: SW Rhode Island, USA

Look into Godox. They have a set of MFT compatible speed lights. B&H has them and I believe Adorama store branded FlashPoint is the same thing. With these speed lights you are not messing around with an added set of contacts and you will find that the Godox/FlashPoint system can also simultaneously trigger some added on optically triggered speed lights for background and hair lights if you want to have a four light portrait setup too.

flashbang

I am using Olympus M4/3 and there is at least one YouTube video of the Youngnou units made for Canon not working with this line. I can't tell from the video of this was a fluke or equipment incompatibility, but I have been using Canon sync cords with no problems. Since I just have occasional need for a radio tripper, I do want to go with an inexpensive line that would work. Any thoughts on Godex/Youngnou compatibility with Olympus M4/3?

blackest Loc: Ireland

flashbang wrote:

I am using Olympus M4/3 and there is at least one YouTube video of the Youngnou units made for Canon not working with this line. I can't tell from the video of this was a fluke or equipment incompatibility, but I have been using Canon sync cords with no problems. Since I just have occasional need for a radio tripper, I do want to go with an inexpensive line that would work. Any thoughts on Godex/Youngnou compatibility with Olympus M4/3?

Nikon & Canon have different hot shoes common is the centre pin and the gnd but you need another pin to get things going. I think the nikon hot shoe is similar to the olympus but needs that mod for the wake up pin. i probed with a multimeter to find a hot pin giving a voltage above ground.
funny enough the shutter release from the trigger to the camera is the same for panasonic and pentax and canon...

Godex do have a transmitter for olympus (around $45) its a more sophisticated system but it may be easiest in your case.

GoofyNewfie Loc: Kansas City

GodOx.
Love their system!

Old Edmundo

I have the pocketwizzards, flex5, plus 3 and plus 4, great use a flexibility, but what i end up using all the time is the Paul C Buff , less expensive and ALLWAYS reliable.