Remote trigger vs. PC sync

What are the advantages of using a sync cable over the remote feature on
strobes? Thanks blah

"Blah" wrote in message
...

What are the advantages of using a sync cable over the remote feature on
strobes? Thanks blah

Most strobes have a sensor that detects another strobe firing - so you need
a synch cable to fire the master strobe.

Unless you're talking about wireless setups (eg Canon ETTL et al) in which
case a synch cable with conventional strobes can be more reliable,
especially outside.

"Blah" wrote:

What are the advantages of using a sync cable over the remote feature on
strobes? Thanks blah

If you are referring to using the optical slave feature built into most
strobes, a sync cable has three advantages:

-- You don't have to worry about unwanted light from a trigger making
it onto your shot. When I use an optical slave, I use an IR trigger
to minimize this.
-- You don't need line of sight between the trigger and slave sensor
with a cord.
-- You don't have to worry about someone else triggering your lights
at exactly the wrong moment with their camera, cell phone, or merely
by turning on an overhead light. Alas, on some inexpensive units,
you can't disable the slave sensor except by covering it up.

If you use a radio remote, the first two disadvantages pretty much
disappear, and the chances of someone else triggering your lights
are greatly reduced. But especially with the "no-name" units, there's
a chance of frequency conflicts interfering other totally unrelated
gear. The major disadvantage of radio strobes is cost.

I carry sync cords as a backup, but I try to use them as little as
possible.

--
Michael Benveniste --
Spam and UCE professionally evaluated for $419. Use this email
address only to submit mail for evaluation.

On Feb 6, 8:32 am, "Michael Benveniste"
wrote:

[sync cable advantages]

PC cords have extremely bad user-interface issues. Beyond bad, in
fact. Almost any wireless system is unspeakably superior. I'll go to
far as to say that even an intermittently _defective_ wireless system
is better than PC cords in the long term.

The major disadvantage of radio strobes is cost.

PocketWizard's are, at this time, the only ones worth owning: ~$200
doesn't seem much to pay for iron clad reliability. Obviously, people
are free to spend their money as they see fit, but it can not be over-
emphasized: be _extremely_ wary of the false economy. Even the world-
wide, super-famous Strobist:

http://strobist.blogspot.com/

.... who otherwise penny-pinches to ludicrous extremes essentially
orders his readers to just slap that credit card down and buy a pair
of PW's. And move on.