I'm new to Sony so maybe this is a silly question but here goes.
I would like to wirelessly trigger my Alien Bees B800 strobe with my A7 and am having trouble finding information about how to do this. Currently I use a Nikon D7000 with some Yongnuo triggers and it works great. I would like to do the same with my A7 but it seems there are no Yongnuo (or similar) triggers compatible with the Sony Multi-interface shoe. I'm sure I'm overlooking something being new to Sony.
The newer Yongnuo triggers (RF-603) only work with the brands they're made for (Canon/Nikon) due to brand-specific power saving logic. The RF-602 (aka RF-600TX) works on all hotshoes, including the A7/A7r. I have used them on these bodies myself. You can find the RF-602 on ebay.
I've got a pair of White Lightnings that I fire using the Paul Buff wireless trigger/receiver. It's a lot more expensive than Yongnuo (and a lot less expensive than Pocket Wizards), but it just goes off your hotshoe. Not sure about the Yongnuo's being able to fire off the hotshoe. I just modded my RF-603s to be able to fire the 560III off my A7 with just the hotshoe but it required some soldering and I haven't tried it out with my strobes.
I was able to fire an AB1600 and AB400 with Yongnuo RF-603's (made for Canon) on a Sony A58, A850 as well as my Sigma DP2M and DP3M. Not sure what everyone's saying here, but seems to work great. Maybe something I don't know about voltages, but I've read that the only triggers that really worked with the A850 and hotshot adapter (stupid Minolta shoe) were the 603's. Also, the 603's are a better investment because I've read they fire flashes with voltages up the 300V whereas the older models do not and are more of the modern standard (6-12V).
Again, this is all anecdotal information that I obtained through my own personal research, but my experience also seems to mirror that of those I got this information from. Not sure how this all helps with your A7, but I figured I'd add my personal experience since there is a sort of lack of information regarding Yongnuo products.
I am using cheaplights npt-04 triggers that I bought for my Olympus Em5. Works fine with my A7 and my alien bee 800, no TTL but they were $25. 1/250th sync.
I use the YN RF603 (Canon mount; manual trigger) and it works OK.
I will purchase the Phottix Odin for Sony to get the hss mode on Godox/Cheetah strobe. It needs A7r universal shoe - to - Sony older shoe adapter. I have ordered it from B&H. Hope it will work
You'll also have to set your A7 from WYSIWYG to that other mode that nobody ever uses.. I think the category is called exposure simulation or something, sorry don't have my A7 or A99 with me right now.
nixland wrote:
I use the YN RF603 (Canon mount; manual trigger) and it works OK.
I will purchase the Phottix Odin for Sony to get the hss mode on Godox/Cheetah strobe. It needs A7r universal shoe - to - Sony older shoe adapter. I have ordered it from B&H. Hope it will work
Will you actually get HSS?
The RF603 C do not work for me, so will try the resistor to turn one one and see
Kinda expensive, but far better than third party solutions because they can also adjust power levels.
But look at all those wires going every which way on the CSR+ page. Lots of stuff to lose. B800's are such a pain. Save up, sell them, and get Einsteins ASAP. Look how much cleaner the E640/CSXCV is - and, it can make much finer adjustments to power levels than the B800/CSR+. Oh, and the Einstein's flash power and color temperature are 80000000017 times more consistent shot-to-shot than the B800.
Kinda expensive, but far better than third party solutions because they can also adjust power levels.
But look at all those wires going every which way on the CSR+ page. Lots of stuff to lose. B800's are such a pain. Save up, sell them, and get Einsteins ASAP. Look how much cleaner the E640/CSXCV is - and, it can make much finer adjustments to power levels than the B800/CSR+. Oh, and the Einstein's flash power and color temperature are 80000000017 times more consistent shot-to-shot than the B800.
No worries. Thanks for the clarification. You had my hopes up for a moment. I'm still on the hunt for what the max sync speed is for a PCB setup and the a7/r/s.
