I at the point where I need to buy a couple more pocketwizards. I have had good success with them, but they are occasionally quite frustrating. I'm looking at trying the CyberSync's and would like to get some feedback from those who have used them. I know the quoted range is shorter, but I could never get even 100' line of sight out of the PW's, so if they'll match that, I'd be ok. The Cyber Commander also looks compelling.

The price is certainly right, so if they function at least as well in the real world, I'd be happy to give them a try.

There's a lot of talk of them over at the Lighting Forum. Paul C. Buff is on there frequently as well

Everything I have read seems to indicate that the Cybersyncs are very reliable up to 300'. Between 350 and 400' they are spotty.

I just ordered a set (1 tx, 2 rx) of Cybersyncs and they will be here today. I read every review I could get eyes on and I could not find one person to say they were disappointed with them.

Thanks, that's good to hear. I understand there are new versions coming out, but I assume the performance will be typical of the previous model. I would appreciate if you could give an assessment of their performance in a wedding scenario, if you use them in that way.

They work. I've never fired at that kind of distance though.

We've used the CyberSyncs fairly extensively since they came out. A few points on them:

- Early models had a gray casing. Newer ones have a black casing.
- Early models had a 1/8" mono female port on the receiver that did not hold up well under extensive use.
- The supplied 1/8" mono male/male cord and 1/8" female to 1/4" male adapter are very poor quality. None of ours lasted more than a month. A good quality replacement can be found at RadioShack or the like for about $7. I recommend stepping down a 1/4" male/male mono cable with a 1/8" adapter rather than stepping up a 1/8" male/male like is supplied. It's a stronger connection and less susceptible to breaking. These 1/4" male/male cables come in the right-angle variety and are more durable than those that stick straight out.
- Be careful with the transmitter in any sort of bag. The hotshoe contact is just a plate spring and can lose its spring easily if it gets depressed for long periods of time in the bag.
- The channels do not change on these as easily as PocketWizards. If you need that, be sure to carry something to change them with. It is fairly easy to get the channel switcher on a setting between two channels so nothing triggers at all. Make sure it lands fully in the notch for the desired channel.
- The receivers are substantially more rugged than PocketWizards.
- The size of the transmitters is a fairly nice feature. The whole component is about the length of just the antenna on a PocketWizard.

Got em, love em, have put them through their paces in modeling and outdoor work, and love them.

-tmiller

They are fine...swapped mine for an STE-2 though. I like being able to control the flash remotely. I shot a handball game with it and my 430EX speedlite...whatever you do, keep balls away from the transmitter...sitting duck

watch out for the new version of radiopoppers at radiopopper.com. They have reportedly really upped the quality of these radio transmitters that allow you to use all ETTL functionality same as the ste-2 or nikon commander mode....only with the reliability of radio signals.
bb

Thanks all. I've looked at the radiopoppers and almost pre-ordered them when they were first announced. Now, the price has gone up, and my interest at this time has gone down. I've got a pretty good system going with manual flash, I just don't know what I'd do with all the extra latitude that ETTL functionality would give!

Kidding... Right now, I just need to have more receivers and I'm checking all options. By all accounts, the CyberSync's will fill the need nicely. Radiopoppers are on the radar though, and I might have to check them out when they mature a bit more.

CyberSyncs are so cheap, that it's not a huge investment like RP or PW's are.

Plus, pleanty of PaulcBuff fans like myself to buy em off ya later! =o)

-tmiller

I love cybersyncs... very affordable and very stable. They have been just as reliable as the PW's I've used/rented. Another thing that is wonderful about them is the small profile and less weight.

mcarr wrote:...but I could never get even 100' line of sight out of the PW's, so if they'll match that, I'd be ok....

What does line of sight have to do with PW? They work off of radio signals so "sight" is irrelevant.

I love CyberSync. I have used PW in the past and think they are also a great product, but you can't beat CyberSync for the price and usability. I have never had a misfire and don't think I have ever had Cybersync not fire when I wanted it to. This includes when I sunk my camera to the bottom of a pool in a housing and fired it with Cybersync from about 30 feet away. I have also fired my lights from over 100 feet (probably 125 feet but I didn't measure) outdoors and didn't have any problems. Paul Buff makes great products, what's even better he supports them. Order some and if you don't like them he will refund your money within 60 days. I will be upgrading to the CyberSync+ and Cyber Commander soon as they are released.

got mine last week, so far they've been great. tried the repeater mode once, seemed very intermittant, but the repeating receiver was prob too far from the flash.

cordellwillis wrote:
mcarr wrote:...but I could never get even 100' line of sight out of the PW's, so if they'll match that, I'd be ok....

What does line of sight have to do with PW? They work off of radio signals so "sight" is irrelevant.

Not so, if you're in a building, you're not going to get the claimed 1600' through walls. By "line-of-sight" I meant, no obstructions in the way.

cordellwillis wrote:...What does line of sight have to do with PW? They work off of radio signals so "sight" is irrelevant.

"Line of sight" is kind of like "As the crow flies." Not neccesarily literal sight, but a direct line.

Unlike HF (high frequency) and LF (low frequency) radio signals, VHF and UHF signals don't "skip" off the ionosphere nor follow the curve of the earth; they are "line of sight" frequencies.

HTH.

Another thing to point out is that a lot of peopel who start off using speedlights for off camera flash graduate to actual strobes as their business and skill grow. Having the new Cybersync system sets you up nicely for the transition. The new Sync Commander features are very nice and the AlienBee and White Lightning systems are really becoming "complete" systems.

The ONLY thing I wish CyberSyncs had was a coldshoe mount on the receiver... this way one could prop them up on flat brackets. Rather, one has to velcro them to the flash.

one nifty thing I've seen people do is put them in little nomex pouches and attach them to the light stand using a carabiner clip instead of velcro everywhere.

I get mine next week, I'm excited

mcarr wrote:
Not so, if you're in a building, you're not going to get the claimed 1600' through walls. By "line-of-sight" I meant, no obstructions in the way.

Gotcha. That makes sense. It's the way I understood them to explain it and how most radio signals work in many cases....usually says it in the literature somewhere.

BrianO wrote:
"Line of sight" is kind of like "As the crow flies." Not neccesarily literal sight, but a direct line.

Unlike HF (high frequency) and LF (low frequency) radio signals, VHF and UHF signals don't "skip" off the ionosphere nor follow the curve of the earth; they are "line of sight" frequencies.

HTH.

Understood and agreed.

Peace,
Cordell