[Review&QnA] Cowboystudio SYK-3 Optical Slave Trigger
Electronics > Camera & Photo > Lighting & Studio > Lighting > Strobe Lighting > Slaves
[Review&QnA] Cowboystudio SYK-3 Optical Slave Trigger
About this item
- Package dimensions: 4.064 cms L x 3.81 cms W x 2.794 cms H
- Product type: Camera Other Accessories
- package quantity: 1
- Country of Origin: China
Reviews
★★★★★
Verified Purchase
Spry Optical Eye on the Cheap
In my tiny photographic arsenal I have old manual flash units; units so old that their triggering voltages would quickly destroy my DSLRs if they were ever attached. This optical trigger easily recognizes that a master flash has fired and safely triggers my old manual flashes. This is very helpful for lighting up backgrounds and dark corners in a room.
My set of three of these optical slave triggers have worked consistently and without fail in the field. Though I never use them with sync cords, the slaves do have sync ports with which to trigger the old flashes; I attach my flashes directly to the slave's hotshoe. My typical setup is within 15 feet of the master flash so I have no information to share regarding greater distances. The optical eye must be facing toward the master flash or at least angled toward the most reflective wall or ceiling to catch the bounce.
The unit itself appears very well built. Its body is all plastic, but does not feel flimsy or weak. The hotshoe on top is metal and is screwed in with four small screws giving it a solid feel. The coldshoe mount is plastic but the tripod mount is metal. These slaves require no batteries or outside power source.
All of my flash units tighten down well onto the active hotshoe using their own threaded tightening wheels or flip-lock mechanisms. That makes the electrical connection quite secure and avoids misfires due to rocking motions.
Much of the literature I have seen indicate that optical slaves like these are not cooperative with Canon-brand digital flashes (my chosen brand of digital photography equipment). That should be kept in mind when setting up this configuration. Although I mostly use the slaves to trigger older legacy flashes I have used these slaves very successfully with the Sunpak PZ-40X. (Note: I have not tested these with my Metz 58 AF-2 since it has its own built in "servo" optical slave when triggered by E-TTL masters.)
What I do not yet know is whether the very high trigger voltages of my legacy flashes will some day burn out the circuitry on these cheap slaves. But that is the point after all; these low cost slaves allow me to press into service old flashes in a manner that will preserve my more expensive digital equipment, and if the legacy flashes some day fry the slaves, the cost benefit trade-off was well worth it.
★★★★★
Verified Purchase
Cowboy slave trigger.
No problems here. This little doozy works on my old camera's. A Pentax K1000 and a Vivitar V4000s. It works for me flawlessly as a stand-alone on a tripod with flash attached or hooked up to my camera with a Pc to Pc cord.
I tested it at about 20-feet away, never mised a flash, either facing my camera or bounced flash. My main flash has a zoom head that angles forward and straight up, with thyristor. My flash is good up to 100'. A weak flash may not work. I have seen some comments about the slave not firing properly. But, all said and done, mine is good to go.
★★★★★
Verified Purchase
Cowboy Studio always comes thru
This slave trigger worked great photos last weekend for charity benifit turned out better than I would have dreamed these guys really have you covered with great quality competative priced equipment I'm making a list to buy more goodies. Thanks Cowboy!
★★★★★
Verified Purchase
Works great with older flash units i
Very simple and inexpensive slave trigger. Works great with older flash units i.e. Vivitar 285.
★★★★★
Verified Purchase
Works with my Vivitar 283!
Works really well for my Vivitar 283. Use it as a slave now. Happy I cans still use this flash I've had since the 70's.
★★★★★
Verified Purchase
Solid performance for the price
I've used these with a Nikon SB600 and Sunpak PZ5000 and gotten solid performance. Fire reliably and don't seem to have any trouble 'seeing' the trigger flash, even when using the popup on my camera.
★★★★★
Verified Purchase
Cowboystudio SYK3 Optical Slave Trigger
Cowboystudio SYK3 Optical Slave Trigger is of great help when I use my Canon 580EX II. Apparently, I just found out that the said flash did not have any slave function despite its class. In case you had heavily invested on a pair of remote triggers, and may probably need one more flash to remotely trigger, then the SYK3 Optical Trigger would be of great value to use with the additional flash.
★★★★★
Verified Purchase
It works!
It works - what else needs to be said? Would be nice if it had eyes all around - but yea.
★★★★★
Verified Purchase
GREAT
Works every time! So simple to use and very affordable. I purchased this a second time after seeing the quality of the item.
★★★★★
Verified Purchase
It just works
This optical slave works just fine with my Vivitar 2000. Unfortunately, my Sony Nex-5N has a pre-flash that cannot be turned off.
Question & Answer
Question :
Anyone know if this will trigger an old Minolta Auto 132X flash?
Answer :
I have not tried that Minolta Auto 132X Flash. I honestly don't know. I was informed that it should trigger any flash.
I have an old Pentax K1000 manual camera with a 20-yo flash, that works just fine with this trigger, at night and in daylight.
Question :
From the product description it seems that the device works by detecting a main flash, but it won't fire unless another flash fires?
Answer :
Correct, the device needs to "see" another flash fire. This unit is used as a secondary flash.
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