Coming Soon: Inexpensive Cactus Laser Triggers?
Well, this is interesting. Georgia-based photographer Brian Hursey has been testing an advance set of laser "trip-triggers" to be released by Cactus.
These are the types of triggers designed not for syncing but for motion-stopping photography. I.e., when something passes through the laser it trips the flash. They have a variable delay mechanism, and being from Cactus should be
For more info, see Brian's tests, or the Strobist Flickr Group discussion.
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Posted at 2:40 PM.
17 Comments:
Interesting!
It might help you with this project :
http://strobist.blogspot.de/2012/01/lighting-in-wild.html
:D
Very cool. I'm surprised it took this long for somebody to come up with triggers like these.
I've been using my own homebuilt systems for this kind of thing based off Arduino the last couple of years.
There is something very similar already available, called triggertrap. Although I would guess the cactus sensor would be much cheaper
They don't appear to be weather resistant, so they most likely are designed for catching something in motion indoors. Neat idea.
Thank you David.. It is a very fun toy to have. I have so many projects swimming in my head to try. Although my wife does not like me making messes. I need a bigger garage so I can do some messy testing.
Note: in addition to triggering flashes it will trigger your camera through a compatible cable, Or even if you have the cactus v5 in receiver mode connected via camera cable. Although you do have the lag time regards to the camera to process the shutter event. Depends on the camera. For truly high speed photography best is to rely on the flash duration and just have the camera on bulb or say a 3 second timer.
Ed: They look relatively easy to put in a zip lock bag I am even sure you could tape the plastic over the sensor and transmitter tight and flat that it would still work. I might try this out and see how it goes. In the next few days. Check out the strobist discussion on the flickr strobist group its the most up to date conversation.
Cactus have said these will be under $100.
I had fun testing them too, and was impressed by how responsive Cactus were to suggestions - a couple of major features were added as a result of the beta test process despite the units already being production ready.
My review is here : http://imagemelbourne.com.au/store/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=1085
Here is my review of the LV5:
http://www.pentaxforums.com/reviews/lv5-beta/introduction.html
I feel that they are a great gadget and that one can have tons and tons of fun with it (as my images hopefully show).
I would also highly commend the manufacturer on listening to us beta testers that well.
If they had involved us earlier, it could have been an even better product, but overall my evaluation is certainly very positive.
and my review is in french, but google translatable of course, there http://s.reflex-photo.eu/LV5
you can also now type cactus LV5 on youtube :)
Just found out the price it will be 89.95$ US.
Compatibility with the CactusV triggers has definitely got me sold. I have eight of those little guys, and they've never let me down.
Definitely looking forward to getting a set of these laser triggers.
Cool, looks like fancy pants version of my super cheap trigger I made a few years ago...
I posted about it on the strobist group and blogged it way back then.
http://petetek.blogspot.com/2010/02/299-laser-trigger.html
I would second the comment made by +Shane for Triggertrap for anyone wanting to play around with different methods of remote triggering. There is an iPhone version which uses a free app and you then purchase a dongle to connect to your camera's trigger port. For less than $30, this is some of the best photographic fun I've had in a while. It will trigger your camera by sound, vibration, movement, or even iPhone face detection, plus a whole bunch of long exposure options for star trails, time lapse, etc. May or may not be as robust as this Cactus solution, but you should check it out, and for the space one cord takes up in your bag you'll have a ton of options.
Just got an update from them. The LV5 will be available starting Monday, March 4, 2013 and will be 89.95$
Well looks like you can now buy them at the following location. Hope you all have fun with them. Comment on the flickr discussion if you have any questions. http://www.gadgetinfinity.com/cactus-laser-trigger-lv5.html
Just about to be released to retailers as well now...
Looks to me to be a bit expensive for what it is. I don't generally find the Cactus stuff to be all that great. It kinda-sorta works but you get what you pay for. In any case, I never ever use a laser trigger for anything. I use solely audio triggers. I never find the lasers actually trip anything.
I have found the laser beam to not be very sensitive to water droplets passing through. Has anyone else found this?
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