UPDATE: Both of these triggers died. The first lasted about 3 months, the 2nd only about 3 weeks. I’ve upgraded to Pocket Wizards. I recommend these for photographers just getting into off-camera who don’t want to commit to the Pocket Wizard or Radio Popper…but if you’re looking for something that will last, I’d avoid these.

If you’re anything like me, Pocket Wizards are a far, far off dream constantly shoved further back by bills and feeding those short people you are in charge of…THREE times a day! Savages! Anyway, I’ve been using Cactus V2′s for a while and the fact that I didn’t smash them against a wall a few times should nominate me for the patron saint-age of patience.

Anyway, in spite of better ratios from friends I could never get the V2′s to fire more than 5 or 6 out of 10 times. After playing with the V4s today I’d say it’s more like 9 out of 10. They fired almost every time!

Other excellent improvements?

• AAA batteries! THANK YOU! If I never have to buy another overpriced C2 battery again I will die a happy woman.
• The piece you attach to your flash is (gasp) FLAT. It sits on a table. Amazing!
• Slightly less cheap feeling, but only slightly.
• Batteries are WAY easier to get to! I used to have to do what all females hate doing and pass them off to my husband to wrestle the battery door off so I could change said overpriced C2 battery…now it just slides right off!
• Did I mention they actually freakin fire?

I also FINALLY got my shoot through brolly umbrella from amvona.com. If you must shop there (I won’t again), don’t be shocked if you order something that says “in stock” only to receive your “Thank you for your purchase” email noted with a “item is currently out of stock”. Apparently I was lucky only having to wait about 3 weeks…I have friends that are going on week 8.

ANYWAY, crap service aside the brolly umbrella is cool. I forgot to snap a pic of it but it looks like this.

As I was about to set it up I realized at some point during this wedding season, the hot shoe plate on my umbrella shoe mount multiclamp. I am PISSED! So I hand held it to camera left and snapped quickie shots of the kids.

Since I was so mad about losing that piece I put the brolly away and just played with some back/rim lighting with bare flash off-camera via the V4s. Got some cute dreamy-looking pics of the baby while he stuffed his face.

Here’s the ambient light [f2.8 @1/80 ISO1600]

And with the flash behind him pointing upward.

[f2.8 @1/80 ISO1600]

[f2.8 @1/60 ISO1250]

[f2.8 @1/60 ISO1250]

I would have liked to have done this longer but alas, the boy just doesn’t appreciate photographic expirimentation! Kids…

Get off my lawn.