In the photographic lighting world, Prontor/Compur (PC) connectors are much maligned for their expense, temperament and fallibility in flash synchronisation. Some manufacturers have got rid of them in favour of 2.5mm and 3.5mm mono or stereo jacks. But DSLRkit, a Chinese maker of budget flash triggers, have taken a different path.
The RC-08 series radio remotes have fairly standard features: 8 channels, AAA batteries, 433MHz signal and a hotshoe. Nice bonuses include full backwards compatibility with nearly all of their previous triggers, optional umbrella holder on the receiver, and a safe sync voltage up to 230 Volts.
Where they stand out, though, is that the radio receivers have mini-USB ports for when you want to connect a flash by cable. A mini-USB to 3.5mm mono cord is included.
A smart idea, allowing extra functionality to be added in future? A silly move? Couldn’t care less about cables and want us to write about something more interesting? Let us know in the comments below.
Where to buy
DSLRKIT RC-08A and RC-08H trigger kits start at around US$20 on eBay. The “A” series have conventional receivers while the “H” models have umbrella holders built in. You can also order directly from the company web site.