Pocket Wizard Questions

Tyler138 · 27 Jul 2011

Hey guys,

I am looking at getting some PW Plus II's.

Am i right in think that these will allow me to use high speed sync with my canon 430exii...?

Also looking at the specs on there sight it says sync speeds 1/500th (leaf shutter) What is leaf shutter..? and does the flash have to be on HSS for this..?

Thanks,

Tyler

itsdavedotnet · 28 Jul 2011

No.

High speed sync is a ~~joke~~ trick mode that is communicated using the camera's TTL system.

Plus 2's simply send a 'fire' signal.

A leaf shutter is a very fine metal shutter built into some medium format lenses, all that the 1/500th sync means is that if your camera can do it, then you -can- sync up to 1/500th with pocketwizards.

If you want high speed sync, you need to get the newer pocketwizard miniTT's.

HoppyUK · 28 Jul 2011

PW Plus II is just a basic trigger, no tricks. TBH the only reason to get them is to maintain compatability if you have a stack of them. I had a couple, sold them and bought five YN RF-602's with the money! Which I think are actually better - smaller, neater, have a wake-up facility and work just as well.

If I was buying again, I'd get Phottix Strato II triggers. Similar to the YNs, but higher quality and better featured, plus an E-TTL pass through. I think you can only get them direct or off the bay.

They don't do remote HSS either - nothing does this side of PW Mini/Flex or Radio Poppers, both pricey. But bear in mind the unique PW features of Hypersync, enhanced HSS and optimised second-curtain sync, which might swing it for you - eg full power flash at 1/400sec with your 7D

Calzor Suzay · 29 Jul 2011

Tyler you do a lot of Mountain bike photography so the PW Mini/Flex with the AC3 would be ideal but bear in mind HSS really does hack back the amount of power the flash can chuck out.

itsdavedotnet · 29 Jul 2011

Calzor Suzay said:
Tyler you do a lot of Mountain bike photography so the PW Mini/Flex with the AC3 would be ideal but bear in mind HSS really does hack back the amount of power the flash can chuck out.

and also that HSS won't freeze motion properly, in the same way that a single high power flash will, because it pulses the flash over the duration of the exposure.

Tyler138 · 30 Jul 2011

Calzor Suzay said:
Tyler you do a lot of Mountain bike photography so the PW Mini/Flex with the AC3 would be ideal but bear in mind HSS really does hack back the amount of power the flash can chuck out.

What does the AC3 do then..?

itsdavedotnet said:
and also that HSS won't freeze motion properly, in the same way that a single high power flash will, because it pulses the flash over the duration of the exposure.

I see what your saying but i think sometimes its the case that the shutter will freeze it at 1/500th and the flash is used as a fill light.

Calzor Suzay · 30 Jul 2011

The AC3 allows you to control 3 zones from the top of the camera, A,B & C, you can have whatever amount of flashes in each zone but it allows you to turn each zone off, manual, E-TTL, and then on top of that in Manual set the power level, in E-TTL set exposure compensation per zone on top of exposure compensation in camera. All very handy when it's strapped up a tree or you don't fancy that dash up the course to twiddle with the flash

In the next beta it also allows you to cycle through zones with flashes so with your 7D you can shoot at 8.5fps and have each zone fire after each other so with 2 flash at 1/4 power you could probably shoot about 8 fps with flash

BUT when I tried the beta it buggered up the HSS sync and I was getting black bars in shots above 1/400s so they sent me the previous beta which I think still has the AC3 cycle thing.

Triggaaar · 3 Aug 2011

HoppyUK said:
If I was buying again, I'd get Phottix Strato II triggers.

Why would you choose these Hoppy?

They are on my list, cheaper than the Phottix Atlas (= PW Plus IIs), yet they seem better. Is that purely because the Atlas model can be used with the PWs?

But they don't do TTL like the PW TT1/TT5s, and I figure there will be times when I want TTL.

HoppyUK · 3 Aug 2011

Triggaaar said:
Why would you choose these Hoppy?

They are on my list, cheaper than the Phottix Atlas (= PW Plus IIs), yet they seem better. Is that purely because the Atlas model can be used with the PWs?

But they don't do TTL like the PW TT1/TT5s, and I figure there will be times when I want TTL.

I would get the Phottix Stratos, for the reasons I gave above.

That is, in preference to the RF-602 (not that much more money) but I didn't mean to imply they are better than PW Mini/Flex. They're not the same thing at all

Tyler138 · 4 Aug 2011

Cheers i will have a look into the Phottix Atlas

HoppyUK · 4 Aug 2011

Tyler138 said:
Cheers i will have a look into the Phottix Atlas

Also available over-branded as Calumet and Interfit I think.

specialman · 4 Aug 2011

Triggaaar said:
Why would you choose these Hoppy?

They are on my list, cheaper than the Phottix Atlas (= PW Plus IIs), yet they seem better. Is that purely because the Atlas model can be used with the PWs?

But they don't do TTL like the PW TT1/TT5s, and I figure there will be times when I want TTL.

I bought the Strato mk1 and have been massively impressed with their reliability, compact size, build and ease of use, especially compared to Skyports and my old fleabay triggers.

The Mk2 features an off switch on the trigger to save power, and has a better channel select system apparently. Plus the build has been further improved (it was good to start with), and the Mk1 and Mk2 are fully compatible. I get 1/250th sync, which I'm happy with. I'm sold.....

Triggaaar · 5 Aug 2011

specialman said:
I'm sold.....

Yeah they cretainly seem like a good option. But it would be nice to be able to use TTL, or to control the power from an AC3.

When in studio, what transformer do you need to power the receivers, to save constantly changing batteries?

HoppyUK · 5 Aug 2011

Triggaaar said:
Yeah they cretainly seem like a good option. But it would be nice to be able to use TTL, or to control the power from an AC3.

When in studio, what transformer do you need to power the receivers, to save constantly changing batteries?

No transformer. The AAA batteries last for ages anyway, like several days typical shooting, but use rechargeables if you prefer.

specialman · 5 Aug 2011

Triggaar - I use cheapo IKEA AAA batteries and I get a week's shooting from them, which probably equates to 500+ strobist shots, probably more....

Triggaaar · 5 Aug 2011

Thanks. At the moment I'm using the receiver that came with the lights, and I like the fact that I never have to replace the batteries - there aren't any. I switch the light on, so the receiver comes on at the same time.

The strato says it can be used with a 5F DC port, but I guess it's not worth the hassle.

specialman · 6 Aug 2011

Triggaaar said:
....The strato says it can be used with a 5F DC port, but I guess it's not worth the hassle.

A transmitter tethered to the mains would be a PITA I reckon and TBH, I get 10 AAAs from IKEA for a quid which isn't a major financial hassle.

Triggaaar · 6 Aug 2011

specialman said:
A transmitter tethered to the mains would be a PITA I reckon

No kidding! I'm talking receivers only, 4 of them. It's not the finance, eneloops are good, but when a studio flash is plugged in anyway it's handy if you don't ever have to check the battery levels on the receivers. They don't ever run out mid shoot (when powered by the same lead as the flash head). Like this:

http://www.studio-flash.com/catalog/product/gallery/image/676/id/156/

I like the fact you can use groups with the Strato vs the one I've linked to.

cherryrig · 6 Aug 2011

To be fair I've had no issues with freezing action on a sync speed of 1/250th. It's down to the duration of the flash you need to think about if your getting blur on your flash shots

specialman · 6 Aug 2011

Triggaar - I'll put that down as one of my densest ever comments :lol: