Pocket wizards ???

Splog · 16 Nov 2009

Hi all

I'm looking to set up a camera and flash system to capture wildlife and would prefer to use ETTL

I would need to be able to trigger the camera from perhaps 100 mtrs (maybe more)
So, the question is: .. To be able to remotely fire camera and flash would I need three pw's or is there some other bits of kit I could use (trying to keep the cost down) and get away with just two pw's? or is their something else that would do the job?

Thanks in advance
Steve

Splog · 16 Nov 2009

Sorry, but would like to add a further question

How do the pw's attach to the flash? :thinking:

Steve

purpleclouds · 16 Nov 2009

You will need:

One PW to trigger (on channel 1)
One PW to fire the camera (on channel 1)
One PW on the camera to trigger the flash (on channel 2)
One PW to trigger an off camera flash (on channel 2)

If you are going to use the flash on the camera hot shoe then you will only need the first 2 PWs!

Your flash will need some sort of cable input to trigger it, such as pc sync. I use a pc sync to hotshoe adapter like so

Otherwise you could get an off camera flash cord which will mean you can keep ETTL!

david1701 · 16 Nov 2009

purpleclouds said:
You will need:

One PW to trigger (on channel 1)
One PW to fire the camera (on channel 1)
One PW on the camera to trigger the flash (on channel 2)
One PW to trigger an off camera flash (on channel 2)

If you are going to use the flash on the camera hot shoe then you will only need the first 2 PWs!

Your flash will need some sort of cable input to trigger it, such as pc sync. I use a pc sync to hotshoe adapter like so

Otherwise you could get an off camera flash cord which will mean you can keep ETTL!

add one PW for every extra flash you add

also the first two can be the old sort not the new ones (cheaper)

purpleclouds · 16 Nov 2009

david1701 said:
add one PW for every extra flash you add

also the first two can be the old sort not the new ones (cheaper)

Bingo

The one you have in your hand can only trigger the camera as there is a delay between pressing it and it taking a photo (lifting mirror etc) whereas the flash fires instantly.. hence why you have the flash trigger as per normal from the hotshoe (or 2nd PW system)

david1701 · 16 Nov 2009

purpleclouds said:
Bingo

The one you have in your hand can only trigger the camera as there is a delay between pressing it and it taking a photo (lifting mirror etc) whereas the flash fires instantly.. hence why you have the flash trigger as per normal from the hotshoe (or 2nd PW system)

or you get a proper cable release that pushes the button but is really really long that'd work

Splog · 16 Nov 2009

purpleclouds said:
You will need:

One PW to trigger (on channel 1)
One PW to fire the camera (on channel 1)
One PW on the camera to trigger the flash (on channel 2)
One PW to trigger an off camera flash (on channel 2)

If you are going to use the flash on the camera hot shoe then you will only need the first 2 PWs!

Your flash will need some sort of cable input to trigger it, such as pc sync. I use a pc sync to hotshoe adapter like so

Otherwise you could get an off camera flash cord which will mean you can keep ETTL!

david1701 said:
add one PW for every extra flash you add

also the first two can be the old sort not the new ones (cheaper)

OK, thanks guys for the reply

So .... if I understand correctly? I would need two PW's on camera, one for each channel :thinking:

How are these attached ? and how do the PW,s attach to the flash ?

purpleclouds · 16 Nov 2009

Splog said:
OK, thanks guys for the reply
So .... if I understand correctly? I would need two PW's on camera, one for each channel How are these attached ? and how do the PW,s attach to the flash ?

You would need 2 PWs to trigger the camera alone. One in your hand, one connected to your cable release port on your camera (usually near the usb socket). These would need to be on a channel of their own.. so lets say channel 1. This would require the purchase of an extra cable. The official ones are expensive, but you can get eBay copies for around £15.

You would then need a PW on your hotshoe, and a PW attached to each remote flash. These would need to be a different channel, so lets say 2. This is because if they are on the same channel, your flash will be triggered at the same time the camera starts the process of taking a photograph - ie, when it lifts the mirror up... which is not what we want! We want the flash to be fired at the right time, which is why it must be triggered by a PW from the hotshoe, on a seperate channel.

Splog · 16 Nov 2009

purpleclouds said:
You would need 2 PWs to trigger the camera alone. One in your hand, one connected to your cable release port on your camera (usually near the usb socket). These would need to be on a channel of their own.. so lets say channel 1. This would require the purchase of an extra cable. The official ones are expensive, but you can get eBay copies for around £15.

You would then need a PW on your hotshoe, and a PW attached to each remote flash. These would need to be a different channel, so lets say 2. This is because if they are on the same channel, your flash will be triggered at the same time the camera starts the process of taking a photograph - ie, when it lifts the mirror up... which is not what we want! We want the flash to be fired at the right time, which is why it must be triggered by a PW from the hotshoe, on a seperate channel.

Aaaah! Now I understand

This idea seems to be getting expensive

maybe try with flash on camera and just two PW's ... Thanks again for the help ... much appreciated

purpleclouds · 16 Nov 2009

Remember, an off camera flash cord is £30 or less... a good temporary measure

No problem

Splog · 17 Nov 2009

purpleclouds said:
Remember, an off camera flash cord is £30 or less... a good temporary measure

No problem

Cheers Phil, much appreciated ..

david1701 · 17 Nov 2009

purpleclouds said:
Remember, an off camera flash cord is £30 or less... a good temporary measure

No problem

and for budget you can trigger the camera with an air rifle on the shutter button

HoppyUK · 17 Nov 2009

Hang on a minute, why do you need all these Pocket Wizards?

The camera is a long way off, but where are the flash guns? If they are near the camera then once the camera fires, they can all go off in E-TTL mode using the normal built-in optical triggering system.

In which case, all you need to do is fire the camera from distance. Regular Pocket Wizard is fine, but Yongnuo do something similar for about 7p. RF-602 might do it but could struggle on distance, but the dedicated camera trigger with an aerial that FITP also sells has good range.

Edit: Here, post #5 £16 (sorry, not 7p) http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=157807

purpleclouds · 17 Nov 2009

david1701 said:
and for budget you can trigger the camera with an air rifle on the shutter button

Splog said:
Cheers Phil, much appreciated ..

Splog · 17 Nov 2009

HoppyUK said:
Hang on a minute, why do you need all these Pocket Wizards?

The camera is a long way off, but where are the flash guns? If they are near the camera then once the camera fires, they can all go off in E-TTL mode using the normal built-in optical triggering system.

In which case, all you need to do is fire the camera from distance. Regular Pocket Wizard is fine, but Yongnuo do something similar for about 7p. RF-602 might do it, or the dedicated camera trigger that also FITP sells.

Thanks for the reply Richard. The flash guns will be in about 6 - 10 feet from the camera ... how are you suggesting the flash are fired? ... :thinking:

Splog · 17 Nov 2009

david1701 said:
and for budget you can trigger the camera with an air rifle on the shutter button

Not at 100 mtrs :lol:

98 mtrs maybe ..

david1701 · 17 Nov 2009

Splog said:
Not at 100 mtrs 98 mtrs maybe ..

depends on the wind......

fire flash with either ttl pocket wizzards (xpensive) or a ttl cord if you can get a long enough one or a home made one?

Flash In The Pan · 17 Nov 2009

Splog said:
Thanks for the reply Richard. The flash guns will be in about 6 - 10 feet from the camera ... how are you suggesting the flash are fired? ...

That's about a grand's worth of Pocket Wizards if you want the TTL models....

For a grand I'll come down and walk over and adjust the power on your flashes manually :lol:

david1701 · 17 Nov 2009

Flash In The Pan said:
That's about a grand's worth of Pocket Wizards if you want the TTL models....

For a grand I'll come down and walk over and adjust the power on your flashes manually

I'll do it for 900

HoppyUK · 17 Nov 2009

Splog said:
Thanks for the reply Richard. The flash guns will be in about 6 - 10 feet from the camera ... how are you suggesting the flash are fired? ...

The camera fires the flash/flashes, just as it would do if you pressed the release yourself. No different. The range thing is irrelevant from that point of view.

Badgers?

How about an IR beam trigger? Set it all up around the peanuts you've put down and the lil critters take their own photos while you're asleep

purpleclouds · 17 Nov 2009

HoppyUK said:
The camera fires the flash/flashes, just as it would do if you pressed the release yourself. No different. The range thing is irrelevant from that point of view.

Badgers?

How about an IR beam trigger? Set it all up around the peanuts you've put down and the lil critters take their own photos while you're asleep

He wouldn't have ETTL with the cheapo triggers though!

HoppyUK · 17 Nov 2009

purpleclouds said:
He wouldn't have ETTL with the cheapo triggers though!

Yes he would. Trigger only fires the camera, which fires the master flash, which dishes out the E-TTL info to the remote guns.

purpleclouds · 17 Nov 2009

HoppyUK said:
Yes he would. Trigger only fires the camera, which fires the master flash, which dishes out the E-TTL info to the remote guns.

Sorry I thought you meant trigger the flashes with the cheap triggers :bonk:

Splog · 17 Nov 2009

Flash In The Pan said:
That's about a grand's worth of Pocket Wizards if you want the TTL models....

For a grand I'll come down and walk over and adjust the power on your flashes manually

david1701 said:
I'll do it for 900

Even cheaper

HoppyUK said:
The camera fires the flash/flashes, just as it would do if you pressed the release yourself. No different. The range thing is irrelevant from that point of view.

Badgers?

How about an IR beam trigger? Set it all up around the peanuts you've put down and the lil critters take their own photos while you're asleep

OK, thanks everyone, but a bit more info to help with the question

All I'm trying to do is set up a camera trap wherebye I can see the animal (actually Otter) walk into shot, I fire the camera with the flash unit/s set up at a reasonable distance as to not scare them away or divert them from their usual path ... :thinking:

I tried this last year and they would not go anywhere near the cables (these guys are not stupid and are pretty camera shy) so I need to avoid cables .... :thinking:

So if I understand the replies correctly? I could get away with three PW's one to trigger the camera, one to fire the flash and one flash on camera ... :thinking:

So that's a bit expensive then

HoppyUK · 17 Nov 2009

Splog said:
...if I understand the replies correctly? I could get away with three PW's one to trigger the camera, one to fire the flash and one flash on camera ... So that's a bit expensive then

Total cost £16 doesn't sound expensive.

What is the matter with everyone tonight?

All you need is a cheap radio trigger off FITP which will fire the camera on your command.

The camera then fires the flashes in the normal way. If the flashes are within 10m of the camera with line of sight to the master, you don't need any additional triggers.

What's the problem? :shrug:

Flash In The Pan · 17 Nov 2009

HoppyUK said:
Total cost £16 doesn't sound expensive.

What is the matter with everyone tonight? All you need is a cheap radio trigger off FITP which will fire the camera on your command.

The camera then fires the flashes in the normal way. If the flashes are within 10m of the camera with line of sight to the master, you don't need any additional triggers.

What's the problem? :shrug:

I lose out on £984, that's what :lol:

Splog · 17 Nov 2009

HoppyUK said:
Total cost £16 doesn't sound expensive.

What is the matter with everyone tonight? All you need is a cheap radio trigger off FITP which will fire the camera on your command.

The camera then fires the flashes in the normal way. If the flashes are within 10m of the camera with line of sight to the master, you don't need any additional triggers.

What's the problem? :shrug:

Thanks again Phil for the reply

I will try this and please have a free virtual beer on me :beer:

or even a couple

HoppyUK · 17 Nov 2009

Flash In The Pan said:
I lose out on £984, that's what

Don't be ungrateful. There's a fat margin to be made on that £16 Yongnuo if you play your cards right :lol:

Splog said:
Thanks again Phil for the reply I will try this and please have a free virtual beer on me or even a couple

You mean me? I'm Richard. Virtual beer accepted though. Cheers

Flash In The Pan · 17 Nov 2009

HoppyUK said:
Don't be ungrateful. There's a fat margin to be made on that £16 Yongnuo if you play your cards right

I'd make more selling the Big Issue :shake: :bang:

Splog · 17 Nov 2009

HoppyUK said:
Don't be ungrateful. There's a fat margin to be made on that £16 Yongnuo if you play your cards right

You mean me? I'm Richard. Virtual beer accepted though. Cheers

Ooops, sorry Richard