PocketWizard question

Mr G

Mr G

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James
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I like using the speedlights for the portability, I have 2x580 ex11 flashes and was thinking of splashing out on the pocketwizard kit which takes in 1x Canon MiniTT1 Transmitter and two FlexTT5 Transceivers...I have a softbox, umbrella and would be using it mainly outside with some home use as well..now I know there were some concerns about distance coverage when using 580 ex but 30 feet would be ample for my use...I like the idea of ettl use and swapping between manual/ettl .. I have looked but the cheapest price I can see is £469 from wex.. This is fairly pricey anyone like to give ther views on the pros and cons, to help me make a decision..at the moment I use the Canon ST-E2 which is a bit limited.:thinking:
 
Nothing competes with the controlTL package . Add a pair of the RF socks and you have a fully wireless ettl system that will work at 100+ meters .
 
Has anyone on here actually taken an shot with the flash 100mts away?

I use seculine twin links which although they only allow manual flash control, will work at those sorts of ranges...... I just can't see why it's listed as such a major selling point :shrug:
Also, I don't know if it's just me doing something wrong, but ettl rarely gives me a shot I like. Something always reflects in the shot causing a huge blown area and the rest of the image underexposed or the flash nukes the scene :eek: having to retake the shot and dial back with FEC means it was quicker to do it in manual in the first place.
 
if you don't already have Pocket wizards why don't you buy them of Kerso?
 
digitalfailure said:
Has anyone on here actually taken an shot with the flash 100mts away?
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Yes
I did some tests about a year ago and the range on my 580ex2 was hopeless same with the mk1 430ex

dramatically different with a Nissin 866 and canon 430exmk2

the 580 and 430 would barely fire 30ft away let alone 30mtrs

the latter pair fire at least 250mtrs with the 430ex2 getting even further

the interference range issues are not good with the Canon 5802ex and 430ex hence both I no longer own as I sold the 430 and lost the 580ex2 out of my backpack while on the moors :'(


must add I am really happy with the two replacements
 
digitalfailure said:
Has anyone on here actually taken an shot with the flash 100mts away?

I use seculine twin links which although they only allow manual flash control, will work at those sorts of ranges...... I just can't see why it's listed as such a major selling point :shrug:
Click to expand...

Yes check the jet ski picture in my portfolio

That's nearly 150m a way , however id agree it's not a massive feature some of the lesser publicised abilities is far my impressive.
 
digitalfailure said:
Has anyone on here actually taken an shot with the flash 100mts away?

I use seculine twin links which although they only allow manual flash control, will work at those sorts of ranges...... I just can't see why it's listed as such a major selling point :shrug:
Also, I don't know if it's just me doing something wrong, but ettl rarely gives me a shot I like. Something always reflects in the shot causing a huge blown area and the rest of the image underexposed or the flash nukes the scene :eek: having to retake the shot and dial back with FEC means it was quicker to do it in manual in the first place.
Click to expand...

I've not tested ultimate range but I've done some test shots at 70-80 paces, so probably 70 metres(ish) away when I first for my Strato triggers. They worked fine on motor drive but to be honest, 70 metres is a distance that I'd rarely shoot at so it's a feature that I never bought for. If triggers can do those kinds of distance then it's a bonus, but not a nesseccity.
 
digitalfailure said:
Has anyone on here actually taken an shot with the flash 100mts away?

I use seculine twin links which although they only allow manual flash control, will work at those sorts of ranges...... I just can't see why it's listed as such a major selling point :shrug:
Also, I don't know if it's just me doing something wrong, but ettl rarely gives me a shot I like. Something always reflects in the shot causing a huge blown area and the rest of the image underexposed or the flash nukes the scene :eek: having to retake the shot and dial back with FEC means it was quicker to do it in manual in the first place.
Click to expand...

Could be something you're doing. If you use evaluative metering (for flash) it can be prone to reading images with lots of light/dark areas wrongly, like you often get with flash. Evaluative, being sometimes too smart for its own good, then jumps the wrong way and you get a lot of under or over exposure. Can be more prone to inconsistency for the same reason.

Easy answer, switching flash metering to average/centre-weighted should help.

E-TTL is really good if you need to shoot fast, like switch on, shoot, and get a decent exposure. And especially if your subject distance is changing all the time. Very hard to do that kind of thing in manual. But if neither of those conditions apply, you might as well use manual.

Best things for me about PWs are hypersync (which gets your x-sync speed up to 1/250sec or even 1/400sec with no loss of power), optimised HSS (at least a stop better than stock), and optimised second curtain sync at higher speeds (Canon second curtain sync doesn't work at all above 1/25sec, and it's more like 'middle curtain' until quite a bit longer than that).
 
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So richard I take it from your post you are a fan ;) what do you think about the problems pocketwizards seem to be having with the canon 580ex11 have you had any experience with this..
 
Mr G said:
So richard I take it from your post you are a fan ;) what do you think about the problems pocketwizards seem to be having with the canon 580ex11 have you had any experience with this..
Click to expand...

I'm a fan of their clever application of the technology - Hypersync, optimised HSS, and optimised second curtain sync - if you need those things. The system is de-bugged now, but RF issues remain with some guns. 430EXII is okay, or you can get 580EXII RF suppressed in the US for $75 - official PW mod.

I have a set of PWs and also Odins, for a review in Advanced Photographer magazine. It will be published mid-Feb.

Phottix Stratos offer an interesting and cheaper alternative - quality manual triggers, but with E-TTL pass-through on the camera (or on a cord).
 
I have the system you are asking about. I use it on studio lights and with 580ex2 as well as 580ex1 and a 420ex. There has just been a new software and firmware release and since then I have had no problems at all. Not sure why you'd want anymore than about 30ft range on the PW's anyway.
You can use your st-e2 on the transmitter in the same way as normal but with all the advantages of radio instead of light signals. A 580ex2 on top gives a lot of control if you want it, I find in most cases that the camera in manual and the flashes in ettl works fine.
 
I've got the same set with 430ex ii's, and I've had a play about with them on a 580 - I shoot a lot of gigs and from the back of venues the 580's weren't 100%, 430ii's were spot on though, I'd recommend the PW's if you can spring for them (That said I've not had much experience with any of their direct competitors, mainly el-cheapo radio ones)

@digital - I had the same issues until playing about with the metering, centre-weighted/partial sorted it out perfectly.
 
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