p.1 #1 · Is there something wrong with my PW triggers
Would you say there’s something wrong with my set of PW mini tt1/tt5? I’ve attached some photos for you review. I can't post images directly here, but here is the link to the photos
Here’s the issue. I am using the 580 exIIs to light the white background. The 1st image shows the background without the main lights on (see photo #1). I metered the lights at the background at f11. After metering the background lights, I metered the main light to f8 (Einstein w/BD). When I took the shot with all 3 lights, the background went gray even (2nd image) though it shows white in the 1st image (using mini tti/tt5, Ac3 and Mc2). In contrast, when I removed the Ac3 from the mini tt1, the background goes back to white when compared to the 2nd image (see 3rd image).
Basically here’s what’s happening when I use the Ac3 the background goes gray even though the 580 exIIs are firing. When I remove the AC3, the background look white again. It seems the Ac3 is doing something to the lighting (or not doing what it is intended to do). Does this make since or am I doing something wrong in my setup? To make sure it was not a 5D thing, I tested with the 1D4 and the same thing happens.
The last image was the image I was after and the reason for the set up, but I was only able to get this image without the use of the AC3, which I wanted to use or suppose to be able to control the power output of all 3 lights from the top of my camera.
Help me figure this out. If it’s an issue with the PW, I will send them back.
Thanks…Al
Equipment used:
5D2
580 exII (2)
Einstein 640 w/BD
PW mini tt1
Mc2 for Einstein
PW Ac3
PW tt5 (2)
White BG
p.1 #2 · Is there something wrong with my PW triggers
Are the 580's actually firing? What do you have the AC3 channels set to A,B,C,? Channels the same on the Flex5's , setting of +/- stops on AC3. Did you meter the main with or without the 580"s firing?
p.1 #4 · Is there something wrong with my PW triggers
Xtremediver, I had the Einstein on Group A and in auto mode using the power tracking (centered on f5.6 and ISO 100) and the 580s on Groups B and C. I adjusted the power using the AC3 to +2 which gave me f11 at the background (metered using sekonic lightmeter) and the mini test button. I meter the background lights 1st then shut them off using the AC3 and then metered the Einstein to f8. After all that, I took the picture with all three lights. But before, I took the shots with all 3 lights, I tested to make sure the 580s fired using the test button on the TT1. I even visually saw them fire when I took the shot.
p.1 #5 · Is there something wrong with my PW triggers
If I am not mistaken, you would be better off having the lights set to manual mode so that the ETTL function of the camera doesn't try to shut off the 580's too soon. The camera may be trying to read the light of the Einstein and see's f/11 output and shuts the 580's off, thus not giving you enough light on the background. Just a guess, though.
p.1 #6 · Is there something wrong with my PW triggers
The 580s are in manual mode. The AC3 allows you to use either manual or automatic and I was on the M mode on the AC3. It could be that this new technology is so fancy that it's fighting itself. You could be correct because when I take the AC3 off the mini everything comes out as planned.
Thanks for taking the time to respond.
Al
xtremediver wrote:
If I am not mistaken, you would be better off having the lights set to manual mode so that the ETTL function of the camera doesn't try to shut off the 580's too soon. The camera may be trying to read the light of the Einstein and see's f/11 output and shuts the 580's off, thus not giving you enough light on the background. Just a guess, though.
p.1 #7 · Is there something wrong with my PW triggers
Al, I use a similar combination except the EX 550's and have no problems, it sounds like we are missing something in the equation but I am not certain what it might be.
p.1 #8 · Is there something wrong with my PW triggers
Just to be clear, you use the 550s to light the background and another light as your main light. If yes, what are your PW settings? Perhaps there's something in my settings that causing problems.
p.1 #9 · Is there something wrong with my PW triggers
I'm pretty sure you should have your 580s in Ettl mode, not manual. The ControlTL system uses Ettl commands to control the 580s even when the AC3 switches are on M.
p.1 #10 · Is there something wrong with my PW triggers
Yeah, I'm pretty sure that's your problem. When you have your 580s on manual and you use the test button it fires them at what ever manual setting you have them dialed in at. When you use the AC3 it can't talk to them via the Ettl commands. Also make sure the 580s aren't in slave mode.
p.1 #12 · Is there something wrong with my PW triggers
OK, what do you have your camera set to - Manual / Auto mode? Shutter and Aperture settings? 580'S - ETTL or manual? Ac3-manual OR auto and channels? Flex TT5"s channels. configure 1 or 2 on mini and Flex and finally where are you metering your background from, at the background facing the lights or at the camera? I am trying to duplicate your problem and acheive the same results. (Backward engineering)
p.1 #13 · Is there something wrong with my PW triggers
Here's my setup:
- 5D2 in manual mode on f8 at 1/160, ISO 100; FEC 0
- TT1 set to power track the Einstein automatically (centered on ISO and Av: ISO 100, f5.6, 1/125). This puts me at 1/8th power on the Einstein.
- MC2 set to standard configuration.
- TT5 set to match TT1 with 580 exIIs mounted. The 580s are in ettl mode.
- AC3 mounted on the TT1: Zone A (Einstein) in auto mode for power tracking; Zone B and C (580s) in M mode for manual control.
- All on Channel 1 and all using the latest firmware version and batteries used are freshly charge enelopes for TT5 and the TT1 has 3/4 or more juice left.
Light metering:
I metered the background two ways to try and eliminate the problem, but both with the meter facing the direction of the camera or where the camera would be and centered on the background where the lights would hit. I metered the background lights with the main light off. First method - I had the TT1/AC3 mounted on the camera with me and pressed the test button on the TT1 to get the reading from the background lights. Second method - I removed both the TT1 and AC3 (mounted together) from the camera and pressed the test button to obtain the reading. Both ways produced f11. To get f11, I had the AC3 set to +2 for zones B&C.
I metered the main light from where the subject would be and facing toward the light to get f8.
p.1 #14 · Is there something wrong with my PW triggers
Eliminate the MC2 for now, set the Einstein for optical flash triggering and shoot everything with the same setup. What happens? The missing component for me: I use optical triggering for my AB1600's and trigger my EX 550's with Flex TT5 and a MiniTT1 with the AC3. Works fine. It also works when I use my Multimax with the AB1600. Hang in there!
p.1 #15 · Is there something wrong with my PW triggers
Update:
I finally got the time to test the PW triggers again. I did a factory reset. Reread the PW instructions. This time I used Full Manual for power tracking. AC3 set as follows: Zone A (Einstein) set to Auto for auto power tracking, Zone B & C (580s) set to manual. Everything worked fine (see images 5-7). So all is good for now. Thanks again for taking the time to help me out.
