I just simply can't handle Pocket Wizards anymore. Been using my Plus II's for nearly 2 years. I've been avoiding RadioPopper for a while simply because of the cost, but I've grown SOOO frustrated with the PW and their reliability outdoors with the Canon 580's.
RadioPopper here I come. I hope they're as good as advertised. Anyone else made the switch?
Ed, I was actually going to call you. The only thing I couldn't pick up on is if the RP PX's are also capable of just shooting manual... and if so, can you still adjust the power level from the camera.
He's talking about the older PW IIs. Its the new TTL models which are having the RF problems.
And the PX series sure does look appealing. For this kind of money, I would need to try them out before I dropped the cash though. The way I see it, they could be a game-changer or they could be a huge bust. There are a lot of times I don't even trust TTL with a single on-camera flash. Start firing multiple off-camera flashes and I would imagine things get even sketchier.
Tony Hoffer wrote:
Ed, I was actually going to call you. The only thing I couldn't pick up on is if the RP PX's are also capable of just shooting manual... and if so, can you still adjust the power level from the camera.
They can trigger 580's set to manual but you can only adjust the levels within 3 'zones' and if your main flash is set to manual flash, otherwise they will trigger at the setting dialed in on the remote flash. Did this for a couple of weddings.
Tony, I'm having the same trouble as you with my PW II's and 580. I used a longer cord at the last wedding I did and it worked perfectly, right up until I brought the setup outside near the end of the night. Epic fail. They would just not fire outside at all. I think I am going to look elsewhere as well. Maybe Radio Poppers, maybe Cybercyncs.
I have the same problem with PW's and the 580 II's. I had heard that the 580's put out some type of electro magnetic field or something during the recycle that screws up the PW.
Had the same problem with my PW. I had a 430 EX so I tried it, and there went all the problems. I have been using two 430's since and they work fine, indoors and out.
over the last 10+ years I had maybe 50 misfires from my 4 older sets of Quantum Radio Slave 4 and 4I's (mostly due to not allowing strobes to fully recycle). I send them back to Quantum about every 3 years for a tune-up. Love em - gonna keep em.
