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?

I did.

-ed

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.

Do you specifically need TTL capable triggers?

they own

I wish they sold a UK version.

Tony, not sure about canon but you can do it with Nikon. They allow you on the master to set manual power levels for all the slaves.

Jamie, I think I'll be using TTL and HSS as much as possible. Just need manual for a few particular shots still...

As far as i know, you can shoot manual with the PX's.

Tony, I thought PW came out with a "cover" sheet for the new PW's now that apparently fix the RF interference... I use Cybersyncs... no TTL for me

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.

Just thinking out loud.

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.

deepbluejh wrote:
He's talking about the older PW IIs. Its the new TTL models which are having the RF problems.

Oh, so even the old PW's have problems? Maybe everyone at PW are Nikon shooters?

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.

Keep us posted.

ReallY? My PWIIs work EVERYTIME. but then again I'm a nikon shooter. I don't think it's the PWs, Tony.

I'm Cannon and we don't have much issue with the PW's.

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.

i had the same issue with sb900's

then i realized the pw wasn't full seated in the hot shoe

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.

Dude, go with the RPs, they PWN.

Folks, I've used them for 2 years and have tried everything under the sun. You could no longer convince me of user error. I don't want a workaround or a 'sock' anymore. The RPs are on their way.

We keep having the 1/8" mini ports on the PWs wear out after repeated setups and tear-downs. Do you run into this too?

so you pulled the trigger eh? I dont blame you after last night.

It's really amazing: Until I met Sergio and he told me that PW was a constant source of frustration for everyone he'd met who used them, I thought they were the best thing available for radio triggers. I was planning someday to upgrade my skyports to PWs. This thread is exactly what he was telling me about, and I definitely won't be switching. My skyports have been 100% reliable outdoors and indoors.

If radiopoppers had been around when I bought my skyports, I probably would've gotten them instead.

I've never had issues with PWs + Canon speedlites. Always fired for me. Used them for years.