Him

I am thinking about getting a PW mini and have a few questions

As I understand it, to control manual power and ratios of remote flashes you need to have a 580EXII on the camera. Is this correct?

If so, does this negate the improvement in distance one would get from using 530EX IIs as the remotes?

Is there any reason to use a Flex instead of a mini on the camera?

Thanks,

Jerry

jerrykur wrote: ...As I understand it, to control manual power and ratios of remote flashes you need to have a 580EXII on the camera. Is this correct?

The MiniTT1 goes on the camera, and the 580EX or EX II goes on the MiniTT1. The control commands from the Master flash are then repeated, via radio, through the MiniTT1.

jerrykur wrote: ...does this negate the improvement in distance one would get from using 530EX IIs as the remotes?

I assume you 430EX IIs. No, there is no negation; the signal is still being sent by radio, but now you're getting more than just simple sync commands by adding a full Master/Slave setup.

BrianO wrote:
jerrykur wrote: ...As I understand it, to control manual power and ratios of remote flashes you need to have a 580EXII on the camera. Is this correct?

The MiniTT1 goes on the camera, and the 580EX or EX II goes on the MiniTT1. The control commands from the Master flash are then repeated, via radio, through the MiniTT1.

jerrykur wrote: ...does this negate the improvement in distance one would get from using 530EX IIs as the remotes?

I assume you 430EX IIs. No, there is no negation; the signal is still being sent by radio, but now you're getting more than just simple sync commands by adding a full Master/Slave setup.

Thanks for the replies. My question regarding distance is does having the 580 EXII on the camera effect the range? So If I remove the 580 EXII, and live with the loss of functionality, can the 430 EXs be further away.

jerrykur wrote:...
Thanks for the replies. My question regarding distance is does having the 580 EXII on the camera effect the range? So If I remove the 580 EXII, and live with the loss of functionality, can the 430 EXs be further away.

The distance of the 430EXs is not affected one way or the other. In other words if it's working at 100' it will remain at 100', regardless if the 580EXII is on camera or not.

I'm assuming you are concerned with the 580EXII distance problems some have had (yes/no)? The issues are with the remote off camera flashes, not the on camera flash. If you have a 580EX, 580EXII, or 430EX (not ver II) sitting off camera, the RF signal is interfered with causing distance problems. This is not the case with the one on camera. There is no problem with the transmitting flash. Only the receiving one.

cordellwillis wrote:There is no problem with the transmitting flash. Only the receiving one.

Thanks. That is exactly what I wanted to know.

jerrykur wrote: ...does this negate the improvement in distance one would get from using 530EX IIs as the remotes?

BrianO wrote: ...No, there is no negation...

jerrykur wrote: ...My question regarding distance is does having the 580 EXII on the camera effect the range?

Sigh.

Were you hoping that by asking again you'd get a different answer?