Hi what would you all recommend for wireless control of flashes. I currently using a manual Sunpak but will soon get a Canon 580exII. From what I have read the Canon Speedlite Transmitter ST-E2 works well indoors at very short distances but has problems in bright outdoor lighting.
Pocket wizards seem to be popular in US forums but I haven't seen them in Australia. Anyone have any experience with these? I have a Canon 20D.
LOVE my Pocket Wizards - I now have 5 of the Plus II's - utterly reliable, trigger my 580EX's (with the appropriate mods of course), Sunpak & Studio Flashes, as well as remote triggering cameras....bit pricey, but soon forgotten when you realise how well they work....
ST-E2 is OK indoors as long as you are a) in range & b) the flash can "see" the ST-E2 triggering flash - bit iffy as soon as you start placing flashes round corners etc. Useless Outdoors in anything approaching sunlighe.....
Actually found it is far better to get a 2nd 580EX & use that as an ETTL master - MUCH better range & angle coverage - actually usable outdoors at short range as you can point the Flash Head at the other Flash....you can also either turn it off or use it as additional light for fill etc...or even use it with a Off Shoe Cord with extension cord as a 2nd light The 580EX also covers all AF points on all cameras - ST-E2 won't AF assist with some points on the XXD range of DSLR's.
Only advantage ST-E2 has is size & price....
With the Pocket Wizards, some places in Australia sell them (L&P in Sydney are one) but it is cheaper to just buy them & ship them from the US. (B&H / Adorama etc) I have the Pocket Wizard Plus II's which are "Transceivers" - ie: they can either Transmit or Receive - very versitile. I m pretty sure the European / Australian transmission frequency is different to the US one - so once you buy from one place, if you decide to get a 2nd lot - you must go the same or they won't talk....
They come with a PC sync to 3.5mm Plug cord, so you should be right to go with the 580EX II which FINALLY comes with a PC socket built in - otherwise, best bet is to raid Jaycar & get handy with the soldering iron ;-) $30 & a couple of hours work & I have multiple cords for nearly everything I can remotely fire / trigger !!
If you need any further info - just let me know, Mike.
Mike thanks for your reply. It looks like pocket wizards are the way to go in the future. For the time being I bought from Foto Riesel the 580ex2 and the new OC-E3 off camera cable. It will have to do for now till I get my head around the different technologies.
Chris_S wrote:
Hi what would you all recommend for wireless control of flashes. I currently using a manual Sunpak but will soon get a Canon 580exII. From what I have read the Canon Speedlite Transmitter ST-E2 works well indoors at very short distances but has problems in bright outdoor lighting.
Pocket wizards seem to be popular in US forums but I haven't seen them in Australia. Anyone have any experience with these? I have a Canon 20D.
Thanks
I have been using these and have found them pretty reliable no mis fires so far. They are recommended by Strobist as a cheaper alternative to PW
Hey guys are we going to keep this thread going it was one post from dropping off the radar. I guess that 6-7 days between posts says a lot but 700 pages has to be some record
In the Spirit of keeping this thread upright and breathing a coupe of shots from this Thursday night. It was a leaving do for one of the guys wheo has been here 10 years.
# 1
# 2
# 3
All taken with my 24-70 F2.8 and an EX 580 bounced off any surface I could find
C and C welcome and appreciated
I think they look great.. though for me as a person that does not know the context it was taken, it's hard for me to get a story of the photo... like if there were work colleagues nearby that was talking etc... if you get what I mean?
I think I know what you mean,
# 1 he'd just walked out the "facility" door for a smoke.
# 2 honestly I just wanted to get a shot of him for the guy who is leaving.
# 3 I was sitting opposite him as he was talking to my wife I focused and called out to him to get him to look straight at me. Sort of caught mid conversation.
