Back again with more purchases. So the truth is I've never used a pocketwizard or ST-E2.
Currently I shoot with 1-2 580EX II flashes that are triggered with their wireless sensor. I find myself limited at times because I want to perform further distances or different positions that I can't do with the flash on the camera. Using a 3rd flash is probably not an option, as that complicates things with the assistant and the flash sensors. So here are my questions:
If I were to purchase a Pocketwizard Plus II, how many would I need?
Would 1 suffice to trigger a flash? Or do I need to attach one receiver to the flash and one transmitter to the camera's hot shoe?
What's your current use for the PW's? Or are you using Canon ST-E2 instead?
You'll need 2 units... one for your camera (acting as the transmitter) and one attached to your flash (acting as a receiver). Honestly, while PW2's are wonderful, I highly suggest (and recommend) you check out AlienBee's CyberSync. You can get 1 trigger and two receivers for ~$200 total while the PW's will run you ~$550. I've used both and the CyberSyncs are just as reliable as the PocketWizards and are also made from a well known company. Granted the range on them is not as much as the PW, however, it is still a large radius and should suffice for what wedding photographers need to do.
Anyway, regardless of what brand you choose, if you want to do off camera lighting, I think it's best to get some sort of radio wireless triggers. Whether these be PW's, RadioPoppers, CyberSyncs, or Skyports you can't really go wrong. All four are well reputed companies with solid products. I'd stay away from using ST-E2 or master flashes; they just become unreliable after a point (depending on the type of shot you are trying to get).
Saad Syed wrote:
You'll need 2 units... one for your camera (acting as the transmitter) and one attached to your flash (acting as a receiver). Honestly, while PW2's are wonderful, I highly suggest (and recommend) you check out AlienBee's CyberSync. You can get 1 trigger and two receivers for ~$200 total while the PW's will run you ~$550. I've used both and the CyberSyncs are just as reliable as the PocketWizards and are also made from a well known company. Granted the range on them is not as much as the PW, however, it is still a large radius and should suffice for what wedding photographers need to do. ...Show more →
Thanks for the thoughtful input. That's where I had my doubt - wether I needed one or two PW to transmit the signal to one flash.
Now if I get an AlienBee CyberSync - the two receivers will work ok with two flashes? Meaning I can control both 580EX's with one transmitter?
I went through a set of ebay poverty wizards and now use skyports. I love the skyports and they're nowhere near as expensive as the pocket wizards. Skyports also have a nice feature which allows you to set up remote flash units on differing channels and then switch these channels on or off from the transmitter. Can be very useful if you want to change your lighting on the fly, say around a dancefloor.
That said for the price I highly recommend you get a set of cactus triggers (aka poverty wizards) off ebay. That will give you a chance to try all of this out and see if you like it before splashing on expensive triggers.
Italo - with radio triggers, there is no "control" between your flash and trigger, just the syncing of flash and camera. It sounded like in your last sentence that you can control your 580EX with a radio trigger . . . this isn't possible unless you are using the RadioPoppers.
I use PWs because I also use Profoto lights and also a Sekonic meter, which have PWs built in. Considering I have $15k in gear, the price of PWs is really insignificant to me. Not that I wouldn't use the CyberSyncs, but, the seamless integration between my AcuteB and Sekonic lights just makes things very nice for me. I also will use 2x580EX with my AcuteB at times, works like a charm.
So, like others said, you need a transmitter on your camera, and a radio receiver for each light you want to trigger.
You'll need three wizards - two to use and one for backup. THey're damned reliable, but you need, let me say NEED backup of anything that can fail. Two flashes? Take three.
You never know what will happen. I've had a lightstand get broken in the trrunk of my car - so you need to have a backup for everything, even steel, mechanical things you think will never fail.
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As to PW or eTTL/st-e2 I prefer PWs. It takes 2 seconds to adjust a flash and once it's done you can shoot a lot of poses/places without making another adjustment so I don't feel eTTL is worth the hassle of dealing with semi-reliable wireless eTTL.
I also mix monolights and speedlights, and of course monolights won't do the eTTL thing. And if you don't need eTTL you can buy ANY speedlights you like, even older cheaper models rather than needing canon 580s at $400 a pop.
I use PW MultiMax32s at sporting events to keep other photographers from firing my stuff - otherwise I would have just gotten Plus IIs. I just don't care to try other things when timing is crucial. At my last wedding just a few days ago, everyone was running late, the wedding was starting soon, and the bride wanted more and more formals added. I told her they were at an expense of other 'fun' shots since the sun sets so incredibly early in the winters.
She was fine with it, but reliability is key when time is critical. I don't care to be on the receiving end of a pissed bride because my equipment wouldn't work 100% correctly when it needed to. I use Pocketwizards because they are the industry standard and have worked flawlessly since day 1. Until I'm otherwise convinced, there's really no substitute.
The st-e2 is awful! We had one for a while and it never worked when it was supposed to.
The Pocket Wizards are great and consistent and even though they are mostly made of plastic (which is lamo since they cost $180 each!) they are the best for triggering anything wireless.
I have yet to use the Radio Poppers, but if I can shoot an any speed shutter with consistency, then those are next!
- al3x - thanks for suggesting an alternative to the PW's. I usually like to settle with the best from the beginning so I think i'm gonna move on with the PW's.
- Spencer - thanks for clearing my doubts on the radio trigger and control over the flash. I thought you would have some LCD display to control A + B + C but I guess not. You're also right on the investment part.
- Prof_Fate - you're always giving great and useful advices. We've got plenty of backup and definitely will look into the PW backup part of it.
- Travis - I agree with everything you say.
- Zach - I was needing an input on the ST-E2 and you made a very good point. I'm leaning more towards the PW's so that will certainly help make a better decision!
I also use 580 EX II flashes... and want the option of having both off camera, or one on and one off.
I have seen some transmitters being attached below the camera (to the screw mount?) so that you can still use one of the flashes on the camera its self. I bet all brands dont do this.... but I bet PWs do... because they cost more and that would be Murphy's Law.
I was looking at the CyberSync... anyone know??
Skyports seemed more bothersome, mainly because they drain power from the camera & flashes, not have their own power source.
Radio Poppers aren't selling new ones for a couple months and I want an entry level (yes, cheaper) system to see if it's something I like doing... and I want to try them on some shoots I have soon.
Italo, I have looked at your website and do not understand why you would consider anything other than pocket wizards. It can't be a money thing with the quality of your work product.
rhembein wrote:
I have a question for this thread too...
I also use 580 EX II flashes... and want the option of having both off camera, or one on and one off.
I have seen some transmitters being attached below the camera (to the screw mount?) so that you can still use one of the flashes on the camera its self. I bet all brands dont do this.... but I bet PWs do... because they cost more and that would be Murphy's Law.
I was looking at the CyberSync... anyone know??
Skyports seemed more bothersome, mainly because they drain power from the camera & flashes, not have their own power source.
Radio Poppers aren't selling new ones for a couple months and I want an entry level (yes, cheaper) system to see if it's something I like doing... and I want to try them on some shoots I have soon. ...Show more →
rhembein, skyports don't drain from the camera and do have their own batteries. In the transmitter this is a lithium CR2 and in the receivers it's a rechargeable lithium, and they come with the charger.
I often use mine combined with an mounted hot shoe flash as a fill. I attach the skyport trigger to the pc sync port on my camera, then the flash goes on the hotshoe. The skyport transmitter is small in size so I have a piece of velcro on my hotshoe flash and the transmitter just attaches to this.
As far as I know the PW's are a bit larger but people mount them in exactly the same way when they want to have a hotshoe flash. As far as I know they do not attach to any mount on the camera, you have to use velcro or the hotshoe.
rhembein wrote:
I have a question for this thread too...
I also use 580 EX II flashes... and want the option of having both off camera, or one on and one off.
I use a hot shoe adapter ala Strobist - the one end goes to a light stand the other is the hot shoe and out the side comes a wire that plugs into the PW. I use the strap that is on the PW to hang it on the stand.
The PW comes with a PW to PC cord that you can plug into the PC port on the camera - so the on=-camera flash can be used and off camera as well. I attache the PW to the 580 on my camera with velcro and put the PW strap over the 580 so that if the velcro lets go, gets bumped, etc the PW will dangle from the cord rather than detach and fall.
John Power wrote:
Italo, I have looked at your website and do not understand why you would consider anything other than pocket wizards. It can't be a money thing with the quality of your work product.
Thanks John. I'm not considering anything other than Pocket Wizards, but I brought up a possible "VS" because I wanted to know if there are any other alternatives as I have never had wireless triggers other than my 580EX II flashes that sync themselves. And the reason I'm considering PW's is because of their great reaching in distance.
Italo Campilii wrote:
Back again with more purchases. So the truth is I've never used a pocketwizard or ST-E2.
Currently I shoot with 1-2 580EX II flashes that are triggered with their wireless sensor. I find myself limited at times because I want to perform further distances or different positions that I can't do with the flash on the camera. Using a 3rd flash is probably not an option, as that complicates things with the assistant and the flash sensors. So here are my questions:
If I were to purchase a Pocketwizard Plus II, how many would I need?
Would 1 suffice to trigger a flash? Or do I need to attach one receiver to the flash and one transmitter to the camera's hot shoe?
What's your current use for the PW's? Or are you using Canon ST-E2 instead?
I have PW's x4, the cheap ebay triggers x4 (backups) and now the RP's.
RP's are by FAR the better trigger for dedicated flash and allow for HSS and excellent ttl functionality from your on cam master. Also useable in manual mode and are a radio signal. I would wait for the new versions to hit early this year. I plan to trade the old ones for the new as soon as possible. Totally reliable units too.
