If you stay with Canon, be prepared to work-around their flashes regardless of your wireless triggering solution. And yes, I now shoot Canon, go figure.
gravygraffix wrote:
There was a great vid right after the ettl PWs came out.
They got 36 feet max a radio poppers were over a block away and were still getting ettl signals.
I'm all about cyber syncs till I have a need for more than 200th.
I've recently purchased the RP PX system, couldn't be happier with it. But be aware this is not the Jr system, so you MUST have a master flash on your camera. I actually prefer this setting, this way I can adjust all my remote strobes from my master, either TTL or Manual. HSS is also supported. Basically, it overrides the built-in infrared signal and replaces it with its own radio signal, everything else is still your own strobes.
It's sure pricey! Two receivers and two transmitters cost 1K! Ouch!
RP's on SB800's are very nice using both TTL and manual. Watch the rechargeable AAA's in the PX transmitter though. I've had a couple instances of the transmitter having issues with my Enloops so now using alkalines. Heat can also be an issue (failed outdoors in 90+ degree heat under direct sunlight - happened to me once). Other than that I've been very happy with the poppers. Wish they made them a bit more durable though...they just look rather flimsy.
4honor wrote:
Oh, so even the old PW's have problems? Maybe everyone at PW are Nikon shooters?
I use the PW II's with Nikon and they aren't reliable. It's infuriating when only half of your flashes go and you're only 20 feet away with fresh batteries in them. As soon as you turn off the camera mounted flash they work fine. I've been wondering if cybersync's have the same problem or if it's only PW.
I was having problems this weekend with the PW's and the 580 EX ii, and I am convinced it is the cord.
I could get it to go off with a test, and then once with a shot, and then back to nothing.
I had my husband hold the cord tight into the speedlight and it worked everytime. I think the cord isn't staying.
The cord wasn't falling out by any means, but I think it wasn't in there tight.
Put your flashes in a darkish small room and test whatever you want using Canon's line of site wireless flash system.
If you CAN do it with your Canon's flashes you can do it with RP on Canon's flashes.
I *THINK* you can have the master in ETTL and slaves in manual (and control the manual power on the slaves from the master) but I'm not 100% sure. One thing is for sure... the menu system on the 580EX2 SUCKS BIG TIME... forget about "quickly switch" anything with those suckas!
Put your flashes in a darkish small room and test whatever you want using Canon's line of site wireless flash system.
If you CAN do it with your Canon's flashes you can do it with RP on Canon's flashes.
I *THINK* you can have the master in ETTL and slaves in manual (and control the manual power on the slaves from the master) but I'm not 100% sure. One thing is for sure... the menu system on the 580EX2 SUCKS BIG TIME... forget about "quickly switch" anything with those suckas!...Show more →
Yeah, I know. I'm chalking this up to straight up laziness. Thanks for calling me out though
Hopefully RP ships fast and I can test for myself soon...
You beat me to it... the only issue is if you try to do the same mod with the 430ex... there isn't enough room for the components, so I did your mod on my 580 and this mod on the 430's
(basically I had to use a cable, strip it back and soldier it direct to the hot shoe, and then I am able to do essentially the same thing with my 430 as I did with the 580...
Tony: if you were going manual... unless I missed something, what was wrong with the cybersyncs? I can't complain about reliability whatsoever with the things... indoors, outdoors, as long as my flash is charged it is firing.
MTBtrials wrote:
Tony: if you were going manual... unless I missed something, what was wrong with the cybersyncs? I can't complain about reliability whatsoever with the things... indoors, outdoors, as long as my flash is charged it is firing.
Manual will only be used on an as-needed basis once I get the RPs. My usual off-camera flash style is one that will benefit greatly from ETTL and FEC I think... but I'll still use manual when it's needed. It'll be nice to have both.