Pocket Wizards (or maybe something for less $$)

08/30/2007 12:16:29 PM · #1

Alright, I have 3 flashes, AB800, Canon 430ex, and Canon 580ex.

I want to shoot them all from my 400d, with the use of PW, or some other kind of transmitter.
I was looking at PW transceivers, however they are about 300 a piece, and that is a little expensive.

I was wondering if someone could lay it down straight for me, because I'm confused what kind of wiring and transceivers I would need in the end, thanks.

danielv

Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT

08/30/2007 12:28:45 PM · #2

I gather from your post that the slave cell in the AB800 is not enough? Cause this is the cheapest way ($0) to do it.

08/30/2007 12:29:07 PM · #3

//www.gadgetinfinity.com/home.php?cat=274

:)

Nusbaum

Fujifilm X-T1

Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM

08/30/2007 12:50:55 PM · #4

I still using optical slaves, but after talking to a number of photographers it seems that pocket wizards are the best option. Not to say another product won't work, but when you find every single pro you encounter using pocket wizard you have to wonder if it makes sense to second guess what they have learned. Plus, some lighting and metering systems are now incorporating pocket wizard into their solutions.

For me... I'm using optical or wires until I can justify the pocketwizard investment.

08/30/2007 01:50:15 PM · #5

the slave on my alien bee only fires when it sees a flash, which is annoying.

i mean 300 for one pocket wizard?

that comes to 1200, for 3 flashes and a camera.

seems a little crazy

Gordon

RIM BlackBerry Curve

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

08/30/2007 01:52:02 PM · #6

Originally posted by Elmakias:

the slave on my alien bee only fires when it sees a flash, which is annoying.

i mean 300 for one pocket wizard?

that comes to 1200, for 3 flashes and a camera.

seems a little crazy

I think you are looking at the wrong pocket wizards though. You don't need a PW Max, the PW Multi II's should be fine. They are about $140 each if you are careful.

There's also a few cheaper, less reliable options on ebay and some other places. Also worth noting that you can't directly connect a PW to a 430EX or 580 EX (unless it's the 580 EX II with the PC socket) You'll need to get $5 hotshoe to mini-phono adaptors. Similarly if you want to use optical or wired PC triggers.

The gadget infinity triggers tend to not like Canon strobes (though I think they claim to have fixed the trigger sensitivity) and mis-fire on occasion. I sold my ebay triggers because of that. Pocket wizards just work.

ETA - There's another brand out there that is supposed to be reasonable too - cheetah or something ? It is 'cactus' which is the new gadget infinity brand version ?

An entirely different option for you would be to get an ST-E2 and shoot wireless/IR E-TTL, triggering the 430EX and 580EX remotely (but requiring line of sight)

Message edited by author 2007-08-30 13:57:23.

violinist123

Canon EOS-6D

08/30/2007 01:52:08 PM · #7

They aren't 300 they are 179 each.

FireBird

08/30/2007 02:27:04 PM · #8

I fire as many as 5 flashes with my "Cactus" 16 channel studio version of the eBay triggers. Number on shoe mount TX is RF616. I only recommend them if you can use a soldering iron. The PC connection on these units are worse than useless. To get reliable operation you must splice the required connector for your flash onto the cable coming out of the end of the unit. Here is a pic of mine.

These units work fine on Nikon SpeedLights but they sometimes choke if too close to Canon flashes as others here have noted. They also have NO provision for TTL, iTTL, so you'll be using manual mode with these units. If you like your Bees they have a remote system for them but I don't know if it will work with your Canon flashes. Check the URL that wavelenth gave you if you're interested in the eBay units. I think you'd need to order a pair, RX/TX and then two additionalRX units. Then you'd need to splice the proper connectors to the RX units. It's only two conductors and the RX slaves use uni-directional semi-conductors so if you hook it up wrong it still works. For 3 RX units with shipping it would set you back about 70 80 bucks if I remember correctly. YMMV. The PW's are the Caddilac! If I ever get rich or turn pro I'll have'm.

Gordon

RIM BlackBerry Curve

08/30/2007 02:29:11 PM · #9

Originally posted by fir3bird:

I forgot to add, I also re-soldered the PC socket on mine after it broke from about 5 insert/ removes. Not the best kwality, random triggering with a 420EX and 580EX, but worked fine(ish) with a Nikon SB-28.

Wasn't worth the money for the trouble and number of missed shots.

Message edited by author 2007-08-30 14:29:49.

08/30/2007 03:19:43 PM · #10

Originally posted by Gordon:

Originally posted by Elmakias:
the slave on my alien bee only fires when it sees a flash, which is annoying.

i mean 300 for one pocket wizard?

that comes to 1200, for 3 flashes and a camera.

seems a little crazy

I think you are looking at the wrong pocket wizards though. You don't need a PW Max, the PW Multi II's should be fine. They are about $140 each if you are careful.

There's also a few cheaper, less reliable options on ebay and some other places. Also worth noting that you can't directly connect a PW to a 430EX or 580 EX (unless it's the 580 EX II with the PC socket) You'll need to get $5 hotshoe to mini-phono adaptors. Similarly if you want to use optical or wired PC triggers.

The gadget infinity triggers tend to not like Canon strobes (though I think they claim to have fixed the trigger sensitivity) and mis-fire on occasion. I sold my ebay triggers because of that. Pocket wizards just work.

ETA - There's another brand out there that is supposed to be reasonable too - cheetah or something ? It is 'cactus' which is the new gadget infinity brand version ?

An entirely different option for you would be to get an ST-E2 and shoot wireless/IR E-TTL, triggering the 430EX and 580EX remotely (but requiring line of sight)

The Cactus V2's supposedly work better with the Canon flashes, the V2s's are for funky voltage flashes.

On, the page I linked the top two are better for studio stuff. And you can get pc-sync cords to hook them up to a hot-shoe adapter too. Only problem I've had is that the transmitter likes to go to sleep after a few minutes of down-time, but no firing problems on them besides that. The occasional dark frame is worth saving hundreds of dollars to me.

Prof_Fate

08/30/2007 05:50:35 PM · #11

PWs are the best thing out there - the most reliable and universal tool for the job.
The Plus units are $175ish - and you need one for the camera to send and one for each flash to receive - plus the cables from the PW to the flash ($20 or less each usually).

The AB is not a prob. The hot shoe flashes you mention don't take cords, so now you need a hot shoe to PC adapter...$36 or so each (i just ordered one today). I tried cobbling together a hotshoe to PC deal for $10 and well, it's not reliable at all.

I've tried the cheap e-bay units and well, they're not worth what little they want for them. too many false triggers (flourscent lights, cell phones, wireless mice, etc will trigger them)

Prof_Fate

08/30/2007 05:53:18 PM · #12

Originally posted by Elmakias:

the slave on my alien bee only fires when it sees a flash, which is annoying.

i mean 300 for one pocket wizard?

that comes to 1200, for 3 flashes and a camera.

seems a little crazy

You gotta pay to play!
I got the PW plus's..2 when they first came out and were a bit over $200 each. ONe more for $185 and a fourth recently, used, for $150. Add in 3 PW to 1/4" cords at $17 each...and my meter (sekonic L358) has the PW module in it too so I can trigger the flashes wirelessly for metering (best money I ever spent!).

Gordon

RIM BlackBerry Curve

08/30/2007 05:53:41 PM · #13

Originally posted by Prof_Fate:

I bought my PW (multi II) for $140 each, new about 9 months ago. The hot shoe adapters for a canon flash to PW should be about $5 each. You don't really need to get a hot shoe <-> pc adapter, might as well go for mono phono plug (1/8") rather than the rather fragile pc socket. The PW all use mono-phono cables and you can pick them up for a dollar or two (or $40+ for the PW brand cable - another silly mark-up)

The biggest rip-off is the PW to canon adapter to trigger the camera remotely. About $140 for the PW version. I made one myself for $20 and it took about 5 minutes with a soldering iron.

Message edited by author 2007-08-30 17:55:50.

08/30/2007 05:58:02 PM · #14

I love my Cactus 4 channel triggers... can't beat them for the money. I rarely et false triggers, other than from my cell phone (for some odd reason it "gets into" everything, including my stereo).

09/07/2007 07:11:52 PM · #15

I am having trouble connecting my cactus to my flash, does anyone know how to do this?

09/07/2007 07:42:59 PM · #16

Originally posted by Elmakias:

I am having trouble connecting my cactus to my flash, does anyone know how to do this?

What flashes and which Cactus triggers?

09/07/2007 07:47:42 PM · #17

canon 430, and canon 580

i have the first 2 on the listtriggers

09/07/2007 07:49:43 PM · #18

You need a hot-shoe to PC adapter for those dude.

09/07/2007 07:51:36 PM · #19

So the 16 channel version? I think you are going to need some PC to Hotshoe adapters, since neither of those flashes has PC inputs.

09/07/2007 07:52:04 PM · #20

i thought i ordered that, but it doenst seem to work right
adapter i got

Message edited by author 2007-09-07 19:55:52.

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

09/07/2007 07:56:09 PM · #21

Here's one

robs

Canon EOS R6 Mk II

09/07/2007 07:58:19 PM · #22

I went for the cheap flee-bay cause could not justify the PW's BUT there is now another option in between.... Linkie

Edit: Sorry, Wrong type of product for linkie... Fixed.

Message edited by author 2007-09-07 19:59:53.

09/07/2007 07:58:42 PM · #23

Originally posted by Elmakias:

i thought i ordered that, but it doenst seem to work right
adapter i got

I think that might be sync-out only, and not hooked into the top hot-shoe, that would explain it not working at least.

09/07/2007 07:59:19 PM · #24

man, i missed up
looks like i got the wrong thing

do they sell these at any stores i can quick run too?