Pocket Wizard

[haunteddoc]

Looking for a way to remotely trigger my canon 580ex. I have read about the pocket wizards. Is this the best option? Can I trigger more than one flash with these. I have tried to read as much as I can about them but a lot of the info seems confusing. Are there other alternates, i.e. cheaper? I have a very cheap remote thingy off the internet but it only works intermittently and all the flash adjustments have to be done manually and there is no TTL. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[gary]

i have the ste transmitter from canon, i don't know if it's cheaper than a pocket wizard
it does work pretty good, and can fire multiple flashes

 

[mSummers]

You should take a look at Radio Poppers. The problem with the pocket wizards or the cheap (not as reliable) ebay remotes is that they only trigger the flash. The radio poppers piggyback the infrared signals from the master flash and transmit it by radio to the receiver that is attached to the flash, which translates the radio signal back into the infrared from the master allowing you to use the TTL features of the flash with more reliability, at greater distances and in situations where you don't have the line of sight needed for the infrared operation.

 

[haunteddoc]

Mike, so the Radio Poppers can trigger via radio and infrared? I have been thinking of getting a Vivitar 285HV Auto as a second flash. Can this be triggered by the Radio Poppers? I read about this flash on The Strobist web site and they gave it good marks especially for a less expensive alternative to the 580EX II.

 

[mSummers]

I don't have a set of radio poppers (I'd like a set, but can't justify the cost right now), but from what I've read, when the master flash or flash controller on the camera sends the instructional packet set of flashes just prior to firing the flash, there is a tiny pulse (magnetic I think) put out by the master unit. The radio popper transmitter unit is attached directly to the master flash head or the top of the flash controller and is able to pick up that tiny pulse, translate it to a radio signal that is sent to the receiver. The receiver then translates that radio signal back into the infrared signal and transmits it to the slave flash's infrared pickup through a fiber optic cable. The achilles heal of the infrared systems is that there is a limited range and you have to have line of sight between the master and slave. The radio popper has a longer range and eliminates the need for the line of sight, so you can put them wherever you want and still have all of the regular features.

I don't know if they can trigger the Vivitar flashes or not.

 

[mSummers]

I just checked the Radio Popper P1 Manual and the Vivitar flashes are not on the list, only Nikon and Canon.

Here's the list copied right out of the manual:

"Compatible Hardware:
The P1 System has been tested and found to be compatible with the following flash hardware. See our website for updates as we test and certify compatibility with additional hardware.

Canon Master / Commander Devices:
SpeedLite 550EX(1), SpeedLite 580EX, SpeedLite 580EX II, SpeedLite Transmitter ST-E2

Canon Slave / Remote Devices:
SpeedLites 420EX, 430EX, 550EX, 580EX, 580 EX II

Nikon Master / Commander Devices:
SB-800 AF Speedlight, SU-800 Wireless Speedlight Commander, Nikon “pop-upâ€

 

[haunteddoc]

OK thanks. It looks like either option would require the purchase of at least two units. Somewhere around $400 - $500. So, think I will probably pass on the remote triggers other than the cheap ones on ebay. There is another option I have heard of that I need to check out. I think they were called Wein "Peanuts" or something like that. May end up just sticking with my shop lights I have been using through a diffuser screen. I am on this "see how cheap I can get this done" kick lately and making stuff out of PVC pipe and old tripods etc. Lots of fun and although the results are not all that professional looking I am still on the steep part of the learning curve with all this and having fun.