Pocket Wizard and Flash Questions.

Racerx7734

Scenario:
I want to fire an off camera flash using pocketwizards or something similar
I am shooting fast moving mountain bikes, so I need something (I think) with fast recycle times.
I have a Canon 40D

Questions:
Do I need (2) pocket wizards? One for the camera and one for the off camera flash?
Do I have to buy a 580EX?
Can I buy a cheaper flash that will fire with the Pocketwizards?
If I buy a cheaper flash will it still work on camera like the 580EX?
What cable do I use from the unit that connects to the off camera flash?


Thanks all..........I'm confused..............and I just want toi setup a couple tripods with flashes on them and fire them with pocketwizards.

Balls187

Comments inlined below.

For additional off camera lighting, I highly recommend Strobist.

Racerx7734 wrote:

Questions:
Do I need (2) pocket wizards? One for the camera and one for the off camera flash?

You need a Transmitter, and a Receiver. The PW Plus II acts as a "Transceiver" which means it can work as either. But you will need at least 2 of them. PW also has the FlexTT5 series which adds E-TTL capabilities. With the PW Plus line, you'll set your flash exposures manually. With FlexTT5, you can have the camera set the exposure for you (e-ttl).

Racerx7734 wrote:

Do I have to buy a 580EX?

No.

Racerx7734 wrote:

Can I buy a cheaper flash that will fire with the Pocketwizards?

Yes you can. The 580EX is a great flash and has all kinds of cool features, but is not required to use Pocket Wizards.

Racerx7734 wrote:

If I buy a cheaper flash will it still work on camera like the 580EX?

Yes and no. Older flash units will not work, and can potentially damage your camera. Sigma makes flashes that offer comperable features to Canon, but at a reduced cost.

Racerx7734 wrote:

What cable do I use from the unit that connects to the off camera flash?

It depend's on the type of flash you get. Some Canon flashes have a PC sync port, but I believe other Canon units require a Hotshoe to PC Sync adapter. Again it all depends.

Racerx7734

Balls187 wrote:

Comments inlined below.

For additional off camera lighting, I highly recommend Strobist.


You need a Transmitter, and a Receiver. The PW Plus II acts as a "Transceiver" which means it can work as either. But you will need at least 2 of them. PW also has the FlexTT5 series which adds E-TTL capabilities. With the PW Plus line, you'll set your flash exposures manually. With FlexTT5, you can have the camera set the exposure for you (e-ttl).


No.

Yes you can. The 580EX is a great flash and has all kinds of cool features, but is not required to use Pocket Wizards.

Yes and no. Older flash units will not work, and can potentially damage your camera. Sigma makes flashes that offer comperable features to Canon, but at a reduced cost.


It depend's on the type of flash you get. Some Canon flashes have a PC sync port, but I believe other Canon units require a Hotshoe to PC Sync adapter. Again it all depends.

Thanks a bunch.....that clears things up a ton for me.

So, I am thinking about getting this:

(3) Pocket Wizard II's
(2) Vivatar 285HV's

Do you know what cables I need for from the PW to the camera and from the PW to the Flashes?

Scott_Quier

Racerx7734 wrote:

Thanks a bunch.....that clears things up a ton for me.

So, I am thinking about getting this:

(3) Pocket Wizard II's
(2) Vivatar 285HV's

Do you know what cables I need for from the PW to the camera and from the PW to the Flashes?

Good choice on the flashes.

Cables:
1. You don't need to by anything new. The PW comes with the cable you need to connect between the flash and the PW - a "normal" sync ... it'll be something very similar to this cable ... but like I said, one of these comes with each PW
2. For camera to PW - just mount the PW in the hot show. If you don't want to do this, you can use the included cable but you'll still have to find some way to mount the PW to the camera as you don't want it flapping in the breeze.

AlbertZeroK

Check this out:

http://www.pocketwizard.com/inspirations/tutorials/pocketwizard_controltl_optimiz/

It states that Pocket Wizard has found a way to increase the cycle time on High speed shots on the 580exII.

rsi1986

I'm using the Alien Bees Cyber Syncs, and love them. They are much smaller than PW, and travel better. They also cost a lot less.

http://www.alienbees.com/cybersync.html#cst

Chiriqui Charlie

If you don't want to spend the bucks for pocket wizards, google rt-602, A transmitter plus two receivers is just $50, they are reported to have great range and 100% reliability


Thanks all..........I'm confused..............and I just want toi setup a couple tripods with flashes on them and fire them with pocketwizards.[/quote]

ziggy53

Chiriqui Charlie wrote:

If you don't want to spend the bucks for pocket wizards, google rt-602, A transmitter plus two receivers is just $50, they are reported to have great range and 100% reliability

Chiriqui Charlie, welcome to the Digital Grin.

Thanks for the suggestion.

Balls187

Chiriqui Charlie wrote:

If you don't want to spend the bucks for pocket wizards, google rt-602, A transmitter plus two receivers is just $50, they are reported to have great range and 100% reliability


Thanks all..........I'm confused..............and I just want toi setup a couple tripods with flashes on them and fire them with pocketwizards.

[/quote]

Thanks for the suggestion, but when I google "rt-602" I don't get anything meaningful.

ziggy53

Balls187 wrote:

Thanks for the suggestion, but when I google "rt-602" I don't get anything meaningful.

I think they meant "RF-602".

I suggest the Cactus 16 channel RF units.

http://www.gadgetinfinity.com/product.php?productid=16656&cat=274&page=1

I have very similar units from another vendor and they work nicely. I also suggest ordering extra because 1 transmitter was DOA, but at the price I really can't complain.