2nd 580EX or Pocket Wizard?
Pindy
Registered Users Posts: 1,089 Major grins
I have $400 burning a hole in my pocket. I'm trying to set up an off-camera hotshoe flash/umbrella setup and have the umbrella, stand, clamp and a 580EX II. I have extensively read the various EOS flash links but cannot come to a decision about whether it's better value to:
1) buy a second flash which would allow for wireless ETTL now and when I do eventually get a radio transmitter, I'll already have two good flashes, OR
2) do I go for the PW now and enjoy the one flash, without ETTL but with the best wireless units? I can always add a 2nd flash later. Oh, and a 3rd PW. :cry
3) ST-E2. This seems like a less-than-valuable purchase compared to the other two. More like icing on the cake. I know Pathfinder et al are fans.
The thing that bugs me is that the PW is so expensive, but the thing that's keeping me from buying the Elinchrom Skyport is the built-in PW support on Sekonic and certain studio lights, both of which I see in my future. I feel like I'll kick myself later and I'm not really interested in the eBay options.
Opinions? It's all hinging on YOU.
1) buy a second flash which would allow for wireless ETTL now and when I do eventually get a radio transmitter, I'll already have two good flashes, OR
2) do I go for the PW now and enjoy the one flash, without ETTL but with the best wireless units? I can always add a 2nd flash later. Oh, and a 3rd PW. :cry
3) ST-E2. This seems like a less-than-valuable purchase compared to the other two. More like icing on the cake. I know Pathfinder et al are fans.
The thing that bugs me is that the PW is so expensive, but the thing that's keeping me from buying the Elinchrom Skyport is the built-in PW support on Sekonic and certain studio lights, both of which I see in my future. I feel like I'll kick myself later and I'm not really interested in the eBay options.
Opinions? It's all hinging on YOU.
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But, these units are said to work very well if you are shooting indoors where you have good line-of-sight between the various units.
The PWs work very well, regardless of the lighting conditions and they work over a much larger range as well.
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This will get you dual off-camera lighting for between $200 and $400 approx. Lots less than one PW. And it isn't wasted...of course you can sell the flashes and ST-E2 here anytime, and use the flashes as hair lights or fill lights later.
I considered the 430 for a bit, but I decided I wanted two equally powered flashes. I agree, you've got a cost-effective kit there, despite the imbalance of power. Still considering it, but I'm skewed more towards getting in on the ground floor of a more powerful system... Thanks again!
Yeah, The ST-E2 is definitely last on my list for that reason. I think I would use flashes outdoors quite a bit, but likely early AM, dusk and at night. I expect to use modifiers so I think that might make relying on line-of-sight transmission kinda questionable.
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If so, as with all your gear, I would strongly suggest backup equipment. I purchased a 580EXII to have a backup to my 580EX. Also, for all the lighting options that it opens up. The 580EX series is a very powerful speedlight, and will allow you to take pics where other lesser powered flash units may leave you wanting.
Also, remember that the 580EX & 580EXII when used as "Master" can control (3) groups of flash's (A, B & C - with C being a background slated group). Each group is unlimited in number of units you can use. The ST-E2 can only control (2) groups (A &
Also, many people (myself included) are very excited about a new and very promising product called RadioPoppers. They allow the use of ETTL-II info, but send it via RF, like PocketWizards. Should be the best of both worlds. With these units, you can still use your off-camera flash in full manual mode if you wish, but with the convenience of being able to change power settings (etc...) from your camera, and also with reliability in full sun, etc.
The ability to use ETTL on remote flash's, under most any condition, will certainly make life a LOT easier in many a situation.
I think when this product is for sale (it's being used by certain high-end photogs now) that there will be a significant move to use Canon/Nikon ETTL/iTTL units.
Whoops!
Didn't want to sound like a commercial for that product, but I truly think it will heavily influence decisions like yours, for a lot of photogs.
Hope that helps...
Actually, Scott I use the ST-E2 out of doors quite frequently.
As for example, here
They take a bit of learning, but ETTL is really nice to have when you need it Funny thing is, that I use PWs in the studio, but St-E2 out of doors. Go figure. The reason I use an ST-E2 rather than a second 580ex is mostly due to size and weight. The 580ex as a MASTER will control three channels, but I rarely really need more than two with available light outside.
I spent quite a bit of time going over this decision myself, and ultimately found I wanted and needed both techniques. There are other radio transmitters that are cheaper than PWs, but PWs just work extremely well. But I Always carry a 580ex and an ST-E2 in my backpack.
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Like you Randy, I am very interested in Radio Poppers if and when they are really for sale. Do you know if they are truly available yet? Radio control and reliability with ETTL-II will be the holy grail.
Moderator of the Technique Forum and Finishing School on Dgrin
They are not available as of today. I am on Kevin King's mailing list, so hopefully I'll get a heads-up when they are. As per the link I provided, you can see that he does have a few "production" units out in the hands of some photogs. I say production, because Kevin has stated for the last few weeks that he was in the final stages of testing units that were produced from the actual production facility, not from a lab.
Can't wait
Looks like a missing link.
Being able to control 580 remotely and reliably would make location shooting sooooo much easier.
Any idea on the price tag?
Hey Nik,
You can go to their website (http://www.radiopopper.com/blog/) and check out all the info on their blog. Everything you could possibly want to know about them. Kevin King, the owner, gladly answers questions on the blog.
They just posted today that their P1 units passed all FCC tests.
"We must now wait for the Comission to issue our ID number - a unique number issued to every piece of certified radio gear. It’s a paperwork process which is currently taking between two and five weeks."
Looks like the P1 (which we are talking about here) will be $175.00 ea. They are going to make a unit that just triggers, like a PocketWizard, later this year. He is targeting the Popper Jr. @ $25.00 ea. That's gonna' put a real hurt on PocketWizard.
NOTE: Read his site, but: This is NOT a stand alone unit. You will need some kind of master unit (IE:ST-E2, 580EX, 580EXII). His unit takes the info from the master (ST-E2, etc) and transmits it to the receiver unit that you have with the remote flash.
But they will not be a substitute for a Master strobe or an ST-E2 as they are still required to trigger the Radio Popper, as you mentioned.
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Oh, thank you for the clarification, Randy, I must admit I missed it. :bash
Well, it makes it a bit less interesting then
I would like to echo to Randy on the back up equipment. I like the idea and may change my upgrade strategy.
I got the 550EX with the Rebel couple years ago and upgrade the camera to 5D without getting a new flash. I also have Sunbitz and old Ricoh flash (30 years old but still working well) and 2 light trigger hotshoes for off-camera flash. They all work fine for product commerical photos and outdoor night photo projects. But just looks a bit "cheapy"
Considering to upgrade the flash for some time and looking into the QFlash. Found it too expensive to start and there are some learning curve.
So now planning to get a 580EXII as main and master flash then move the 550EX as slave and backup, continue to use the othe lowend flash for background or add-on flash. Considering to go to ebay and look for the older 420, 550 or 580 as back up and replace the other old flashs. The 550EX can continue to be the flash for the Rebel or for its future replacement - 40D.
The advantage of doing this is that I don't need to learn too much new things, cheaper to start, can pay slowly according to the income (from photos), can share the power pack and some accessories.
flickr.com/photos/photoskipper/
If you go the PW route, also think about HOW to connect the PW to the off-camera 580. There is no plug on the flash head. I have used a separate shoe that was, to say the least, flimsy (it broke the first time I picked the stand up with the flash on it). Someone recommended Zebraflash's unit, connector (and they have a kit to mod the 580 directly), but I haven't lashed out yet.
Cheers
I have the 580EX II, so PC jacks ahoy.