580exII+580ex+PW=confusion on my part

[relatively_mike]

First off let me say, wow, I wish I had found this gem of a site earlier in my photo adventures cause it's just a mass of information. I'm posting my problem here because, any search for information on the subject has led me to this site. However, I am still stuck and this may be just from a lack of understanding on my part, but I can't get my set up to work so I'm posting in hopes that someone will be able to come to my aid.

I'm working with a Canon 20D, two pocket wizard plus II, a 580exII and a 580ex. (I have a couple of 420exs as well but for now let's forget about them.)

I would like to use the pocket wizards to trigger the two 580ex flashes remotely, thus giving me two off camera flashes for lighting goodness.

The problem: When I trigger the flashes, through the shutter release, there is a delay from the 580ex, which is the flash which is triggered through IF not a pocket wizard. So, I hit the shutter release the 580exII triggers perfectly then a second later the 580ex triggers. I have yet to figure out how to get them to fire in synch.

I read a few of the threads on this forum, and quite frankly I'm a little lost. I was pointed this way by discussion on the Flickr strobist group which haven't proven helpful. One thing that was mention in my search was that both flashes would have to be set to manual. Since the ETTL would require direct flash to camera communication. I have tried switching both to manual, yet because the 580ex isn't set to slave it won't fire.

Ok, enough of my prattling on I'll just throw out some questions.

1) Does anyone know where I'm going wrong?
2) I was suggested that putting the 580ex in manual slave mode would make it work, yet as soon as you move the switch over to slave it locks into ETTL mode, how do you make the 580ex a manual slave?
3) Any ideas for modes, experiments that I can undertake to make things work?

[PacAce]

First off let me say, wow, I wish I had found this gem of a site earlier in my photo adventures cause it's just a mass of information. I'm posting my problem here because, any search for information on the subject has led me to this site. However, I am still stuck and this may be just from a lack of understanding on my part, but I can't get my set up to work so I'm posting in hopes that someone will be able to come to my aid.

I'm working with a Canon 20D, two pocket wizard plus II, a 580exII and a 580ex. (I have a couple of 420exs as well but for now let's forget about them.)

I would like to use the pocket wizards to trigger the two 580ex flashes remotely, thus giving me two off camera flashes for lighting goodness.

The problem: When I trigger the flashes, through the shutter release, there is a delay from the 580ex, which is the flash which is triggered through IF not a pocket wizard. So, I hit the shutter release the 580exII triggers perfectly then a second later the 580ex triggers. I have yet to figure out how to get them to fire in synch.

I read a few of the threads on this forum, and quite frankly I'm a little lost. I was pointed this way by discussion on the Flickr strobist group which haven't proven helpful. One thing that was mention in my search was that both flashes would have to be set to manual. Since the ETTL would require direct flash to camera communication. I have tried switching both to manual, yet because the 580ex isn't set to slave it won't fire.

Ok, enough of my prattling on I'll just throw out some questions.

1) Does anyone know where I'm going wrong?
2) I was suggested that putting the 580ex in manual slave mode would make it work, yet as soon as you move the switch over to slave it locks into ETTL mode, how do you make the 580ex a manual slave?
3) Any ideas for modes, experiments that I can undertake to make things work?
Hi, relatively_mike, first of all, let me wish you a warm welcome to the forum.

In order to make the two flashes work the way you want, you will need to set the master flash to Manual mode. This is the flash that will be triggered by the PW unit.

The slave flash, which will be triggered via IR from the master, can be set to one of two modes, either ETTL or Manual. If it is set to ETTL mode, the slave needs to be in put in Group B so that it's output can be controlled from the master and adjusted independently of the output of the master.

On the master, turn on A:B ratio. Then adjust the master output followed by the slave output.

If, on the other hand, you want to control the slave output on the slave unit itself, you will need to set the slave to Manual mode, too. This is done by pressing and holding the Mode button with the flash in Slave mode. The "M" (for manual) will blink on the LCD screen. You can then adjust the power level of the flash.

Hope that helps.

[relatively_mike]

Hmm, now the shutter doesn't trigger the flash at all. Seems the only mode that the PW will trigger the flash is in ETTL.

[PacAce]

Hmm, now the shutter doesn't trigger the flash at all. Seems the only mode that the PW will trigger the flash is in ETTL.

Are you using the 580EX II as the master and connected to the PW via the sync terminal on the flash? If so, there lies your problem. When the 580EX II is in Manual and Master mode, the PC sync terminal is disabled. You will need to use a hotshoe adapter cable to trigger the 580EX II. More details here (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=375660) on this issue with the 580EX II flash.

[jmb4370]

Don't forget that on the 580 EX II the PC jack is NOT active in Manual Master mode unless you have someone re-wire the flash for the Aux sync Jack Mod... You will need to use the 580 EX as the master, and the 580 EX II as the slave for this to work in manual mode.

[PacAce]

Don't forget that on the 580 EX II the PC jack is NOT active in Manual Master mode unless you have someone re-wire the flash for the Aux sync Jack Mod... You will need to use the 580 EX as the master, and the 580 EX II as the slave for this to work in manual mode.

Since both the 580EX and the 580EX II will need a hotshoe adapter to trigger the flash in this mode, it really doesn't matter which one is used as the master.

[jmb4370]

Actually, I believe if the 580 EX II is used as the slave, it can connect through the PC jack...then the 580 EX can either connect through a hot shoe or a sync jack mod.

[relatively_mike]

Eureka! Perhaps, looks like I'll need that adapter.

[PacAce]

Actually, I believe if the 580 EX II is used as the slave, it can connect through the PC jack...then the 580 EX can either connect through a hot shoe or a sync jack mod.

If the 580EX II is used as a slave, then it doesn't need any type of connection. ;)

[luckee]

ok i setup the pocket WZ and it work on Ettl but not manual and witht he Wiz, On ettl it fire the other from the Wz but is like a little delay like a sec, any way to fix that? Im try to shoot with two stands and two flashes in umbrella. Will that work or is that over kill?

[PacAce]

ok i setup the pocket WZ and it work on Ettl but not manual and witht he Wiz, On ettl it fire the other from the Wz but is like a little delay like a sec, any way to fix that? Im try to shoot with two stands and two flashes in umbrella. Will that work or is that over kill?

See my reply in your thread; http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=446791

Or, see post #2 above. :)