pocket wizards the right buy???

[KHAS]

Hi all,
wondering if anyone on this forum was knowledgeable in this area! I am looking to purchase a wireless transmitter for my camera which will allow me to trigger one or more flash guns from a decent distance. I work with Canon Eos 1d Mark3's and 580ex2 flash guns. I have the speedlite transmitter st-e2 but find it completely inconsistant and not worth much if trying to trigger from a distance. I came across an advert for pocket Wizards and wondered if they would work for my needs. Basically want something i can attach to the camera hotshoe which will sync canon flashes from a repectable distances? Any help greatly appreciated!
Khas

[TheHoff]

Since you already have the ST-E2...
www.radiopopper.com

[Bumgardnern]

I sue Pocket Wizards and love them. They work consistently and that is a big thing for me. I have not had any problems out of them at all. You do loose TTL when you use the Pocket Wizards, but I generally find it annoying for the camera and flash to decide my exposure itself. You can also look at ellenchrom skyports.

[ben_r_]

Radio Poppers arent ready yet IMHO... Gotta give them some more time to make sure they are really a contender. For not Im loving my Pocket Wizards and would highly recommend a set of those.

[stathunter]

I vote for pocket wizards for now......radio poppers for 2009.

[TheHoff]

I vote for pocket wizards for now......radio poppers for 2009.

True. If you make money and you need them now, there isn't much of a choice... but if the OP can get by with the STE2 he already has and wait a bit for the poppers, he may not want to invest in PW unless it is a money maker.

[KHAS]

thats great guys! How do you use them ? Do you have to attach a receiver to the flashguns or does the pocket wizard attached to the camera hot-shoe speak directly to the flash guns? Also i generally always use my flashes on manual setting so don't mind losing ttl. And which model(s) do you recommend i buy?

[Bumgardnern]

I use the Plus II models. You attach one of them to the hot shoe on your camera. You attach the other via a synch cable to your flash.

[KHAS]

so does that mean that if i were to use 2/3 flash guns, then i would need a plus II reciever for each flash (or can you just turn the flash over to master setting and use it to trigger the other flashguns?)

[nadtz]

You would need a pocket wizard for each flash and the camera. So with 3 flashes and a camera, 4 wizards.

[Bumgardnern]

I have never used small flashes but with studio flashes you can use an optical slave they are like 20 bucks for so.

[martinsmith]

I use Skyports which are a bit cheaper than PWs. Range is a little less than PWs but unless you need to trigger from a very long distance then they work fine.

I use optical slaves on additional flashes, which work well indoors but not in daylight outdoors.

[KHAS]

Hey Guys, Thanks for all the informative advise. By pure coincidence, i came across the answer to my problems! My girlfriend has a studio here in Dublin, and uses bowens lighting. I tried and tested (successfully) the Bowens Pulsar radio transmitter that she uses, with my camera and 580 flash units. It fired from great distances, when the flash unit was hidden from view, and when you set the flash (580ex11) to 'Master', it also triggered any other flashes set to 'Slave', therefore eliminating the need to purchase additional receiver units. (I suspect this might also be the case with the PC's). Just thought i would let you know, in case someone else found themselves faced with the same problem using the canon transmitter. For me, that problem was (A) trying to trigger the flash from any proper distance, (B) triggering a flash hidden from camera view, and (C) triggering the flash in harsh sunlight.
Again, thanks for all the prompt advise and suggestions!
Khas

[KHAS]

and when you set the flash (580ex11) to 'Master', it also triggered any other flashes set to 'Slave', therefore eliminating the need to purchase additional receiver units. (I suspect this might also be the case with the PC's).
Khas

Oops!.,. The PC's should have been PW's (For PocketWizards).