Off Camera Flash - I Know Nothing :(

[briancmo]

So a photographe I met today was telling me before I go on my winter travels, I need to get my flash off camera. What's the best way to do this thats most cost effective? With a cable or cheap pocket wizards? I know nothing about this stuff, other then the lighter and less clunkier the better. Advice would be greatly appreciated :)

[Titus213]

Type of flash? And what type of shooting do you do?

Cheapest is probably a PC cable. Fraught with problems - people trip over cables. Cheap radio triggers are OK if you don't need them to fire every time, without fail.

Pocket Wizards are about $180 each - you'll need 2.
Cybersyncs are about $130 for a set, transmitter/receiver.
Skyports are somewhere between those two.

[Jbs]

AB triggers

[Jim M]

For ETTL, an ETTL compatible cord or, for a Canon flash that can use one, an ST-E2 infrared remote.

[DDCSD]

Have a look here:

www.strobist.com

[briancmo]

Thanks. I have a 430 ex and a 5D. I really want to learn about flash. I find it all so overwhelming cause I know virtually nothing. Any good starter guides to basic use of flash you know of?

[Titus213]

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=138907

[DDCSD]

This site helped me immensely for the on-camera stuff.
http://planetneil.com/tangents/flash-photography-techniques/

It can be quite daunting, but have a read through it, then use your flash for a few days and then read it again. It'll start making more and more sense.