Pocket Wizard Firing Strobe and Camera Problems

[DwightMcCann]

I have a 1DsMIII with a PocketWizard II Plus in the hotshoe set to local with a PocketWizard Pre-Trigger Motor Drive Cable from the Camera/Flash socket to the N3 connector of the camera. I also have the camera tethered to my laptop with EOS Utility. I have a second PWII+ set to the same channel attached to my studio strobes. I have a third PWII+ in my hand. The camera is set to ISO 100, 1/125, Manual, f/16 (and variations.) When I trigger the camera/flash with the PW in my hand the image is black. If I unplug the PW from the camera and fire it manually I get the correct image.

What I am trying to do is remotely trigger the camera while using my studio strobes so I can take a self portrait. I gotta be doing something wrong.

[Lotto]

I think the problem is shutter lag from the camera. Because your PWs are in the same channel, the strobes fire as soon as the triggering PW is activated, but the camera will fire a split second later, out of sync. The PW for the camera and the strobe need to be in different channel, but I don't know how you are going to do this with 3 PWs.

[DwightMcCann]

I think the problem is shutter lag from the camera. Because your PWs are in the same channel, the strobes fire as soon as the triggering PW is activated, but the camera will fire a split second later, out of sync. The PW for the camera and the strobe need to be in different channel, but I don't know how you are going to do this with 3 PWs.
Yup, that's what I think, too! Even putting the motor cord in pre-release mode doesn't help. I have four PWs but don't see how to get around it ... guess I'll have to think about it.

[ELT_Photo]

You need to set the PW attached to the strobes one channel up from the
other two PWs. Set hand-held and camera PW to ch 1 and the strobe PW to ch 2 (pg 9 of the manual).

Good luck,
Eric

[PacAce]

I have a 1DsMIII with a PocketWizard II Plus in the hotshoe set to local with a PocketWizard Pre-Trigger Motor Drive Cable from the Camera/Flash socket to the N3 connector of the camera. I also have the camera tethered to my laptop with EOS Utility. I have a second PWII+ set to the same channel attached to my studio strobes. I have a third PWII+ in my hand. The camera is set to ISO 100, 1/125, Manual, f/16 (and variations.) When I trigger the camera/flash with the PW in my hand the image is black. If I unplug the PW from the camera and fire it manually I get the correct image.

What I am trying to do is remotely trigger the camera while using my studio strobes so I can take a self portrait. I gotta be doing something wrong.
In order to remotely trigger the camera which in turn fires a remote flash, you need to set the PW unit on the camera to Relay mode. This is done by setting the PW Transmit mode to "Both". The N3 release cable goes into the camera/flash port (which is where you said you have it so you're OK there).

The PW unit in your hand and the PW unit on the camera both need to be on the same channel, for example Channel 1.

The PW unit connected to the remote flash needs to be set to a channel one higher than what's set for the PW on the camera. So, if the camera PW is set to Channel 1, then the flash PW needs to be set to Channel 2.

Your setup should now work correctly for you. What I don't understand is the purpose of you connecting the camera to the EOS Utility program. :confused:

[gryphonslair99]

I believe that this would solve the problem.

http://www.pocketwizard.com/products/transmitter_receiver/multimax/

Personally I would use something like this unless you have a real need for the Multi-Max.
http://www.gadgetinfinity.com/product.php?productid=16745

[gryphonslair99]

In order to remotely trigger the camera which in turn fires a remote flash, you need to set the PW unit on the camera to Relay mode. This is done by setting the PW Transmit mode to "Both". The N3 release cable goes into the camera/flash port (which is where you said you have it so you're OK there).

The PW unit in your hand and the PW unit on the camera both need to be on the same channel, for example Channel 1.

The PW unit connected to the remote flash needs to be set to a channel one higher than what's set for the PW on the camera. So, if the camera PW is set to Channel 1, then the flash PW needs to be set to Channel 2.

Your setup should now work correctly for you. What I don't understand is the purpose of you connecting the camera to the EOS Utility program. :confused:

Well, something else for me to try. Thanks.

[PacAce]

I believe that this would solve the problem.

http://www.pocketwizard.com/products/transmitter_receiver/multimax/

Personally I would use something like this unless you have a real need for the Multi-Max.
http://www.gadgetinfinity.com/product.php?productid=16745

There's no need for a MultiMax for a simple setup as is being done here. The Plus II will work just fine. ;)

[PacAce]

Well, something else for me to try. Thanks.

If you're thinking of trying it with the Cactus units, I doubt it'll work for you since the Cactus units are not transceivers as far as I know. You would need two transmitter/receiver pairs (four units in all) to do the same thing 3 Plus II units can do in this setup because Plus II units are transceivers that can work in relay mode.

[DwightMcCann]

I thank you all, again, as I have so many, many times in the past! It works perfectly. I would never have thought to read the manual and, of course, the correct solution is totally anti-intuititive.

So, why the EOS utility? So I can set it to download the images from the camera and display them on my laptop screen so I can see myself! :-) I generally shoot tethered to my laptop when shooting in the studio in any case and may well devote my 30" Dell to just this purpose in the near future as it is too big for working real estate and so I have (still in the box) an Eizo ColorEdge 24" monitor to replace it. In addition to getting better view of the images, I can throw them into Bridge and check the exposure, set white balance, and let the models see themselves! :-) Oh, and thank you, again!

[PacAce]

I thank you all, again, as I have so many, many times in the past! It works perfectly. I would never have thought to read the manual and, of course, the correct solution is totally anti-intuititive.

So, why the EOS utility? So I can set it to download the images from the camera and display them on my laptop screen so I can see myself! :-) I generally shoot tethered to my laptop when shooting in the studio in any case and may well devote my 30" Dell to just this purpose in the near future as it is too big for working real estate and so I have (still in the box) an Eizo ColorEdge 24" monitor to replace it. In addition to getting better view of the images, I can throw them into Bridge and check the exposure, set white balance, and let the models see themselves! :-) Oh, and thank you, again!

The reason I was curious is because you can also remotely fire the camera via the EOS Utility without needing to use a PW unit in your hand to do that, assuming the computer is right in front of you. BTW, are you using the WFT-E2A to wireless tether the camera to the laptop or are you wired?

[DwightMcCann]

The reason I was curious is because you can also remotely fire the camera via the EOS Utility without needing to use a PW unit in your hand to do that, assuming the computer is right in front of you. BTW, are you using the WFT-E2A to wireless tether the camera to the laptop or are you wired?

The laptop is about ten feet away ... and I am aware of the EOS utility features. And I am very embarrassed to say that I have not yet, after probably a year, setup my WFT-E2A, sigh, just too much always going on.

BTW, the self portrait is for a request from the Gold Coast Professional Photographers Association who have asked to speak on concert photography. I just happen to have one that like handy. :-)

[PacAce]

The laptop is about ten feet away ... and I am aware of the EOS utility features. And I am very embarrassed to say that I have not yet, after probably a year, setup my WFT-E2A, sigh, just too much always going on.

BTW, the self portrait is for a request from the Gold Coast Professional Photographers Association who have asked to speak on concert photography. I just happen to have one that like handy. :-)
Well, if you ever get around to setting up the WFT-E2A and need help, just give me a holler.

Good luck with your speaking engagement. I know you'll be a hit. :)

[DwightMcCann]

Thanks ... there are five ways I could use the connectivity just off the top of my head! I think I read about someone having trouble with and that put me off ... what a wimp I can be! I'm on vacation for a couple of weeks and will be doing lot of photography stuff including tax work, setting up some other new equipment and I will make every effort to include the WFT-E2A now that I know I can get some hand holding. :-)

Hmmm, all my self portraits were OOF ... gotta go set a mark I guess.

[gryphonslair99]

If you're thinking of trying it with the Cactus units, I doubt it'll work for you since the Cactus units are not transceivers as far as I know. You would need two transmitter/receiver pairs (four units in all) to do the same thing 3 Plus II units can do in this setup because Plus II units are transceivers that can work in relay mode.

Na, I have four Plus II units. Just never knew I could set them up that way. The one time I did something like that I used the cactus type unit just to trip the shutter. The PW on the camera tripped and fired the other strobes no problem.

There is a reason I have the camera, it usually keeps me on the side I want to be on. :D