ST-E2, is this my only ETTL option?

[mlipscomb]

I have a XSI, I recently bought 2 vivitar flashes and Pocket wizards. I'll be honest, the ETTL of the Canon 580ex II really appeals to me. I have already so many variables, having the camera set the exposure for the flashes would make my life soooooo much easier. I have a 580ex II, however I've never used to wirelessly, but I really like the unit. But....I'm concerned about the range of the ST-E2. I don't need anything dramatic, but when I shoot outside, I definitly need to put lights besides me, and behind my subjects and in more or less standard out-door shoot a band kind of locations if you know what i mean.
So my question is, is the ST-E2 really not very effective for normal "strobist" kind of shooting? Is there anyway I can use my current pocket wizards and take advantage of the ETTL? I have a couple of days to take back my pocket wizards, but I don't want to buy the ST-E2 and just have to take it back and buy back the pocket wizards....what to do, what to do....

[borism]

I am looking at this, not a lot of experience but it does looks promising if you want longer ettl reliable distance

http://radiopopper.com/blog/?p=62

Basically it decodes the infrared signal from your ettl flash master to radio signal and the receiver decodes it to the slave flash
I dont think is available yet but many people uses the first generation successfully (so i've read)
Hope it helps

[jayspec]

I have used the ST-E2 outdoors to good effect. You're not going to get 100% firing, and you're not going to get an amazing working distance, but as long as you have line-of-sight and you're not doing things in the middle of the day, it'll work some of the time.

borism has mentioned Radio Poppers. There are some who swear by them.

All this being said, if you're in a static shooting situation (i.e., not getting candid shots at an event) then using ETTL introduces more variability, not less. You can never quite tell what it is that ETTL is going to meter off of. One of your band members moves slightly to the left and his tee-shirt is more reflective and all of a sudden you have a different exposure. For static, set-up shots, I'd strongly recommend the Strobist (manual) way rather than the ETTL way.

Don't get me wrong. ETTL is an extremely valuable tool when you're on the move, trying to get candids and bouncing off of whatever random whitish surface you happen to be near. But if you keep working on your manual setups, they'll get easier, and you'll get better.

I actually currently use my ST-E2 to fire my Canon flashes that have been set manually! (Yes, I'm using the wrong, most expensive tool for the job, but I purchased much of this stuff before I knew better. :) )

[mlipscomb]

I hear you about manual mode, I just worked so hard last night to get this crappy shot. Actually, I think I know what i did wrong here. Flahes reflected off of glasses because of position, but I couldn't move the flash bc of furniture in the way. Flasher were too low, so they made big shadows going upwards, and people were casting shadows in each other was bad too. If you look at my wife with the long hair in the very middle, I think she turned out nice; no shadows, or glases. Anyway, it was really hard and it took me a really long time to set this up. I was kind of hoping ettl would make my life easier.

[borism]

All this being said, if you're in a static shooting situation (i.e., not getting candid shots at an event) then using ETTL introduces more variability, not less. You can never quite tell what it is that ETTL is going to meter off of. One of your band members moves slightly to the left and his tee-shirt is more reflective and all of a sudden you have a different exposure. For static, set-up shots, I'd strongly recommend the Strobist (manual) way rather than the ETTL way.

)

That is true
If you are shooting on a controlled frame, say a model standing on a pose ej, the manual mode will let you dial more precise and consecutive repetitive shoots giving a desired result shot after shot, as the ettl is not thinking for you.
However, if you are moving around, ettl will help a lot (in my humble experience at least)

[mlipscomb]

Another annoying thing, is that I can`t use both. I was thinking of using my 580 with a cable allowing me to hold it in my hand, and use that flash as my main light, and then use my PW hooked up to my vivitars for other light, but I can`t but a PW on my camera and use the 580 ex at the same time bc the dam xsi doesn`t have a pc port.....grr....there`s always something that doesn`t work quite right!

[borism]

I Flahes reflected off of glasses because of position, b.

That is probably what happened, some glass is messing with your flash

However, for a quick a dirty nice family shot, ettl will make life easy I think