Combining Pocket Wizard Mini/Flex/Plus IIs

[StanNJ1]

Hello-I'm hoping that someone might be able to help me figure out a problem with my new Pocket Wizards.

I was shooting something in a studio enviroment with a Mini on the camera hot shoe which was firing a 580EXII/Flex combo. This setup worked just fine.

Then I wanted to add another 580EXII triggered by a PW PlusII but I can't get it to fire. The strange thing though is that it does fire when I press the test button on either the Mini or the PlusII but not when I press the camera shutter. Any suggestions would be very helpful. Thanks

[tenoverthenose]

Did you check that you are not in HSS? In my testing, I could fire a Mini/Flex combo just fine, but the same Mini would not trigger a PlusII at the same time if it was in HSS. Just a thought...

[StanNJ1]

Did you check that you are not in HSS? In my testing, I could fire a Mini/Flex combo just fine, but the same Mini would not trigger a PlusII at the same time if it was in HSS. Just a thought...

*UPDATE* Yes this seems to be the problem. I have the Mini on the camera shoe and the 580EXII connected to a Flex with an off camera cord. This works fine. Then I have another 580EXII connected to a Pocket Wizard PlusII. This will not fire unless my shutter speed is at or below 1/250. I knew that the Plus II does not support HSS but for some reason I thought this would work. So if I want to use multiple flash units for my outdoor portraits in HSS I'm going to have to purchase additional Flex units and off camera cords???? That stinks!

[picturecrazy]

Yes, you will have to get more Flex units. That's the way it's supposed to work and that's how it's advertised to work. I'm surprised that it is compatible at all with the old PW system. It's a bonus. HSS and ETTL need flex units on the slave end. BUT... Hypersync can be used with Multimax/Plus/Plus2 units on the slave end, with a Mini or Flex on the camera. This is what I'm interested in the most.

[StanNJ1]

So with my mini on the camera and the Plus2 on a 580EXII what shutter speed can I get and how do I turn it on?

[picturecrazy]

So with my mini on the camera and the Plus2 on a 580EXII what shutter speed can I get and how do I turn it on?

It has to be tuned to a specific camera. You'll have the best luck with your 1D mark III as it has a brutally fast Full Frame shutter yet it uses a crop sensor. I believe in initial tests, they managed to get something like 1/640 out of a mark III WITHOUT the power robbing high speed sync mode. Your 5D will not fare well... it's shutter is dog slow. You might get a little speed out of your 20D, but I'd definitely tune it to your mark III.

[StanNJ1]

Thanks for your replies Picturecrazy. Looks like I'll need to break out the manual

[Palladium]

...mark III WITHOUT the power robbing high speed sync mode...

Make sure to read about the new improvements regarding an almost 2 stop light increase using the new PW Flex and Mini with speedlights and the new firmware.

see the PW website for more info about the latest firmware ;)