5D Mark II / PocketWizard MiniTT1/FlexTT5 and 430 EXII Speedlights: Help!

[PubUltraStar]

Hopefully someone will have some quick tips to get me going with the new pocket wizards. I have updated the firmware on the miniTT1 and both of my FlexTT5 units, and set the camera model to Canon 5d Mark II in the Misc tab in the PocketWizard Utility. I was under the impression from the PW website that most of the issues with the 5d Mark II have been resolved, but I am still unable to get the on-camera flash in the hot shoe to work with the 2 remotes. I have looked for resources on this with no luck. Anyone have any ideas? If the flash in the hot shoe is off, then the remote FlexTT5's work fine. All 3 flashes are Canon Speedlight 430 EXII's. Thanks in advance.

Mike.

[thomasro3]

Have you called customer service for either Canon or Pocket Wizard?

[PubUltraStar]

Not yet. I was hoping that someone would be able to quickly give me some hints to getting it working. I suppose I need to play with the different settings. I'll start by trying manual mode on the different flashes, but I thought that if all of them were set to TTL, it would automagically work. I'll keep searching through the threads for options. Thanks.

[dandig]

can you explain your setup? You have a TT1 on the camera with a 430ex on the TT1. What are you doing with the flex TT5?

[1danny]

had the same problem.
so..
first, reupdate your firmware on all pw units
then hold down test, and power it on, wait for the s2pid 4 green blinks
go into your gui, set it to auto, dont bother w/that 5d2 option, it didnt work for me either, after i did that i was able to get 8000 ss @ 2.8 fine. with a 580ex2.

hope this works for you

[PubUltraStar]

Thanks for the info. I will try this later when I get home. <yikes! I didn't bring my camera bag with me today... sigh> I'll let you know if this works.

Mike.

had the same problem.
so..
first, reupdate your firmware on all pw units
then hold down test, and power it on, wait for the s2pid 4 green blinks
go into your gui, set it to auto, dont bother w/that 5d2 option, it didnt work for me either, after i did that i was able to get 8000 ss @ 2.8 fine. with a 580ex2.

hope this works for you

[PubUltraStar]

Ugh. Still no go.

Here is what I tried.

1. re-install newest firmware on MiniTT1.
2. Hold down Test and turn the unit on.
3. Go Into Gui and set unit to Auto, and verify correct channels.
4. Repeat 1 -3 for each of the other 2 Flex TT5's.

With a 430EXII in the hotshoe of the mini, which is on the 5d mark II, the flash in the hotshot is the only one that goes off. If I turn that one off, the remote 430EXII's on teh Flex TT5's fire. I will try a few more settings, but looks like I'll need to call PW support to see what I'm doing wrong.

[1danny]

i think that 430ex in the hotshoe mini is your problem. i dont believe they have a master option. you would need a 580ex1 or 2 & set that to master to get this going. your remote flashes donot need to be set to slave, only the flash on top of the camera/pw connection needs to be set to master

[PubUltraStar]

i think that 430ex in the hotshoe mini is your problem. i dont believe they have a master option. you would need a 580ex1 or 2 & set that to master to get this going. your remote flashes donot need to be set to slave, only the flash on top of the camera/pw connection needs to be set to master


Well that sux. I'll probably just end up getting another FlexTT5 and use the 3rd 430EXII as a remote, as I'd probably use that more than adding a 580EXII. Thanks for the info.

[1danny]

just look for a used 580ex 1 just about the same price.
after the ferrite core, & oce3 cord

[Palladium]

Did you read the section of the PW manual about "Force TTL Master Mode"

here is a summary from the PW rep over @ the FLICKR PW group

http://www.flickr.com/groups/pocketwizards/discuss/72157617612669860/

The 430EX II doesn't have a MASTER mode, BUT you can trick the camera into thinking it does. You do that with the PocketWizard Utility. You need to set "Force TTL Master Mode" on the Misc Tab. Then the 430EX II will trigger the remote 580 just fine.

Are you using the 580 as the remote because it is more powerful? Have you looked at our new higher efficiency HSS mode in the new firmware? You can get the 430EX II almost 2 stops more light when using fast shutter speeds. This would give you a few benefits: you would be using one of the least noisy RF flashes (the 430EX II) as a remote and the more noisy flash (the 580EX) on the transmitter where it isn't a problem. You would also be able to control the remote flashes ratio settings this way (but not manual - need a 580EX II for that, and that would make the 430EX II even a little more powerful in HSS at the fastest shutter speeds).

Patrick from PocketWizard

[PubUltraStar]

Thanks, that did it. I think that I had tried the Force TTL Master, but it wasn't set on the MiniTT1. I had been searching through the PocketWizard discussions and release notes, and had been so worried about the interference issues with the 580EXII, that I made the assumption that it should just work with the 430EXII's. Either way, I really do appreciate the suggestion. I was shooting at a wedding this past weekend and was able to mount the 2 Flex TT5 remotes to a balcony for great overhead flash. (Ball Bungies were my friend) By the end of the night, I had a couple of my friends dancing in the crowd holding the remote flashes while I worked the perimeter. They had a blast! I'm excited to play around with the PW's, and have started getting into using colored gels! Being able to have my 3rd 430EX on the hot shoe to bounce somewhere will free up one of the Flex TT5's for some creative color and flash.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3626/3568980036_c8b9a59132.jpg?v=0

Thanks again!

Mike.