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mrdigicam2008z
21st of May 2009 (Thu), 15:39
Hi folks. I was at a photo seminar this week and the Canon rep was there, along with other vendors and I asked him about what I need to fire the 580EXII SpeedLite off my 30D wirelessly and he said Canon had a device that's about $300-350 or buy a set of Pocket Wizards. Yikes, I am on a budget, especially with workflow slowing down and I would like to get something a little more reasonably priced for my budget. I have been following threads here about the same issue and went to the Pocket Wizard site which has the new mini wireless devices. They are still a bit expensive right now, but they look real cool, portable. But I have also read there might be some issues to fix in those new units that deal with certain Canon DSLR's and flashes.

A few months ago, I bought a wireless trigger system from ebay, the Telecontrol Trigger for Photoflash, HD981-A and so far I don't see anyway to hook this receiver box to the 580 EXII in the PC slot. The cable on the receiver is an attached 1/4 standard video type plug and it came with an adapter to plug into a 1/8 type adapter which works fine for my Alien Bees rig. I imagine some of you guys here might have gotten the same system.

So is there a way to modify the HD981 receiver to work with the 580EXII like a patch cable or what do you all recommend that might be on ebay that would work and might be in the $40-80 range wireless transmitter/receiver? Also something that is fairly reliable and stable/sturdy.

I also bought a 3 pack WEIN Slave "peanuts" adapters. I also have a working Nikon SpeedLight SB-28DX from the days of my first Nikon 900 camera. Unfortunately, I used to use the flash with my older 10D in manual mode via PC cable to the flash PC slot off camera, but the 10D fell off a table with the SB flash attached and broke the hot shoe plastic mount. The only way I could attach the SB to a tripod bracket would be with duct tape, bungie cords/clamps, etc. But it works fine, and that gives me 2 Speedlites I can use on location if I can just control everything wirelessly. The 580EXII will "master" the slave SB with a WEIN peanut hooked via cable to the PC slot.

Any links and advice is helpful. It seems us 580 EX owners we all have a real fad now trying to hook them up wirelessly that are on a gear budget.

Thanks for your help

cam

swjim
21st of May 2009 (Thu), 15:53
I'm not familiar with that trigger but if I understand correctly it sounds like a hotshoe adapter might work for you: http://www.flashzebra.com/hotshoes-shoes/index.shtml

chukdivad
21st of May 2009 (Thu), 16:01
More than $80 but way less than PW's, my CyberSync's work flawlessly with my 580EXII and come with the proper cables.

Titus213
21st of May 2009 (Thu), 18:27
It sounds like this item from the list Jim sent you would work for you - http://www.flashzebra.com/products/0128/index.shtml

mrdigicam2008z
21st of May 2009 (Thu), 18:39
Thanks. I have 2 AB800 flash units plus the 550 EXII, so I will check out the CyberSync system from Paul Buff and research on ebay as well

cam

Titus213
21st of May 2009 (Thu), 20:21
I use the Cybersyncs too - fine system. They are reliable and have great range.

tim
21st of May 2009 (Thu), 20:30
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=696816