Advice on "strobist" + elinchrom portable setup

[zaldum]

I´m currently using skyports with my rx600´s and it´s great being able to control power in studio and location.

But i´m thinking on an ultraportable kit for location ( i have one metz 58 speedlite) and debating between just adding one skyport receiver (cheap option) or go with the new PW´s.

If i go with the PW´s, i´d need to sell the metz, buy a 580exII + mini + flex.. etc, so much much more expensive and even then no remote manual control!! (i should get another 580 for that)

So, in practice, with the PW´s i would only get some hypersync (minimal with 5D) and HSS.

Ok, i would also get E-TTL but i keep reading of people that buy the PW´s and after trying ttl outdoors they return to adjusting each flash manually like they did with their old (non ttl) triggers.

Do you people think it´s worth expending so much money for the new PW´s?

Problem is i´m so used to set power on my elinc strobes, i really don´t want to walk to the speedlite for adjusting power.

I´m not even considering Quantum and while the quadra almost fits the bill and i´ll probably add one in the future also for studio use, it´s not light enough for a "take everywhere" solution.

Also there is one key question!! Let´s say i go the PW´s route..
¿Could i trigger my RX monolights and speedlite at the same time with no flex in the elinc strobes? I mean, 1 mini on camera, 1 skyport on top of the mini and being able to trigger both speedlite and rx strobes with hypersync and no flex, just skyports on the rx strobes?

Decisions, decisions... :D
Thx for any info or opinions you can give me!! i´m a bit confused and short of money right now

And sorry for my english!!! :p

[conserv]

well i think for use with a real light setup, ttl is useless.
i would forget about radio-ttl, hypersync and that stuff and just use camera + flash in manual mode.
skyports work great with systemflashes, i have been using them quite a while with 430ex + 540ez and cant say anything bad about it.
exept you have to adjust power at the flash and they are not that powerful.
that is why i bought a quadra now.
are you sure it is not so portable for you?
i find the quadra very portable...

[TMR Design]

Why do you say to forget about Hypersync. It's working very well for many people and giving them the freedom to work at higher shutter speeds, thus eliminating the need for ND filters. Why not tap into a system that lets you get another 2 stops (or more) of shutter speed control? Whether you're using monolights, hot shoe flashes or a Quadra, it still opens up some doors.

[conserv]

i meant i would not use ettl and highspeedsync for offcamera lighting.
to be precise, i dont know the hypersync function of the new pw - i should have written highspeedsync, the ettl-function.

my experience is, that i have problems with adjusting the light in ettl mode for offcamera lighting. for me it is much better to handle to use camera and flash in manual mode. so i can get repeatable output.

[zaldum]

Thx for the input.

Conserv, hypersync gives you one stop higher sync in normal sync mode (not Canon HSS)
Let´s say i can get 1/320 with my 5D (1/160 now with skyports) That is 1 stop "free power" fighting against the sun.

I´m not sure if that stop is free "no flash power lost" but it seems so.

What really puts me off is that one mini + flex + swap metz for 580ex is almost half the price of the quadra (future buy for sure) and with a single skyport receiver i´d be ok with my metz.

BUT if i´m able to use hypersync with the PW mini and no flex in my rx600 up to 1/8000 as some people say..

And also think about it, there is hole tread talking about quadra vs ranger (just because of power) and this hypersync should give you at least 1 stop free power fighting the sun!!

In the end i just need someone to confirm if i can use mini + skyport on camera and NO flex in the RX strobe (or quadra) and trigger them with hypersync.

Conserv, do you think the quadra is small enough to carry it in the camera backpack for a day if your not sure you will use it? (thats what i mean with "carrye everywhere") I would want 1 speedlite + umbrella with me all time for personal shots just with my friends/family or thing like that.

For work i´ll take the monolights + explorer.

[TMR Design]

I've heard of some people using standard strobes and Hypersync and getting more 2 or more stops, not just one. WIth a 5D and Skyports I've only been able to get a clean frame at 1/160. Some hypersync users are reporting up to 1/500s, which is 1 2/3 stops and for those that play it safe by shooting at 1/125s that's 2 full stops. Even shooting at 1/400s, giving you 1 1/3 stops would be significant.

[conserv]

well i was just refering to the ettl-function highspeedsync.

the hypersync function of the new pocketwizard really seem to be interesting. a "free" f stop against the sun is really a point.
i am bit wondering that you are writing about 1/160s with 5d + skyport, i have no problems with 1/200s, but that is not the point. to be able to use it above 1/200s... at 1/320, 1/400, 1/500, is really interesting.
i think the stop is "free" because it is just refering to exposure time so that the amount of light of the flash (which burns down in a shorter time) is not affected, only the natural light.

and you are also right about carrying the quadra the whole day with you when you are not really on a shooting... it is only 3kg, but i would not do this. for this, i prefer just to take a speedlight with me.

on the other side, some people carry several kilograms of equipment on a backpack the whole day, just to get one shot. i think, as for many other things, it depends on what you want to do and how important it is for you ;)

[picturecrazy]

i think the stop is "free" because it is just refering to exposure time so that the amount of light of the flash (which burns down in a shorter time) is not affected, only the natural light.


not entirely correct. Depending on your strobe's duration and the pre-trigger offset setting, using hypersync can reduce your flash power just as if it was ambient light. Using hypersync with my D-Lite4, i was losing strobe power at a proportional rate to the increased shutter speeds I was using. As soon as I hit 1/250 I was losing flash power. It would sync right up to 1/8000 but by then, there was hardly any flash power left.

[Jannie]

I think I've gone through what you are asking and here's what I came up with.

I use 2 Elinchrom 400BX's
Skyport universal transmitter and 2 receivers
2 cords skyport to 400 BX's
2 cords screw in PC to Skyports from Flashzebra
2- 580EXII's
1 optical slave extended range from Flashzebra, seldom works with another speedlight triggering it but does work close range when one of my 400BX is setting it off, wonderful for table top but otherwise I don't use it, but it's an extremely inexpensive and handy accessory when you need it.

What this set up allows me is to use 1 lg octobox with a 400BX for the key, which gives me the main modeling light and light to focus by, I set it up with one skyport receiver and then let the second BX trigger using it's optical slave.

Then if I need a third light I use a 580EXII (set on manual) with a skyport. (the handy thing about this on location is it's easy to put a light up high bounced into an umbrella to get that nice sheen on the top of the head without having to use heavy gear to get a monolight up there. I'm anticipating it being especially nice with the Kaiser umbrella softbox.

I also have a 24' ETTL cord from Flashzebra (haven't used it much, seem to prefer manual)
plus Canon 2' coil ETTL cord, which comes in handy.

If I want to use both 400BX's and both 580EXII's then I do as above:
Key = 400BX w/Skyport
Hair = 400BX w/optical slave
Background = 580EXII w/Skyport
2nd Background/accent or additonal hair/toplight = 580EXII with optical slave (would like to change this to an additional Skyport but generally don't need a 4th light with what I've been doing lately).

I've played with hypersync, it seems great but haven't actually used it yet.