Please help me pick a transmitter for 430ex

[shilophoto]

:) wow I'm absolutely smitten by all these wonderful photographs! Very inspiring thanks to everyone that has posted. Now I need some new gear!

I really would like to get into the OCF but I have no idea what to buy. I have a 5D and a 430ex. What do I choose to be able to have all the functions of an on camera flash? ( I want to go to 1/2000 & f2 when I want, outdoors etc)


these are listed numerous times in this thread:
pocket wizards
Radio Poppers Px (version), eTTL
skyports

[CosmoKid]

i found cyber sync to be the best compromise between price and quality. i almost ordered the cactus v4 or the eBay triggers but decided to spend a little more up front since i knew I would pick up a better unit down the line anyway. why buy twice?

[shilophoto]

ya I did get the ebay triggers but I can't go anything above 1/200 if its off the camera :(

can you get high speed sync with the cyber sync's?

[bobbyz]

ya I did get the ebay triggers but I can't go anything above 1/200 if its off the camera :(

can you get high speed sync with the cyber sync's?

Not, you would need either new PWs, Radio Popppers, eTTL cord or canon st-e or flash in hot shoe controlling slaves flashes.

[shilophoto]

that narrows it down a bit, what should I go with? PW's or Poppers? is one better than the other?

or should I go w a newer flash in the hot shoe and use my 430ex for side/hair light?& if I did that would I be able to automatically use my 430ex as a hair light without cords/transmitters?

way to many options !

[CosmoKid]

I thought the 1/200 didn't matter if it was on or off camera? Isn't it a limitation of the flash sync speed and not the triggers?

[shilophoto]

nope I can use any setting I want when I put it on my cam and set it to high sync speed. I've been told that I only need a good transmitter ( I think w ettl) to achieve the same results.

[k_wakasugi]

Are cords out of the question?

[shilophoto]

no, but I can't find a long one,,,, would a cord work the same with eTTL? if so why are so many paying $600 just so they dont have a cord?

[40Dude6aedyk]

Get a Canon 580EXII and you get an extra flash to boot.

Get a Canon ST-E2 and you get full Canon functionality, but no extra speedlite.

With the above, you get OCF, but not really-far-away-through-walls-OCF.

[k_wakasugi]

I don't know how long you're looking for, but flashzebra has a 7.5 meters (24 feet) cord that will allow you to retain E-TTL for about $60 I think.

http://www.flashzebra.com/products/0125/index.shtml

[juise]

With the above, you get OCF, but not really-far-away-through-walls-OCF.

And you will also struggle with misfires and connectivity when shooting in sunlight.

[bobbyz]

Does the eTTL cord allow having flash on camera and still connect to multiple flashes off camera?

Persoanlly I would forget all the eTTL stuff and do manually when working with mutiple flashes.

[shilophoto]

And you will also struggle with misfires and connectivity when shooting in sunlight.


if I go w another light on the camera's hotshoe to fire a hair light?

I will be using this in sunlight,, that's why I want to go 1/2000 etc :)

[juise]

Does the eTTL cord allow having flash on camera and still connect to multiple flashes off camera?

Persoanlly I would forget all the eTTL stuff and do manually when working with mutiple flashes.

The Flash Zebra cord does not allow an on-camera flash (unless it's on a bracket). I have have not seen any cords that allow this... though most people are intent on getting their flash off-camera.

[shilophoto]

Does the eTTL cord allow having flash on camera and still connect to multiple flashes off camera?

Persoanlly I would forget all the eTTL stuff and do manually when working with mutiple flashes.


good question, I would like to know also.

I just dug up a ettl canon cord and it works perfectly! I could do what ever I wanted,,, (except the cord is only 2ft :)

If I got the 580, attached it to a long ettl cord would this also set off the 480? or would this become a problem in sunlight? I'm guessing that's why people go w the remote triggers. ??

[40Dude6aedyk]

You will need 2 speedlites anyways, so go ahead and get the 580EXII. It can be an ETTL master in many situations and control your off-camera 430EX. You can see for yourself whether it works for you in sunlight.

Then if you think you are gonna be limited, go get your next piece of kit: radio triggers.

[juise]

If I got the 580, attached it to a long ettl cord would this also set off the 480? or would this become a problem in sunlight? I'm guessing that's why people go w the remote triggers. ??

Yes, yes, and yes. :) My wife and I have a 16-ft cord with a 580EX and 430EX. It usually works great as a combination in eTTL. We have never tried it outdoors, but there seems to be a consensus that sunlight gives Canon's IR system fits. Good radio triggers are definitely more reliable outdoors and will give you more range.