Pocket Wizard Plus II and 580 EX II

[abatareika]

Hi guys, I need a quick tip, I am about to buy the Pocket Wizard. It comes with some kind of PC cable. Will I need another cable to get it connected to my 580EX II? I simply want to use it as a distance trigger. I will get both of them. This is what comes with it:

2 X PocketWizard PLUS II Transceiver (European model, 433MHz)
2 X PC1 Cable (For use with a camera’s PC terminal.)
2 X MPCF Adapter (PC female to miniphone male adapter, for use with your existing PC sync cords.)
AA Alkaline Batteries
Hand Strap
Velcro Tabs
Users' Manual (in English, German, Spanish and French)
PocketWizard Manufacture Warranty Card




Do I have to buy another cable or that is enough for my simple goal?


Please advise.

[souporman]

The cable that comes with the pocket wizard will work with the 580 EX II.

However. I found that I was having very spotty performance with it triggering vs my 580 EX that had the little hotshoe adapter. Doing some research I found this wasn't uncommon (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?p=7368062) and there were several solutions (including pockets wizards own shielding device (http://www.pocketwizard.com/news_events/news/ac7/)). One of the solutions offered was to pick up another version of the cable so I ordered this one (http://www.flashzebra.com/wizardcables/screwlock.shtml) from flash zebra.

I've been out twice with it since receiving the new cable and haven't had a single misfire compared to the frequent misfires I used to get. Not exactly conclusive, but worth looking into.

[abatareika]

Thank you for your advise.

[gromeo]

That setup should work just fine, if I am correct the shielding thing only applies to the new PW Mini TT and the TT5 combo. The Plus II combos have no problems with interference, at least not that I have noted.

[souporman]

That setup should work just fine, if I am correct the shielding thing only applies to the new PW Mini TT and the TT5 combo. The Plus II combos have no problems with interference, at least not that I have noted.

Ahh, didn't notice that about the shielding. Still, in the POTN link I provided it talks about the problems I was experiencing using the 580EX II and the pc-miniphone cable vs the 580EX and the hotshoe adapter. They also mention interference issues with the Plus II's (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showpost.php?p=6750468&postcount=13), but it's pretty anecdotal :)

The problems seem to have gone away with my new cable. It's possible the cables I got with my pocketwizards just weren't any good...but I have 3 different ones and tested them all with similar results so it seems unlikely.

[TMR Design]

Hi guys, I need a quick tip, I am about to buy the Pocket Wizard. It comes with some kind of PC cable. Will I need another cable to get it connected to my 580EX II? I simply want to use it as a distance trigger. I will get both of them. This is what comes with it:

2 X PocketWizard PLUS II Transceiver (European model, 433MHz)
2 X PC1 Cable (For use with a camera’s PC terminal.)
2 X MPCF Adapter (PC female to miniphone male adapter, for use with your existing PC sync cords.)
AA Alkaline Batteries
Hand Strap
Velcro Tabs
Users' Manual (in English, German, Spanish and French)
PocketWizard Manufacture Warranty Card


Do I have to buy another cable or that is enough for my simple goal?


Please advise.

The cable that comes with the Pocket Wizard will work but the PC sync connector is one of the worst and it known to fail, typically at the wrong time.

If I were you, I would replace that cable with this one (http://flashzebra.com/wizardcables/screwlock.shtml). This cable is identical but the end with the PC connector has what is called a Screwlock connector. It's become somewhat universal and the 580EX has this connector. It keeps the connector securely attached and it can't wiggle free or have intermittent contact like the standard PC connector will.

[Starbucker]

+1 on Screwlock connector.

[Beachcomber84]

That Screwlock cable is labelled to be compatible with Nikon. Will it work with a Canon 5D MkII?