Flex TT5 Performance, No ETTL

[suyenfung]

Hey. I am interested in using the Flex TT5 to trigger an off-camera flash in manual mode while using an on-camera 580ex in ETTL mode.

I already do this by attaching a Plus II to the 580ex with a caddy, and connecting the PW to the camera's PC sync. It works great and has become a big part of my reception coverage style. I have attached an image below.

The problem is that with a strap, and CP-E4 cable and a PC cable, there is just too much crap dangling. Also the PC cable tends to fall out of my bodies.

I would much prefer the form factor and no-cable of the Flex TT5. I am not interested in transmitting ETTL information with the TT5, just an on-off signal like a traditional PW.

I have read that the TT5 has issues. To be completely honest I haven't really kept up on it. I am curious if anyone has been using the TT5 successfully in the way I describe. I would prefer the TT5 to the TT1 because of its ability to also receive signals and negligible price difference, but I would be open to picking up a TT1 if it is a more reliable choice.

Thanks for any input.

http://www.inluxphoto.com/images/uploads/potn/090718_0834.jpg

[k_strecker]

I think you're going to have a hard time finding people who exclusively use the system in this way . . . For remote triggering of manual strobes I've found the Mini to be as good as any other pocket wizard.

But I don't use flash on-camera at the same time.

[suyenfung]

Thought so. Went ahead and picked it up, we'll see.

[Underscore]

I am curious about this because I could find myself in this circumstance. I was wondering, since the 580EX 2 has a pc outlet, if it was mounted on-camera with the PW velcroed/caddied to it, would the PW fire a signal if it was plugged into the pc outlet of the 580EX2. It is likely that the signal isn't designed to be trigged this way, but it is a question.

Perhaps you can do this. Flash Zebra has these supplemental hotshoes where you can mount it in the camera's hot shoe, then a flash on top of it. The Flash Zebra's hot shoe has a cord coming out of it with a miniplug that I am sure would trigger the PW attached to the 580EX.

http://www.flashzebra.com/products/0138/index.shtml

The above link is to something like I am talking about which keeps your TTL, but would trigger the PW, but you could have Lon (owns Flash Zebra) to add a thumbscrew to the bottom of the shoe to cinch it up to the camera's hot shoe.

Hope this makes sense. This would certainly clean up all the cords you are talking about and I agree you need a cleaner approach (don't we all).

[holmespun]

I have tried this and it does work well. The one thing that is uncertain, though, is the strength of the shoe on the Flex. I did see a thread on DWF where someone broke the shoes of both a Flex and a Mini using them this way. Hopefully this is just a rare case and they can withstand extended use with a flash in the hotshoe.