Newbie question

[*CarrieA*]

I want to be able to use my 430exii off camera. I don't want to fork out a ton of money, so i'm wondering what would be the best option. Would the Canon St-e2 work, or should I go with cybersyncs? The pocketwizards look nice, but a little out of my price range.

Any advice would be super helpful! Thanks!!!

[mkett]

All depends if you want to retain ETTL. If manual lighting is no problem for you I would go with the cybersync.

Or use a long pc cord from camera to a hotshoe adapter.

ste2 would work although not as effective outdoors but retains all ETTL functions

[*CarrieA*]

I feel like an idiot asking this, but i'm so confused about which PC cord should I get if I go that route? I have a 40D, with a 430 exii.

[mg550]

Flash Zebra has long cords that retain ETTL. They're good quality and affordable. A 24 footer is only $54.50.

LINK (http://www.flashzebra.com/ttlcords/ettlcords/index.shtml)

[*CarrieA*]

Fabulous, thank you SO much!

[t5Nitro]

So most people tend to want to keep ETT-L? What does this exactly do? Best mode for flashes?

[HoppingAlong]

I wanted to do the same but didn't want to spend huge $$ either. So I've tried the cactus triggers (V2's) for around $40.
I've used them for about a year with no problems, super cheap (craftsmanship and price) but they've worked flawlessly if your comfortable using the flash without the auto E-TTL, i'd recommend them for the price.
Here is the link
http://www.gadgetinfinity.com/home.php?cat=274

Goodluck

[egordon99]

So most people tend to want to keep ETT-L? What does this exactly do? Best mode for flashes?

Basically, a flash "fires" at a certain power. Full power is 1/1. Followed by 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, and so on....

E-TTL vs. Manual has to do with WHAT power the flash fires at.

E-TTL - The camera determines the needed flash power, based on flashing a brief "pre-flash" milleseconds before the actual exposure.

Manual - YOU (or your flash meter) determine the flash power.

E-TTL is great for events/situations where things are changing very quickly (such as candids at a wedding reception)

Manual is great when you have time to set everything up (wedding formals).

I did some formals this weekend with my 580EXII triggered by the Cactus V4 system, all in Manual mode without a flash meter, and it worked out pretty well.

[egordon99]

I wanted to do the same but didn't want to spend huge $$ either. So I've tried the cactus triggers (V2's) for around $40.
I've used them for about a year with no problems, super cheap (craftsmanship and price) but they've worked flawlessly if your comfortable using the flash without the auto E-TTL, i'd recommend them for the price.
Here is the link
http://www.gadgetinfinity.com/home.php?cat=274

Goodluck

I just got the V4s, and they worked great at a wedding (formals) this weekend. NO misfires (except when the flash hadn't recharged yet...couldn't see the "ready" light when the flash was up on the stand ;) )