Are PocketWizard MiniTT1 and FlexTT5 Worth it for Old Flashes like Vivitar 285

Hey guys, I am relatively new to the lighting world. I am currently trying to set an off-camera flash system. Most of my gear isn't the latest as I have a Canon 40D and I have the following flashes

1. 1x Canon 430ex I

2. 2x Older 540ez non-ETTL ones

3. 2x Vivitar 285

I have tried using the Cactus V5 as an economical way to trigger them but I have been having major problems with them working in the summer heat.

As of right now I am looking for alternatives.

1. Suck it up and Go with PocketWizard FLEXTT5 as it has every feature that I need. Hotshoe, ETTL through the hotshoe. Most importantly, get its legendary reliability

2. Get CyberSyncs and get the same reliability but deal with wires and velcro etc as it doesn't have a hotshoe on the transceiver or receiver

3. Get the Phottix Strato II. It can transmit ETTL through the hotshoe and has a hotshoes for every transceiver/receiver. Question is, can it be as reliable as CyberSyncs and PWs at adverse conditions?

Aside from price, the other thing that is bother me with going with Pocket Wizard is that I am not sure if my older, non-ETTL flashes can utilize the special features of the PocketWizards such as High Speed Syncs?

xknowonex wrote in post #12654362
Aside from price, the other thing that is bother me with going with Pocket Wizard is that I am not sure if my older, non-ETTL flashes can utilize the special features of the PocketWizards such as High Speed Syncs?

Nope. Probably Hypersync. Go cheap with #3.

Why you need eTTL when your flashes can't do eTTL except 430ex? What are you shooting that you need Hypersync?

Since you only have one ETTL capable flash, I'd use a trigger connected to the PC port and not worry about ETTL triggers.
Cyber Syncs are reliable. I've also had good luck the RF-602. Although I'd probably get the RF-603 if I were purchasing today.

Hey thanks guys. Thanks for the responses.

The main thing I shoot is automotive events and races. I don't need wireless ETTL yet but I do switch off between on Camera ETTL and manual off-camera flash alot.

By not having a hot shoe on top of the transceiver is a major inconvenience for me since I have to swap out the transceiver back and forth. Even this is an in convenience for me with the Cactus since it doesn't transmit ETTL information through

So right now. I am debating between the Phottix Strato II and the CyberSync PW

I have no use for High Speed Sync yet but it might come handing for shooting sports???

You don't need HSS for sports.

Now for when you need to have flash and use radio triggers, which camera you have? Any decent one has a PC sync port where you can wire up your radio triggers. Having flash on top of the trigger on the camera puts lot of strain, atleast from my experience using miniTT1 and flash on top.

Depends what sports I guess. Runners and cyclists are best shot at or above 1/500 which is within Hypersync range on some newer bodies, but those are sports where you can get close enough for flash. Car racing, probably not much use for flash at all, right?