Is the 580EXII what I wants?

I have a 430, I want to be able to do some off camera flash with one or two speedlites, eventually get softboxes and other lighting accessories. For now I can get a 580 and a long ocf cable and be good for some limited ocf work?

What cable would you recommend? I will use the 5Dii for this stuff.

I guess more importantly, is the PC Sync cable the way to go here? Do I need two male or female ends or both?

If you plan to get serious about this and want to be able to use the on camera flash control menu of the 5DII, I'd consider one of these long ettl cables from Flash Zebra or OCFgear

Also, if you want to learn the advantages of using a long ettl cord in this way with Canon Wireless Flash, this is an excellent (long) video by Syl Arena shot at B&H goes over everything:

http://www.youtube.com …IRg1ApGE&featur​e=youtu.be

kjonnnn wrote in post #13634421
I use the wireless transmitter. Its worth not dealing the cables and having full Ettl

This works fine, unless you want to have all flashes off camera, and still be able to control the power of the flashes from your camera, without use of expensive third party options. Also, if your master is inside a softbox, the wireless transmitter won't work.

EDIT: maybe I misunderstood, you use the ST-E2?

Dave Jr wrote in post #13634419
Also, if you want to learn the advantages of using a long ettl cord in this way with Canon Wireless Flash, this is an excellent (long) video by Syl Arena shot at B&H goes over everything:

http://www.youtube.com …IRg1ApGE&featur​e=youtu.be

This is the vid that stole two hours of my life got me thinking for three....

Which cable, FZ or OG, is most reputed?

+1 for flash zebra...I have several - no problems encountered. Your mileage may vary.

I've got a 580EXII and 2 430EXII. If i was in your shoes and wanted to do OCF I'd spend the money on a set of radio triggers a softbox and a light meter.

I think Dave is talking about putting your master on a cord inside the softbox and then controlling the other slaves that way. Then you are not wasting $400+ with a non-firing flash sitting in the hotshoe.

A little more detail in your posts would be helpful. You use wireless? What wireless? There are dozens of wireless devices these days.
think you can use 4? 4 of what?

dedsen wrote in post #13634665
I think Dave is talking about putting your master on a cord inside the softbox and then controlling the other slaves that way. Then you are not wasting $400+ with a non-firing flash sitting in the hotshoe.

Yes, exactly

And, you can still use the on camera wireless menu to change settings for the master and slaves.

Dave Jr wrote in post #13634680
Yes, exactly

And, you can still use the on camera wireless menu to change settings for the master and slaves.

Right, and this is why I like the cable option. My master will always be within 30 feet of me (probably not but for now it will be). All that's outlined in the vid posted above....

As for springing for wireless triggers, etc....well, I'm going to ease into lighting. I still feel guilty for buying the 1D.

Ever since I saw Syl at a workshop in MA back in 2010, I've been a fan of the long ETTL cable, a master on the end and slaves everywhere else - it's not for everyone, but it works great for me.

The FZ and OCF cables are pretty much the same - when he did his workshop here, he hadn't got the OCF cables in stock yet, and was using one of the first prototype cables - he said it was from the same vendor FZ uses, just a custom length (30' instead of FZs 24' I believe)

windpig wrote in post #13634570
I've got a 580EXII and 2 430EXII. If i was in your shoes and wanted to do OCF I'd spend the money on a set of radio triggers a softbox and a light meter.

I actually agree, especially for location work. On location, I don't mess with ETTL, I just use cheap Yongnau RF-602's triggers and shoot manual flash and use a light meter to get my setups quickly dialed in, but often, I don't need the meter, as you quickly get a feel for distances and power. Syl mentions in the video, the long ettl cord is a liability at weddings and events, not recommended.

The long ETTL cord does make sense if you have a lot of speedlights in your setup, then you can control them all from the on camera flash menu, rather than running around to adjust them all.

I usually just use two speedlights, and find it quicker and more reliable to use the cheap radio triggers and manual flash, especially outdoors. Syl Arena sometimes has to go to great lengths to get his slaves to be able to see the wireless flash transmissions from the master when in bright sun. He has enough speedlights to overcome those potential issues, but I don't.

Well I already ordered a 580exii so I will research more about wireless but the cord is so cheap it can't hurt to just have one.... If I find I wish the cord was absent....I guess I'll get some triggers.

Higgs Boson wrote in post #13636584
Well I already ordered a 580exii so I will research more about wireless but the cord is so cheap it can't hurt to just have one.... If I find I wish the cord was absent....I guess I'll get some triggers.

Nothing wrong with having the cord, and you can still shoot and learn manual flash with the cord, plus the advantage of being able to change the flash power from the camera.

At some point, you may also want to try some non-ettl triggers, they really are not very expensive (one transmitter and two receivers for under $50) and they solve of some of the issues you have with the cord.