PW mini system to plus II - a downgrade?

I've been using the mini and flex system since last summer and have nothing but headaches with it. Would going back to the Plus II's be a downgrade? I never had an issue getting those to fire but the mini and flex is a real pain it seems.

do you need eTTL? If not why bother with the problems.

Like dale said all depends on how you shoot. I sold my mini/flex and moved to plus II.

Edited:- I didn't have any issues BTW with the mini/flex. Since you using mini/flex I assume you need eTTL or HSS mode. Look into the problems you having and try to fix them. Most issues are 580exII related though mine worked as good as my 550ex flashes.

Yes, it would be a downgrade in features. But speaking as someone who had nothing but headaches when dealing with Plus IIs, I would ditch PW altogether.

I'm learning more and more that I only need ettl when shooting live music and either an off shoe cord or bounced from camera takes care of that.

Once I put my 580EXII in an AC7 my problems all disappeared.

mrcoons wrote in post #13867653
Once I put my 580EXII in an AC7 my problems all disappeared.

Yesterday I think my issue was the ac3. It's a small piece of kit but I can't seem to get it to work properly. It won't adjust my flash's power at all. Not sure what the issue is. My flash also won't fire when the AC3 is plugged in.

If the flash doesn't fire with the AC3 plugged in, are you sure you actually enabled the zone on the AC3 corresponding to the zone on the FlexTT5?

what Jonathan said above. When I got my ac3 I couldn't get flash to fire. Noticed after the shoot that switch on ac3 was set to off. Also make sure flash is in eTTL mode.

I hardly ever use ettl but the build quality of the mini flex system is so much better than the plus II. Still considering switching back though.

Not sure why you say build quality of mini/flex is better. Try putting your 580ex II on top of mini/flex on top of the camera, it feels like that thing is going to fall anytime. On plus II I have had camera/lens/plusII fall on concrete, all what needed fixing was plastic foot of plus Ii for like $6 or so.

bobbyz wrote in post #13871604
Not sure why you say build quality of mini/flex is better. Try putting your 580ex II on top of mini/flex on top of the camera, it feels like that thing is going to fall anytime. On plus II I have had camera/lens/plusII fall on concrete, all what needed fixing was plastic foot of plus Ii for like $6 or so.

The mini locks in my hotshoe MUCH tighter than a plus 2 does.

Was your plus 2 difficult to get repaired?

I have my PW kit up for sale, but I'm partially conflicted on getting rid of it. There are pros and cons to both set ups. I really appreciate the way the Mini securely attaches to my hot shoe, something I didn't have with the Plus II. Granted, I don't need eTTl capabilities, but that's not to say I have to USE them wit the Mini and Flex, I can always stay in manual mode regardless, no?

The Plus II sync range isn't near as good or as fast as the Min/Flex, correct?

I think the inconsistency with my current set up has me wanting to go back to the "trusted standard" of Plus II's. Last night I was working with my light set up and every 3 or 4 shots, my flash would not fire. No changes in settings or anything. It just simply wouldn't fire....and then after a few more shots, and test fires from the Mini and/or Flex, it started firing again. That has happened on numerous occasions and A) didn't encourage me to keep shooting B) gave me a GIANT headache and C) discouraged me from using PW altogether.

Need some help here, everyone....

StayLucky wrote in post #13871616
Was your plus 2 difficult to get repaired?

Not at all, ordered that $6 part and changed myself in 10mins. Did to two of the plus IIs that I broke in 6 months.

You using 580exII flash? I added a small eTTL cord to my setup when I had it and no problems. At the time Ac7 was not available.