Lighting plan- do I need a 580ex2?

Also consider Yongnuo 565EX flashes, half the price of 430ex's with about identical functionality of the 430ex. But with the power of the 580EX II.

mtimber wrote in post #14067262
Also consider Yongnuo 565EX flashes, half the price of 430ex's with about identical functionality of the 430ex. But with the power of the 580EX II.

Problem there is I am not going to buy anything from Amazon or EBay. So if B&H, Adorama, Abes, Beach camera or maybe MPEX start carrying Yongnuo, I will give them consideration.

Oloong SP-660 II seems like a good fit for your needs. It has wireless E-TTL slave, manual zoom, optical slave s1 and s2 mode, and fast recycle time. you can get 3 SP-660 II for the price of one 430EX II. but it's only available on ebay.

http://www.ebay.com …2c6370988d#ht_4​025wt_1392

FEChariot wrote in post #14066488
I had never heard of them before your post. I will look into them. What features do they offer that the Odins and PW flex & mini lack?

Check thi out...
http://vimeo.com/34545​700

FEChariot wrote in post #14067491
Problem there is I am not going to buy anything from Amazon or EBay. So if B&H, Adorama, Abes, Beach camera or maybe MPEX start carrying Yongnuo, I will give them consideration.

Well that really limits your options...

FEChariot wrote in post #14066522
Ideally, I would love to get a set of AB 800's too, but seeing this is still a hobby for me, I can't justify having both systems. And a want to be able to throw gear in my back pack and ride my mountain bike into the mountains and get some awesome shots of my friends. I can't do that with big strobes. Also, I still shoot at home in manual a lot though, but I don't want to be limited to it.

I generally find that if I am working with mulitple light set ups it is quicker for me to work in full manual.

Those pixel king triggers, is E-TTL the same as E-TTL II? That seems liek a good value. The pack comes with reciever and transmitter?

Well I think I am going to get a 580ex2 afterall. I plan on getting a TTL cord about 30 feet long and a second 430ex2 down the road. I found a 32' Interfit cord on B&H for $49, but I remember seeing some cheaper so I will have to look around more. I am going to keep an eye out on Craigslist for a good used 580.

Those Pixel kings look great, I am going to add a set of those too at some
Point. Looks like I will have to look past my no Amazon or EBay priority to get them though.

FEChariot wrote in post #14083122
Those Pixel kings look great, I am going to add a set of those too at some
Point. Looks like I will have to look past my no Amazon or EBay priority to get them though.

Also consider.....these
www.youtube.com/watch?​v=E5XVQfrGANA
www.youtube.com/watch?​v=dHQp2OP_xv4

If I get either the Odins or the Kings, Can I set the 580EX2 to fire the 430EX2's via the Canon wireless feature when the 580ex2 is off camera being controlled by either the Odin's or Kings? This would let me get started cheaper with just one trigger and one receiver and add additional recievers later. Or does it not work that way?

FEChariot wrote in post #14084709
If I get either the Odins or the Kings, Can I set the 580EX2 to fire the 430EX2's via the Canon wireless feature when the 580ex2 is off camera being controlled by either the Odin's or Kings? This would let me get started cheaper with just one trigger and one receiver and add additional recievers later. Or does it not work that way?

The 580ex will need to be set to slave to receive the odin/king signals.

So you will not be able to use them as a master when they are in that setup.

FEChariot wrote in post #14084709
If I get either the Odins or the Kings, Can I set the 580EX2 to fire the 430EX2's via the Canon wireless feature when the 580ex2 is off camera being controlled by either the Odin's or Kings? This would let me get started cheaper with just one trigger and one receiver and add additional recievers later. Or does it not work that way?

It does not work like that...but you can buy the Odin set and add a Strato receiver to fire the 430 in Manual mode as hair, background or rim light. Yes you can mix TTL and manual with the Odin.

mtimber wrote in post #14085259
The 580ex will need to be set to slave to receive the odin/king signals.

So you will not be able to use them as a master when they are in that setup.

When using the Odin you dont have to set the speedlight to slave...you leave it in TTL mode

DHPHOTO66 wrote in post #14085723
When using the Odin you dont have to set the speedlight to slave...you leave it in TTL mode

Thats interesting.

That would seem to be outside the norm for speedlights and triggers?

mtimber wrote in post #14085813
Thats interesting.

That would seem to be outside the norm for speedlights and triggers?

All you have to do is attach the unit to the receiver just you would on the camera body, the Odin does the rest. Even when you switch to (M)anual on the TCU you dont have to put the speedlights in (M)anual mode...Its a WONDERFUL system