Einstein E640 and a bunch of Plus II Pocket Wizards

Hi Everyone,

I am hoping to get some advise....
I just ordered the Einstein E640 and a bunch of accessories. I thought i researched everything but by mistake, I ordered the CSXCV cyber Sync to go with it. Then I was reading some more posts here and there and figured out where i went wrong.

I already own 3 PW Plus II's. I would use one on my 5D II and 1 on my 580 EX II and 1 on my 430 EX (sitting in a shoe adapter because it does not have the sync port). I know I could do the whole slave thing with the two speedlights, but this way i never needed to worry about line of sight etc.

A guy I know recommended this light and he said that his Pocket Wizards will fire the Einstein and when I when to order it, the CSXCV Cyber Sync was one of recommended accessories so i just assumed that was the only receiver needed and thats why i ordered it. Then I read that my Sekonic 758DR meter would not fire that CSXCV so i did some more research and thats when i learned about the Power MC2.

From what I read from other posts, the Cyber Sync system has full control over the light with the Commander and the pocket wizard set can do it, but is some what limited. I only have the Plus II's anyway, so I would not be able to control the light functions through my camera anyway. This is not a deal maker or breaker for me as this is a hobby for me and not a career. I am just wondering, which way to go, thinking in the the future. Do I dump the whole PW set up and then have to get the commander and two more Cyber Sync receivers for my speedlights only to still have a problem with my Sekonic light meter, or do I simply get the Power MC for the Einstein. I know after reading that, it would make sense to simply get the power MC, but I could not confirm if the Plus II will even fire it. I know it should..... but i did not read anywhere where it someone said - Yes, I have done it. I only read where someone said it should do it.

Just wondering if anyone has any advise which way i should be going on this......

Thanks

Trent,
The answer to your question will, to a large extent be based on your upgrade plans.
If the Einstein is the only monolight you plan to buy then using the MC2 with the PWs is probably a good way to go. It can be fired via the Plus II with the proper settings via the setup utility.

If you think you may bet more Einsteins. Then its probably worth selling your PWs and getting Cyber Sync receivers for your speedlites and eventually a Cyber Commander as a light meter remote power controller. Also get a Cyber Sync trigger to put on the camera. Then you can carry the Cyber Commnander around when adjusting lights.

dmward wrote in post #15620261
Trent,
The answer to your question will, to a large extent be based on your upgrade plans.
If the Einstein is the only monolight you plan to buy then using the MC2 with the PWs is probably a good way to go. It can be fired via the Plus II with the proper settings via the setup utility.

If you think you may bet more Einsteins. Then its probably worth selling your PWs and getting Cyber Sync receivers for your speedlites and eventually a Cyber Commander as a light meter remote power controller. Also get a Cyber Sync trigger to put on the camera. Then you can carry the Cyber Commnander around when adjusting lights.

Thanks for the response.
Yeah, I guess I hope to add additional units as I need/and can afford them and I am not against the prices for the cyber sync products - they seem quite reasonable.
One of the things that is really bumming me out, is that I love my Sekonic 758 - I just learned how to use most of its features, and I love it. It was crazy expensive as well - but it truly is an awesome meter.
I cannot imagine the commander light meter feature could even come close to what it can do as far as profiling etc (but I could be wrong). Maybe I will do some research to see if I can get a Cyber Sync module for it - I am not sure if them make one or not.

No module for the Sekonic.
Its relatively easy to fire the light(s) using the test button on the Cyber Sync trigger or Cyber Commander.
What is nice about the Cyber Commander (CC) is ability to read each Einstein individually. That sets it up in the CC so that power changes to the light via the CC are possible based on adjusting to the F stop you want to use.

Once all the lights are setup individually going to group mode you select the lights you want in the group and then can change them as a group or change all the lights in the setup as a group as well. Then fire them using the CST on the camera.

Once you get used to it its a charm. My stand alone light meter rarely comes out of the case anymore.