Tearing my hair out crossing 3 flash technologies i] Canons optical wireless ii] Canons RT Wireless iii] Bowens Wireless Radio triggers.
I need to support 2 scenarios:-
A] In a home studio - I use Bowens Pulsar Wireless Radio triggers, this has a lovely tiny TX transmitter, that sits on the Camera's hot-shoe, currently a 7D and soon to be, plus a 5DIII.
The Bowens GM 500Rs all have Radio Cards in them; so they can each be in a separate group.
Ideally I'd like to augment these 3 Strobes with any Speedlites I use outside.
As there is no ETTL inside, all manual and metered with a Sekonic lightmeter.
Plan is to use one of these Item #0118 Optical Slave — Canon EX Compatible — with Male PC Connector — Sonia Brand and a Item #0065 PC to Flash Hotshoe Adapter.
see
http://www.flashzebra.com/products/0118/index.shtml
and
http://www.flashzebra.com/hotshoes-shoes/0065.shtml
Camera triggers 3 Bowens Mono-lights over Bowens Radio wirelesssystem, when they flash [NB no ETTLII pre-flash] this sets off the Sonia cell, and hopefully fires the 600EX RT and the 430 EX RT both of which are set manually on the flash.
Will it work?. And I appreciate it's not ideal, from an ease of control perspective. Later I will replace the Speedlites with more Bowens Monolights.
Scenario B Location Work
i] Initially run this using the 7D's Optical Pop up, and use Canon's Optical Wireless mode to fire the 600EX RT and the existing 430 EX II. for Main and Fill, maybe the slightest bit of supplementary help [LIke 1/8 power] from the 7D's pop-up.
ii] Buy the ST -E3 or hopefully its replacement, if one comes with an Infra red focus aid beam. Or as soon as the 5D Mk III arrives, which ever is first.
Or if I get a lot of misfires using the 7D's optical wireless triggers.
Then obviously run the ST-E3 [or its replacement] to trigger the 600 EX RT.
Ideally I was wondering, if for budget reasons only, I could still use the Sonia cell to trigger the 430 Ex II. I guess the issue is when you use the 600EX RT and the ST-E3 in radio mode, and I want HSS and ETTLII - does that involve a preflash and radio communication too and fro.
If so then its time to sell the 430 EX II, or can I survive for a while if there is no actual pre-flash. Appreciate its a pain being all manual and meters on just one Speedlite.
So a question to any ST-E3 and 600 EX RT owners is there any preflashing at all?
I suppose if it was just ONE single preflash maybe I could sell the 430 EX and buy the Yongnuo 568 and use its S2 mode [I,e, ignore one preflash and be triggered optically].
Sorry for the long post but its a difficult for me , and b I think its pretty complex for 2 scenarios.
Any ideas help or advise much appreciated.
