Single Flash setup

Long time reader, not long time poster though.

I have a 5d mark ii. I am now looking to get a flash to enhance my portrait shooting. I have been looking at the 430exii as a good unit to get started and focusing time to gain experience and practice. I would like to use it wirelessly. What would be a good recommendation running a setup like this? I have looked at different transceivers and didn't know the pros/cons and if ETTL is that big of a feature.

Thanks for any help!


---

Andy

YN622Cs for wireless trigger/rec

Are you comfortable using fully manual flash?

ETTL works, but you have to learn how to use it properly.
Manual works, but you have to learn how to use it properly.

Here is a proof for a quick head shot session I did a few weeks ago.
Main was a 600EX-RT in a 90x90cm umbrella frame softbox. Kickers were two 600EX-RTs in 9" foldable soft boxes. (I like the affect but they are extraneous to your question and un-necessary.)

This was shot ETTL. The 600EX-RTs were controlled by an STE3. The YN-622c triggers will accomplish the same result on your 5DII with a 430EXII.

Tiberius wrote in post #16074025
Are you comfortable using fully manual flash?

What is fully manual flash?
Flash output is controlled by the camera (ETTL), the flash (Auto) or the photographer (Manual). I've never heard of fully manual.

andytallman wrote in post #16073564
Long time reader, not long time poster though.

I have a 5d mark ii. I am now looking to get a flash to enhance my portrait shooting. I have been looking at the 430exii as a good unit to get started and focusing time to gain experience and practice. I would like to use it wirelessly. What would be a good recommendation running a setup like this? I have looked at different transceivers and didn't know the pros/cons and if ETTL is that big of a feature.

I know this wont answer your question per se, but I think you should also consider an ETTL cord such as offered by OCF Gear- www.ocfgear.com .

While the cord wont allow you to do wireless, it will allow full communication with your flash via the menu or any quick button(s) you might have already set. The only downside is the cord itself, and the inherent risk of tripping. But if youre doing portraits in a controlled enviroment, its a simple matter of moving the cable to to an out of the way area. And, its useful for those times when your triggers dont work, forgot to charge the batteries, funky latency issues, etc.

dmward wrote in post #16074100
What is fully manual flash?
Flash output is controlled by the camera (ETTL), the flash (Auto) or the photographer (Manual). I've never heard of fully manual.

Yeah, manual.

Alright. That has been incredibly helpful. While using a cord might be nice in the studio, I do have quite a few trips coming up including going to Central America into the rural areas to shoot, so I would want to get wireless for that application. I am definitely going to check out the triggers that were mentioned! Thanks all!