How to use Canon 580 & 430 exII in manual OCF?

I use Pixel Kings to trigger my Canon 580 exII and 430exII but if I use them both I can't seem to control them separately, using my 5D2s External Speedlite Control.

One Pixel King is set to group A, the other to Group B. In the External Speedlite Control I set mode to manual and the Flash Output to 1/16 and in Wireless Set I have

Wireless func- enabled
Master Flash- disabled
Channel- 1ch
Firing Group A:B
Group A output 1/128
Group B output 1/1

But whatever I set on the 5D2 they both end up with the same power setting in manual mode (looking at the back of the flash and looking at photos of both flashes firing).

I haven't set anything particular on the flashes because as soon as the receiver is turned on you lose most of the functions on the back of the camera.

Is there any way to use both flashes with different power settings?

Thanks.

edit: I upgraded the firmware for the RX and TX. Ratios now works correctly in eTTL Flashes don't fire at all in manual mode! Arggh!!

mhuk wrote in post #16792765
I use Pixel Kings to trigger my Canon 580 exII and 430exII but if I use them both I can't seem to control them separately, using my 5D2s External Speedlite Control.

One Pixel King is set to group A, the other to Group B. In the External Speedlite Control I set mode to manual and the Flash Output to 1/16 and in Wireless Set I have

Wireless func- enabled
Master Flash- disabled
Channel- 1ch
Firing Group A:B
Group A output 1/128
Group B output 1/1

But whatever I set on the 5D2 they both end up with the same power setting in manual mode (looking at the back of the flash and looking at photos of both flashes firing).

I haven't set anything particular on the flashes because as soon as the receiver is turned on you lose most of the functions on the back of the camera.

Is there any way to use both flashes with different power settings?

Thanks.

edit: I upgraded the firmware for the RX and TX. Ratios now works correctly in eTTL Flashes don't fire at all in manual mode! Arggh!!

So frustrating. I couldn't find an answer for you! Have you tried calling their customer support?

It's "working" now in manual and allows you to set the power for each flash via the camera and the power is correctly shown on the back of the flash. But when I tested it looked like the 580 was always more powerful than the 430, even if the 580 was set to 1/128 and the 430 was set to 1/2. Not sure if it's because the A:B is a ratio and the power levels are real, I've no idea

Maybe try swapping A for B and B for A.

What mode do you have set in the camera menu system for the flashes? ETTL or manual?

Why would you mention A:B ratios if you are using manual power settings?

I tried that and the results were even more "odd"

Because it's the Firing Group option shown in the External Flash Functions setting.

External Flash Functions menu Flash Mode is set to manual.

The Firing Group is set to A:B (but see below).

Group A and Group B are set to any values.

As shown here: http://pixsylated.com …-flash-control-interface/

Thanks

edit: Looking at the menu options on the link above I don't A+B+C as an option, which is strange. Either the Pixel Kings are missing that info or the 580 is doing something (although nothing is set on it e.g. master, slave etc.)?

Reading a PDF manual for the Pixel King it says:

Is "Content Setting" the Flash Output in the External Flash function menu option? I'll test it tonight when I get home...

But the pixylated blog shows how you control Canon flashes, mounted in the hotshoe (and then the info can be sent on to remote flashes). Nothing says your Pixel king triggers work the way Canon's flashes do. Well, maybe the manufacturer says so, but perhaps that's wrong.

Thanks for that - I missed the part that said he was using a flash in the hotshoe to control remote flashes, although the PK manual shows the same menu options. Argghh!!

Well, again, I assume Pixel King intended to support the same function in the same way. But reading back in this very thread it seems they don't always do what they are supposed to do. That's why I thought that there may be more than one problem with them.
Since you have a 580 EX II, you can put that in the hotshoe and let it control the 430 EX II remotely. It will restrict your placement of the 580 EX II to said hot shoe, of course, but just to test it out, you can do that. Remember that the flash on the camera is always in group A, so you have to set the remote one to group B.

Also don't worry about the A:B notification when using manual power setting - it's just the way it's written. The two groups are separate when using manual power mode, or they should be separate, provided things do work as intended.

Not sure if this is the correct place to ask but desperately need help. I'm trying to use my pocket wizards plus II to fire my 580 ex II. That works great however how can I change the settings of the flash from my camera. Each time I go to the menu it says flash is not hooked up. I know it's not, it's on a soft box with my pocket wizard attached to it. I want to change from ETTL or Manuel without having to go into the soft box. Thanks (Using a Canon 5D Mark III or the Canon 1D Mark III as the camera..