580EX II Master, 580EX Slave, and Pocket Wizards

Feeling rather doltish because I can't figure out if it's me or how I've got things set up.

Configuration: PW receiver connected to 580EXII which in turn is set to Master. The 580EX is set to slave. PW transmitter on the camera.

Problem: 580EX II fires as expected. The 580EX in slave mode however does not fire until after the shutter has closed...at least using shutter speeds that ranged from 1/200 sec to 1/25 sec. I want them to fire simultaneously.

As an aside, when I mount the 580EX II on my camera, both flashes fire just fine.

OK, so what simple, well known precaution am I not taking?

ayotnoms wrote in post #4712915
Feeling rather doltish because I can't figure out if it's me or how I've got things set up.

Configuration: PW receiver connected to 580EXII which in turn is set to Master. The 580EX is set to slave. PW transmitter on the camera.

Problem: 580EX II fires as expected. The 580EX in slave mode however does not fire until after the shutter has closed...at least using shutter speeds that ranged from 1/200 sec to 1/25 sec. I want them to fire simultaneously.

As an aside, when I mount the 580EX II on my camera, both flashes fire just fine.

OK, so what simple, well known precaution am I not taking?

i don't think the canon whatchamjigie works when the 580 is off camera unless you are using one of their cords. not sure though but im sure someone else will chime in soon enough.

J.

I agree with jptsr1. I think you'll need another PW for the other 580.

I did something similar recently. I got a couple of digital peanuts to drive my old SLR flashes. Worked fine with my 580ex wireless selector switch in "off". I then switched to "master" to add in a few 430ex as slaves. The flashes with the digital peanuts didn't fire in sync with the Canon flashes (they did fire just not at the right time). Either the preflash is different in master mode or the communication between the master and slave throws the peanuts off.

Sounds like your master 580 II is not in manual mode. When both flash are in ETTL mode, when you press the pilot botton on the master, the slave will fire a second later.

You can use wireless ETTL, with one flash in master and one in slave, that doesn't use pocket wizards but you get ETTL for automatic exposure. Or you can use a PW on the camera and each flash, with everything in manual, you have to meter yourself.

btw if you're using PWs and all manual then the 580 II is a very expensive flash to use as a dumb slave.

tim, one PW can be connected to the master 580, the master will fire and control the power output of the slave EXs (exclude the 420EX). I believe that's what the OP is trying to do, but the master 580 II must be in manual mode with Ratio turned on.

tim wrote in post #4713842
btw if you're using PWs and all manual then the 580 II is a very expensive flash to use as a dumb slave.

Tim, that's neither here nor there. If people have more than one Speedlite, there's no reason why they can't be used with PWs to trigger them. Heck, that would apply even if they only had one flash! They already have the flash and the money has been spent. So there's no reason they can't use it anyway they wish. It's not like they're wearing the flash out and will need to replace them soon. If that were the case, then yes, a warning about the flash being very expensive as a dumb slave used that way would be warranted. But it's not, is it?

I agree with Leo.

Unfortunately, I'm probably dumber than antonym on this stuff. Sheesh.
me

Lotto wrote in post #4713909
tim, one PW can be connected to the master 580, the master will fire and control the power output of the slave EXs (exclude the 420EX). I believe that's what the OP is trying to do, but the master 580 II must be in manual mode with Ratio turned on.

Yeah that's possible, but kindof defeats the purpose of pocket wizards doesn't it?

PacAce wrote in post #4714290
Tim, that's neither here nor there. If people have more than one Speedlite, there's no reason why they can't be used with PWs to trigger them. Heck, that would apply even if they only had one flash! They already have the flash and the money has been spent. So there's no reason they can't use it anyway they wish. It's not like they're wearing the flash out and will need to replace them soon. If that were the case, then yes, a warning about the flash being very expensive as a dumb slave used that way would be warranted. But it's not, is it?

Yeah if you have them already it's a good idea, i'm just pointing it out for other people that are reading that thread that you don't need expensive flashes if you use them in manual mode.

Let's say you want to take a photograph of birds in a birdbath under a large tree that requires a lighting boost. Is it not reasonable to use a remote flash connected to a PW? That's really all I am trying to do; trigger a flash from a remote position. Isn't that one application for a flash -- even an expensive one like the 580EX II?

Steve,

If you connect the Pocket Wizard via the PC port on the 580EX II, the needed Manual-Master mode is disabled. My "stab" guess is that this is what you are doing (the PW comes with a cord that will connect to the 580EX II PC port).

This means that you cannot trigger your "master" 580EX II to start the process to allow it to trigger your other compatible Canon flash units via the Canon infrared system. I call this "hybrid triggering" (part fundimental sync triggering, part Canon infrared triggering).

If you connect the Pocket Wizard to the 580EX II via the hotshoe you can regain the manual- master function on the 580EX II.

Enjoy! Lon

tim wrote in post #4713842
btw if you're using PWs and all manual then the 580 II is a very expensive flash to use as a dumb slave.

I hear this a lot and I actually feel somewhat stupid by making a counterpoint to the all mighty TIM.
And that's no joke! You're one of the most experienced and most helpful people on POTN.
I don't think the 580II, or a pair of them and Skyports or Pocket Wizards are a bad idea. Are there cheaper options? Hell yes there are! However everything comes with a cost in compromise. Power, compatability, reliability, features, and portability.

FlashZebra wrote in post #4715369
Steve,

If you connect the Pocket Wizard via the PC port on the 580EX II, the needed Manual-Master mode is disabled. My "stab" guess is that this is what you are doing (the PW comes with a cord that will connect to the 580EX II PC port).

This means that you cannot trigger your "master" 580EX II to start the process to allow it to trigger your other compatible Canon flash units via the Canon infrared system. I call this "hybrid triggering" (part fundimental sync triggering, part Canon infrared triggering).

If you connect the Pocket Wizard to the 580EX II via the hotshoe you can regain the manual- master function on the 580EX II.

Enjoy! Lon

Thanks Lon. I appreciate the feedback.

Let me re-phrase and maybe you can tell me if I'm off track.

To fire the 580EX II remotely, I can connect the PW to the PC port and it will work fine although it will not allow me to use the flash as a master to control other flashes.

If I connect the PW via the hotshoe, I can once again have wireless control over multiple flashes.

Thanks again everyone for the excellent feedback.

ayotnoms wrote in post #4715628
Thanks Lon. I appreciate the feedback.

Let me re-phrase and maybe you can tell me if I'm off track.

To fire the 580EX II remotely, I can connect the PW to the PC port and it will work fine although it will not allow me to use the flash as a master to control other flashes.

If I connect the PW via the hotshoe, I can once again have wireless control over multiple flashes.

Thanks again everyone for the excellent feedback.

Yes, now you have it right.
But, remember, you need to have the master in Manual mode and the slaves must have manual mode capability with their output set manually via the master or on the slaves themselves.