Help with Pocket Wizard order

I want to set up a remote flash system, mainly for interior architectural shots, but something that could be used for portrait work to in the future. I have searched and researched here and elsewhere and have decided to go the PW route.

What I want to have for now (I think) is to have 2 remote flashes and possible camera mount a flash as well(to save buying another PW transceiver). I just want a fairly simple kit that I can add to as I gain experience with it.

The gear I have;
Camera - 5D & 20D
Flashes - 580EX (older version) and a Nikon SB-50DX (no cord attachment)
Off camera flash cord.

What I believe I need is (and please make suggestions on makes of stuff to use);
3 - PW II's
1 or two more flashes
A connector for the 580EX to PW (hopefully one that still allows camera mounting)
A cable of sorts for using th PW's for remote shutter release
A couple of stands for the remote flashes
**Again, opinions on other gear I would need for sure would be appreciated**

I will placing an order with B&H for a T-SE 24 and a couple other little things, so would just like to order as much from there as possible.

I know this probably seems quite simple to many of you in the know, but I am still reeling from information overload.

BearLeeAlive wrote in post #5257935
I want to set up a remote flash system, mainly for interior architectural shots, but something that could be used for portrait work to in the future. I have searched and researched here and elsewhere and have decided to go the PW route.

What I want to have for now (I think) is to have 2 remote flashes and possible camera mount a flash as well(to save buying another PW transceiver). I just want a fairly simple kit that I can add to as I gain experience with it.

The gear I have;
Camera - 5D & 20D
Flashes - 580EX (older version) and a Nikon SB-50DX (no cord attachment)
Off camera flash cord.

What I believe I need is (and please make suggestions on makes of stuff to use);
3 - PW II's
1 or two more flashes
A connector for the 580EX to PW (hopefully one that still allows camera mounting)
A cable of sorts for using th PW's for remote shutter release
A couple of stands for the remote flashes
**Again, opinions on other gear I would need for sure would be appreciated**

I will placing an order with B&H for a T-SE 24 and a couple other little things, so would just like to order as much from there as possible.

I know this probably seems quite simple to many of you in the know, but I am still reeling from information overload.

PW's make your flashes completely manual, so looking at anything with TTL for use with one is a waste of money. Look at Sunpak 383's and Vivtar 285HV's. $80 and $90 respectively.

www.flashzebra.com has the cables you need. They're miniphone to hotshoe for about $15 I believe. It's a little hotshoe that the 580EX mounts on. To mount it on the camera, just remove it. It's not a permanent thing.

Go to bhphotovideo.com and look at the impact air cushioned stands. Like $35 each. You'll probably want something to diffuse the light if you're doing interior shots as well.

You can call B&H and they can help you with the cables you need to connect everything. They are amazingly knowledgeable. You can also PM Jon as he told me which ones to order, but I can't seem to find that link for you.

I have exactly what you are looking at and the PWII's are wonderful. Yes, all manual, but can be triggered within like 1000 ft.

Village_Idiot wrote in post #5258015
PW's make your flashes completely manual, so looking at anything with TTL for use with one is a waste of money. Look at Sunpak 383's and Vivtar 285HV's. $80 and $90 respectively.

www.flashzebra.com has the cables you need. They're miniphone to hotshoe for about $15 I believe. It's a little hotshoe that the 580EX mounts on. To mount it on the camera, just remove it. It's not a permanent thing.

Go to bhphotovideo.com and look at the impact air cushioned stands. Like $35 each. You'll probably want something to diffuse the light if you're doing interior shots as well.

Thanks for the input. Is THIS the hotshoe adapter you refer too, or is it THIS one. I will look in to those stands too. I was wondering about diffusion, it seems many doing what I intend to do aim the flashes into corners or other places out of the lenses view.

SuzyView wrote in post #5258046
You can call B&H and they can help you with the cables you need to connect everything. They are amazingly knowledgeable. You can also PM Jon as he told me which ones to order, but I can't seem to find that link for you.

I have exactly what you are looking at and the PWII's are wonderful. Yes, all manual, but can be triggered within like 1000 ft.

Thanks Suzie, I never even though of getting B&H's help. I will also contact Jon too. Are the FlashZebra cables available at B&H, or do they sell another brand. It seems the FlashZebra are the ones most folks here recommend.

I have learned that all the flashes will have to be manual, but I know I have tons more to learn, most of which will come with actual use.

Village_Idiot wrote in post #5258015
Look at Sunpak 383's and Vivtar 285HV's. $80 and $90 respectively.

Is either of these recommended, or would either do just fine?

The Sunpak flashes are not bad. I just happen to own 3 Canon flashes, so those I use. If you need the flashes for on camera sometimes, invest in the Canon ones. If not, the Sunpak flashes should be fine.

SuzyView wrote in post #5258114
The Sunpak flashes are not bad. I just happen to own 3 Canon flashes, so those I use. If you need the flashes for on camera sometimes, invest in the Canon ones. If not, the Sunpak flashes should be fine.

I should be just fine with the one Canon flash I have for on camera use, so the Sunpaks (either 1 or 2) would seem the best for my remote flash needs.

BearLeeAlive wrote in post #5258085
Thanks for the input. Is THIS the hotshoe adapter you refer too, or is it THIS one. I will look in to those stands too.

It's the latter (Item #0038 ). I got it from Flashzebra who is a member here, and his items are only available through him. I'm very happy with mine. I also got the Impact Heavy Duty stand, and for the price I like it.

BH Photo will be closing for about 9 days, so make sure you place your orders before they go into a hibernation, starting, I think, around April 19...

SYS wrote in post #5258326
It's the latter (Item #0038 ). I got it from Flashzebra who is a member here, and his items are only available through him. I'm very happy with mine. I also got the Impact Heavy Duty stand, and for the price I like it.

BH Photo will be closing for about 9 days, so make sure you place your orders before they go into a hibernation, starting, I think, around April 19...

Thanks for the insight and cable confirmation. I hope to place the B&H order on Sunday. I will look in to the Impact stand as well.

Don't forget these:

http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …117_Umbrella_Br​acket.html

SYS wrote in post #5258825
Don't forget these:

http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …117_Umbrella_Br​acket.html

I assume this bracket is primarily to hold umbrellas and such? Maybe I should look at at least on umbrella too. I know you can get them for either reflecting, or shooting through. I would assume for my purposes reflecting would be the best bet. Shooting through would be for softening portrait work, is this right?

Which cable do I need to connect to a PW for remote triggering?

Once I feel more confident in what I am going to order, I will put a list on here for approval from those of you with greater knowledge then myself.

BearLeeAlive wrote in post #5259039
Which cable do I need to connect to a PW for remote triggering?

Once I feel more confident in what I am going to order, I will put a list on here for approval from those of you with greater knowledge then myself.

Of the camera? It's on their website. There's two. There's a trigger cable and a pre-trigger cable that keeps the camera from falling asleep. Of course the pre-trigger is more expensive.

You also NEED the umbrella brackets for your light stands. They have a cold shoe which the flash sits in and it tilts and moves in a circular area. The light stands only come with the 1/4" 20 thread screw on them, with no way to attach a flash.

I'm hesitant to reccomend them, but the cheap stofen like diffusers ($15) might be a good option for your lights. They're cheap and some people are adamently against them, but the do act almost like a bare bulb and distribute the light in a near 360 pattern. I know one interior photographer that uses them. They do suck up flash power though as you lose a lot of light with them.

The sunpaks are fine. I think they even have swivel heads, while the Vivitars only tilt. Most "strobist" shooter's kits inlcude one proprietary flash for on camera TTL work and then as many other cheap manual flashes as they need. I have a 580EX II (thank god I don't need more than one) and two Vivitar 285HV's. I could get 4 Vivitars for the price of my one 580 and still have change for lunch.

Why do you need "1 or 2 more flashes", you only need one if you are only buying 3 wizards.

The cable to attach the PW to your camera comes included in the kit. But it doesn't come with any kind of mounting system. You can put it into your hotshoe but you said you wanted a flash in there instead. All you will need in addition are the hotshoe-miniphone adapters and the motor drive cord to remotely trigger your camera.

You can build a motordrive cord cheaply if you buy one of those super cheap $5 ADIDT cable releases on ebay, and then a sub-mini/miniphone cord.

If you are not using umbrellas, what I've done as an alternative to umbrella adapters is to just buy a tiny ballhead for the light stand and mount my flash onto there. It is more flexible in positioning your light and less bulky.

Thanks again for the continued help, and please bear with me as I figure this out. I know it is all simple stuff, I just have yet to wrap my brain around everything.

Village_Idiot wrote in post #5259225
Of the camera? It's on their website. There's two. There's a trigger cable and a pre-trigger cable that keeps the camera from falling asleep. Of course the pre-trigger is more expensive.

I am a bit confused here, could you link to what you are referring to, it would be helpful and appreciated.

Village_Idiot wrote in post #5259225
You also NEED the umbrella brackets for your light stands. They have a cold shoe which the flash sits in and it tilts and moves in a circular area. The light stands only come with the 1/4" 20 thread screw on them, with no way to attach a flash.

I see what you mean, the brackets will be acquired too for sure.

Village_Idiot wrote in post #5259225
I'm hesitant to reccomend them, but the cheap stofen like diffusers ($15) might be a good option for your lights. They're cheap and some people are adamently against them, but the do act almost like a bare bulb and distribute the light in a near 360 pattern. I know one interior photographer that uses them. They do suck up flash power though as you lose a lot of light with them.

I plan to get one reflecting umbrella to start with, does anyone have suggestions here? I can fashion diffusers to play with until I know just what my needs will be.

picturecrazy wrote in post #5259332
Why do you need "1 or 2 more flashes", you only need one if you are only buying 3 wizards.

I was thinking of using three total, one on or with the camera, and two remote. Could I not get away with 3 wizards in this scenario? I am thinking of getting 2 flashes instead of one because I would at least need to get another hotshoe to PW adapter as the wee Nikon flash I have has no PC terminal, plus I am not sure if it will be powerful enough.

picturecrazy wrote in post #5259332
The cable to attach the PW to your camera comes included in the kit. But it doesn't come with any kind of mounting system. You can put it into your hotshoe but you said you wanted a flash in there instead. All you will need in addition are the hotshoe-miniphone adapters and the motor drive cord to remotely trigger your camera.

So then, out of the box with what is supplied I could just use 2 wizards to do a manual remote trip of the shutter? Or, is this just to connect to it for the flash sync?

I have the hotshoe adapter figure out, could you please be so kind as to link to the motor drive cord I need to remotely trigger the shutter.

Maybe I should clarify, I would like to wirelessly trip the shutter from a long distance from the camera.

picturecrazy wrote in post #5259332
You can build a motordrive cord cheaply if you buy one of those super cheap $5 ADIDT cable releases on ebay, and then a sub-mini/miniphone cord.

I do have a cheap ADIDT remote that works fine, but the proprietary, onboard batteries die in the receiver real quickly, which is frustrating, thus the desire for the PW's to do this for me. Unless real pricey, I would just as soon buy the cable I need made up.

picturecrazy wrote in post #5259332
If you are not using umbrellas, what I've done as an alternative to umbrella adapters is to just buy a tiny ballhead for the light stand and mount my flash onto there. It is more flexible in positioning your light and less bulky.

I have a couple of these, and I agree that they would be better if no umbrella is used. They could just screw right on to the stand. Maybe I will only get one umbrella adapter right now, if I only plan to get one umbrella.

This info all you folks are giving is great. I am figuring out way more through this dialog then I could ever hope to just reading.