Pocket Wizards Vs. Radio Poppers

I'm in the process of researching these two items, and I am looking for some real input from the ones that use these things, so have at it

Also, what all would I need if I just wanted to have the ability to use two flashes (one Sigma 500dg Super and Canon 580EX II) and fire them into umbrella, and maybe a softbox.

Any web links or insight is greatly appreciated. Thanks so much!

radio poppers give you full ettl controll over flash unit (basicly they extend the rage of the canon ir ettl system)

where as pocket wizards will only deliver a fire command thus you need to use your flashes in Manual

I went through the same thing. I ended up with PW just because with Radio Poppers you have to have a flash or ST-E2 still on the camera. To me that defeated my purpose of getting the flash off the camera.

darktiger wrote in post #5792112
I went through the same thing. I ended up with PW just because with Radio Poppers you have to have a flash or ST-E2 still on the camera. To me that defeated my purpose of getting the flash off the camera.

how is using ettl with off camera flash defeating the object of off camera flash

I'm guessing he only had one flash...

Zilly wrote in post #5792120
how is using ettl with off camera flash defeating the object of off camera flash

I won't be getting RP's because I don't want to buy a radio trigger system, then have to buy a 580EX or ST-E2 to make it work. RP's are great products and unique, but I personally see limited use in ETTL off camera. Not saying it is not useful, but I'd rather just buy some triggers myself.

OP, you may want to look into the Elinchrom Skyports as well, great reliable system for about half of what the PW's cost. The range is less however, at about 400 ft.

You could have the 580 fire with the radio trigger and use the optical slave on the 500 for most applications.

After reading a 3 page thread on another forum recently:
- Radio Poppers: new technology, bit of a hack, seems good but it's first generation. Makes things easy but equipment maybe not to robust/reliable.
- Pocket Wizards: industry standard, rock solid, triggers from huge distances, you have to work in manual mode. Expensive.
- Skyports: completely reliable, range less than PWs but still enough for 99% of people, have to work in manual mode, half the price of PWs.

I'm getting Skyports. NB: they come in different versions, get the universal version unless you have Elinchrom strobes. Extra receivers here.

To be honest, I just learned how to properly use ETTL w/ ratios and slaves - it really is an awesome setup, and radio poppers makes it awesome..

Most people that compare RP's to PW's have no idea the benefit of shooting ETTL ratio lighting.. I guess I'll only be ahead of the curve for a little while until people start figuring it out or they make it easier to do.. (read easier to figure out)

Was anxiously waiting for Radio Poppers and having seen the eventual product, they are a kludge and will be more in the way for serious or professional use.

The product needs a lot more refinement or better yet, sold to Canon as a built in solution. Has potential *****

The PW is a refined product and robust for professional use. It does not support ETTL which is a major drawback for some quick setup situations. It is also a bit expensive but extremely reliable.

Built in PWs already exist and some cameras can be custom modified to accommodate
they are only available on prfessional units so this goes into the interesting but not relevant class.

An optical slave cell, just a few dollars is all that's actually needed to fire any two flashes simultaneously, no ETTL though.

The ST-E2 has been mentioned already and should work fine with your units. I've just put batteries in my 500DG and yes it works from the ST-E2 ~~ not too sure if ratios are working though. A second hand ST-E2 may well be worth acquiring.

twistedinsight wrote in post #5791578
I'm in the process of researching these two items, and I am looking for some real input from the ones that use these things, so have at it

Also, what all would I need if I just wanted to have the ability to use two flashes (one Sigma 500dg Super and Canon 580EX II) and fire them into umbrella, and maybe a softbox.

Any web links or insight is greatly appreciated. Thanks so much!

AFAIK, the 580 and the sigma will not communicate with each other. Is this correct? If so, buying the RP's would do nothing for you now.

Village_Idiot wrote in post #5796004
AFAIK, the 580 and the sigma will not communicate with each other. Is this correct? If so, buying the RP's would do nothing for you now.

Yes, they will. Now whether they always understand each other is open to debate but they can communicate with each other.

"The range is less however, at about 400 ft"

I read the above and thought...would it be possible to extend the range of wireless triggers using a repeater type technique? Would there be too much delay? I don't know the answers and I can't try it 'cause I don't have the hardware to do it out but I can tell you what I am thinking might work and maybe someone can shoot it full of holes of prove or disprove it.

You'll need two transmitters, each an a different transmit frequency
Also need two receivers and two flashes.

1. Setup XMTR #1 on camera.
   
2. Place Flash #1 some distance (close to its MAX range) away from the camera.
   
3. Fire a test shot and verify the setup and range are OK so far.
   
4. Place XMTR #2 alongside RCVR #1.
   
5. Set XMTR #2 on a frequency other than that of XMTR #1.
   
6. Connect XMTR #2 using a hotshoe adapter or what have you so that it is fired by RCVR #1 along with Flash #1.
   
7. Place RCVR #2 and Flash #2 some distance (close to MAX) from XMTR #2.
   
8. Set RCVR #2 on frequency 2.
   
9. Fire off a couple test shots and see what happens.

figmented wrote in post #5794947
To be honest, I just learned how to properly use ETTL w/ ratios and slaves - it really is an awesome setup, and radio poppers makes it awesome..

Most people that compare RP's to PW's have no idea the benefit of shooting ETTL ratio lighting.. I guess I'll only be ahead of the curve for a little while until people start figuring it out or they make it easier to do.. (read easier to figure out)

ETTL is very quick and helpful, and RPs are a kludge. The more experienced I get the more I shoot in manual, mostly to get consistency to make my PP easier.

Bob D. wrote in post #5798000
"The range is less however, at about 400 ft"

I read the above and thought...would it be possible to extend the range of wireless triggers using a repeater type technique? Would there be too much delay? I don't know the answers and I can't try it 'cause I don't have the hardware to do it out but I can tell you what I am thinking might work and maybe someone can shoot it full of holes of prove or disprove it.

You'll need two transmitters, each an a different transmit frequency
Also need two receivers and two flashes.

1. Setup XMTR #1 on camera.
   
2. Place Flash #1 some distance (close to its MAX range) away from the camera.
   
3. Fire a test shot and verify the setup and range are OK so far.
   
4. Place XMTR #2 alongside RCVR #1.
   
5. Set XMTR #2 on a frequency other than that of XMTR #1.
   
6. Connect XMTR #2 using a hotshoe adapter or what have you so that it is fired by RCVR #1 along with Flash #1.
   
7. Place RCVR #2 and Flash #2 some distance (close to MAX) from XMTR #2.
   
8. Set RCVR #2 on frequency 2.
   
9. Fire off a couple test shots and see what happens.

Actually you wouldn't need a flash at the middle location, you could just chain a receiver to a transmitter.

The contacts on the transmitters and receivers should be dry (produce no voltage of their own, just close a set of contacts), so shouldn't hurt either half of the setup.

The PocketWizard Plus II and MultiMax units work exactly as you described above in Relay mode except that the transmitter (XMTR #2) and receiver (RCVR #1) are incorporated into one PW unit.

tim wrote in post #5798464
ETTL is very quick and helpful, and RPs are a kludge. The more experienced I get the more I shoot in manual, mostly to get consistency to make my PP easier.

I also considered getting RPs but also thought about the inconsistency in ETTL over manual. So I am just going to save up and get some PWs.