Canon EX II with Pocketwizard

I am confused about ho to set the 580 EX II so that it exposes correctly while triggered remotely using pocketwizards. Do I leave it at ETTL, manual or set it as Master or something else?

Radio slave systems require the flash to be in manual. The only exception is radiopoppers, which have magic inside them which extends ETTL over a radio channel.

manual!!

When used with a radio slave system such as the PocketWizard family (or most other radio slave systems), there is no way for a camera and flash unit to communicate information other than the camera sending a "go" signal to the flash via the radio link. Thus, the flash unit's output will have to be controlled manually.

Does the 580EX II need to be attached to the camera to use its 'auto' mode - as in auto-thyristor?

The 580EX II can also be used off camera in 'auto' mode - as in auto-thyristor.

But you must use the Custom Functions to select it. Select CF 5-3 (External metering: Manual) and then set the ISO and aperture to match the camera.

CF 5-2 (External metering: auto) should only be used on camera (or OC-E3 cord) as it will get the ISO and aperture through the dedicated hotshoe.
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but you must is a very

So it could be put in auto mode and attached to a Pocket Wizard?

And it would expose properly? Or as Canon determined 'proper'?

Yes, I believe so.

But just remember it is not called "Auto" mode. It is "External metering: Manual" but it is the same as what we called Auto on the old Thyristor flashes. The manual part just means that you must manually set the ISO and aperture.

It's my understanding the 580 EX II sync port is disabled off camera in Manual mode. You need to get a hot shoe adapter....... Or my suggestion would be to send it into http://www.michaelbass​.blogspot.com/ have him do his Modification to it and never look back.
BTW I believe any E-TTL is lost when using a Pocketwizard you are left with setting the exposure manually
Good Luck

No, the PC sync port is only disabled in the Master-Slave setup. It should work fine in manual or external metering.

What I was getting at is that the OP could hook the 580EX II up to a radio receiver in 'Auto' mode and get some reasonably exposed shots without too much difficulty.

Yes, I agree. The Pocket Wizard would work well with a 580EX II and still give you auto flash exposure if you set the Custom Function to CF 5-3 (External metering: Manual).

But you have to remember that the auto flash exposure is being read by the front of the flash. If you have the flash located away from the camera, and are lighting the side of the subject, the flash will see a different exposure than the camera does.

For best results in External metering mode, the flash should be in a position that is similar to the camera position.

msowsun wrote in post #6223456
But you have to remember that the auto flash exposure is being read by the font of the flash. If you have the located away from the camera, and are lighting the side of the subject, the flash will see a different exposure than the camera does.

For best results in External metering mode, the flash should be in a position that is similar to the camera position.

I think that it is different than that. When you invoke the "External Automatic Flash Exposure Sensor" you need to set the ISO, Aperture and Shutter Speed settings you want (say from a light meter) and the sensor will enable that amount od light to be emitted.

To see the deep workings of this new facility, look at:

http://www.usa.canon.c​om …tArticleAct&art​icleID=946

CliveyBoy wrote in post #6223555
To see the deep workings of this new facility, look at:

http://www.usa.canon.c​om …tArticleAct&art​icleID=946

Definitely a good read if you are at all considering using the 580EX II "External Automatic Flash Exposure".

CliveyBoy wrote in post #6223555
I think that it is different than that. When you invoke the "External Automatic Flash Exposure Sensor" you need to set the ISO, Aperture and Shutter Speed settings you want (say from a light meter) and the sensor will enable that amount od light to be emitted.

To see the deep workings of this new facility, look at:

http://www.usa.canon.c​om …tArticleAct&art​icleID=946

I'm reading that as setting the ISO and Aperture you want and then matching the camera settings to it. Which is pretty much traditional auto-thyristor mode. You set your desired lighting on the flash and then match the camera to that.