wireless flash

hey guys. i need some help regarding wireless flash. ive seen many cool pics here using a wireless flash. now i know nothing on the subject but i have a 580 exII and want a wireless trigger if thats what its called. ive seen a canon one that mounts on the hot shoe but read that its infrared so i think that would be limiting if the flash and unit werent face to face or close to communicate. can someone please point me in the right direction into a good unit? id prefer to buy good and buy once. thanx

If money's not an option. PocketWizards. That is all.

for triggers you have several options... if you really want to "buy good, buy once" you'll probably end up with Pocket Wizards (whatever the latest variant is) - you'll need a transmitter and a receiver... however lots of folks here on POTN have had good success with Alien Bees' CyberCync triggers (myself included)

the infra-red Canon ST-E2 triggers work well, but with limited range... or you can buy a second 580ex to trigger the one you have, or get a 430EX and have it triggered by your 580ex... but its range will be limited, though not unusable...

i'd start with reading the "lighting 101" section on strobist.com - if you put in your time reading there you will be ahead of the game and on the right track right out of the gate...

thanx. will do. seems like the strobist thing is a whole new world in photography. ive been looking forward sooo much into trying it out

Andrushka wrote in post #7642679
for triggers you have several options... if you really want to "buy good, buy once" you'll probably end up with Pocket Wizards

Thanks' for a well pointed out 'To Do list'.
Now the complex choice of heads.
Cheers

as far as the pocket wizards go can i only buy a tx unit? or do i need the tx rx unit? i was under the impression that the 580exii had a built in rx unit.

1ruffryder wrote in post #7644425
as far as the pocket wizards go can i only buy a tx unit? or do i need the tx rx unit? i was under the impression that the 580exii had a built in rx unit.

Nope, you'll need a reciever for your 580EXII. The 580 is infrared based, the PW's are RF based. Well, that is unless you go with the dinosaur Canon STE2 infrared transmitter unit.

tharmsen wrote in post #7644512
Nope, you'll need a reciever for your 580EXII. The 580 is infrared based, the PW's are RF based.

thnx. so ill need the rx tx and im good to go?

IamKP wrote in post #7644503
I have been VERY pleased with my Cybersyncs.

Same here

1ruffryder wrote in post #7644524
thnx. so ill need the rx tx and im good to go?

You'll need two. One for the flash and one for the camera.

DDCSD wrote in post #7646078
You'll need two. One for the flash and one for the camera.

And then you will need to learn to use manual flash (1/8, 1/4, 1/2 power, etc) because ETTL will not be possible using those wireless triggers.

Or you could buy an ST-E2 and a RadiopopperX set and get the best of both worlds, but it isn't cheap. Disclaimer - I have never used a Radiopopper product.

http://radiopopper.com​/

ok....this is good stuff for me as well.....now, since it is along the same lines:
I have a lil ol 430 ex. Can I buy 1 rx and 1 tx and fire off my 430 ex? I want to play with one flash for now until I learn more and save more for a larger flash/softbox. Right now, if all goes well.....I will get 1 cybersync reciever and 1 cybersync transmitter......and that is it right? no cords/adapters etc?

msowsun wrote in post #7647765
And then you will need to learn to use manual flash (1/8, 1/4, 1/2 power, etc) because ETTL will not be possible using those wireless triggers.

Mike, doesn't ETTL work with the newly anounced PW versions (ControlTL) for Canon, or were you referring to the other brands?