Pocket Wizard with multi Flash...

I've just purchased 2 Pocket Wizard Plus II transceivers for use with my 1D Mk 2 and 580EXII/ I've no problem getting the units to fire the 580, that bit is fairly easy. However, when I set the 580 to be a Master unit to fire a 430 speedlite, there's about a half second delay in firing the second (430) unit. Does anyone know either: a) why this is b) any way to get them to fire simaltaniously without the use of a third Pocket wizard. I also have a non-Canon flash which fires fine on the Sync mode, but the downside is that it will also fire when anyone else fires their flash!! I'm using them for artistic sports photography so would be a great advantage!! Thanks in advance, Phil

Are you using E-TTL? Test fires in E-TTL mode has that delay.

Hi there,
I'm having exactly the same problem as Phil (using skyports), shutter fiend is right that in E-TTL mode the 430 will fire later but when i change it to manual (580) neither will fire, i have tried the same with a sync cable out of my 5D direct to the 580 and have the same problem that the 430 fires later and in manual nothing fires. Hope some one here can help, thanks

Paul

Your best solution is probably a third PW; then you would work both flashes in manual mode.

the problem with your set-up is the E-ttl between the two flashes since there is no information from the camera to the 580.

the more expensive solution is to trade the PlusII units for the new flex5s.

but that brings its own problems with RF interference from the flashes.
See the "New Pocket Wizards" thread for what that is and the solutions available.

Thanks for the replies. Since I've just bought the Pocket Wizards, I think trading them in is a bit drastic!! Will have to make do with a third flash on slave mode.