Pocket Wizard AC5 - Yes it works

Alan, do you guys use that hot shoe foot when using the sock? I see that it puts flash much higher so that I have problem getting the flash head into my softbox.

I can attest to the power of the sock ...See thread here: https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=944840

I have not tried without the hot shoe adapter. It says to make sure the inner part of the sock makes contact with the bottom of that shoe; I believe it's a grounding thing and integral to making it all work.

So what kind of modifers you guys use when using the sock/shoe combination thing? Just plain old umbrellas? The combination puts flahs too high for use in SB like QBox24" or Eyzbox, isn't it?

Just ordered some TT5's. Do the AC5 socks come with them or do you have to order separately?

Apollo.11 wrote in post #11298188
Just ordered some TT5's. Do the AC5 socks come with them or do you have to order separately?

Mine had them in the same box.

Apollo.11 wrote in post #11298188
Just ordered some TT5's. Do the AC5 socks come with them or do you have to order separately?

As far as I know, all FlexTT units should come with the AC5 unless they were removed from the box or you got a really old unit that's been sitting around for more than half a year.

PacAce wrote in post #11298350
As far as I know, all FlexTT units should come with the AC5 unless they were removed from the box or you got a really old unit that's been sitting around for more than half a year.

Thanks for the info. I ordered from a reputable online dealer, so I'll expect to see them in the box.

Does anyone have any data/reports on an older 580EX?
Haven't really had a chance to test it, but easily getting 100 feet... most of my usage has been in the 30-60 feet, and no problems!

I have 3 580EXs that are definitely helped by the sock.
I now have AC7s which are superior to the sock and, also great speedlite/umbrella mounts.
For the price, I got thee more to use with manual flashes primarily for their mounting capabilities.
The one deficiency is the poorly designed bulge for the external battery connector. Its too small. The plug won't permit the Speedlite to be mounted. I solved the problem with a Dremel.

I recently purchased 3 TT5's for my two 580EXIIs and 430EX along with a TT1 for my 7d. So far, I can't get consistent results within 10 feet, and frustration doesn't even begin to describe my experiences so far with PW's.
I did try adding the attached socks, but I've found that it makes no difference.
At this point, I'm not sure if i should either purchase the AC7 hard sheilds...or replace my flash units with 430EXII's which I've read don't have the issues of the 580EXII and 430.
if anyone has any thoughts, I'd love to hear them
thanks

I have a question, was there at time the AC5's (or maybe AC7's) were supposed to be free for PW TT5/TT1 owners who bought them when they first came out? I thought the sock version was for a period of time and that you had to sign up on the web site and they'd contact you when available?

ChrisMc73 wrote in post #11714443
I have a question, was there at time the AC5's (or maybe AC7's) were supposed to be free for PW TT5/TT1 owners who bought them when they first came out? I thought the sock version was for a period of time and that you had to sign up on the web site and they'd contact you when available?

Yes, early on when the AC5 just came out, you did have to sign up to get them. But they're included in the box with the FlexTT5 now.

PacAce wrote in post #11714447
Yes, early on when the AC5 just came out, you did have to sign up to get them. But they're included in the box with the FlexTT5 now.

Yeah, I just got my box out and found it was in there! Duh, I had the hot shoe shield sitting out, so that made me wonder where the sock was, so I opened up the box and there it was underneath it. I have some studying to do on these things and my 580EXII. I don't know how to work them well.

ChrisMc73 wrote in post #11714505
Yeah, I just got my box out and found it was in there! Duh, I had the hot shoe shield sitting out, so that made me wonder where the sock was, so I opened up the box and there it was underneath it. I have some studying to do on these things and my 580EXII. I don't know how to work them well.

Presumably, you have two FlexTT5 units or a FlexTT5 and a MiniTT1, right? One FlexTT5 by itself is not going to allow you to shoot the 580EX II remotely although the FlexTT5 on top of the camera with the 580EX II in its hotshoe is still usable for optimized HSS shooting.

PacAce wrote in post #11714764
Presumably, you have two FlexTT5 units or a FlexTT5 and a MiniTT1, right? One FlexTT5 by itself is not going to allow you to shoot the 580EX II remotely although the FlexTT5 on top of the camera with the 580EX II in its hotshoe is still usable for optimized HSS shooting.

Yes I have a FlexTT5 and a TT1, to go with my 580EX II.
I've used it, just not a whole lot. In fact I used it this weekend at a Creative Lighting Workshop but had a heck of a time with them, mainly due to technical issues.

First the switch on my TT1 was set to "on" for God knows how long and that weird 2450 battery had died, so I had to run to WalGreens and buy some back ups. Then I guess there were a few other people in the workshop using older pocket wizards and we kept running into issues where we were on the same channels, and I'd be controlling their flashes etc, and at times I couldn't get the TT1 to trigger the TT5 at all, not sure if it was because I didn't have this AC5 sock/hotshoe setup or if I just jacked with the settings too much trying to find a channel to work on, near the end of the day I finally got it to work consistently, and got some really good shots.

So now I'm just trying to spend some time with my 580EXII and TT5/TT1's and try to understand them at a deeper level.