What is best metering mode using Pocket Wizard Mini and Flex?

I recently purchased a set of Pocket Wizards, Mini TT1 and Flex TT5. I have a 50D and a 420 EX and I am not getting any results as I have seen in Pocket Wizards videos. I am wondering if I am not using the proper metering mode. What do you think would be best to use....or any other tips to improve my results with this setup. Thank You.

The metering mode you set on the camera, i.e. Evaluative, Center-weighted average, etc., is used for metering the ambient lighting and does not affect the flash metering used for E-TTL exposures. So, the decision on which metering mode to use should be based on how you want the scene metered for the ambient lighting and not the flash lighting. The camera will take care of the flash exposure using E-TTL in either Evaluative or Average metering mode, depending on how you have your custom function set for E-TTL (Evaluative would work best outdoors and either Evaluative or Average for indoors).

Ok. I have heard people talking about using "preflash" with the Pocket Wizards. I guess I am not sure what they are talking about or why they would use it. Any clues on that? lol

jmalonear wrote in post #9695394
Ok. I have heard people talking about using "preflash" with the Pocket Wizards. I guess I am not sure what they are talking about or why they would use it. Any clues on that? lol

Preflash comes with the territory when using E-TTL. The camera always fires a preflash before the shutter curtains are opened to determine the flash output that'll be required to properly expose the scene. You can't have E-TTL flash without the preflash. And this is true whether you're using the PW units or not.

If the flash is operated in manual mode, though, there is no preflash involved.

When I use my flash on om camera or on the Pocket Wizards, I do not get any preflash only the main flash. I must be doing something wrong.

Its doing it you just cant see the pre flash. If you set an exsposure time down to about 1 second or longer you will see 2 distinct flashes one is a pre flash the other will be the exsposure flash.

FAST_Marine wrote in post #9695962
Its doing it you just cant see the pre flash. If you set an exsposure time down to about 1 second or longer you will see 2 distinct flashes one is a pre flash the other will be the exsposure flash.

That is, if you have the camera set to 2nd curtain sync. Otherwise, the preflash may still not be noticeable.

Also, if you are looking through the viewfinder and see the flash go off, that is the preflash that going off since the main flash is never visible through the viewfinder of an SLR camera.

Thank You both, I did slow my shutter down and did notice the two flashes. I used my PW inside today and got some really good exposures. I am really pleased with them inside using a shoot through umbrella. But I have not found a great way to use it outdoors yet. I will keep trying.