eTTL with manual flash pocketwizard TT5s

Hey all -

Hopefully I can a straight answer to this.

I'm putting my new flash setup put together.

I have:

Pocketwizard Mini TT1 + 580 EX II on camera

2 x PocketWizard Flex TT5s + 430 EX IIs off camera.

If I set my 430 EX IIs to manual at say 1/16 and 1/16 - 0.7ev as I used to set my SB-28s before during say a reception....

When I pop the 580 EX II on ettl-mode, the PWs will trigger the other 2 flashes and meter the ambient + manual flashes or am I way off-base here?

I just prefer to get a similar flash/ambient for my OCF and then I'd like to use the 580 EX to have ettl-metered fill.

Thanks in advance...

This would be easier if the AC3 were available...

I am pretty sure that, if a flash is in manual ALL flashes need to be in manual. If ETTL is wanted, ALL flashes need to be set to ETTL.

danielvalentephotograp​hy wrote in post #10806040
Hey all -

Hopefully I can a straight answer to this.

I'm putting my new flash setup put together.

I have:

Pocketwizard Mini TT1 + 580 EX II on camera

2 x PocketWizard Flex TT5s + 430 EX IIs off camera.

If I set my 430 EX IIs to manual at say 1/16 and 1/16 - 0.7ev as I used to set my SB-28s before during say a reception....

When I pop the 580 EX II on ettl-mode, the PWs will trigger the other 2 flashes and meter the ambient + manual flashes or am I way off-base here?

I just prefer to get a similar flash/ambient for my OCF and then I'd like to use the 580 EX to have ettl-metered fill.

Thanks in advance...

This would be easier if the AC3 were available...

If the 430EX flash units are set to Manual mode, their output will not be used for determining the E-TTL flash exposure so there will be no preflash fired from those flash units. The only flash that will fire a preflash is the 580EX that's mounted on the camera and set to E-TTL mode. The E-TTL exposure will be determined solely by the 580EX. But when the shot is taken, all the flashes will fire and contribute to the overall exposure of the shot.

If you want to use the 580EX on the camera like you would the AC3, i.e. to manually control the output of the remote flashes (the 430EX units), then what you need to do is to set the 430EX units to E-TTL mode and the 580EX to Manual mode (the opposite of how you have them set now). This way, you can manually adjust the the power levels of all the flashes via the 580EX using the A:B C ratio feature.

OK that is what I thought about the manual flash, I just was confused about the AC3 because it allows you to either control power of the flashes in both manual and ettl at the same time.

danielvalentephotograp​hy wrote in post #10807043
OK that is what I thought about the manual flash, I just was confused about the AC3 because it allows you to either control power of the flashes in both manual and ettl at the same time.

You can do the same with the 580EX also.

The AC3 IS available. I've had one for a week or so now...

Try Dury Photo in Nashville. ( I live in Omaha too.)

Superb customer service. Insane fast delivery!

I will do that first thing on monday. Thanks for the tip. How are you liking the AC3, what is your setup?

7D with Mini TT1, 580EX II and 420EX on Flex TT5s (studio strobes with PW Plus IIs). It seems to work pretty well. I am still experimenting as time allows. I've been kind of busy with other stuff. I would say the AC3 holds much promise. I need to do more trials to see if the Flex TT5s are as accurate as far as auto ETTL exposure goes when using the AC3 as they are on their own.

One cool thing I have discovered. I have some Flashpoint studio strobes. I have them all set to optically trigger off of one another. I plug a flex TT5 into one so that I can still get high speed sync triggers and an older Pocket Wizard Plus II into another so that I can still trip them with my Sekonic light meter. It works!

Well I found a place that has the AC3 thanks @jemurphy99, my 430 EX II come today, Qbox24 and the AC3 on wed. I think I should have a nice system. I have a senior shoot on saturday, so I'll post some results.

Cool! Good luck with the shoot and can't wait to see the pics!

I routinely do what you are asking using two 580EXs on TT5s with a 580EXII on the MiniTT1.
Works like a charm.
The AC3 offers additional capabilities in that it will control FEC on a per channel basis when the using ETTL or power adjust when in manual.

Manual delivers from 1/1 (AC3 +3 setting) to 1/64 (AC -3 setting).

dmward wrote in post #10823313
I routinely do what you are asking using two 580EXs on TT5s with a 580EXII on the MiniTT1.
Works like a charm.
The AC3 offers additional capabilities in that it will control FEC on a per channel basis when the using ETTL or power adjust when in manual.

Manual delivers from 1/1 (AC3 +3 setting) to 1/64 (AC -3 setting).

That's good to hear. I look forward to checking it out. I should be able to do something like.

TT1 + AC3 on Camera
Chan A w/ 580 EX II in QBOX 24 as key light
Sun as fill/back light
Chan B w 430 EX II for background or on-axis fill in a orbis or something

Being able to manually control without having to touch the other flashes will be awesome.

Other option of course is to use ettl for HSS, and have ratio control between the key and fill, and then have the global FEC for flash/ambient. In this case, I would shoot AE.

Sorry for all the questions, I'm a bit of a newb at Ettl flash, I always have just used my dumb-sync manual SB-28 and set exposure by eye.

I do like the idea of being able to shoot with my 50mm f/1.2 opened up and get say 1/1600 sync at sunset. Doing this I would meter in AE, drop the ambient by a stop or so and then set my lighting ratios (2:1, key to fill for example) and then mix the flash to ambient by the FEC?

Does this all sound reasonable?