PW Minitt1 5d mark 2 not working

Yesterday i got my new PW minitt1 and flextt5.

I've been looking forward to try these out as it would make my life much easier but of course there is nothing but trouble?!

I use a Canon 580EX II and Canon 5d mark II. The minitt1 is on the camera and flextt5 on the flash. Updated to the latest firmware and done the reset on both PW's. Flash on ettl mode, but nothing works.

The flash triggers sometimes but not with correct exposure, one problem i'm noticing, is that the fstop value don't change as i dial it in on the camera, but if i have the flash directly on the camera it works. I have tried both channels and tried different channels from the PW utility on the computer. I have also tried with a 7D and same problem.

My guess it that it is something wrong with the minitt1 or the flextt5?

Are you having problems with all the shots or just the first one or two frames after turning on the PW units? The reason I"m asking is because you need to take one or two test shots, which almost never come out exposed correctly, before the PW units are properly "synced" with the camera and flash.

I'm having problem with all shots, out of maybe 200 testshots, the flash might have triggered 5-10 times and then with very inconsistent results.

Been in contact with the store i bought them from and they are sending me replacements.

I think you need to make sure the power on sequence. First turn on the mini/flex on camera and then the camera. For rx side, first the mini/flex and then the flash. I would put the rx side first and then with mini/flex in hand just press test button to make sure everything works fine. Then put this mini/flex on camera, turn on the camera and proceed from there.

The way I troubleshoot is:

1. Attach flash to Flex. Turn on both. Hit test button on Flex. Make sure flash fires. If not, hit test button on flash. Make sure flash fires. If not, perhaps batteries are bad in flash.

2. Turn on transmitter. With transmitter off camera, hit test button on transmitter. Does it trigger the Flex? At this point, if it doesn't, you might want to make sure you have the correct channels configured.

3. With transmitter off, attach to camera. Turn on transmitter and camera. Hit test button on transmitter. Does it trigger the Flex? Take test shot with camera. Does it trigger the Flex?

I thought the new pocket wizards had known problems with the 580EX II? You should have received an rf shield in the box that needs to go around the 580 to get it to work. I've also found that the antenna needs to be sticking up for things to be trouble free. There is more info at the pocket wizard site.

bobbyz wrote in post #11051421
I think you need to make sure the power on sequence. First turn on the mini/flex on camera and then the camera. For rx side, first the mini/flex and then the flash. I would put the rx side first and then with mini/flex in hand just press test button to make sure everything works fine. Then put this mini/flex on camera, turn on the camera and proceed from there.

ocabj wrote in post #11051476
The way I troubleshoot is:

1. Attach flash to Flex. Turn on both. Hit test button on Flex. Make sure flash fires. If not, hit test button on flash. Make sure flash fires. If not, perhaps batteries are bad in flash.

2. Turn on transmitter. With transmitter off camera, hit test button on transmitter. Does it trigger the Flex? At this point, if it doesn't, you might want to make sure you have the correct channels configured.

3. With transmitter off, attach to camera. Turn on transmitter and camera. Hit test button on transmitter. Does it trigger the Flex? Take test shot with camera. Does it trigger the Flex?

I have tried all kind of sequences and none of them work, tried all above a second time just to make sure.

I cant even get them to testfire properly. They go of a couple of times then the indicator on the flex lights red, if i wait a couple of seconds they go of another couple of shots. And this is with C.1 C.2 and different channels configured from the utility.

So i guess they are broken, will have them replaced in a couple of days with a new set that the store i bought them from have tested, so they know that they know that they work.

As i dont get the f-stop to show up on the back of the flashgun i guess that's part of the problem.

IUnknown wrote in post #11052046
I thought the new pocket wizards had known problems with the 580EX II? You should have received an rf shield in the box that needs to go around the 580 to get it to work. I've also found that the antenna needs to be sticking up for things to be trouble free. There is more info at the pocket wizard site.

I think the 580ex II problems is only about range, so the flash should work just not beyond 20-30 feet. The boxes didnt have any rf shield in them.

The box should have a RF shield. It is on the back side of the plastic molding where flexTT5 and batteries are located. There is a hot shoe adpater kind of thing also.

BTW - I will do what ocabj suggested after doing reset on all devices.

Not in my experience. We had problems at a wedding, and I realized it was because I was using the other photographers 580 rather then my 430. Call pocket wizard, I think they will send you an rf shield if its under warranty.

bobbyz wrote in post #11052479
The box should have a RF shield. It is on the back side of the plastic molding where flexTT5 and batteries are located. There is a hot shoe adpater kind of thing also.

BTW - I will do what ocabj suggested after doing reset on all devices.

No rf shield in my box, maybe it's different for EU and US versions?
I tried ocabj suggestion as i wrote above.

IUnknown wrote in post #11052498
Not in my experience. We had problems at a wedding, and I realized it was because I was using the other photographers 580 rather then my 430. Call pocket wizard, I think they will send you an rf shield if its under warranty.

Will see if i can get my hands on a 430 and test with that, I cant find any info about other problems with the 580 then range on PW's homepage.

My real world shoot with flexTT5 this weekend had lot of times flash not triggering. I wasn't using the sock thing. I was within 20-30feet range. So it is not only range issue. Some 580ex-II put out mre noise than others.

Have you made sure there are fresh batteries in both the Mini and the Flex?
I have also noticed that there can be a problem if the units are too close together.
Also, if the 580EX is between the antenna and the Mini.

I have a couple of YN 560s that are even noisier than my 580EXIIs. I have a suspicion that the noise issue in a component that is common to certain types of flash, maybe the reason the 430EXII is less noise is because the part is not included in its bill of materials.

There are a couple of repair facilities that are authorized by PW to made a modification to the 580EX which dramatically reduces the noise and attendant range problems.
Also, according to Rob Galbrieth's (ps?) web site and PW tech the Nissin Di622 is also much less noisy. PW is testing it and will probably add it to the approved list before too long.

bobbyz wrote in post #11053627
My real world shoot with flexTT5 this weekend had lot of times flash not triggering. I wasn't using the sock thing. I was within 20-30feet range. So it is not only range issue. Some 580ex-II put out mre noise than others.

The shots when the flash fired where they correctly exposed? I haven't had a single shot that's been correctly exposed yet. Do the flash update the fstop value when you change on the camera? My flash don't sometimes it set the value my camera is on when i first power it up sometimes i dont get any fstop value at all.

dmward wrote in post #11053808
Have you made sure there are fresh batteries in both the Mini and the Flex?
I have also noticed that there can be a problem if the units are too close together.
Also, if the 580EX is between the antenna and the Mini.

I have a couple of YN 560s that are even noisier than my 580EXIIs. I have a suspicion that the noise issue in a component that is common to certain types of flash, maybe the reason the 430EXII is less noise is because the part is not included in its bill of materials.

There are a couple of repair facilities that are authorized by PW to made a modification to the 580EX which dramatically reduces the noise and attendant range problems.
Also, according to Rob Galbrieth's (ps?) web site and PW tech the Nissin Di622 is also much less noisy. PW is testing it and will probably add it to the approved list before too long.

Fresh batteries in both mini, flex and the flash. Looks like i need to get one of those socks, strange thing is that's it wasn't in my box.

After looking around a bit more on Pocket Wizards homepage, i found this:

"433 MHz units sold in Europe and other parts of the world are not greatly impacted by RF interference."

That might be why i didn't get the sock with my flextt5, i guess ill just wait for the replacements to arrive and hope for the best.

I got the replacements yesterday, put it on the camera and flash and it worked like a charm. Thanks to everyone that tried to help me, but as I suspected there was something wrong with the ones i got first.