and Yet Another NOOB Lighting assistance Request

I'll make it quick and simple...

Have been shooting awhile with a single off-camera 580EX II triggered with a MiniTT1 on camera, and FlexTT5 on the remote strobe....


Want to jump to a two light setup...... Still want to use the MiniTT1 on camera, and the Flex/580EXII on the main light...... Just purchased a used 550EX as a fill light....

What would be the best setup?? Purchase another Flex for the 550EX? or set it (the 550) to slave and let it trigger from the 580EX? I know if I purchase an additional Flex that I can use their "Ratio Control", but I want to keep things simple and NEED to LEARN manual lighting without all this ETTL stuff.....


Would really appreciate some guidance from the multi-flash strobist masters! Help Me Obi-Wan !

the simplest thing to do (and cheapest) is to just set it to slave...however, it needs line of sight to work...or, buy another Flex...and just because you buy another receiver doesn't mean you need to use ETTL, you can use manual with 'em....

thaking wrote in post #11608367
the simplest thing to do (and cheapest) is to just set it to slave...however, it needs line of sight to work...or, buy another Flex...and just because you buy another receiver doesn't mean you need to use ETTL, you can use manual with 'em....

King...Considering line of sight, how sensitive is the slave to flash from the master. In other words, will it trigger if placed back by the camera with the master pointed toward the subject as a main light, or does the slave have to be inside the area directly illuminated by the flash? Thanks

I'd get the extra receiver, it'd be way easier than manual or optically slaved ETTL.

sorry, can't answer that - i've preferred consistent results and opted to receivers for all my lights rather than rely on having proper line of site...

tim wrote in post #11608497
I'd get the extra receiver, it'd be way easier than manual or optically slaved ETTL.

Well, according to what I have read, Optical slaved ETTL wont work anyways... The Pre-Flash from the strobe connected to the FlexTT5 will trigger the optical slave.. Supposedly this can be fooled by setting the both units to TTL....

http://www.photocentri​c.net/canon_ettl_slave​.htm

Is setting the strobes to manual really that difficult? I haven't really had much luck with ETTL with the single strobe, and most people on here think ETTL is crap, and encourage setting strobes to the manual.

manual, in my opinion, is much easier w/ consistent results...

Good !! I might have a learning curve with manual, but it will be worth the effort. Seems to me that using ETTL is the strobe equivalent of using the Camera in program mode.

Another idea I had was to use the PW attached to the 550EX, and let the 580EXII be the optical slave. The 580EXII has a noise problem with the PW's, and this would be eliminated by letting it be triggered optically.

King, any freebie advice on flash ratios for a fill and main light? (i had to ask, you know how noobs are!)

DanangMonkey wrote in post #11608635
King, any freebie advice on flash ratios for a fill and main light? (i had to ask, you know how noobs are!)

nope...ha! seriously, i have chimped for a long time but recently got a meter and learning to use that with lights...

also, you're right in your thinking...i've always said i shoot in manual so i can decide what i want, thus i don't use ETTL because i want to decide what i want w/ my lights...

Thankx King for all da assistance !!

Haven't read the whole thing but if you using mini/flex then each flash needs its own flexTT5. Unless you put one flash on top of the miniTT1 on your camera.

You can't have mini on camera and flex on one flash and then make 2nd flash slave to the first flash. I wish it did but I think PW folks wants us to buy more flex so they don't offer this feature.

Bobby....This from the PW website FAQ....

Will optical slaves work if one flash is fired with a PocketWizard?

Yes they will. However if you work where others are using flash, (weddings, parties, etc.) you are better off using PocketWizard radio slaves on all remote flashes to "close off" your lighting system to other cameras and flashes.

This seems to contradict your answer?

Anyone?

You are comparing dumb optical triggers to the Canon master/slave system. This is an apples to oranges comparison.
There are no built-in optical triggers on the Canon EX series flashes. They can only be triggered by a "master capable" flash or camera body that can use Canon's proprietary signaling system.
The PW quote you reference is talking about an optic trigger that responds to ANY flash going off.