Help with off camera flash 580ex2

So, I've have a 580ex, 580exII and 5DM2. I think my flashes are able to sync to each other so I can have one on camera and one off... but I would like to use both of my flashes off camera in a wedding type of situation during a reception. Does my camera have this as a function built in or do I have to buy a trigger system?

I've been wanting PocketWizards for over 4 years and I see they now have the PocketWizard Plus II. (I would need 3?) Also do I need some kinda chord to attach my flash to my camera? I don't mind spending the money to guarantee it works every time. But, are there other alternatives to trigger systems? I've heard about the YongNuo triggers. Does anyone have a comparative experience with them?

I actually went in to a camera store in my area a year ago and when I tested the PW it didn't flash. The girl couldn't figure out why. I'm thinking I needed the connector chord? I forget if she tested it on my 5D or 5DM2 but I wanted to know if anyone had advice before I go back in.

Because of the flashes you have I would suggest the PW tt1 and tt5 combo. That way you could get off camera ettl and hss if need be. There have been some stories about unreliability, but I personally have not encountered them. Also these do not require chords, because they are hotshoe mounted.

If you need TTL, the PW tt1/tt5 is a great solution. If you don't need it, you could look for regular triggers. I use Elinchrom Skyports and they work great, but you need special cords to connect them. I got mine at flashzebra.

Quickest and easiest way - pick up a long ETTL cord from Flashzebra, put one speedlite on that as a Master, and set the other to Slave. This will give you the advantage of being able to control your master from the back of the camera body (if you use the 580exII), so you can stuff it in a softbox if you wish. It's also a super handy piece of equipment to have around as an emergency backup.

If you need to go fully wireless, then the PWtt1 and tt5's will do that, and you can control much of the speedlites configuration from the PW. It's expensive, but will work and retain ETTL.

If you need to go fully wireless, but don't need or care about ETTL, pick some cheap manual only triggers from ebay.

I chose the ettl cable - for where and how I shoot, it works great for me.

SJPHoto wrote in post #11656635
So, I've have a 580ex, 580exII and 5DM2. I think my flashes are able to sync to each other so I can have one on camera and one off... but I would like to use both of my flashes off camera in a wedding type of situation during a reception. Does my camera have this as a function built in or do I have to buy a trigger system?

I think it is time to do some more reading before buy anything. Seems like you never used a flash before. Decide if you want eTTL or manual flash will be OK. Based on that you can buy eTTL triggers like Radio Poppers (not the simple Jrx) or Pocket Wizard mini/flex. For manual flashes you have choice of cheap one slike Rf602s, Aline Bees CyberSyncs, Skyports, PW Plus IIs and others.

Sounds like most of you guys are in agreement that the PW tt1/tt5 is the way to go. Bobbyz, I'm kinda embarrassed it's sounded like I haven't used a flash before. I use one all the time, mostly on ETTL. You're right though, I feel there's so much I don't know! I hope to learn more at WPPI and maybe give my manual a once over again. =)

Be aware that their are some issues when using 580-exII with mini/flex. My first couple of shoots, I couldn't trigger flash even when close by. But I was not using the sock or the hot shoe filter which PW provides to reduce RF interference from 580-exII. Problem with the hot shoe filter is that it puts the flash too high and then I can't use flash in my QBox24" or the Kacey beauty dish. Some folks report that hot shoe filter sock made their 580exII die. No first hard experience with that. Now I am using my 580exII with flexTT5 using a small eTTL cord and last few shoots I had no issues.

550ex works much better with FlexTT5 as off camera flash. So I picked another used one.

Keep in mind, wireless, radio, ETTL is newish technology and there are kinks and bugs being worked out by all vendors who supply it.

Canon's proprietary wireless ETTL technology is infrared based, which requires line of sight, so has it's own limits too.

There isn't a magic solution

You can get a ST-E2 but you will need line of site. I use radio poppers and have no problems. You still need something on your 5D II telling your slave flashes what to do.

I would not recommend a long cord that connects your camera to your off shoe flash. In the setting you describe, it is almost guaranteed to be tripped over or ripped out of your camera.

So, after all the advice given above, I think you need to decide how you want to operate your speedlights.
1) ETTL controlled by the new model PocketWizards. My buddy shoots high school basketball with his speedlights on light stands anf triggered from his camera. That would be prolly a greater distance than in your wedding recption area. He uses the sock and filter provided by PW. They seem to fire pretty reliably.

2) Manual flash - if you are comfortable shooting with your speedlights on manual, then the wireless triggers mentioned previously will work well for you. I have personally used the Skyorts and Cybersync's with very good results. The early model cheap ebay triggers (PT-04) were terrible. I wouldn't wish them on anybody. Maybe it was just me but I need reliability.

To make life a lot easier, pick up a hot shoe adapter like the one flashzebra sells for each speedlight. That makes it easier to mount your speedlight and plug it into the wireless receiver if you are using the Skyports, Pocket Wizard Plus II or the cybersync CSRB receiver. The RF-602's have their own hot shoe so you won't need the adapter.

Hope this isn't too confusing.
Mike

At a reception I often use two flashes, on tripods, at opposite corners of the dance floor. Triggered with the PW mini/flex combo. As the couple/s move about, the flash output is ETTL, so the expousures are usually great. I can move myself near a flash to get the standard shot, or move so I'm at a non-flash corner and get lights from both sides of the couple. OR, move so that one flash is behind them, for a cool rim light effect. I also have some PW PLUS II that I sometimes use with Sunpak555's to light the table area. Usually set fairly low, these are also triggered by my mini on my camera...this gives just a kiss of light to the guests at the tables, so it doesn't look like I'm shooting into a cave.

I've got to ad, that with off-camera flash at a reception, you lose some flexibility at times. You have to wait until the couple is at an angle where his body doesn't block the flash from hitting her. With on-camera flash you can usually shoot away, but with the flash off=camera, you have to be aware of your limitations. When multiple couples are on the dance floor, shadows from one couple could lay on another couple. There's a learning curve....so practice with it during slow times until you're confident of your results.

http://www.portraitink​.com …nt/gallery2/ima​ges/36.jpg

ootsk wrote in post #11669773
I've got to ad, that with off-camera flash at a reception, you lose some flexibility at times. You have to wait until the couple is at an angle where his body doesn't block the flash from hitting her. With on-camera flash you can usually shoot away, but with the flash off=camera, you have to be aware of your limitations. When multiple couples are on the dance floor, shadows from one couple could lay on another couple. There's a learning curve....so practice with it during slow times until you're confident of your results.

http://www.portraitink​.com …nt/gallery2/ima​ges/36.jpg

are you doing direct flash without a diffuser? would you recommend bouncing the light off the ceiling of a white room? I like the backlit look and think it will definitely help with separation.

Ok, so I went to the camera store and the guy also recommended Canon Speedlite Transmitter St-e2. I think this maybe be a better option than a PW dangling off the side of my camera.

Brian you said, "You can get a ST-E2 but you will need line of site. I use radio poppers and have no problems. You still need something on your 5D II telling your slave flashes what to do."

What do you mean "line of site"? Are you talking about I can't shoot around corners to trigger my flash? That I get... but what about if people are in my way between camera and flash, like on the dancefloor? I guess Radio Popper is also an option. hmmm. I don't mind spending the $$ for Canon...

I'm not following you. You said you use radio poppers and the next sentence you say you need radio poppers.

Line of site means that your st-e2 can not have any obstacles in the way in order you send the information to your flashes. Radio poppers allow you to use TTL metering without having line of site. Using an of camera flash at a reception has been done before. I have done it but only because it was an outside wedding and not too much light, but for most of my weddings I just bounce my flash that's on my camera.