Portable Wedding Help

[aron]

I have grown quite tired of the inconsistency of my Canon system

with the wireless transmitter. Some times it fires, sometimes it

doesn't, if I angle it just right etc. I have decided to just go

ahead and invest in a stronger more reliable radio sytem(I guess).

Here is what I want. I want a three flash system, main, fill and

background for inside portraits at weddings, grop shots mainly. It

has to be small(quantam?), it must fire when I press the shutter

etc, and it must react to the trigger. I am fine with my studio set

up, but when I look at the protable units, you have so many

variables. I need some help. I need the flashes, the battery packs

and the triggers that will make these fire EVERY time in a variety

of positions. Don't need soft boxes or diffusers, looking to keep it

very small in size. Budget is $1500 to $2000. Suggestions greatly

appreciated.

[sean_harding]

If you already have Canon flashes and are happy with the light output, you can use

Pocketwizards to trigger them. That will save you from having to replace your whole

system.

[aron]

Will they then fire at full power like a strobe so that when I take a meter reading it will stick? That sounds like the best plan. Common sense may prevail again.

[Jerry_]

Full power would also depend on fresh batteries and you allowing a bit of time for the units to regain a full charge.

[stephen_martin2]

does the canon flashes your useing have a plug to plug a pocketwizard into?

 

I no that the 420ex does not.

[chuck_dowling]

"If you already have Canon flashes and are happy with the light output, you can use Pocketwizards to trigger them."

 

I have Pocket Wizard transmitters and receivers which I use to fire White Lightning monolights. I don't see any way to hook the PW receivers to either my Canon 420EX or 550EX. Perhaps there is a device that can hook to the shoe pins on the flashes that will also allow a connection to the PW receivers. Note that of these two Canon flashes, only the 550EX can be set to manual mode. Another possible solution might be to use optical receivers on your Canon flashes to fire them from light from the on camera flash.

[aron]

Well Currently I have a pair of 420's and I have only used them off camera with the Canon STE2 transmitter. I wasn't even aware that these had optical triggers. I thought it was proprietary infrared that only worked with the Canon system.

[chuck_dowling]

420s DO NOT have optical triggers. I was thinking there might be a product that might add this capability.

[sean_harding]

You can get (or make) a cable to attach the PWs to a 550EX. One example would be http://

www.paramountcords.com/Pockwiz.asp

[erin.e]

The 420s can be fired remotely with the 550 and 580 EX as well within a defined area of convergence.That would increase your output for $480-00 US for the 580, which has a little more power than the 550EX and recycles a bit faster as well. You can use a quantum battery system with theses.

 

Check here at NKGuys site for all you could possibly want to know about EOS Canon Flash.

 

http://photonotes.org/articles/eos-flash/index3.html#wireless