gfkremer Posted March 29, 2011 Share Posted March 29, 2011 <p> I recently purchased the Sekonic L-358 flash meter with the Pocket Wizard transmitter module; RT-32N. However, I cannot get my Sekonic L-358 to fire my Canon 580EX II speedlights attached to my Pocket Wizard Flex TT5. I have set the Pocket Wizard Flex TT5 to channel 1, attached my speedlights and turned both on. I have installed the transmitter module in the flash meter. The symbol for wireless flash triggering appears on the LED screen. I have dialed the jog wheel to Channel 1, pressed the mode button and dialed the jog wheel 1 turn clockwise and the meter returns to radio triggering mode. However, when I depress the measure button, the meter does not fire my Canon 580EX II speedlights. The speedlights are set to ETTL mode and are about 6 feet away from the flash meter. Using the Pocket Wizard Mini set to channel 1, it will fire the speedlight when I depress the "test" button on the Mini. Any help with this matter will be greatly appreciated. </p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sheldonnalos Posted March 29, 2011 Share Posted March 29, 2011 <p>It doesn't work because you are set in the ControlTL channels. You need to connect the TT5 to the computer, configure it to work in the "Standard" channel if you want to use your Sekonic. Unfortunately, once you set the TT5 into the standard channel, you lose all the features that the ControlTL channel provides (TTL exposure, remote power control, high speed sync, etc). It basically turns your TT5 into a basic trigger like the PW Plus II.</p> <p>So, short answer.... the Sekonic radio trigger doesn't play nice with the FlexTT5.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gfkremer Posted March 29, 2011 Author Share Posted March 29, 2011 <p>Thank you, Sheldon for your quick response. That is surely disappointing as I searched both Pocket Wizard and Sekonic's website for any info on this. One would think that with the popularity of the Flex TT5 and the Mini as well as Sekonic's flash meter, one or the other would mention this issue. Thank you again for your response.<br> Geo</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ellis_vener_photography Posted March 29, 2011 Share Posted March 29, 2011 <p>Found this link via the Pocketwizard.com blog: How I did I find it? I first went to http://www.pocketwizrd.com then http://blog.pocketwizard.com/ and did a search for Sekonic.<br> Will this be a permanent state of affairs? I highly doubt it. I have good reasons to think that updated Sekonic meter modules are in the works. </p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gfkremer Posted March 29, 2011 Author Share Posted March 29, 2011 <p>Thank you, Ellis. I did as described in the video, the flash will fire once, but not again. Blinking red light on the Flex indicates it's receiving a signal, but something is wrong. A common occurrance according to some of the video's posted comments. I will continue on. Thanks again.<br> Geo</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ellis_vener_photography Posted March 29, 2011 Share Posted March 29, 2011 <p>Have you updated your ControlTL firmware? Also di youswitch your on camera transmitter to Standard as well? </p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gfkremer Posted March 29, 2011 Author Share Posted March 29, 2011 <p>Thank you, Ellis,<br> I did confirm that I was up to date on the firmware. The problem lay in that my speedlight was in ETTL mode. I switched the speedlight to Manual and it works every time.<br> What an odd thing for Sekonic to have not dealt with at this time as I see their meter so widely touted for firing remote speedlights and strobes. The whole reason I purchased the Sekonic L-358 was to cut down on the fiddling with flash settings in the first place.<br> Lovely photos by you and by Sheldon Nalos, by the by.<br> Thank you all so much, my P'net friends.<br> Geo</p><div></div> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leighb Posted March 29, 2011 Share Posted March 29, 2011 <p>Neat photo. Kodak Bantam, in 828 I presume. I have one of those.</p> <p>- Leigh</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gfkremer Posted March 29, 2011 Author Share Posted March 29, 2011 <p>Leigh B.,<br> Thanks! Yup, 828 as dad was a dyed in the wool slide film only shooter. He liked it's size as he could carry it around in his shirt pocket. Rows and rows of wonderful Kodachrome slides in a big steel slide carrier bring back all sorts of great memories for me. Slowly getting them all scanned and stored.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gfkremer Posted March 29, 2011 Author Share Posted March 29, 2011 <p>Well, my friends, as it was an epic powder day here in Aspen, CO, after I got the Sekonic flash meter to fire my Canon speedlight, ( very close together) it was off to do a few laps of the Highlands Bowl. However, after returning home, I set up a mock set up to continue to practice using the flash meter and speedlights. I was very disappointed to find that the performance of the Sekonic L-358 was very erratic at best and didn't work at all at worst. If I was within 4' of the speedlight, it would fire about 50% of the time. If I was very close to my camera with the Mini attached, it would fire the speedlight about 50% of the time. However, if I got as little as 5' away from the speedlight or as little as 1' away from the camera, the speedlight would not flash at all.<br> I double checked my firmware and it is up to date. I double checked that the Flex TT5 was receiving in Standard Channel. The erratic behavior of the system as whole continued with the Mini, mounted on my Canon camera being no longer able to fire the speedlight. Pushing the test button on the Mini, however would fire the speedlight.<br> Should I give up on the Sekonic L-358 being able to fire my flashes and simply return the Pocket Wizard Flex TT5 and the Mini TT1 to factory settings? My ancient Kenko light meter will meter flashes just fine, but is a bit cumbersome.<br> This is very, very frustrating and disappointing performance for a $380 investment, Sekonic.<br> Thank goodness I have my Quantum T5D-R system with it's FreeXwire wireless triggering system. Now that works every time.<br> Anyone's thoughts will be greatly appreciated.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leighb Posted March 29, 2011 Share Posted March 29, 2011 <p>I have Sekonic L-358 and L-558 meters, and they work flawlessly with the PW Plus II triggers.</p> <p>Don't know about the other model PWs since I don't own any such.</p> <p>There has been an issue reported about Canon equipment interfering with electronic triggers. I don't remember the details, but PW IIRC sells a shield for the Canons.</p> <p>- Leigh</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gfkremer Posted March 29, 2011 Author Share Posted March 29, 2011 <p>Thank you, Leigh B.,<br> I neglected to say that the PW RF shield is on my Canon 580EX II speedlight when it's mounted to the PW Flex TT5. My issues may very well be solely an issue with the PW's Flex and Mini. And, I am sure that there are many, many others for which this system works just great, otherwise I would have found more results on my search in P'Net's forums. I tend to believe that I am overlooking something simple, or that I have a bad copy of the Sekonic L-358 or it's triggering module. Thank you for your response and ideas. For now, all has been put away and I am going to enjoy the waning light on Aspen Mtn and nurse a few sore muscles from skiing.<br> Geo</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ellis_vener_photography Posted March 29, 2011 Share Posted March 29, 2011 <p>The problem could be the electronic noise generated by your 580 EX II Sppedlite. I don't have the problem using my 580 EX II units when they are mounted in the AC7 shields or with unshielded 430 EX II Speedlites and Quantum Trio flashes. </p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gfkremer Posted March 29, 2011 Author Share Posted March 29, 2011 <p>Thank you, Ellis,<br> I have some Canon 430EX II's and I will give it a try with them and the Pocket Wizard RF shields. Thanks for your response and your ideas. A bit late tonight, so I will give it another shot tomorrow!<br> Geo</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gfkremer Posted March 30, 2011 Author Share Posted March 30, 2011 <p>Just an update; Sekonic did respond to my customer service inquiry with pretty much what everyone has told me. Once again I hooked up the FlexTT5 to the PW utility and disabled the ControlTL channel that is receiving and hit "Apply Changes". Same results as before, sadly. The Sekonic flash meter would not fire the flash unless it was within a foot of the FlexTT5. My MiniTT1 would not fire the flash at all if I triggered the camera, but the test button on the Mini would fire the flash. The RF shield is in place on the flash, but seems to make little or no difference. Needless to say, this is getting very frustrating and I am spending too much time mucking about with a system that doesn't seem to want to work. Thanks again for all your ideas and for all the information you have provided me. More to follow!<br> Geo</p><div></div> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chuck_albertson1 Posted April 3, 2011 Share Posted April 3, 2011 <p>I don't understand--why are you using an outboard meter with a TTL metering system? A L-358 with the module will trigger one or more PWs and tell you what aperture to set on your camera for proper exposure, but it isn't designed to run a TTL flash system.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now