RadioSlaves Help

I'm shopping around for a radio slave kit. My intentions are to help me shoot better night pics of BMXers and skateboarders. As of now I'm still rocking my Canon Elan 7e and my 550ex. I 've looked into the SE2 transmitter for my 550 but I've heard the 550 must be in front of the transmitter to work. I'm interested in radio slaves so I can put my flash anywhere and have it go off when I tell it to. If anyone has any suggestions for a first kit that would be great, price concious if possible, but I know these things start to get expespensive. Any help would be great! thanks -Justin

As you found out, a radio flash triggering system has a big advantage over infrared. Infrared needs a fairly direct sight line to the receiving unit to work..

Photo John and I both use the PocketWizard system (radio), but mine is new and I really haven't worked much with it yet. John has a lot more experience with them (shooting bikes, no less), so he's the man to talk to.

The PW is a bit pricey, but Calumet makes their own version, Lite Link, which is virtually the same system for less money. But even that will run you around $300 for the two basic units.

There probably are some additional budget models, so you might want to poke around B&H and see what they have...

I have been using the Pocketwizards all year and man do I love them.

I would suggest them to anyone, the advantage over the infared system is that you can put it anywhere as Steve said. My set up includes the PW Plus setup. I also purchased a Vivitar HV285 flash per a recomendation from Kurt Jones on another forum. I got the Vivitar flash because I wanted something with pro power that I could put in percarious situations and not have to worry about. This was a brilliant plan because it has been hit, knocked over, run over and everything you can think of and it still fires just fine.

This system is ultra reliable and opens up new possiblilities. Let me know if you have any specific questions. About the PW's

I'm working up to buying a radioslave system just like you so all I'm going to add is you also need a flash meter, especially since you are still shooting film. I have not yet decided between the Pocketwizards and the Calumet system yet though, most people I know use pocketwizards.

Steve, I'm sure if Calumet has it then it's good - but Pocket Wizard is pretty much the standard. If Calumet drops that system are you out of luck if you need additional transmitters or receivers? Of course the same thing could happen with PW, but so many people have them that I would think you wouldn't be stuck in a situation like that.

Are Pocket Wizards and Pocket Wizard Plus systems compatible with each other?

I've got the PocketWizard Plus kit and two 550s. I can trigger one 550 with the PocketWizards and use the second as a IR slave. From experience with that setup, I would definitely recommend spending the money on the radio slaves. It's tricky to get the IR sensors aligned with the 550s. You do get E-TTL metering with the STE2 , but manual metering with a handheld meter isn't really that hard. I'm thinking about investing in some more radio slaves so I don't have to use the IR.

I took this picture at the Mammoth Nationals, last weekend, with 1 550 fired with the PocketWizards. As far as skate photography goes, I think everyone is using radio slaves.

...is because it also has the flash meter module that fits my Sekonic L-358. This is kind of crucial to me, as I would hate to have a great wireless flash setup, only to be tethered to a sync cord to meter.

If I'm going to have the freedom of wireless, I want it to be complete...

Hey, I just realized I'm in the "700 Club". Funny, but I suddenly feel religious... :D

I visited the local camera store the other day and the two options the simple minded underaged employee were PW and Quantum. The PW kit was going for $360 and the Quantum was $292. He told me the only difference was price....riiiigghhhttt. What's the difference between A, B, C, and D channels, and which would I want? Also, as far as light meters go, I've used a Sekonic and a really old fashioned needle style one. Now, refresh my memory...can I use the old fashioned one to meter a flash (I only used it for ambient light when using a 4x5 camera.)? And a follow up Q... any suggestions for a price concious good meter (seeing as I'll probably end up dropping 300 on a radiokit)?

Thanks! -Justin

Never used an analog flash meter, but some analog meters will do it. Look into the Sekonic L358, it's under $250. It's an incident/flash meter but can also do reflected metering - but if you have Pocket Wizards then get the wireless transmitter (I think it's $25 when you buy the meter) so when you hit the button, you fire the strobes. It's what Steve is talking about, and as far as I know only Sekonic meters with Pocket Wizards can do this.

[Thanks for the advice. It's all very helpful! -Justin