Pocket wizard or 580EX II?

Phate

Phate

Phate

Caporegime
Joined
1 Nov 2003
Posts
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Location
Lisbon, Portugal
Hai guys,

Planning on spending some more hard earned soon...

I'm undecided on the above.

Basically I need to be able to shoot flash wirelessly and reliably, and it's not an option to buy both as I'm buying a new piece of glass too :)

Pocket wizard - for a set I'm looking at £280ish I'm keen on the wizards because it offers me a much more reliable wireless flashing system, as you know it uses a wireless system rather than triggering via IR/line of sight.

580EX II - Benefit of getting this gives me controlling other flashes wirelessly, unfortunately via line of sight which is usually reliable, it'll also give me a more powerful flash and allow my 430EX II be a backup flash, for one of these I'm possibly looking towards £260-£300 second hand or £360 brand new.

I'm undecided, I'm leaning a bit more towards the wizards right now, it's slightly cheaper, my 430EX II is powerful enough 90% of the time and gives me more fun with wireless flashing :)

However the 580 makes it so I have a decent backup (the 430) and gives me some wireless functionality...

Thoughts? :)
 
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I'd go with the 430exii, the 580exii has range issues and has a habit of dyeing on flex tt5's, the 430exii is only half a stop less powerful and doesn't suffer such problems, but the main problem with it is, when you use it 'on-camera' the flash head doesn't rotate 180 degrees in both directions...
 
Phate said:
Basically I need to be able to shoot flash wirelessly and reliably, and it's not an option to buy both as I'm being a new piece of glass too :)
Click to expand...

do you do other impressions as well? :p

EDIt

339 plus postage from kerso for 580
 
Phate said:
Why? :)
Click to expand...

Well the 550ex has the best range and accepts power packs etc. as it's a professional grade flash, but the head doesn't rotate 180 degrees in both directions (well not without modding).
Maybe 580ex is also a good option as the head rotates 180 degrees in both directions which I find essential for on camera flash, accepts power packs etc. but if used off camera you might need to use one of this pocket wizard shields on it to get usable range, but at least it isn't known to die on flextt5's.
 
580II without doubt. you don't have enough flash units to warrant using wizards yet. Seeing as you only have 1 light (two if you have 580II) your line of sight will work fine. Ive used STe2 with 580 and 430 and they trigger fine in quite good distances! Just have to think a bit when placing them.

Also 580II recycle time is more than enough reason to have it over 430!
If your doing weddings and on full frame. Seriously 580.

like I said not enough lights yet to justify wizards.
 
Phate, do you have a set of cheap wireless triggers? If not I'd opt for the 580exII and throw a few quid at cheap triggers, will allow you to do a few things which you can't do over line of sight plus they are handy to hook up to any studio lights you may be using.

The 580 will be a dream to use at any evening events, the recycle time and power of it is fantastic.

Then for your next spend you could upgrade to a full set of pocket wizards, sure I read a few weeks back that a new set is due for release that will address the issues with 580 compatibility.
 
After having his 7d stolen last year my housemate is looking to to sell his canon stuff as he's just purchased a high end compact instead.

Pocket wizards, 580ex, tokina 10-17. If you were interested i'm sure we could arrange a sale where the item goes through these forums with me as the seller to avoid the hassle/cost of ebay.
 
Interesting thoughts everyone, I didn't know the pocketwizards had an issue with th 580EX II?

And krisboats...its posts like that that are dangerous to my bank balance :o
 
Phate said:
Interesting thoughts everyone, I didn't know the pocketwizards had an issue with th 580EX II?

And krisboats...its posts like that that are dangerous to my bank balance :o
Click to expand...

:p Well the offer is there. If you would like, just hit me up a PM and i'll make a for sale thread in classifieds and send you the link.
 
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