lbjed Loc: New York

Please bear with me. I am fairly new at this and need to know - when using a pocket wizard or flash to hotshot cable will the flash give the same info off camera as when it is on the camera itself? Will the flash be in normal mode versus remote? I have an SB800 flash. The reason I ask is I do not own either the cable or a pocket wizard and would like to know this info before purchasing either. I want to separate the flash exposure from the ambient exposure while the flash is off camera.

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

It's not easy to understand exactly what it is that you are asking. When using 3rd party triggers, the flash will be in the mode you put it in either the auto (E)TTL mode or M (manual mode) Some triggers only trigger therefore you must adjust each flash manually to the desired power. Some triggers will work with your camera in a more automatic mode therefore you must adjust the flashes as though you are dialing in the flash EC or exposure compensation. For instance one might be the key light and you let it expose automatically, while another might be fill light that you dial down -2 stops for less power. When figuring in ambient exposure, you take that into account before you dial in your flashes.

When using a cable for off camera flash weather it be a 2' or 25' cable, it will work exactly the same as though your flash is sitting on the hot shoe.

lbjed Loc: New York

Thank you jeep daddy. Not having either the trigger or the cable I was not sure the flash would be anything other than remote. Thanks for clearing it up.

CO

The PocketWizard Plus II, Plus III, Plus IV, and Plus X are trigger only units and are universal. They transmit the standard PocketWizard channels. They have only the center trigger only contact pin. I use Plus III and Plus X units with my studio strobes.

The PocketWizard Mini-TT1, Flex-TT5, and Flex-TT6 are brand specific and transmit the more complex PocketWizard controlTL channels and the PocketWizard standard channels simultaneously. They have four contact pins and read all of the camera/flash communications. I use a Mini-TT1 on my camera and have my Nikon SB-700 flash on my Flex-TT5. It's exactly like having the flash on the camera's hot shoe. It's doing TTL metering and you can adjust flash compensation at the camera.

It's interesting how the Mini-TT1 and Flex-TT5 mimic a flash. When I have my Mini-TT1 on the camera and look at the metadata of the photo later, it shows that a Nikon SB-900 flash was used.

If you buy Mini-TT1 and Flex-TT5 units, you'll want to download the PocketWizard utility from their website. You connect the units to your computer with the supplied mini-USB cable and open the PocketWizard utility on your computer to program it and do firmware updates. There's a C1/C2 switch on those units. Many people think that they only have two channels but that's actually configuration 1 and 2. There are many channels that can be programmed.

PocketWizard utility.

(Download)

lbjed Loc: New York

Thanks CO great info.

PixelStan77 Loc: Vermont/Chicago

Contact info for Pocket Wizard.
https://www.pocketwizard.com/home/misc/company/

I knew jim clarke one of the founders of the company. He is off in a different direction than flash Wizard.

gvarner Loc: Central Oregon Coast

Either method will operate your flash as if it's on the hotshoe. I use my SB600 on camera, or off as a slave, or remotely with my Yongnuo radio transceiver up to several hundred feet away and around corners. With my Speedlight, I always put the flash in TTL mode, camera in Manual mode, ISO 400, aperture at F4.5, and shutter at 1/200. Set your camera to high speed sync and you can use very high shutter speeds to darken a bright background lit by ambient light. The flash controls the exposure on the subject and the shutter speed controls the effect of ambient light.

speters Loc: Grangeville/Idaho

Yes, that's the beauty of wireless, you'll get all the readings, flash distance etc. off-camera as well and can adjust any which one right from the camera accordingly, or move the flashes or one flash if needed!

jamesl Loc: Pennsylvania

The information is the same, on or off camera. You would want the flash in "Manual" mode. The aperture will determine the flash exposure and the shutter speed will change the ambient light.

lbjed Loc: New York

Thank you all for your responses. You've answered my primary question. Being on a cable or trigger will give me the same info on my flash off camera as the flash does when on camera.

Thanks again to you all.

barryb Loc: Kansas

Manual flash is exciting and creative, but without a external light meter, it is trial and error to set the exposure. I'm still not totally certain what you are attempting to do, and I thing we would be able to comment if you could give us an example of the type of shot your would like to shoot.