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Pocket wizard plus II

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lightmagic

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Any one knows how this device works? Does it come in two pieces: one on the camera and one in your pocket so that you can trigger the camera remotely? In the ads, I see just one piece that is supposed to be mounted on hte camera. So I just walk away 20 fts and think to trigger the camera?

IN short , how many more accessories do I have to buy so that I can trigger the camera remotely, and the camera itself would trigger the flashes? all far away from me.
--
The Lightmagician
Sun is my eye
Winds my breaths
Sky my open Mind.
http://www.lightmagical.com
 
if you want to trigger a camera remotely you need a set of PW's (one transmitter one receiver). The newest PW's (MultiMax) are transceivers ( receiver and transmitter). the older ones you had to sepcifically buy a transmitter and/or a receiver.

in your case one would be connected as a receiver to the camera with an accessory cable to trigger the camera (cable is not included in PW package)

the other one would be in your hand (transmitter) and you simply push a button to trigger the camera

now if the flash you want to fire for the other camera is a standard on camera flash there is no need for anything else just connect the flash to the camera via hot shoe or pc cord.

if the flash is remote from the camera you would need PW MultiMax units. The MultiMax allows you to remotely trigger the camera and the PW on the camera will fire the camera and also remotely trigger the flashes (which will need a PW for each remote fash as well).

--
Michael Salzlechner
http://www.PalmsWestPhoto.com
 
Sorry guys but you're behind the times. The Plus II is a transmitter and a receiver.

What I cannot remember is you can use a Plus II on your camera to receive a remote signal AND then trigger flashes. The answer is on the these forums, possibly in the lighting forum, from a month or two back. If I dig up a link I'll post it.

Mark
 
Ok, search facility seems to be down, but PW site is up and running. PW II in your hand (or L358 with wireless chip); another PW II on the camera with PW-to-motordrive lead; PW II on your flash. So I believe the only accessory you require is the PW-to-motordrive lead (seem to recall reading that this lead is not cheap).
Mark
 
interiorsarchitecture said:
Ok, search facility seems to be down, but PW site is up and
running. PW II in your hand (or L358 with wireless chip); another
PW II on the camera with PW-to-motordrive lead; PW II on your
flash. So I believe the only accessory you require is the
PW-to-motordrive lead (seem to recall reading that this lead is not
cheap).
Mark
Click to expand...
Once you get the PW II receiver you are going to have to purchase 2 to 5 other accessories. Having purchased the older Pocket Wizard I only had to purchase 4 other items since the transmitter and receiver all came in one box.

1. A receiver that you will use a lead to attach it to your lights.
2. A lead that will go to what ever motor drive that you are using.
3. A lead that will go to what ever lighting that you will be using.
4. The L358 hand held meter if you wish to meter the area wirelessly.
5. The wireless chip for the L358.

If you have all of these accessories you will be able to use the PW II completely wirelessly. I do not have the PW II but I do have the Pocket Wizard and it works really great.
 
PWII is a receiver/transmitter. so one needs to buy at least 2 of it, not just one. The list of accessories doesn't show any thing else. So the price isn't $198.00 but at least $198.00x2.
MrPhotoBob said:
interiorsarchitecture said:
Ok, search facility seems to be down, but PW site is up and
running. PW II in your hand (or L358 with wireless chip); another
PW II on the camera with PW-to-motordrive lead; PW II on your
flash. So I believe the only accessory you require is the
PW-to-motordrive lead (seem to recall reading that this lead is not
cheap).
Mark
Click to expand...
Once you get the PW II receiver you are going to have to purchase 2
to 5 other accessories. Having purchased the older Pocket Wizard I
only had to purchase 4 other items since the transmitter and
receiver all came in one box.

1. A receiver that you will use a lead to attach it to your lights.
2. A lead that will go to what ever motor drive that you are using.
3. A lead that will go to what ever lighting that you will be using.
4. The L358 hand held meter if you wish to meter the area wirelessly.
5. The wireless chip for the L358.

If you have all of these accessories you will be able to use the PW
II completely wirelessly. I do not have the PW II but I do have
the Pocket Wizard and it works really great.
Click to expand...
--
The LightMagician
http://www.lightmagical.com
 
fire the camera by connecting to the hot shoe

not sure you know what you want

if you have a camera in your hand and you want to fire a strobe remotely you would put one PW on the hot shoe (or use PC sync) and connect the other PW to the strobe. When the camera fires the PW will fire the strobe

but you said you wanted to fire a remote camera. In this case the PW will have to fire the camera which means you need a cable to connect the PW to the remote port on the camera where you normally attach the remote camera release. The other PW goes into your hand and you push the button

--
Michael Salzlechner
http://www.PalmsWestPhoto.com
 
This is for a Canon system.

I am posting 5 options for Pocket Wizard use.

1. You only want to trigger a strobe remotely from your camera.

You need at least two pocket wizards (either 1 receiver/1 transmitter type Plus series, two Plus II, or two multimaxes) The transmitter mounts on the hot shoe of your camera and the receiver connects to your monolight or pack. You will probably need a 1/8 to 1/8 mini cord. to connect the receiver to your strobe. You can use this one http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=198048&is=REG&addedTroughType=categoryNavigation or these work just as well and are about 1/3 of the price (buy two) http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2102949&cp=2032058.2032228.2032251&allCount=47&fbn=Cable+type%2FMini+plug&f=PAD%2FCable+Type%2FMini+plug&fbc=1&parentPage=family

2. You want to be able to remotely trigger your camera.

You will need buy at least the two pocket wizards above plus a motor cord for your camera. The receiver is mounted on your hot shoe (not required it can just hang from your camera) and the motor cord runs from the PW into the remote socket on my canon (probably similar on the Nikons). There are two types of these cords. One has pre-triggering which is like depressing the shutter release half-way http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=198049&is=REG&addedTroughType=categoryNavigation or there is another one that is just a direct connection. http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=192960&is=REG&addedTroughType=categoryNavigation

The transmitter is triggered from your hand.

3. You want to be able to remotely trigger your camera AND fire strobes without a third pocket wizard.

Same as two above, but connect a standard Sync cable from your strobe to the camera's sync socket

4. You want be able to trigger the camera remotely AND a strobe without wires.

You will need either a second receiver from the Plus series or either of the mult-max/plus II. So now you own THREE PW. You will also need the motor cord and 1/8 to 1/8 miniphones listed previously.

One receiver goes on the camera as listed in 2 with the motor cord running from PW to camera. Another receiver is attached to your strobe with the small sync cable. You keep the transmitter in your hand and set them all to the same channel.

5. You already own a Sekonic lightmeter with the PW transmitter. Then you could just buy two receivers and use the Sekonic to trigger the camera and strobes as in example 4.

****************

I am currently using the regular PW Plus series receivers and own both the regular motor cable and the radio shack mini phone cables and have been very happy with the results. I use option 5 alot in when doing portraits because then I am not tethered by the regular canon remote.

I am sure others can debate the relative advantages to the Multimax and Plus II systems, but if you are just starting out then the regular plus kit from B&H would be fine. However, you are still looking to spend between $375-600 depending on which option you want to deploy.

My two cents
 
thanks Sean for the good instruction. Why can't they=PW do that? they keep you reading all the wonderful things their gadget can do but they show one unit, that buy itself can't do a thing. Thank you and thank internet.
Sean Rivinus said:
This is for a Canon system.

I am posting 5 options for Pocket Wizard use.

1. You only want to trigger a strobe remotely from your camera.

You need at least two pocket wizards (either 1 receiver/1
transmitter type Plus series, two Plus II, or two multimaxes) The
transmitter mounts on the hot shoe of your camera and the receiver
connects to your monolight or pack. You will probably need a 1/8
to 1/8 mini cord. to connect the receiver to your strobe. You can
use this one

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=198048&is=REG&addedTroughType=categoryNavigation or these work just as well and are about 1/3 of the price (buy two) http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2102949&cp=2032058.2032228.2032251&allCount=47&fbn=Cable+type%2FMini+plug&f=PAD%2FCable+Type%2FMini+plug&fbc=1&parentPage=family

2. You want to be able to remotely trigger your camera.

You will need buy at least the two pocket wizards above plus a
motor cord for your camera. The receiver is mounted on your hot
shoe (not required it can just hang from your camera) and the motor
cord runs from the PW into the remote socket on my canon (probably
similar on the Nikons). There are two types of these cords. One
has pre-triggering which is like depressing the shutter release
half-way

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=198049&is=REG&addedTroughType=categoryNavigation or there is another one that is just a direct connection. http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=192960&is=REG&addedTroughType=categoryNavigation

The transmitter is triggered from your hand.

3. You want to be able to remotely trigger your camera AND fire
strobes without a third pocket wizard.

Same as two above, but connect a standard Sync cable from your
strobe to the camera's sync socket

4. You want be able to trigger the camera remotely AND a strobe
without wires.

You will need either a second receiver from the Plus series or
either of the mult-max/plus II. So now you own THREE PW. You will
also need the motor cord and 1/8 to 1/8 miniphones listed
previously.

One receiver goes on the camera as listed in 2 with the motor cord
running from PW to camera. Another receiver is attached to your
strobe with the small sync cable. You keep the transmitter in your
hand and set them all to the same channel.

5. You already own a Sekonic lightmeter with the PW transmitter.
Then you could just buy two receivers and use the Sekonic to
trigger the camera and strobes as in example 4.

****************

I am currently using the regular PW Plus series receivers and own
both the regular motor cable and the radio shack mini phone cables
and have been very happy with the results. I use option 5 alot in
when doing portraits because then I am not tethered by the regular
canon remote.

I am sure others can debate the relative advantages to the Multimax
and Plus II systems, but if you are just starting out then the
regular plus kit from B&H would be fine. However, you are still
looking to spend between $375-600 depending on which option you
want to deploy.

My two cents
Click to expand...
--
The Lightmagician
Sun is my eye
Winds my breaths
Sky my open Mind.
http://www.lightmagical.com
 
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