Quote Originally Posted by airfang


Now I am aware of how these two use different technology (RF vs infrared), just want to see if anybody has used both of them and what they want to say about them, as in "pros and cons" for each?


And also, what is the difference between MiniTT1 and FlexTT5?
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I have the ST-E2 and inexpensive RF triggers, though not the PocketWizard.


ST-E2:


Pros:
  • Supports E-TTL II, including modeling light, second curtain, etc.
  • Supports ratios (AB or ABC)
  • Doesn't require receivers on the flashes



Cons:
  • Works only with TTL-capable flashes (i.e., expensive flashes)
  • May not work well with non-Canon flashes (e.g., with the Sigma 500 series, flash ratios don't work that well)
  • More limited range
  • May not work well outdoors
  • Slave sensors have to see the ST-E2 (can "bounce" the IR signal sometimes, in a small enough room)
  • Relatively expensive (see below)
  • Batteries can be expensive ($20 at RadioShack, $12-13 at Best Buy, $6 at B&amp;H) and may be hard to find locally
  • Cannot be used with on-camera flash (Don't shoot me! It's true that the Canon 580EX and 580EX II can do pretty much the same thing as the ST-E2, with pretty much the same limitations, but the lesser Canon flashes cannot.)



RF triggers (including PocketWizard):


Pros:
  • With the right cable/cord (or auxiliary hot shoe), can work with most flashes in manual mode. (The FlexTT5 apparently cannot by itself, though you may be able to use a hot-shoe-to-PC adapter on top of the FlexTT5.)
  • Longer range
  • Does not require that the slaves can see the master (e.g., the slave can be behind an obstruction, though that may reduce the range)
  • Works with on-camera flash if the camera has a PC connector
  • May be less expensive (see below)
  • Some can trigger the camera shutter
  • Many use inexpensive batteries (e.g., PocketWizard uses AA)
  • Some units can act as transmitter or receiver--or both (Some PocketWizards can act as a relay--they receive a signal from another PocketWizard, then pass it on to others on a different channel.)
  • PocketWizards can trigger very rapidly, faster than most cameras, and support sync speeds to 1/250th.



Cons:
  • Does not support E-TTL (except for the MinTT1 and FlexTT5)
  • Requires a unit for each flash, so it can be expensive (see below)
  • Camera unit can be bulky, especially if using with on-camera flash



In your comparison, consider the inexpensive RF triggers you can find on eBay and elsewhere. Their range may be less than the PocketWizard and they cannot trigger the camera shutter nor act as a relay, but they work well, for a LOT less. I paid $23.98 including shipping for an 8-channel transmitter &amp; receiver set, $16.98 for a receiver alone; 3 PocketWizards would have cost $507. I got the 8-channel because the receiver has a PC connector as well as a hot shoe.


The MiniTT1 is a transmitter only; the FlexTT5 is a transceiver. The advantages of the MiniTT1 are that it's $20 cheaper and less than half the weight of the FlexTT5. Both must use the camera's hot shoe, but you can mount a flash on top of either one.