SB900 CLS Pockect Wizard AC3 TT1mini FlexTT5 QUESTION

[Leonardo Boher]

Hi guys, long time without passing around here... Been distracted for many months in other forums, discussing about theology... Anyway... I'm thinking about buying flashes, SB900 flashes to be exact.

I have done a very deep research about all this stuff about flashes and found a lot of things, watched videos, red reviews, etc. but I have a question that seems Google cannot answers! :O So I'm pretty sure that some of you will know the answer, because you're the experts in this field.

So, here is the game:

In terms of lighting, I'm going to buy:

SB900 Flashes.
Pocket Wizard TT1mini and FlexTT5 for the SB900 Flashes.
Pocket Wizard AC3 (possibly).

I have red about the Nikon CLS (Creative Lighting System) and how it works with the Pocket Wizard things and that matches my needs. So, the trick is that we control the flashes from camera by using the CLS or, we can control the flashes from the AC3 mounted over the PW TT1mini (which is equal to using the CLS). Those are the 2 options.

So, my thinking is about mixing the in-camera Controls under the Flash Commander Mode (which allows the CLS to work with the TT1mini/FlexTT5) and mixing that with the PW AC3, so instead of 3 groups of flashes from the PW AC3 and just 2 groups from the in-camera Commander Mode, I should have 5 groups in total: 3 groups from the PW AC3 and 2 more from the in-camera controls under the Commander Mode such for example: having 4 flashes controlled by the AC3 and other 4 by the CLS.

So I would like to know if that mix (AC3+CLS) is possible or not.

Hope to get a fast response on this, -because I have to travel around 900 Km to buy the flashes because there are not in my state (as usual)-, this next week.

Well... Thanks in advance... Will post some of my latest pics very soon.

Thanks to all!

Leo, Mart or Ø3

 

[Leonardo Boher]

Anyway... I bought the flashes...

 

[Bart_van_der_Wolf]

Anyway... I bought the flashes...

Hi Leonardo,

I'm sure they'll operate to your satisfaction. I'm not familiar with the specifics of the Nikon flash system, so I couldn't answer your question. I am familiar with the Canon flash system, and that has been improved by the FlexTT5. I expect the same applies to the Nikon system, so you can always expand.

Enjoy.

Cheers,
Bart

 

[Leonardo Boher]

Hi Leonardo,

I'm sure they'll operate to your satisfaction. I'm not familiar with the specifics of the Nikon flash system, so I couldn't answer your question. I am familiar with the Canon flash system, and that has been improved by the FlexTT5. I expect the same applies to the Nikon system, so you can always expand.

Enjoy.

Cheers,
Bart

Been trying today with 4 flashes... Found that the camera only has 2 groups (A&B) and that doesn't allow me to set more than 2 flashes independent one from the other. 2 of them were used to cut the subject from the background (group A) (don't the name in English). Another as Key Light (group B) (or main light?) and the last one, which should be group C doesn't work because the camera hasn't a Group C. So, I set one of the Flashes to Master, that way I can manage 3 groups (A; B and C) but from the Master Flash. However, the Master doesn't work when I shot with the in-camera flash, and I guess that's because it wasn't plugged on the in-camera hot shoe and I personally don't find that interesting. In Manual Mode doesn't work either... So I think the only thing will allow me using 3 groups will be the Pocket Wizard AC3. Cannot compensate the flashes when they're in Remote either... Anyway... Why just 3 groups!?

Thanks for the comment, Bart!

Mart