Canon ST-E2, Radio Popper, or Pocket Wizard

Pocket Wizard is the best, hands down. The ONLY reason why you would select any other option is if the cost is prohibitive. If you can afford, you'll never regret having those pocket wizards.

Yes it seems to me that the PW MiniTT1 and FlexTT5 are well integrated with Canon ETTL. One question I have is can you use the FlexTT5 on the camera? What's the difference in doing this versus the MiniTT1 on the camera? Thanks!

Pocket Wizard is the best, hands down.

That's a totally outdated statement.

Pocket Wizards (whether the "Plus", the "Multi Max" or the TT stuff) operate on fairly antique bands (300MHz or 400MHz, depending on country) with a modulation scheme that isn't much help in dealing with noise. So modern flashes tend to interfere with the Pocket Wizards, especially the Mini TT1 and Flex TT5. Read the PW forums, or PW's own advice on dealing with this. A conductive "sock" you have to slide over your Canon flash to shield the PW from it? Hang the receiver 2 feet away from the flash on a Canon TTL extension cord? There's really good reasons why whole bunched of people "regret having those pocket wizards".

And, of course, using the wrong band PW (blue, green, or black) in the wrong country is illegal.

Newer gear is typically at 2.4 GHz and doesn't have problems with interference from the flash's electronics or the jurisdictional problems.

ST-E2 is the best, hands down!

It may work out just fine controlling your three 580 as is. And, if you decide later you want radio, the Radio Poppers need an E-TTL master (either an ST-E2 or a flash like a 580) in the camera's hot shoe. The PX transmitter actually picks up the optical signals broadcast by an E-TTL master (technically, it picks up the electrical impulses the E-TTL master generates when it produced optical pulses) and rebroadcasts it as a coded radio signal. So, the ST-E2 is the best thing to mount a Radio Popper PX transmitter on.

I assume you've already got three 580EX that you want to have doing double duty as studio flashes and event flashes. I'd encourage you, for studio use, to look into inexpensive monolights like Alien Bees, instead. They are much easier to work with (you can easily mount large umbrellas, soft boxes, snoots, strip lights, etc). They have more flash power. And, they have "modeling lights" that let you see what the light looks like on your subject as you adjust the lights.

The best remote control system for monolights is either the Paul Buff "CyberSync" or the RadioPopper JrX Studio. Cost is pretty close on these, the difference is how you work them, and that sort of boils down to style.

I'll vote for the radiopoppers...pricey, but the range is great, and if you use a 580 as your master flash (another expensive and heavy requirement), then you get complete ETTL functionality - control of up to three groups (either manual or ratio-based), plus stroboscopic and high speed sync.

The ST-E2 can also be used with the radiopopper system, but I believe it only supports two flash groups. Note that if you were to use the ST-E2 by itself, you'd be limited by range and line-of-sight, since it uses infrared, which operates poorly in sunlight or in the presence of a lot of artificial light of certain types...the radiopoppers transform infrared into radio at each end, thus the improved range. The traditional PocketWizards have good range and are probably more sturdily build than the RPs (subject to noise problems as Joseph described, but I think most of the issues have been with the new TTL versions), and they're the professional choice, but they don't support TTL.

If you'll be in a moderately sized studio and the flashes will be able to see each other, ST-E2 would be fine. If you want a system that will work in more situations, read up on the radiopoppers...their Jr receivers can be used to trigger any strobe system (and control power level for Alien Bees and White Lightning, I believe), so you can control a mix of speedlight and studio strobe from a single transmitter (or whichever you need for a particular situation).

I am a die hard Paul Buff user so I use Cybersyncs, Cyber Commander, 2 580 EX II, 3 - AB800 and 2- White Lightning x1600 all with Cybersyncs. The system works as expected. I wish I could remotely control the power of the Speedlights. I use them in full manual mode never E-TTL or TTL. I use them for lightning back rooms or hallways when shooting real estate interiors. For true studio work I agree with what someone already said, get yourself some Alien Bees or simular monolights with radio triggers. The Radio Poppers sound pretty good. I have used pocket wizzards and they are good they just seem way overpriced for my budget. Also, before buying a ST-E2 I would get a Sigma 500Dg Super. It is a knock off Canon 580 but works as both a flash and a master to your 580 EX but has all 3 groups availabe not just 2 like the ST-E2. Plus makes an additional light source if required.

cybersyncs are cheaper..... i agree with the new PW...if i knew about the interference issue ( i got them when they first came out so no one knew about the issue ).

on hindsight i would not go with PW..but i'm too invested in that brand already to get out.

Which radio popper model supports ETTL II?

The PX transmitter (which is what you'd attach to a 580 or ST-E2) transmits ETTL II/iTTL, and also has manual controls for some number of channels of studio lights (so it can be used either to master Canon/Nikon speedlights with PX recievers attached, or to trigger (and possibly control, depending on the brand) studio lights with Jr recievers attached (or off-brand speedlights with Jr recievers attached)...or both at the same time.