Do any of you use an ST-E2?
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I've just got one and still learning how to use it. It seems to work fine and will fire the flash when not in a direct line of sight (i.e. behind a wall in a different room).
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You won't get the range you would get with a radio transmitter but what you do get is TTL metering and other facilities such as high speed flash sync. You pays your money and takes your choice. If you are stuck on what to get then analyse what kind of work you are doing, if the flash is at extreme ranges from the camera then pocket wizards or the like are the way forward, if your work is mainly line of sight and of limited range then go for the ST-E2. They come pretty cheap from ebay if you buy from Hong Kong
I've got an off camera cord for the 580ex and it's not long enough, I get really frustrated with it!
I've just bought some wein peanuts and a couple of old vivitars so I will have the ability to fire four flashes, I just need to be able to get the 580ex further off camera!
I'm trying to get some creative lighting that is portable as I can't justify lugging studio lights about and although I like the look of prophoto units I can's possibly justify their expense.
Thanks for the replies folks.
I've just bought some wein peanuts and a couple of old vivitars so I will have the ability to fire four flashes, I just need to be able to get the 580ex further off camera!
I'm trying to get some creative lighting that is portable as I can't justify lugging studio lights about and although I like the look of prophoto units I can's possibly justify their expense.
Thanks for the replies folks.
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Lol good point. I didn't know this and wasn't able to get one for a few days. Very annoying.
Grrrr, things like that truly are an annoyance. I do understand that Canon won't want dead batteries going out but when you are paying that for what is, in effect, a simple triggering device, you would have thought that a battery would not have stretched them too far.
Thanks Bob!
fraggle101
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i used mine recently to shoot a school teachers last day, it was outside and i had two 580's with reflective brollies at either end.. it was an overcast day but the sun was poking out on and off.. i was in between the flashes and slightly behind.. about a metre.. the ST-E2 wouldnt fire BOTH flashes.. only untill i had the bodies of the flashes turned towards me.. now, im not too sure what that would do with the TTL metering!! im guessing its going to go out of the window but the result wasnt too bad.. of course i was asking the 580's to do too much and i only really expected to light the front row, just to get rid of some shaddows as the the light was still quite bright..
All in all it works.. i have lit models with it from many an angle and its quite good.. just dont expect too much..
All in all it works.. i have lit models with it from many an angle and its quite good.. just dont expect too much..
Hmmmm the plot thickens! Thanks Fraggle.
I'm still considering the radio trigger route but the advantage of the ST-E2 is that I could, if I wished, retain ETTL at least with the 580ex.
I think I will try the wein peanuts triggering the vivitars with the 580ex still on it's umbilical and when I'm sure that is working I'll consider whether to go ST-E2 or radio trigger.
Thanks again folks, a bunch of diamonds!
I'm still considering the radio trigger route but the advantage of the ST-E2 is that I could, if I wished, retain ETTL at least with the 580ex.
I think I will try the wein peanuts triggering the vivitars with the 580ex still on it's umbilical and when I'm sure that is working I'll consider whether to go ST-E2 or radio trigger.
Thanks again folks, a bunch of diamonds!
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I wish somebody from Canon could read this and speak to their R and D guys, there is a severe shortage in their product line up here. Nikon definitely have the advantage as you can remotely trigger their flashes in-camera without having to shell out a 150 quid on a trigger. You would at least hope that spending that kind of money would give you decent range.
I don't think the problem is limited to Canon, I use an el cheapo FM trigger from ebay and it (supposedly) has a 30m range but place the receiver just out of sight and it won't work half the time.
I was listening to a podcast about this subject the other day and the guy reckoned that only with the ST-E2 do you retain eTTL and the high speed sync function. For someone of my level both of those functions are very handy (esp, the eTTL) so I would hate to lose them but come on, the ST-E2 has a disappointing range for the price. I'm sure Canon could do better.
I don't think the problem is limited to Canon, I use an el cheapo FM trigger from ebay and it (supposedly) has a 30m range but place the receiver just out of sight and it won't work half the time.
I was listening to a podcast about this subject the other day and the guy reckoned that only with the ST-E2 do you retain eTTL and the high speed sync function. For someone of my level both of those functions are very handy (esp, the eTTL) so I would hate to lose them but come on, the ST-E2 has a disappointing range for the price. I'm sure Canon could do better.
what you need is one of these babies.. illegal over here at th emoment... but well.. you know!
http://radiopopper.com/
the st-e2 is a ine bit of kit.. just waht most people want if they want to exend the range ofthe flash. it wont work in certain cirumstances. one of those bing Very bright sunlit areas. It can be hit and miss.. but i have no problems using it..
i have had the same issue with the bollies. its the reflective surfaces i presume. i shot a wedding in caves with the st-e2 and two 580ex' flashes...... it worked.. alittle hit an miss .. had to have them both in line of sight.. but it worked.
these adio poppers will rock yer world ***. fully ettl and will work though walls etc etc
http://radiopopper.com/
the st-e2 is a ine bit of kit.. just waht most people want if they want to exend the range ofthe flash. it wont work in certain cirumstances. one of those bing Very bright sunlit areas. It can be hit and miss.. but i have no problems using it..
i have had the same issue with the bollies. its the reflective surfaces i presume. i shot a wedding in caves with the st-e2 and two 580ex' flashes...... it worked.. alittle hit an miss .. had to have them both in line of sight.. but it worked.
these adio poppers will rock yer world ***. fully ettl and will work though walls etc etc
Canon Bob
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Tony,
I have a mental picture of your positioning here and "slightly behind" is giving me quite a wide angle from the camera's aim to the Speedlites. The maximum angle (as per the spec) is only 40 degrees. You'd have to be a greater distance behind the Speedlites than the distance that the Speedlites were mounted from your subject line.
Does that make sense?
Bob
fraggle101
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I agree, iv been following them for a while now!! their a little expencive but will do the job np!!
as the flashes were pointing backwards to start with and facing the inside of the brolly i can only imagine that the signal was being blocked by it.. but as you said, the angle was too narrow.. if id gone back a little it could have helped.. i didnt think of that!! i had 60 people in front of me and was up a ladder!! lol..
Hmm thanks Virision but I'd need one transmitter and four receivers and at $180 a pop that's $900 or about £500!
I've been reading though I know, it's a dying art 
I can either trigger the vivitars using wein peanuts which are a little optical slave device that plugs into the pc port (Yes Canon, the thing you missed off my 580ex!) or I can go all darkside and use Nikons!
Yes those lovely chaps and chapesses over on the darkside actually thought to include optical slaves in the SB flashes! So you can pick up some SB24 or SB26 flashes and they can be triggered direct off my 580ex with no added malarkey!
OK so I don't get to retain the ETTL but to be honest I don't use it often anyway (I do sometimes at weddings when I need to be a bit quick on my feet) but for the kind of things I want to be doing which is kind of mobile studio (outdoors too) then I'll be all manual anyway. It's not like I expect my studio lights to have ETTL!
So it was just the "how the heck do I get my 580ex to fire" that led to the ST-E2 question. If the damn thing only had a PC port I'd use a blooming cable!
I've been reading though
I know, it's a dying art I can either trigger the vivitars using wein peanuts which are a little optical slave device that plugs into the pc port (Yes Canon, the thing you missed off my 580ex!) or I can go all darkside and use Nikons!
Yes those lovely chaps and chapesses over on the darkside actually thought to include optical slaves in the SB flashes! So you can pick up some SB24 or SB26 flashes and they can be triggered direct off my 580ex with no added malarkey!
OK so I don't get to retain the ETTL but to be honest I don't use it often anyway (I do sometimes at weddings when I need to be a bit quick on my feet) but for the kind of things I want to be doing which is kind of mobile studio (outdoors too) then I'll be all manual anyway. It's not like I expect my studio lights to have ETTL!
So it was just the "how the heck do I get my 580ex to fire" that led to the ST-E2 question. If the damn thing only had a PC port I'd use a blooming cable!
If you want ETTL and don't want to use it outdoors then go for the ST-E2, it works great indoors (although in a BIG studio I think you might have trouble)
If you want to use them at distance, outdoors and you're not bothered about ETTL then I would get radio triggers.
I have an ST-E2 and have bought the RF602's from FITP for outdoor use.
If you want to use them at distance, outdoors and you're not bothered about ETTL then I would get radio triggers.
I have an ST-E2 and have bought the RF602's from FITP for outdoor use.
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Got to say I've never had trouble using the ST-E2, even in what I thought was pretty strong sunlight. OK, distances weren't huge but it never missed a beat. My cheapo eBay triggers are totally unreliable and on a recent course even the famed pocket wizards struggled because of dodgy pc connections.
If you don't mind the wired connection, Strobist.com had a link to extra long HK synch cords (up to 10m if I remember right).
If you don't mind the wired connection, Strobist.com had a link to extra long HK synch cords (up to 10m if I remember right).
Well, I did get the ST-E2 in the end AND Pocket Wizards!
I found that each has strengths and weaknesses so I got both in the end and use which ever gets the job done.
I use the ST-E2 indoors and, so long as the flash body is rotated so they can communicate it's pretty good. It's also very good for lighting interiors. I now have 2x EX580s and I can instantly ratio them from the ST-E2 and alter the lighting. Major plus. I also use it indoors shooting very quick bridal portraits, having ETTL for those is great.
Outdoors and if I have time to set up lighting stands and softboxes then the Pocket Wizards are definitely the better alternative. I know roughly what manual settings to put the flash on and a little moving back and forward is all the fine tuning I need. Camera settings do the rest. The range is phenomenal and they are ultra reliable. I can also trigger a camera remotely with them so if I have to shoot a wedding on my own I can put the backup camera on a tripod at the back of the venue and shoot from the front.
The new PW's do have ETTL BUT, are only available for Canon and the EX580 needs extra shielding. I still have not found anything that does it all so it's a case of picking the best tool for the particular task.
I found that each has strengths and weaknesses so I got both in the end and use which ever gets the job done.
I use the ST-E2 indoors and, so long as the flash body is rotated so they can communicate it's pretty good. It's also very good for lighting interiors. I now have 2x EX580s and I can instantly ratio them from the ST-E2 and alter the lighting. Major plus. I also use it indoors shooting very quick bridal portraits, having ETTL for those is great.
Outdoors and if I have time to set up lighting stands and softboxes then the Pocket Wizards are definitely the better alternative. I know roughly what manual settings to put the flash on and a little moving back and forward is all the fine tuning I need. Camera settings do the rest. The range is phenomenal and they are ultra reliable. I can also trigger a camera remotely with them so if I have to shoot a wedding on my own I can put the backup camera on a tripod at the back of the venue and shoot from the front.
The new PW's do have ETTL BUT, are only available for Canon and the EX580 needs extra shielding. I still have not found anything that does it all so it's a case of picking the best tool for the particular task.
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just a question for those that use umbrellas etc for your strobes. The interfit strobies kit allowes you to rotate the flash unit so can have it in the direction of your ST-E2 withouty compromising on the falsh position. I know it wont help in all occasions but migt help if you are firing with the strobes behind you.
