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Canon Radio Trigger
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I am looking for a Canon radio flash trigger for the EX series flash units (ST-E2). Would anyone know where I may be able to lay my hands on a second hand one. Possibly someone may have one they dont use and is just laying in their kit bag…………
Derek……… :D
DerekLaverty wrote:
I am looking for a Canon radio flash trigger for the EX series flash units (ST-E2). Would anyone know where I may be able to lay my hands on a second hand one. Possibly someone may have one they dont use and is just laying in their kit bag…………
Derek……… :D
The Canon Speedlite Transmitter ST-E2 is an infra-red device, not a radio trigger. If you require something for use outdoors, I would recommend a Pocket Wizard or possibly the recently released Elinchrom EL Skyport Universal Trigger Set. The downside is what you gain in reliability you lose in versatility (specifically, you lose the ability to use the EX flash in TTL mode).
Thanks Thorsten for the reply. I really would prefer the St-E2 as this would let me keep the E-ttl function. ( I’m not sure if the pocket wizard will allow this also). I’m not sure what you ment by ” for outdoors ” but as far as i know the ST-E2 will work outdoors as well as indoors. Its just has a shorter distance. Maybe I have picked it up wrong i’m not sure. I’m sure someone out there has used one and can let me know. Also if the pocket wizard is E-ttl compatable whats the comparison in price. You know how it is… it’s all about the money…..lol…..
Derek….. :D
Yes indeed the ST-E2 will work outdoors, but as you’ve already indicated it will be a reduced range. As far as I know Canon give a range of 8-10m for outdoor use, which should be more than adequate for most situations. Ideally, there should be line of sight between the sensors on the flash units and the ST-E2. Of course the reason for this is because when you’re working outdoors, you don’t have the same reflective surfaces as you do when working indoors and if you’re working in bright sunlight there is always the danger that the bright sunlight could overwhelm the infrared signal from the ST-E2. Just something to consider when deciding which route to go.
I’ve got some pocket wizards and find them utterly reliable. A good range (up to 1600 feet so were told) and will work with every flashgun as long as you have to correct lead to connect the receiver to it. It doesn’t keep the ttl on the flash though. This isnt so bad if your shooting digital as you can get away with using your LCD to see the output of your flashguns and adjust accordingly to balance or overpower ambient light. If your shooting on film this becomes more tircky, You’ll definitly need to use a lightmetre but this can be tricky in bright sunlight, especially trying to balance out high contrast areas with alot of shade in too.
Thanks once again Thorsten for the info on the ST-E2. Most probably I would be working fairly close to the flash unit both indoosrs and out. My main requirment for this item is basically to get the flash unit off the camera. It’s a nightmare shooting in portrait format with the flash on a bracket then having to change it’s location for landscape format. I know it’s not a must to change the flash position but i hate those shadows at one side with the off the camera flash in landscape format. With the ST-E2 i can have my flash at a constant location and it doesn’t matter what the orientation of the camera is. It’s just an idea I am toying with at the moment Once again i’m greatful for the time you have taken to post on the topic.
Thanks Pete for your info on the pocket wizard. I’ll take the info onboard and let you know how i get on………..
Derek
I bought the ST-E2 from a seller on ebay in China think it cost me in total ?85 stg I priced it here in Waterford and they were looking at ?240 . I have an Off Shoe Cord 2 but I still can’t understand why Canon wont make the cord a bit longer :( Minimum of 3 foot cord would suffice not the measly 1 foot. The ST-E2 will work well indoors but have not given a real test outside, I would say it might suffer a bit on bright days and work better on overcast days. (in a forest for Macro close up work)
Hi Guys
Recently got one of these as my pocket wizards hot shoes are bust.tried it out yesterday in the open and was quite disappointed with the unit. As its infra red i found you had to have the line of sight pretty much nailed as the range is not great on these. I suppose these would work much better indoors becuase the signal can bounce off walls and such but i would not advise if doing a lot of location work outside. Stick with the pocket wizards or those elinchromes sky are neat little things too, but havent tried outside yet.The hot shoes on the wizards are weak enough but are easily replaced as the plastic is not sealed to the circuit board.
BenI use the ST-E2 all the time and, as mentioned, the range is poor … bright sunlight and any distance will render them pretty much useless … I long for pocket-wizards …
if it’s just shadows to the side in portrait format, a bracket would solve your problem …
I got my STE2 for €100 of a guy I know selling up.
Pretty useless outdoors in bright light, even with line of sight…
I still use it indoors, with softboxes and umbrellas and it works well.If cost is an issue then this should help you out. It is basically a cheap version of pocket wizards. I have one and it works perfectly for me with a canon flash. I’ve only tested it up to 30 feet but I believe the range is much further. No issues indoor or out. For €30 you really cant go wrong.
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