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02/09/2007 10:11:58 AM · #1 |
Good ? Bad ? Worth the money ? I have a 580EX and 420EX along with the really short TTL cord. I wouldn't mind being able to get them off the camera but still use TTL.
Message edited by author 2007-02-09 10:12:38.
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02/09/2007 10:31:33 AM · #2 |
Why not get another 420/430EX and use the 580EX to control them both? You can turn the 580EX off and use it the same way as the ST-E2.
The biggest complaints I've heard about the ST-E2 were of unreliable triggering with slave flash units set up behind the plane of the camera, outside the field of the IR beam from the ST-E2.
I borrowed one and didn't have that problem, but my setup was well within the IR beam.
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02/09/2007 10:31:44 AM · #3 |
| Ya, it's a bit pricey, but it lets you get your flash farther away getting some good lighting effects. I only have one 580ex, but I imagine it would work nicely for two flashes. I use mine mostly for portraits with the 580 and an umbrella. Some people say the distance isn't all that great and compare it to a Pocket Wizard, but I've never shot a portrait from 30 feet away to really worry about it. |
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02/09/2007 10:39:02 AM · #4 |
Originally posted by Spazmo99:
Why not get another 420/430EX and use the 580EX to control them both? You can turn the 580EX off and use it the same way as the ST-E2. |
True, the 430EX is about the same sort of price range. Only issue with doing that is the 580 is the best flash of the bunch (power) so it would seem a shame to not have that doing anything.
I have pocket wizards as well, I'm just trying to work out a way to pull the 420EX in to the mix (it has no manual controls) Either that or I might sell my 420EX and pick up an all manual unit to replace it and another pocket wizard.
I can get an ST-E2 for about $150
Message edited by author 2007-02-09 10:39:39.
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02/09/2007 10:40:19 AM · #5 |
Originally posted by Spazmo99:
Why not get another 420/430EX and use the 580EX to control them both? You can turn the 580EX off and use it the same way as the ST-E2.
The biggest complaints I've heard about the ST-E2 were of unreliable triggering with slave flash units set up behind the plane of the camera, outside the field of the IR beam from the ST-E2.
I borrowed one and didn't have that problem, but my setup was well within the IR beam. |
I would think that using the 580ex as the master would have the same problem since the IR is also on the front of that unit. |
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02/09/2007 10:43:13 AM · #6 |
//super.nova.org/DPR/Canon/MultiCanon/
Using Multiple
Canon EX Flashes
I think in this article you will find a good argument for another 580
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02/09/2007 10:45:13 AM · #7 |
nooooooooooo....... ;) Actually reading that, seemed to be a good argument to not buy anything more than I've got.
Message edited by author 2007-02-09 10:47:13.
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02/09/2007 11:12:30 AM · #8 |
Originally posted by dleach:
I would think that using the 580ex as the master would have the same problem since the IR is also on the front of that unit. |
The 580 is using the flash itself (not IR) to communicate with the slaves. (although the flash itself *is* IR) I make this point just in case you're thinking that it's the "red panel" on the front of the flash that is communicating with the slaves, and it's not. It's the flash head.
When in master mode, I think you'll see something like 3 flashes coming out of the 580. One to tell the slaves to fire. One for e-TTL measurement. And a final one for the actual exposure.
The way you turn the 580's flash off isn't to turn off the flash itself, but to tell it not to fire during the exposure (i.e. you'll only see the preflash which controls the slaves, but not the final flash which occurs during exposure).
That said ... you can tilt/swivel the head of the 580 flash any direction you want. And I do exactly that. When I have a slave off to the far left of the camera, I'll point the 580 at the slave. And also I'll have the slave body swiveled as well so that the body of the slave is pointing at the master while the flash head is pointing at my subject. I get nearly 100% guaranteed flashes this way.
Message edited by author 2007-02-09 11:13:33.
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