Canon ST-E2 or another Speedlite Flash?

[BlimeyCharlie]

Hi everyone,

Have a 1ds MK2 with a Speedlite 580ex mk1 flash.
Decided I want to have a bit more scope to be more creative using flash not just on the camera.

Had decided on an st-e2 wireless unit, but would I be better with a 430ex speedlite?
I'd then have 2 flashes with most of the benefit of an st-e2.

Anyone have a view...

Can I have the 430 on the camera and use it to trigger the 580? And/or the other way around?

Edited by BlimeyCharlie on Thursday 10th October 21:24

[Gemm]

I think if you need a flash on camera, as well as wireless, then another flash unit is the obvious answer. I have the ST-E2 and use it for my macro work. It's much smaller than mounting another speedlite on the camera. It uses infra-red, so it can be used for autofocus in dark environment (without triggering the flash). I'm sure there are also advantages of having another speedlite but I'll leave this to the people who use them.

EDIT: Just found this...... http://martybugs.net/blog/blog.cgi/gear/Canon-STE2...

[BlimeyCharlie]

Thanks for the above post and link. Interesting reading.

To be honest I don't use my 580ex to the best of its capabilities but looking to change that.
I am probably being dense here, but I can use 580ex on hotshoe as normal, but then trigger another 430/580ex that is somewhere else? The limitation would seem to be that the flash can't be obscured by a person etc or it won't fire?

Same if I use a st-e2 as well.

Hmm I think I need a radio device in an ideal world. But might be missing a trick.

[TimmyWimmyWoo]

A well-timed thread! I got my first Speedlite (430EX ii) last week, and this morning my eBay purchased ST-E2 arrived. It seems to work really well, even when hidden behind subjects indoors with no line-of-sight. I think that wouldn't work so well outdoors, because there are no surfaces for the IR to bounce off.

They're about £160 new I think, but I got mine (as new, minus the box, but with the case) for £72. The battery is some weird type that I've never seen before, so make sure you order one of those too!

It's certainly going to be good enough to get me started, although I might get some radio triggers when I've got used to it.

It works really easily, and when you change the flash power using the camera (I've got a 5D with no onboard flash) it automatically changes the power of your remote flash, which is cool. Like you've found, there are a billion settings that I'll probably never get around to using or learning too.

Here's my first shot with it:


Evil biscuit monsters by tim_rodie, on Flickr

[wetny]

My mate uses youguno Flash and triggers, everything set manually to great effect.

[BlimeyCharlie]

Interesting posts again-thank you.

Yesterday I took the bold step and decided to actually look at the instruction book that came with my 580ex (1) 5 years ago...
The effect I'm trying to get for a particular job can actually be done on-camera, and needs to be taken indoors, so won't buy anything else just yet.

But I think at this stage I am leaning towards a 430ex/580ex as well instead of an st-e2.

Keep them observations coming in though.

[Chops45]

I’ve been down this road not so long ago, and came to the conclusion that although the canon st-e2 is quite good.
I found that the batteries did not last very long and it wasn't 100% reliable as well as the transmitter itself being expensive.
I sold it on eBay and purchased a radio transmitter a StroBeam one transmitter for the camera 2 receivers’ for my Canon 550ex and 430ex but a Yongnuo RF-602 2.4GHz or similar is probable just as good and are 100% reliable.
You just have to use the speedlites on manual.