G3 and Off-camera flash

[slejhamer]

I have read that the G3 is the first Powershot to fully support Canon's speedlight functionality.

Has anyone tested this assertion with off-camera flash using either the Canon ST-E2 or the Canon off-camera shoe cord #2? If so, do you truly have full functionality (E-TTL metering, ratio control with the ST-E2, etc.) ?

tia,

[nsxpower]

I have not had a chance to test that myself, however it is said that everything works.

I sudjest asking in http://www.dpreview.com/forums in Lighting Technique, Canon Talk and Canon SLR Talk forums for a definitive answer.

[PFlor]

slejhamer wrote:

I have read that the G3 is the first Powershot to fully support Canon's speedlight functionality.

Has anyone tested this assertion with off-camera flash using either the Canon ST-E2 or the Canon off-camera shoe cord #2? If so, do you truly have full functionality (E-TTL metering, ratio control with the ST-E2, etc.) ?

tia,



The G3 does not support all of the speedlight flashes features. Pg. 179 of G3 manual states what can be used and anything else not listed cannot. I use the off-camera shoe cord 2 and it works fine within the same limitations listed in the stated page of the G3 manual.

[slejhamer]

PFlor wrote:
Pg. 179 of G3 manual states what can be used and anything else not listed cannot.


PFlor, I guess that darned trickster Phil Askey over at dpreview was mistaken when he wrote:


A strong point in favour of the G3 is the fully wired E-TTL Hot-shoe mounted on the top of the camera. This allows for full compatibility with a range of Canon Speedlite: 220EX, 380EX, 420EX, 550EX, MR-14EX / 24EX Macro Lite and also non-TTL use of other flash / studio systems



So, for those of us who are considering an upgrade and don't have access to the stated pg. 179 of the G3 manual, would you mind stating the limitations? :p


nsxpower - thanks for the link to the forums over there; I found some helpful information.

Cheers,

[hypokondriak]

P. 179
--------

The following functions can be used with a Speedlite 220EX, 380EX, 420EX, or 550EX.
- Auto Exposure (Use the E-TTL mode with a 550EX)
- FE Lock (Not available in M mode)
- Flash Sync (1st-curtain/2nd-curtain)(2nd-curtain-priority with Speedlite 550EX)
- Daylight Synchro
- Slow Synchro
- Flash Exposure Compensation (When Speedlite 550EX is used, if flash exposure adjustments are made both from the camera and the flash, the 550EX's flash exposure compensation setting takes precedence when the flash is set to E-TTL mode. The camera's flash exposure compensation setting will not activate.)
- Auto Zoom (Not available with the 220EX)

[PacAce]

hypokondriak wrote:
P. 179
--------

The following functions can be used with a Speedlite 220EX, 380EX, 420EX, or 550EX.
- Auto Exposure (Use the E-TTL mode with a 550EX)
- FE Lock (Not available in M mode)
- Flash Sync (1st-curtain/2nd-curtain)(2nd-curtain-priority with Speedlite 550EX)
- Daylight Synchro
- Slow Synchro
- Flash Exposure Compensation (When Speedlite 550EX is used, if flash exposure adjustments are made both from the camera and the flash, the 550EX's flash exposure compensation setting takes precedence when the flash is set to E-TTL mode. The camera's flash exposure compensation setting will not activate.)
- Auto Zoom (Not available with the 220EX)

In other words, for the 420EX at least, about the only function you CAN'T use, is the focus assist light :( and the modeling flash (which practically nobody will really use anyway).

[CowboyPoetWannabe]

slejhamer wrote:

So, for those of us who are considering an upgrade and don't have access to the stated pg. 179 of the G3 manual, would you mind stating the limitations?



Long before I bought the G3 I downloaded and read the manual. Find it here:
http://www.powershot.com/ciw/ppg/PowershotG3.html
and click on "Product Instructions", which will take you to the pdf. Then save it.

-CPW

[PFlor]

slejhamer wrote:
PFlor, I guess that darned trickster Phil Askey over at dpreview was mistaken when he wrote:

A strong point in favour of the G3 is the fully wired E-TTL Hot-shoe mounted on the top of the camera. This allows for full compatibility with a range of Canon Speedlite: 220EX, 380EX, 420EX, 550EX, MR-14EX / 24EX Macro Lite and also non-TTL use of other flash / studio systems


I think what Phil meant by full compatibility was that all the speedlites will work on the G3 without issues.


So, for those of us who are considering an upgrade and don't have access to the stated pg. 179 of the G3 manual, would you mind stating the limitations? :p


This depends on which flash you're talking about. For example, the Auto Zoom function won't work with the 220EX or Macro Ring Lite. For the other models the only limitation I know of is the Auto Focus Assist light and Modeling Flash.

[tonygamble]

What you cannot do with the G3 is to use the 550 flash system of the hot shoe 550 triggering other 550's as slaves.

You get a totally unacceptable number of pre-flashes from the gun on the camera. It would drive any sitter crazy in a portrait session.

The work around is to buy the ST-E2 trigger device that has no on camera flash. You still get an element of pre-flash, but only from the slaves which are probably not directly where the sitter is looking.

With the ST-E2 you also have no ratio control, so you have to rely on moving the slaves or using their own power settings.

If you use the system in Manual mode you get no pre flash at all. You need to adjust all the flashes manually. You could use a meter to do this, or simply do some tests and work from the LCD.

However, once you work out what is happening you have a very light and portable piece of environmental portraiture gear.

Tony