Anybody use 2 550's with the ST-E2? A few ???'s

[sigler]

Greetings,

I think I'm aiming for the 2 550 flashes with the ST-E2 for some basic home portrait work. I have a few questions:

1. When I use 2 flashes like this, will the camera automatically adjust the exposure? Or will I need a flash meter?

2. Could I get away with a 550 and a 420 to save a few bucks?

3. Can anyone post pictures that use this flash set up?

4. Any advice?

Like I said, mostly portrait work, friends, family, etc.

Thanks!

Rob

[Pekka]

sigler wrote:
Greetings,

I think I'm aiming for the 2 550 flashes with the ST-E2 for some basic home portrait work. I have a few questions:

1. When I use 2 flashes like this, will the camera automatically adjust the exposure? Or will I need a flash meter?

ETTL works, so FEL works, too. You can set all separately in manual, too - it's very flexible. Not easy to use but flexible. But I have noticed that with two 550's even D30 did much better exposures than 1 flash, even without FEL.¨


2. Could I get away with a 550 and a 420 to save a few bucks?

Of course.

3. Can anyone post pictures that use this flash set up?

I don't have anything new because I've mainly concentrated on natural light portraits lately, but there are shots like http://www.photography-on-the.net/gallery/photo.php?photo=444&exhibition=1 , http://www.photography-on-the.net/gallery/photo.php?photo=434&exhibition=1 and http://www.photography-on-the.net/gallery/photo.php?photo=210&exhibition=1 in my gallery with use ST-E2 and 2 550's.

4. Any advice?

If you have 10D or 1D(s) take advantage of its great ISO 400-800 and start looking for the right natural light and bring your subject there. Much more rewarding than setting up flash systems, at least for a while :)

[hommedars]

Pekka hit the nail on the head. I have two 550s, a 420, and an ST-E. They work flawlessly in any combination. As automatic as you like with the flexibility to set ratios, and much much more.

But Pekka's last point may be the most important. The Canon digitals give you a lot of flexibility to experiment with natural light that is infinitely more interesting than flash--yes, even for portraits.

Joe

[robertwgross]

Just don't make the mistake that I made. I used my 550EX and ST-E2 on a shoot June 29, and then packed it all away. Then on July 17, I was checking out my flash gear before the next shoot. To my chagrin, the ST-E2 was still powered on. I had forgotten to switch it off on June 29, and it still had its pilot lamp on. That shows what a lithium battery can do.

Even though the terminal voltage on the battery looks good, I suspect that it might be very weak, so I have a fresh one on hand already. I would not want that to fail during a wedding shoot.

---Bob Gross---

[pcho]

sigler wrote:
Greetings,

I think I'm aiming for the 2 550 flashes with the ST-E2 for some basic home portrait work. I have a few questions:

3. Can anyone post pictures that use this flash set up?

Thanks!

Rob

I have 2 x 550ex and ST-E2 and I love it. I only had it a short while and have not had much time to experiment with it. Here is a picture taken with 70-200 IS and 1.4x extender (I was experimenting with extender and picture is still very sharp)

http://h00045adf0ca4.ne.client2.attbi.com/perrycho/70-200%20and%201.4x%20_63801.jpg

Hope this helps

[Paul Jordan]

Using the above setup, does anyone use the two 550's with umbrellas either reflective or straight through diffusing.

Have been thinking of this setup myself. Maybe it would be just as effective to use a Stofen clip on diffuser on each flash?

Any advice much appreciated.

[pcho]

That would be my next move, I have seen it used in a photo exhibition in Melbourne Aust. It works. In the example above I took omnibounce out and just bounce off ceiling.