420EX and ST-E2 compatibility

[Boomwallah]

Has anyone actually tried using a 420 EX, an ST-E2 , and a G1? I know what the manual says... but I would rather hear from someone real....

I have a G1 and a 420EX and I am very interested in the ST-E2. I want to know if there is full compatibility E-TTL with this set-up.

Any help would be appreciated.
Mark

[nadim]

Scary... no answers... I am looking to buying a second 420 EX with the ST-E2 to improve my improvised studio lighting. I'd better go to a Canon dealer and test it. nadim

[Boomwallah]

Yes...scary.

Has **no-one** tried the ST-E2 with the 420EX??

[reddawn]

Hi

refer to this page for 420EX and ST-E2 compatibility.....it should work, according to what was described....

http://www.botzilla.com/photo/ETTL1.html

Red Dawn

[Boomwallah]

Kevin has a great site, but he owns a 550EX, and not a 420EX. I know what the manual says... But, often with a G1, the manual is NOT the final answer on an issue!! :-) So... I am wondering if anyone has actually **tried** the combination.

boomwallah

[reddawn]

Hi

oic ;P

Well if I drop by the usual camera shop I buy stuff from, I can try to ask them to lend me a ST-E2 unit to try out.....I'm interested to know for sure as well. I was thinking of getting an off shoe cord actually....since it is likely to cost much less.....

(yes, that shop is THAT friendly to regular customers
When I got my 420EX a few days ago, they were too busy serving other (new) customers to attend to me, so the guy just handed me both the 420EX and 550EX, and said "here, try them out yourself". I spent 30 min in the shop reading the manual and trying out the flashes, undisturbed. I had to drag the guy to the counter so that I can pay for the item and actually leave the shop ;P)

[nadim]

With a G1 and a 420ex... wondering...

. whether I should invest in a 550ex first, then a second 420ex for a 3-light system..probably later a off-camera cable
. or invest in a ST-E2, then in a second 420EX .. and may be a third 420ex.. but the ST-E2 controls only 2 groups
. or invest in a 550ex, then a ST-E2... but why not a second 420ex with the ST-E2 instead ? The extra power (1 f-stop) of the 550ex may be useless with the depth of field of the G1
. or....

I'm lost.. and reading in the manual that some cameras, even type A, cannot control different groups, how do I know if the G1 does ?

If anyone has ever tried the wireless system with a G1 enlighten us.. Neil, are you listening ?

Nadim

[Dick S]

Hi Nadim et. al.

This is not the answer you are looking for but this is what I use for studio.

I do not use wireless as the 2-380's, 540 & 220 (fill) that I own were bought before the 420 & 550 wireless were on the market.

I use the standard Canon hard wired system.

I have many times used the 550, two 380's and the little 220 with the hot-shoe adapter #3, distributor, and three off camera shoe adapters OA-2 with both my EOS5 and the G1. Of course I have to play with the manual output of the 550.

If I am just using the 380's and 220 with the G1 I get full e-ttl control. When I borrow my neighbor's 380 I have run four flashes with full e-ttl.

Another neat thing I have used is two #3 adapters (one on each camera shoe) feeding the distributor and two lines off the distributor to two 380's. This gives me the ability to run my flashes is "parallel" with either the EOS5 or G1 mounted next to each other on the cross arm of my tripod firing both flashes. This allows me to use the G1 like a polaroid (what heresy!!!) check shadows etc. and see exactly what the pic will look like on film (more heresy). I can also have both digital and film of the real "keepers."

The down side is a bunch of wires and no ability to ratio the flash output electronically. I have to physically move them, use diffusers etc.

Some day I will get a couple of 550's.

Regards,
Dick S, Temecula, CA

[nadim]

Made the jump... got myself a 550EX to be used as Master when wireless, and as my main flash (with Stofen omnibounce) when size isn't an issue.

Started playing yesterday.
ETTL works fine...
Ratio doesn't work except on EOS-3 (per the manual.. who's interested anymore in the old-age film SLRs anyway ? :-)
Manual wireless doesn't work with 420Ex.

Conclusion: the only way to set ratio lighting is by moving the 420EX closer or farther away from the subject.

Next purchase ? Either an ST-E2 or another 420Ex... No one was able to answer the questions about ratio control with the ST-E2 and the 420Ex: do they work better than with the master 550EX ?

nadim

[mutungi]

According to Canon UK tech dept, the 420EX is compatible for use with the ST-E2. This and the slight power (GN) is the only spec difference between the 420EX and the 340EX.

[Jim Strutz]

Nadim said, "Ratio doesn't work except on EOS-3 (per the manual.. who's interested anymore in the old-age film SLRs anyway ? :-)"

When the manual for the ST-E2 as well as the 550EX was written the only Canon camera that was capable of wireless ratio control was the EOS 3. That's why it says that it only works with the 3. Today it also works with the Elan 7 and 1v. I'm not sure about the G1 or Pro90 though.