ST-E2 / 550EX Question

[dennykyser]

When using multiple 550EX setups, does the ST-E2 have to see all the 550EX's or just one, and that 550EX sends siglan to the others?

[robertwgross]

In the Canon wireless flash connections, you must have one and only one master. In this case, that would be the STE2 transmitter. You may have one or more than one slave flashes. In this case, that would be your multiple 550EX units.

Slaves do not send information to other slaves. Masters send information to slaves, and (in most cases) the slaves respond back to the master.

So, all slaves must be within range of the master.

---Bob Gross---

[typer77]

Is the ST-E2 a must have for all the users? I have been taking pictures with flash on the camera....

[robertwgross]

You don't need to have an STE2 transmitter if you use your flash directly on the camera's hot shoe.

If you use a 550EX flash directly on the hot shoe, then it can be the master (transmitter) so you still don't need the STE2 transmitter.

However, there are some cases when the user does not want any flash directly on the camera, and the various 420EX or 550EX units in slave mode will be spread out away from the camera. That is the case for the STE2.

---Bob Gross---

[typer77]

to use the flash from other directions apart from top of the camera is mostly for portrait work?
Thanks

[robertwgross]

Typical portrait work can use one flash to the left and one flash to the right, and often they are of somewhat different intensities. Why? The subtle shadows produced by this method tend to give a good 3-D effect to a human face. Varying the intensities and positions carefully can flatten a sharp feature and can accent a flat feature.

You could apply the same lighting method to anything else that needs to have a 3-D effect accented. Hmmm. Besides a human face, what else is there that needs the same treatment?

Product photography, maybe.

---Bob Gross---

[heytimbo]

Hey there!
If I understand your question correctly, you want to know if multible 550 EX's
in use need to be lined up with the transmitter. The answer is a greatful no.

I use the transmitter and three of the 550 EX flashes. You will note that the
flash head swivles, but not the same amount in both directions. I have found
that I can place flash one so that it sees the ST-E2 transmitter. I can then
place flash two out of the line of sight of the transmitter but still within the
line of sight of flash one. This concept is called "daisy chaining". The
flashes will trigger each other, even with all flashes in the "slave" mode.

I hope this helps.

Tim Alexander :P

[Arnie]

This concept is called "daisy chaining". The
flashes will trigger each other, even with all flashes in the "slave" mode.



wow!

i too thought that the ST-E2 must "see" all the 550EXs to fire it. so with the "daisy chain" i can place a flash at the back of my subject for backlighting.

[DaveG]

Hey there!
If I understand your question correctly, you want to know if multible 550 EX's
in use need to be lined up with the transmitter. The answer is a greatful no.

I use the transmitter and three of the 550 EX flashes. You will note that the
flash head swivles, but not the same amount in both directions. I have found
that I can place flash one so that it sees the ST-E2 transmitter. I can then
place flash two out of the line of sight of the transmitter but still within the
line of sight of flash one. This concept is called "daisy chaining". The
flashes will trigger each other, even with all flashes in the "slave" mode.

I hope this helps.

Tim Alexander :P

I wish and hope that "daisy chaining" was true. But I don't think that it is. Everything that I've read about the Canon Wireless E-TTL system says that only the MASTER sends out information to the slaves. It is not a two way street. The in "line-of-sight" flash that's the "B" slave will not send information along to the out of "line-of-sight" C flash.

Now you are thinking, "This guy is a boob, because I AM using the "C" flash out of sight and it works well." But what I think is happening is that your master (either a 550EX or the ST-E2 transmitter) is throwing a wide beam of "informational light" that is reflecting off of the walls and ceiling; and THAT is what is commanding the "C" flash, NOT the "B" flash.

Although these wall and ceiling reflections can be counted on in a smallish studio or room, it may not work at all in a big space. For example, I could see the possibility of problems if you were trying to use the "C" flash as a backlight while doing prom shots in a highschool gym.

Now if I'm wrong please point me to some documentation, because - believe me - I'd like to be very wrong about this!

[DaveG]

Typical portrait work can use one flash to the left and one flash to the right, and often they are of somewhat different intensities. Why? The subtle shadows produced by this method tend to give a good 3-D effect to a human face. Varying the intensities and positions carefully can flatten a sharp feature and can accent a flat feature.

You could apply the same lighting method to anything else that needs to have a 3-D effect accented. Hmmm. Besides a human face, what else is there that needs the same treatment?

Product photography, maybe.

---Bob Gross---

You make it sound like you just set up one light on the right and one on the left and pluck an "intensity" out of the air. It's very calculated. Main to one side. Fill within 20 degreees of the camera. A one stop variance between the main and fill is a 3:1 lighting ratio and is typical of a business portrait.

THAT image compared to one where there is one flash at the camera position will be infinitely superior. There is no modeling of the subject's features and no sense of three dimensions. But when would I do a shot where I DON'T want three dimensional modeling? Would I photograph a mountain with the sun directly behind behind me? Or would I see some advantage to having the sun be low in the sky while hitting the mountain at a right angle?

All photography is light and where you put it, and the last thing I want for any subject is the flat two demensional kind.

[slejhamer]

Dave is correct. Indoors, the ST-E2's signal will bounce and thus trigger an otherwise out-of-range or out-of-view 420/550EX. You can prove it to yourself by placing a single flash behind the camera and firing the ST-E2. The flash should trigger, as long as you are indoors. No daisy-chaining required. Worked for me, anyway.

This HAS been documented, Dave, but I've lost the link. :(

[robertwgross]

You make it sound like you just set up one light on the right and one on the left and pluck an "intensity" out of the air.

No, I've never plucked anything. The ratio can be set up by the Canon flash system.

---Bob Gross---

[DaveG]

... Besides a human face, what else is there that needs the same treatment?

Product photography, maybe.

---Bob Gross---
Perhaps you don't pluck. but the answer to this question remains "Everything you can."

[outoffocus]

Just to give the original quesioner my afirmative..

I have the ST-E2 and three 550ex(s). Use it with a 10D. Have not tested extensively to figure out where it breaks. It seems that the daisy chaining works great. I put em where ever I want and they always fire. It is a very nice and portable setup. Get lots of AA chargables though.


----------------------------

http://www.THEBIGPICTURE.ws