Whacko idea - ST-E2 and optical slaves.

[Lightstream]

Let's forget about the whole 'buy a cheap strobe' idea first and think about re-using what I already have, which is an ST-E2 and 430EX.

I'm wondering what is the best way to slave the Canon flash system (I am aware I will lose E-TTL and need manual power control, but that is OK) to a point and shoot camera. Some have reported excellent results synchronizing even studio monolights to a small compact camera with an optical slave and using the compact's onboard flash to fire the optical slave.

So it led me to think - can I tie an optical slave to the ST-E2, which will in turn fire all my Speedlites?

I know this is a bit of a crazy idea, but almost no 'bridge cameras' (10-12X superzoom P&S) have hot shoes or PC sync connectors to sync with flashes.

[jbimages]

The ST-E2 does not have an optical trigger so you won't be able to trigger it from the P&S camera flash. It also sends a lot more than just the flash trigger to the 430EX.


John

[PacAce]

Let's forget about the whole 'buy a cheap strobe' idea first and think about re-using what I already have, which is an ST-E2 and 430EX.

I'm wondering what is the best way to slave the Canon flash system (I am aware I will lose E-TTL and need manual power control, but that is OK) to a point and shoot camera. Some have reported excellent results synchronizing even studio monolights to a small compact camera with an optical slave and using the compact's onboard flash to fire the optical slave.

So it led me to think - can I tie an optical slave to the ST-E2, which will in turn fire all my Speedlites?

I know this is a bit of a crazy idea, but almost no 'bridge cameras' (10-12X superzoom P&S) have hot shoes or PC sync connectors to sync with flashes.
If you can get the ST-E2 to fire, then, yes, it will be able to trigger the Speedlites in Slave mode. Now, if you were to use a PW to trigger the ST-E2, I know for certain that what you want to do will work. But if you want to use an optical slave instead, that's a different matter. The problem that I've seen with the Speedlites, and this may apply to the ST-E2 as well, is that they don't work very well with optical triggering devices. They might fire once but not again unless the Speedlite is turned off and then on again.

If you can find an optical trigger that can reliably trigger the ST-E2 each and every time, then you're good to go. Cosworth as indicated in several threads that he's had success using a Sonia optical slave trigger to fire his Speedlite so that might be one avenue to look into. I personally have no experience with a Sonia triggering device so I can't say one way or the other whether it really works or not but I'm taking Cosworth's word for it. :)

[FlashZebra]

Cosworth as indicated in several threads that he's had success using a Sonia optical slave trigger to fire his Speedlite so that might be one avenue to look into. I personally have no experience with a Sonia triggering device so I can't say one way or the other whether it really works or not but I'm taking Cosworth's word for it. :)
I have tried numerous optical slaves from Sonia, all the exact same model, and I personally could not get any of them to function properly with a Canon 550EX.

These same Sonia optical slaves work perfectly on all other flash units I tried them on. In general these Sonia slaves are a nice inexpensive optical slave option.

And to head off a predictable diversion. No, the reason they did not work with the Canon flash were not preflash issues. All tests were conducted in strictly manual modes with the flashing units not emitting a preflash.

I know there are two distinct versions of the Sonia slave that connects with a PC cable, a regular one, and a long range one, I was using the regular version.

Enjoy! Lon

[Lotto]

My Wein Peanut would trigger the master 580, but the slave 430 wouldn't fire in this setup. I don't know if it would work with the ST-E2 since I don't own one.

[PacAce]

I have tried numerous optical slaves from Sonia, all the exact same model, and I personally could not get any of them to function properly with a Canon 550EX.

These same Sonia optical slaves work perfectly on all other flash units I tried them on. In general these Sonia slaves are a nice inexpensive optical slave option.

And to head off a predictable diversion. No, the reason they did not work with the Canon flash were not preflash issues. All tests were conducted in strictly manual modes with the flashing units not emitting a preflash.

I know there are two distinct versions of the Sonia slave that connects with a PC cable, a regular one, and a long range one, I was using the regular version.

Enjoy! Lon
Thanks for the clarification, Lon. :)

[cosworth]

here ya go:

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?p=2957339#post2957339

[Lightstream]

Nice, thanks guys :)

If I ever do decide to try this, I'll let the rest of you know how it works out. Maybe it's time to ebay a small optical slave that I can attach to the ST-E2's shoe. :mrgreen:

[DC9]

Get a G7.

[PacAce]

Get a G7.

Care to explain your response? What does the the G7 have to do with the price of rice in China? :confused:

[DC9]

The guy wants to use a ST-E2 and 430EX with a point and shoot camera. The G7 (point and shoot camera) works with current Canon EX flashes so that is what dictates the price of rice in China.

[Lightstream]

And I am not interested in buying a G7, but rather using what I (and others) already have.

Thanks for the 'helpful' reply. I guess I should mount the ST-E2 on my 5D where it belongs.

[cosworth]

Lightstream - I confirmed that I could not get this to work.

[Lightstream]

Lightstream - I confirmed that I could not get this to work.

Thanks for helping me do the test :) Looks like it'll be back to the ol Vivitar 285 + optical slave method if we want to sync with P&S.