NEED QUICK HELP!! FLASH 550EX, 420EX, ST-E2

[Doom1701e]

I currently have a 420EX and was looking to add either a ST-E2 or a 550EX. I am wanting to use the 420 wirelessly and noticed that the 550EX can be a transmitter. So my questions are...
1. Can the 550EX be used to control the 420 wirelessly?
2. Does the 550 (as the master mounted on the camera) have to fire a flash in order to trigger the 420 wirelessly? ie. I would want to set up the 420 off to the side and use the 550 to trigger the 420, but not have the 550 emit a flash.

I think that is all I need to know right now. I was going to buy the ST-E2 but saw I could get a flash with a transmitter for alittle more money. Is there anything else I should know or any suggestions you can make? I would like to order the flash or ST-E2 tonight in order to get it by the weekend thats why I asked for the quick help. Thanx!!!

[robertwgross]

I currently have a 420EX and was looking to add either a ST-E2 or a 550EX. I am wanting to use the 420 wirelessly and noticed that the 550EX can be a transmitter. So my questions are...
1. Can the 550EX be used to control the 420 wirelessly?
2. Does the 550 (as the master mounted on the camera) have to fire a flash in order to trigger the 420 wirelessly? ie. I would want to set up the 420 off to the side and use the 550 to trigger the 420, but not have the 550 emit a flash.


1. Yes, the 550EX can be the master flash, and it "talks to" the slave flash 420EX.

2. (I think so) I think the 550EX can be set to be wireless IR master, but to inhibit its actual flash. Somebody check this until I find my manual. I know that you can set flash ratio with the 550EX virtually to zero power and the 420EX at full power.

---Bob Gross---

[robertwgross]

The practical problem with the 550EX flash is that the manual is somewhat difficult to understand. You can hook it up and shoot in simple automatic modes pretty easily, but getting all of the advanced bells and whistles to work will require about a dozen readings and some practice. So, I would not count on it for the weekend.

---Bob Gross---

[robertwgross]

The 550EX "talks wirelessly" using its main tube. The STE2 "talks wirelessly" using a small beam that is filtered IR. STE2 range is more limited than 550EX.

The 550EX, when used as the master transmitter, can have its main tube inhibited, so it can control slaves without contributing any real main light on the subject.

I'll warn you, this material does not just jump off the pages of the manual.

---Bob Gross---

[Rob Larsen]

As Bob stated, a 550EX master can fire the 420 slave without discharging itself. You can also set flash power ratios between the units and that is controlled solely from the 550EX.

I second Bob's assessment of the manual.

[Doom1701e]

The 550EX "talks wirelessly" using its main tube. The STE2 "talks wirelessly" using a small beam that is filtered IR. STE2 range is more limited than 550EX.

The 550EX, when used as the master transmitter, can have its main tube inhibited, so it can control slaves without contributing any real main light on the subject.

Is that information from the manual?

Thanks for the warnings about the manual. I just LOVE to read Canon manuals so it sounds like I will have hours of fun in my future.

[robertwgross]

I'll warn you, this material does not just jump off the pages of the manual.


The manual is spotty. Some of this came from other reliable sources. Some of it was developed in this forum several months ago.

---Bob Gross---

[robertwgross]

The 550EX, when used as the master transmitter, can have its main tube inhibited, so it can control slaves without contributing any real main light on the subject.


Verified in the manual.

---Bob Gross---

[Doom1701e]

Verified in the manual.

Thank you VERY much!

[Roy NN7DX]

Doom1701e wrote (excerpt):
"I currently have a 420EX and was looking to add either a ST-E2 or a 550EX."
I was using a single 420EX with my 300D and I just got to this point myself. I chose a second 420EX with a ST-2E to control the pair... These two units cost more than one 550EX but now I have two flashes off camera.

This is what I wanted so an on camera 550EX (and its MUCH BETTER control) would have left me wanting a third flash unit anyway...

I'm pleased with my very portable "studio lights". Good luck...

[robertwgross]

Most beginners keep flash photography simple. Either they use the built-in flash, which is pretty puny, or else they use any one -EX flash that sits on the hot shoe.

Then for the next step, you want a single -EX flash set off-axis on a flash bracket.

Most portrait photographers want some lighting that is a little more complex. You want one set a little to the left and another set a little to the right, and you want to be able to set one a little brighter than the other. That normally requires two -EX flash units, but there are tricks that you can do with reflectors.

To control two separate -EX flash units, you can run PC cords to them (from some cameras), but you only get sync that way, with no ETTL data. That is OK, too. But if you want to do ETTL, then you have to have the complete off-camera cables or else you have to do wireless ETTL. The digital cameras such as D30, D60, 10D and DRebel, can do wireless ETTL by using Canon stuff.

STE2 is the wireless data master transmitter. 550EX can be a wireless data master transmitter, or a wireless data slave, and it is a flash unit with lots of bells and whistles. 420EX can be a wireless data slave, and it is a flash unit without all of the bells and whistles. One master can talk to a bunch of slaves.

How you build up your kit depends on how serious you are about your flash photography.

---Bob Gross---

[Doom1701e]

Ok, so I am alittle reluctant to buy the 550 or the ST-E2 now. Which one should I get? Like what was said above about portraits, you would want one flash on one side, and another flash on the other side. What kind of photography would a flash on the side and a flash on the camera be good for? Would I be better off getting another 420 and a ST-E2?

[robertwgross]

Hmmm. This was all started with one set of assumptions. Now you are backing off that and starting all over.

Maybe you shouldn't get anything.

---Bob Gross---