Use of 550ex, 420ex and st-e2

[mikeg]

Hi all,

For those of you you are using this setup, I have a small problem with getting the same output from BOTH flashes. When I shoot something, I can always see where the 550 was because the amount of light is more important.
I've tried to use ratios on the st-e2 but I don't get equal light output. Where am I wrong :?:

Thanks for your help.


MikeG

[mikeg]

nobody can help ?

[DaveG]

Hi all,

For those of you you are using this setup, I have a small problem with getting the same output from BOTH flashes. When I shoot something, I can always see where the 550 was because the amount of light is more important.
I've tried to use ratios on the st-e2 but I don't get equal light output. Where am I wrong :?:

Thanks for your help.


MikeG

If you are finding that the 550 is overpowering the 420 then perhaps you could start to play some games with the lighting ratio control. I use the 550 as my MASTER flash and control the ratios from there, but I assume that the ST-E2 works the same way.

If I'm shooting a regular feature type of portrait I have a 420 (group B) set up on a light stand. I have the 550 (Group A) in a bracket directly above the lens of my 10D. I'll select a ratio of 1:3 and then the 420 will be the main light source, with the 550 as the fill.

I mention this because in this case the more powerful 550 is producing light that's one stop (or so) less than the 420's, so it can be done.

Now if I was trying to match the light output I'd start by having the ratio right in the middle at 1:1 and I'd do a test. This should work but in the real world often one of the two flashes will be hotter than the other. If you pick ratios on the right side of the ratio control (1:2, 1:4 and so on) then you will make the group B flash hotter as you go along. If you choose the left side ratios you will make the Group A flash hotter. You go up and down this scale until you are satisfied that the flash's are of equal output, and that should do the trick.

[jgbeam]

Hi all,

For those of you you are using this setup, I have a small problem with getting the same output from BOTH flashes. When I shoot something, I can always see where the 550 was because the amount of light is more important.
I've tried to use ratios on the st-e2 but I don't get equal light output. Where am I wrong :?:

Thanks for your help.


MikeG

Have you tried swinging the ratio all the way to the 420 (8:1) to see if the 420 gives more output? If that works you could keep reducing the ratio until the 550 and 420 are equal. I suspect you've already tried this, though. If that doesn't work, there seems to be something wrong, maybe with the ST-E2.

Jim