May be a dumb question but...

[sacral]

I find that using my 580EXII to control a 430 remote flash is not as reliable as using the ST-E2 transmitter. Is this because with the 580/430 combo relies on line-of-site/flash detection, while ST-E2 is radio transmitted?

This might be a dumb question, but I tried to do some backlighting effects at my last wedding in a relatively large venue, and found that using the 580EX II, i was not getting 100% response from the slave. Just found this odd... (i don't own an ST-E2, but i've tried it before, just not in large venues or outdoors).

Any help would be appreciated... :)

[dshankar]

iirc, both the 580 EX II and the ST-E2 do IR transmission. Perhaps you were having difficulties because the signal wasn't bouncing into the 430's 'red plastic box'?

[tiha]

ST-E2 uses IR transmission. It is less powerful and less reliable than 580EX used as a master. In my experience, both are good only for indoor use and close distances outdoor. If you need reliable wireless system, you need something that uses radio transmission (e.g. Pocket Wizards).

[sacral]

Ahh gotcha. Thanks you two - i was under the impression that the ST-E2 uses radio. Silly me....

@dshankar - i think you're right about the signal and stuff - becuase the person holding the slave was directly behind the B&G, so I'm sure line of site was an issue.

[fatalimage]

i have the cactus wireless, aka ebay trigger system, and it works great. i get good range. i added an antenna which gave me even greater distance. it's cheap, 65 bucks for 1 tx, and 3 rx. pocket wizards are great, but too damn expensive.

[sacral]

i have the cactus wireless, aka ebay trigger system, and it works great. i get good range. i added an antenna which gave me even greater distance. it's cheap, 65 bucks for 1 tx, and 3 rx. pocket wizards are great, but too damn expensive.

What's the typical outdoor distance on that without the added antenna? I'll be doing a lot of on-location and outdoor portraiture here in the near future, and yes...pocket wizards are TOO damn expensive!

But wow 65$ for 1tx and 3rx is quite appealing. Have any problems with these?

[fatalimage]

What's the typical outdoor distance on that without the added antenna? I'll be doing a lot of on-location and outdoor portraiture here in the near future, and yes...pocket wizards are TOO damn expensive!

But wow 65$ for 1tx and 3rx is quite appealing. Have any problems with these?

from what i remembered when doing a quick before and after for the antenna install, it was around 20-30 ft and after it was 100+. my first antenna i put on was just a wire. if you can find a nice insulated wire, get about 6in and solder it onto the unit. when u open it up, towards the opposite side of the battery is a little empy hole, that's where you should solder the wire or antenna connection to, that's it, then drill the necessary hold so the antenna or wire will stick out.