Wireless transmitter

[SDJNJ]

I'm using a transmitter ST-E2 with 580 speedlite & Canon 20D on flash bracket. I was just told that with the transmitter, there are no zoom capabilities. Ok, so if I go to a shoe cord 2, I get the zoom capabilities. Forgive these questions. But, what exactly am I getting with zoom capabilities? Does that mean when I zoom my lens, the ETTL will compensate for the focal length? And with the ST-E2, there are no adjustments? So, it makes sense to have the transmitter when slaving, but when just using one flash on a flash bracket, it makes sense to have the shoe cord? Meaning, that if you are doing both methods, you need both a shoe cord and a transmitter? Thanks!

[Jon]

If you're using the flashes in Master/Slave mode, they, by default, zoom to 24 mm coverage (you can manually zoom to other settings, if you like). Whether you use the ST-E2 or not makes no matter. As the only way to use a 580EX off-camera, ETTL, and wireless is in Canon Wireless mode, the 580EX will have to be set to Slave, and will automatically zoom to 24 mm.

If you're using the flash alone, you really want to turn that to "Off", in which case it'll zoom normally, but will need wired connections to the camera's hot shoe. So either the flash will need to be on the hot shoe or on the off-camera shoe.

[PacAce]

When you put a flash into Master or Slave mode, the flash automatically zooms out to the widest zoom position. This is so that the master and the slave(s) can cover as wide an area as possible with the flash. The master needs to be in the widest zoom position so that it's command signals can be picked up by slaves that are space apart and to the sides of the main subject. The slave needs to be in the widest zoom position to ensure that the flash can adequately cover the subject with light.

When a flash in sitting on top of the camera, zooming the flash head to match the focal length of the lens ensures that no flash energy is wasted by ligthing areas that are not covered by the lens. ETTL has nothing to do with the zooming of the lens. The lens tells the camera what it's focal length is and the camera, in turn, tells the flash what zoom position to go to to match the focal length of the lens.

[Edit: Oops. Looks like Jon already had it covered... :) ]

[Jon]

Nah. I left out the (impotrtant) bit that ETTL doesn't have anything to do with the zooming.

OBTW - I see you just made Cream of the Crop. Congrats! I'm only 2200+ behind you!

[SDJNJ]

Gotcha! Thanks all!

[PacAce]

Nah. I left out the (impotrtant) bit that ETTL doesn't have anything to do with the zooming.

OBTW - I see you just made Cream of the Crop. Congrats! I'm only 2200+ behind you!
Thanks. :)

2200+ are mere "inches" compared to what I need to catch up with CDS and Marie, i.e. lightyears!!!! :shock:

[Jon]

Thanks. :)

2200+ are mere "inches" compared to what I need to catch up with CDS and Marie, i.e. lightyears!!!! :shock:

Ah, but a man's reach should exceed his grasp, or what's a heaven for?

;{)#

We'll get there, maybe. Of course, they'll be at 50K posts (and Marie will have hit the million smiley mark) by then.