ST-E2 or used 550EX?

[Toogy]

Been thinking of getting a ST-E2 for awhile to be able to use my 580EX off the camera.
I have started thinking it may be better in the long run to just spend a few more bucks and get a used 550EX to use instead of the ST-E2?
Is there any disadvantage to that approach? Other than slightly higher cost?

I figure another flash can't hurt to have.

[mbze430]

other than being bulky by the comparing to the ST-E2. You have more bang for the bucks if you actually get the flash head.

[cactusclay]

With the 550, you get a trasmitter and a backup flash.

[scottbergerphoto]

Definitely get the 550EX if you can afford it.

[DaveG]

Been thinking of getting a ST-E2 for awhile to be able to use my 580EX off the camera.
I have started thinking it may be better in the long run to just spend a few more bucks and get a used 550EX to use instead of the ST-E2?
Is there any disadvantage to that approach? Other than slightly higher cost?

I figure another flash can't hurt to have.

I have no doubt that the 550 - or a 420 for that matter, is a much better investment than a ST-E2. The 550/580 has a much longer range as the Master and as everyone else is pointing out, it's also a backup flash. You'd think that a specialized tool like the ST-E2 would out perform a 550/580 as a Master "projector", since that's all it has to do.

[psk4363]

I went through the same decision making some time ago and eventually settled on the 550EX (I had it already with the 580EX but considered selling it to get the ST-E2) - good decision IMHO for, as other people have said, you have far more flexibility with the two guns.

Barry

[AXENA]

Does anyone have issues with using the 580EX as the Transmitter and using slaves that are set at angles NOT in front of the 580/550EX? That is, is it possible to have a slave unit acutally behind the Speedlight transmitter and have the slave fire? I know that brollys can be used efficiently by swiveling the flash heads so the IR sensor sees the transmitter aimed at it, but what about up higher or behind the shooter (not that this is the ideal, but hey, sometimes a scene will call for a strange set-up, and I haven't tried it). Any comments?
-GSL

[mbze430]

Depends how reflective your walls are. In an wide open space, like outside. Very doubtful. You can get creative and reflect the IR signal.

However I was once able to trigger my 580ex with my ST-e2 a room that is 3/4 closed by a wall, but it is directly 180 degrees behind where I was sitting.

[Jon]

In addition to the other points that have been raised in favour of the 550EX, the ST-E2 only supports wireless A:B ratios and doesn't, IIRC, support manual wireless remote. The 550EX supports A:B:C ratios (3 lighting groups) and wireless Manual/multi (strobing) control of the slaves (if they support that). I got the ST-E2 because I found that working with the master off-camera on a light stand and coupled with the OCS-2 was just too much of a pain. I'd rather have the camera free from the lights. Of course, if I need 3 separate groups, I'll have to go back to a 550/580 on camera, but I may be getting another one anyway so I can have a spare flash for the "roaming" camera when I'm at an event.

If you aim the receptors on the slave units (red/IR panels) toward the principal aim point of the master, you may get away with having the slaves behind the master, but I'd recommend trying to have a reflective surface somewhere in the field of view/coverage to make sure.