ST-E2 question

I've got 3 580exII and want to get them all off camera

I have currently been using

one on camera as master A
one off camera as slave B
one off camera as slave C

I have purchased a ST-E2 thinking I could use it to fire the master A off camera which in turn would fire the others.

This doesn't seem to work - so know I have to twiddle with all the flash FEC's to get the right setup.

Am I approching this wrong and would I be better selling the ST-E2 and getting another flash to have on camera as master A (set not to fire) which would in turn control the other 3 groups .........

I want to use these in ETTL

Thanks

Yes, you are definitely approaching it the wrong way. An ST-E2 is the master and you can use it to control the flashes as slaves. Why would you want to only control one flash with it and then have that one flash control the other flashes?

The ST-E2 can control two groups, Group A and Group B. Unfortunately, it cannot control group C. But that doesn't mean that you can't have a Group C because you can. It just has to be set manually but the ST-E2 will be able to fire it without a problem. Since Group C is supposed to be used for background or hair light, it shouldn't be too difficult to use it in manual mode. Group A and Group B will still be controlled by the ST-E2 and their output used to determine the actual exposure needed for the shot (Group C output is never taken into considereation when determination the exposure even when using a flash as a master).

BTW, what you want to be using to set the Group A and Group B outputs relative to each other is the Ratio A:B feature. This way you won't have to fiddle with the FEC on the flashes.

PacAce wrote in post #4741685
Yes, you are definitely approaching it the wrong way. An ST-E2 is the master and you can use it to control the flashes as slaves. Why would you want to only control one flash with it and then have that one flash control the other flashes?

The ST-E2 can control two groups, Group A and Group B. Unfortunately, it cannot control group C. But that doesn't mean that you can't have a Group C because you can. It just has to be set manually but the ST-E2 will be able to fire it without a problem. Since Group C is supposed to be used for background or hair light, it shouldn't be too difficult to use it in manual mode. Group A and Group B will still be controlled by the ST-E2 and their output used to determine the actual exposure needed for the shot (Group C output is never taken into considereation when determination the exposure even when using a flash as a master).

BTW, what you want to be using to set the Group A and Group B outputs relative to each other is the Ratio A:B feature. This way you won't have to fiddle with the FEC on the flashes.

Leo - let me get this straight

ST-E2 on camera

580 set to A
580 set to B

580 set to C on manual adjusting FEC as required.........

Now the ratio bit I'm OK with - but what if I want to reduce power to A+B incrementally.... do I alter it using the camera menu ?

Thanks for the help

Simon

spxxxx wrote in post #4741706
Leo - let me get this straight

ST-E2 on camera

580 set to A
580 set to B

580 set to C on manual adjusting FEC as required.........

Now the ratio bit I'm OK with - but what if I want to reduce power to A+B incrementally.... do I alter it using the camera menu ?

Thanks for the help

Simon

If you want the overall lighting to be reduced (both Group A and Group B by the same amount), which is usually the case when you are getting too much or too little light, then you can do that by setting the FEC on the camera. If you set the FEC on the flash, that setting will only affect thar particular flash and not the others.

Regarding Group C, you won't be able to use FEC to control it's output. The flash has to be in manual mode and the power level adjusted (1/1, 1/2, 1/4, etc.) on the flash itself. The Group C light output has to be controlled independently of the other groups.

Many thanks Leo

One last point - I can't find how to alter the FEC in camera (5D) when shooting in manual

It's been a long day

Change the aperture.

apersson850 wrote in post #4741871
Change the aperture.

I knew I was being thick - Thanks

apersson850 wrote in post #4741871
Change the aperture.

No, that's not going to work!

spxxxx wrote in post #4741866
Many thanks Leo

One last point - I can't find how to alter the FEC in camera (5D) when shooting in manual

It's been a long day

Press the [z+/-] (rightmost) button on the top of your camera. Then turn the large (quick control) dial on the back of the camera.

When the flash is in manual mode, that does the trick. I got the impression from above in the thread, that that was the case here.

apersson850 wrote in post #4742011
When the flash is in manual mode, that does the trick. I got the impression from above in the thread, that that was the case here.

Yes, you would be correct if the flash were in manual mode. But the OP is using the primary flash units in ETTL mode.

apersson850 wrote in post #4741871
Change the aperture.

PacAce wrote in post #4741928
Press the [z+/-] (rightmost) button on the top of your camera. Then turn the large (quick control) dial on the back of the camera.

I knew I wasn't being quite so thick - many many thanks - (must find where I put the manual)

Then I misunderstood the "I want to use ETTL" as "I'm using manual mode now".