ST-E2 Question

Hello...I have a quick question for other ST-E2 owners out there.

The background:
- As I was investigating the purchase of the ST-E2, I was under the impression that full ETTL capabilities would be retained.
- I purchased a used ST-E2.
- I am using the ST-E2 in conjunction with my Sigma DG-500 Super flashes.
- The Sigmas work fine when connected through my Off Camera Chord II.

The situation:
When I use the ST-E2, it fires the flash as I would have expected it to, but the flash does not get the ETTL information. IE...when I change the zoom on the camera, it is not reflected on the flash. So a 70mm zoom fires the flash thinking it is a 28mm zoom...and washout ensues.

The question:
- When you are using the ST-E2 with your 550s, 580s, 420s, etc...do they function as if they were connected directly to the hotshoe (or via an OCC)?
- Does anyone use the ST-E2 with a Sigma setup and get it to work properly?

Thanks for your assistance.

I could be wrong (since I don't have an ST-E2) but I believe when you use an ST-E2 you flash becomes a slave, and you have to set the zoom explicitly on a slave.

you are correct, i needed to my put my Sigma in slave mode.
perhaps my original question should have started with a better understanding of ETTL...i will quickly research that before i waste anyone else's time.

I would still like to know if the behavior that I have described is the same on a Canon flash.

thanks for the response!

I am slowly answering my own question here...Perhaps this answers why the zoom is not being modified and my images are blown out...

Note that E-TTL II does not use distance information when a direct, camera mounted, flash is not used, even with E-TTL II compatible lenses. These situations include:

* When bounce flash is used
* With ETTL wireless flash
* With macro flash

The reason for this is presumably that under those circumstance the flash-to-subject distance will be different from the camera-to-subject distance (which is the information that the lens returns), so the camera cannot know the flash-to-subject distance - and that is the information it would need to fine tune the E-TTL II algorithm results.

As quoted from: http://www.bobatkins.c​om/photography/eosfaq/​ettl2.html

I don't have an ST-E2 either but....ETTL is ETTL I would think. Evaluative being the primary issue, followed by Thru The Lens. If the flash does fire a pre-flash shouldn't that suffice?

irishguy_wi wrote in post #5342224
Hello...I have a quick question for other ST-E2 owners out there.

The background:
- As I was investigating the purchase of the ST-E2, I was under the impression that full ETTL capabilities would be retained.
- I purchased a used ST-E2.
- I am using the ST-E2 in conjunction with my Sigma DG-500 Super flashes.
- The Sigmas work fine when connected through my Off Camera Chord II.

The situation:
When I use the ST-E2, it fires the flash as I would have expected it to, but the flash does not get the ETTL information. IE...when I change the zoom on the camera, it is not reflected on the flash. So a 70mm zoom fires the flash thinking it is a 28mm zoom...and washout ensues.

The question:
- When you are using the ST-E2 with your 550s, 580s, 420s, etc...do they function as if they were connected directly to the hotshoe (or via an OCC)?
- Does anyone use the ST-E2 with a Sigma setup and get it to work properly?

Thanks for your assistance.

The head of the slave, whether it's a Canon flash or any other brand, will not follow the zoom setting of the lens. This function has nothing to do with ETTL. By default, if the flash is in auto zoom mode, the head will zoom to the 24mm position when set to master or slave mode.

Re the overexposure problem you are experiencing with the Sigma flash used as a slave, that is not the result of the head not zooming to what the lens is set to. That is the result of the Sigma flash not being truly 100% compatible with the Canon EX flashes and the ST-E2 when used in a wireless remote confuguration. I've also experienced the same overexposure issue with the Sigma 500 DG Super I used to have when it was used as a slave to a Canon EX flash.

i have the same problem with my canon lenses though. Is it possible to have your flash in manual mode when the ST-E2 transmitter is in use?

adamfromperth wrote in post #5344358
i have the same problem with my canon lenses though. Is it possible to have your flash in manual mode when the ST-E2 transmitter is in use?

What exactly is the problem with the lens or with the lens/flash interaction?

adamfromperth wrote in post #5344358
Is it possible to have your flash in manual mode when the ST-E2 transmitter is in use?

Nope...

Suggest you read:

ETTL Wireless Flash Tutorials

Part I - Working with a single remote flash

Part II: Working with multiple remote flashes

Part III: Working with remote flashes in Manual Mode

From: https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=138907

The ST-E2 can fire a slave EX in manal mode.

Like Leo says, by default, the slave zoom to wildest posible angle. Because the camera has no idea where the off camera flashes are located. If the flash is closer the the subject, the same 70mm zoom will not cover the same area as if the flash is on the camera.

I just wanted to thank everyone for the replies...evidently I forgot to set it so that I would get notifications of updates...

What I am hearing (and what I think I understand from the articles I have subsequently read) is that the behavior I expected (that the flash would zoom along with my lens) is a mistake on my part. That is not how the wireless slave flashes work.

So, as far as that goes...purchasing a Canon flash would not change the way the flash interacts with the wireless.

I am going to work a little more with the sigma flashes now to see if I can get them to produce pleasant images consistently....if that does not happen, I will once again consider purchasing a Canon flash.

Thanks again.

Leo's response in post #6 above indicates it is probably the Sigma flash.....but not the zoom issue.

BTW, I'm not sure how to set flash ratios on ST-E2. But you might try and look into it for your wash-out issue.