May be a dumb question but...

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...

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'?

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).

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.

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.

fatalimage wrote in post #5898766
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?

sacral wrote in post #5898788
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.