ST-E2... why get one?

The ST-E2 also allows you to upgrade to radio poppers if you ever decide to go that way.

The nicest feature about the ST-E2 is the ability to control as many canon speedlights as you want (that are supported of course) without needing individual receivers for each flash.

There was a really cool shot I saw done by Bob Davis (wedding photographer for Eva Longoria and Tony Parker) that used a bunch of speedlights.

There's two good reasons right there!

So that's why you shouldn't get another 430EX (plus you can't control another 430 as others have said).

shimmishim wrote in post #6282120
The ST-E2 also allows you to upgrade to radio poppers if you ever decide to go that way.

The nicest feature about the ST-E2 is the ability to control as many canon speedlights as you want (that are supported of course) without needing individual receivers for each flash.

There was a really cool shot I saw done by Bob Davis (wedding photographer for Eva Longoria and Tony Parker) that used a bunch of speedlights.

There's two good reasons right there!

So that's why you shouldn't get another 430EX (plus you can't control another 430 as others have said).

You can do the same thing with a 580EX and more, as I stated earlier in this thread the ST-E2 only has two groups A and B. The 580EX supports 3 groups A, B, and C (better control over groups IMO) plus on camera fill.

If price isnt a concern the 580EX series I or II is a better option IMO

funk1196 wrote in post #6281862
so.. again.. according to the manual. the wireless transmitter is in the flash head, not the red panels.
will it work through a diffuser.. and if so, how much is the range limited by?

If you use the ST-E2 it would not be behind a diffuser. If you use an EX flash as a master (550EX, 580EX, 580EX II) it will transmit via the flash head with a series of light pulses and will work thru a diffuser. I don't know what impact is on range. What diffuser would you be using on the master?

shimmishim wrote in post #6282120
The ST-E2 also allows you to upgrade to radio poppers if you ever decide to go that way.

The nicest feature about the ST-E2 is the ability to control as many canon speedlights as you want (that are supported of course) without needing individual receivers for each flash.

There was a really cool shot I saw done by Bob Davis (wedding photographer for Eva Longoria and Tony Parker) that used a bunch of speedlights.

There's two good reasons right there!

So that's why you shouldn't get another 430EX (plus you can't control another 430 as others have said).

Actually I believe the ST-E2 is more limited in its ability to control slave unit groups than a Canon EX master flash. Either the ST-E2 or a Canon EX master flash will control as many compatible slave units as can be seen by the light pulses - 1, 2, or ~.

And the Radio Popper units will also function off of a Canon EX master flash without the use of an ST-E2. You just need something generating those light pulses.

Titus213 wrote in post #6283252
If you use the ST-E2 it would not be behind a diffuser. If you use an EX flash as a master (550EX, 580EX, 580EX II) it will transmit via the flash head with a series of light pulses and will work thru a diffuser. I don't know what impact is on range. What diffuser would you be using on the master?

Actually I believe the ST-E2 is more limited in its ability to control slave unit groups than a Canon EX master flash. Either the ST-E2 or a Canon EX master flash will control as many compatible slave units as can be seen by the light pulses - 1, 2, or ~.

And the Radio Popper units will also function off of a Canon EX master flash without the use of an ST-E2. You just need something generating those light pulses.

I didn't realzie that!

Thanks for the info!

funk1196 wrote in post #6281251
okay so lets say i use the 580 as my on camera flash, and a 430 out to the side, if i have a flash tube on my 580... will the wireless still work?

the 580 manual says the transmitter is in the flash head

A flash tube? What do you mean?

The IR transmitter from the front of the camera sends the information to the slaved flashes, but the flash also fires a pre-flash which gathers information, so it's best not to obstruct the flash head of the master.

ipschoser1 wrote in post #6281351
Other than the previously stated fact that the 430 isn't a master flash, the ST-E2 offers a handier package than a 550 or 580 being on the camera all the time. It also allows off camera use of all the speedlights a photog might own.

Exactly. An ST-E2 on the camera is a lot lighter than a 580. A lot of 'natural light' photographers use them just for the focus assist.

sando wrote in post #6284802
A flash tube? What do you mean?

The IR transmitter from the front of the camera sends the information to the slaved flashes, but the flash also fires a pre-flash which gathers information, so it's best not to obstruct the flash head of the master.

Exactly. An ST-E2 on the camera is a lot lighter than a 580. A lot of 'natural light' photographers use them just for the focus assist.

Not picking on Sando in particular but there were several people who said the same thing so I thought I'd chime in here and just reiterate what Dave already said previously. When it comes to using the EX flashes as the master, the command signal sent to the slave units is sent out as flash pulses from the flash tube. The signal is not transmitted via the IR sensor (it's not an IR transmitter but an IR receiver) below the flash head nor is it emitted by the red AF assist lamp at the bottom of the flash.

PacAce wrote in post #6285743
Not picking on Sando in particular but there were several people who said the same thing so I thought I'd chime in here and just reiterate what Dave already said previously. When it comes to using the EX flashes as the master, the command signal sent to the slave units is sent out as flash pulses from the flash tube. The signal is not transmitted via the IR sensor (it's not an IR transmitter but an IR receiver) below the flash head nor is it emitted by the red AF assist lamp at the bottom of the flash.

Good luck getting thru with that....

PacAce wrote in post #6285743
Not picking on Sando in particular but there were several people who said the same thing so I thought I'd chime in here and just reiterate what Dave already said previously. When it comes to using the EX flashes as the master, the command signal sent to the slave units is sent out as flash pulses from the flash tube. The signal is not transmitted via the IR sensor (it's not an IR transmitter but an IR receiver) below the flash head nor is it emitted by the red AF assist lamp at the bottom of the flash.

I never knew that. Thanks! I though it was a sender/receiver on the 580's and a receiver on the 430's.