Canon ST- E2 question

I have a 580exll & a 430ex canon speed light. I've played around with the 580 on the camera & using the 430 a a slave. Would I benifit from both lights being on stands & triggering with the St-E2. There are some pretty decent deals on ebay with the cashback program & I could pick up a st-e2 for around 143.00 new.

I would like to try and take portraits with this set up.......

Is it worth trying??

TYIA,

Mark

Generally the ST-E2 works pretty well indoors so I would think in a studio type setting it would be great. I've used one that way very briefly and the only problem was keeping the flash units pointed properly to receive the commands with the umbrellas on them.

That does seem like a pretty good price too.

I use it indoors with two 580ex and 1 420ex. It works well in small rooms and has the advantage it controls the 420.

Just trying to set up a wireless type lighting set up in a ghetto type studio.
When you say keep the flash pointed properly, what exactly do you mean. I take it as the flash & trigger sensors both have to somewhat pointed at each other for this to work?? I think I'll give it a try. If I don't like the set up I could always sell the trigger & break even or maybe even make a buck or 2.....

Mark

Titus213 wrote in post #6793357
Generally the ST-E2 works pretty well indoors so I would think in a studio type setting it would be great. I've used one that way very briefly and the only problem was keeping the flash units pointed properly to receive the commands with the umbrellas on them.

That does seem like a pretty good price too.

Yeap, the IR sensors have to be pointed at each other...in order for it all to work. Outside, in bright sunny conditions...it 'can' be done, but it's really not worth the wasted time. Been there, done that...and it wasn't fun!

I was suggesting that putting EX flash units in umbrellas with diffusion screens or soft boxes can present problems keeping the sensor free of obstruction.

I agree that at the current ST-E2 price you could easily get your money back. And when the Canon wireless system can work it's really quite amazing.

Well I went ahead & purchased the ST-E2. It's going to be a long cold winter & I'll have plenty of time to play around (inside) & try to get it right. Thanks for your input. In doing my research I have found that most who start out with the ST-E3, move up to the radio controlled units for mainly the reasons you dicussed.

I feel it's a good intro into flash photog, we'll see where it leads me...

Mark

Should you ever want to go outside, I hear Radio poppers work fairly well with the ST-E2 and flash units.

Good luck...and nice find.

inthedeck wrote in post #6794941
Should you ever want to go outside, I hear Radio poppers work fairly well with the ST-E2 and flash units.

Good luck...and nice find.

Thanks for the info.... I'm really starting to hate this cashback program. It's almost too good to be true. But after the money I saved on a 70-200 f4 is & now the st it's really hard to pass up. I'm half temped to sell my 430 & pick up another 580EXll......

Mark