Canon Speedlite Transmitter ST-E2 range problem

I am currently using a Canon Speedlite Transmitter ST-E2 and I only am able to trigger my flash from only about 2 feet. According to the Instruction Manual I should see a range of about 26 feet, anyone have any experience with the ST-E2 or offer any suggestions?

Thanks in advance..

Indoors or outdoors?

Outdoors and indoors.... I also have new batteries in both my flash and the brand new ST-E2

I have not used mine outdoors but I have set my flash 3 rooms away and it fires even if I face backwards, I have not had a single issue indoors *knocks on wood*

Indoors (so long as the slaves can see the IR signal) you should get better results than that.

Outdoors? Well, that can be a crapshoot with IR. RF would be a better choice for outdoors.

PaintballPhotography.c​om wrote in post #7298259
I am currently using a Canon Speedlite Transmitter ST-E2 and I only am able to trigger my flash from only about 2 feet. According to the Instruction Manual I should see a range of about 26 feet

1. Within the 80 degrees arc of straight ahead? (The Off-camera Cord can be used to have the arc pointing elsewhere.)

2. Each slave rotated so that the receptor panel is pointing straight at the ST-E2 emitter panel? (The slave flash head can be pointing in any direction.)

3. Which camera are you using?

Canon 1D Mark III
I have tried 1 and 2 but with the same result...

You must comply with the line-of-sight requirements, except that inside at close quarters there can be sufficient signal strength and bounce for the system to work. Outside, the coded light instructions can get swamped by the ambient light.

Your ST-E2 should perform much better than you report. One possibility that dimensions or dirt could result in a malfunction. One test is to see if your camera menu "Flash control", "External flash func. settings" is showing when the ST-E2 is connected and powered up. It should report three settings and enable two settings (at least that happens with my 50D). If it says "Incompatible flash..." then it suggests that the pin contacts are faulty and the unit is being mis-recognised. Try cleaning the contacts on both shoe and foot.

Can you test another photographer's unit? It would be embarrassing to return it on a "user error"!

Given your name, you should look at RadioPoppers if you haven't already. They overcome the line-of-sight, distance and daylight limitations of the Canon E-TTL communication system.