Canon ST-E2 Speedlite Transmitter for Canon 580EX II, 430EX, 430EX II Speedlites
by Canon Cameras US
|
List Price: Our Price: $223.99 You Save: $126.01 (36%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $175.00 (click here) Category: Digital Camera See more product details |
|---|
Customers in the UK,
Buy this product at amazon.co.uk
for British Pounds
Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Canon ST-E2 Speedlite Transmitter for Canon 580EX II, 430EX, 430EX II Speedlites
Customer Review: When it works, it works great - It'll do.
Summary: 4 Stars
It's not a Pocket Wizard, but for what it's intended for it'll do fine. The more I shoot, the more I shoot full manual - Radio Poppers and PW's are the way to go there.
Sometimes though, when we have people over, I will set up 2 580EX's pointed at the ceiling and use the ST-E2 to capture group shots. Works great - never ever fails to trigger the flashes. For portraits indoors I have been known to hide a flash behind a chair, set to manual at 1/64 as a hair light, and a main light camera right or left. The flash hidden behind the chair fires too, with the IR signal bouncing off walls and such.
For fast, ad-hoc throwdowns where I don't have time to set the shot up perfectly, I'll use this thing with ETTL and let the camera meter the shots. This is what I imagine this thing will be best for: clackering off quick shots without thought, when time is tight, let the camera's meter do the work.
So while this device is perfectly fine indoors...it's outdoors that it starts to cool off - better at night, oddly, but still not great unless the flash units are pretty close to the emitter. I knew that going in, though, so I'll limit my review to indoor stuff.
4 instead of 5 stars? That damn battery. This thing is showing it's age, using a 2CR5 battery. They're expensive and sometimes hard to find. As for battery life...we'll see.
Meanwhile the Radio Popper people state this device is use ALONGSIDE their remotes...I don't know how, but I'm going to find out...
Customer Review: usefull, but not perfect
Summary: 4 Stars
while it certainly does the job of transmitting and metering the flash to an off camera (or two) flash in the eos ttl series (im using a 550 ex and 430 ex, i have also found some of the shortcomings if it.
distance in a large room or outside is limited, especially if you are attempting wide angles to the flashes.
it is also rather large and 80's looking.
my personal reccomendation is to save a few bucks, and get an additional 550 or 580 flash. that would allow you to still offer the master function this provides, as well as offer some front fill flash... just a thought.
after owning this for almost 2 years, i find i use the 550 on the camera and my 430 off the camera mainly.
- On a side note, i was able to use this unit with my two flashes for doing some very up close macro work with fish fry ad larvae.. so aside from large group shots and studio work,. this can make a big impact on macro work as well!
very easy to master buttons, you will figure this out much quicker than all the functions of the large flash units. 80's styling and 80's buttons i guess...
Customer Review: Great way to get the flash off the camera
Summary: 4 Stars
For a long time, I wanted to get the flash off the camera; and there are only a few options: Flash cord, STE-2, and Radio transmitters, to name a few; the STE-2 is a great compromise. It works great indoors; it even works outdoors; although, not as good as indoors. It works 90% of the time if you are in a shaded area; about 50% of the time in direct sunlight (depending on distance) I used it to shoot my daughter 50 feet away under some trees and it worked.
One point to take away is that you need line of sight; even indoors, if you place the camera in portrait mode (having the camera sideways)make sure that the STE-2 is on the correct side; for example, i was shooting a talent show and I had the flash on a stand on the left side of the stage; I was in the middle of the auditorium, and all worked great; except when I placed the camera in portrait mode with the STE-2 to the right, so my hand and the lens were blocking the line of sight from the STE-2 to the flash.
In conclusion, I highly recommend the STE-2 as a great way to start with wireless flash.
Customer Review: EXCELLENT BUDGET ALTERNATIVE FOR POCKET WIZARDS
Summary: 4 Stars
I first bought this transmitter as an alternative to the pocket wizards. Most of the work I do with this transmitter is outdoors. Greats pretty good outdoors, even if both, the flash and the receiver are under direct sunlight (flash has fired every single time). Of course, since it is an infrared wireless trigger system, the only limitation you have is that the flash has to be in front or above the camera to be triggered. Outdoors, you have to be within a horizontal working distance of 10-15 feet, and you can be about 30 feet away from the flash within the horizontal working distance (although most of us, will be working within 12 feet of our subject). I would highly recommended. i even got to use it with an umbrella directly in front of the flash, and the flash could still be triggered without any problems.Customer Review: Great indoors...outdoors not so great...
Summary: 4 Stars
A lot of people here seems to think this thing is the greatest thing since slice bread and to a certain extent it is good...indoors. Indoors in a small to medium size room with walls where the infra-red signal can bounce around it works great! Outdoors unless the transmitter has a good line of sight to the flashes...not so great. I would easily recommended this for indoor work. Personally, I am looking into some kind of radio trigger for the flashes.