Gary - Thank you THANK YOU! I've had the Canon Speedlite Transmitter ST-E2 for at least 3 years That I wanted to use with my excellent CAnon 580EXII speedlight, but have never had the courage or knowledge to use the transmitter. Thank heavens you gave this tutorial because, as you well know, if it weren't for your efforts, this nifty piece of equipment would continue to sit in its box because it is not intuitive and written instructions do not lead one through the process well enough to be useful. You are an excellent teacher! Truly appreciate your video!!!!
So helpful!!! I got a Speedlite580 2 years ago and couldn't figure out how to use it and just left it… and today I used it attached to an umbrella for the first time thanks to your tutorial. so thank you!
I am so thankful for this video. They have no video like this anywhere. I finally came across yours and I absolutely love it! Thank you I am so appreciative.
You are SO my hero right now. I inherited my brother's Canon, which included 2 of the Speedlight 430 EXII flashes. After reading Canon's manual twice over the past 9 months and trying everything, I'd pretty much given up. As of finishing your video, I now have two slaves that fire when I shoot a picture!!! Thank you, thank you, thank you. Can you tell I'm grateful? Lol.
Thank you so much! I've got a Speedlite 430 exII and I cursed when I saw the instructions that I should have another Speedlite to make the slave work. Now I don't need another one, thanks to this video :) Both me and my budget are grateful!
A lot of things really clicked into place after I watched this. Showing us how to assign the different ratios for exposure groups was especially helpful. Thanks!
Hi Nicky - for your 5DII you will have to put a 580exII on the head as a Master commander. The 430exII will only act as a slave. Also you could put on the STE-2 transmitter, this you can get used for pretty cheap. The 5dII does not have a popup flash, so it won't send the signal to the slaves.
~ I am onto the Canon EX600 RT's now, but still have a great EX580 Mk2 that I never managed to work out how to use properly. Thanks to your crystal clear instructions I now have a perfectly useable EX580 Mk2 .. Thank you so much .. What a great system Canon has .. Now Yongnou have a clone EX600 RT which is compatible with all the Canon gear .. Amazing .. :-)
You set the ratio between the groups in the controller. This is common with all systems, because you wouldn't want to run all around the lap trying to change the ratio of the different heads after you see the images.
Thanks Gary! You're a great teacher! Only problem is I'm using a Canon 50D and after watching videos all night, I think I have realized it simply does not have the wireless function in the settings...correct me if I'm wrong. Just a heads up for anyone else trying to figure that out.
Great video Gary and superbly explained and easy to understand without trying to make it sound complicated as many do, in fact one of the best guides I've seen to understand better wireless flash photography equipment and will look forward to future videos of yours amen!
the only control you have in "slave" mode are: 1) channel and 2) which exposure group. This makes sense because it is much nicer to control the output of all of your flashes right in front of you, rather than walking up to each individual flash, going back to shoot, then return to adjust. The STE-2 is very very nice because do you see those nice, big buttons? During a busy gig in low light, you'll love that.
Thank you for the great education video as usual! Surprisingly you did not carry your wireless mic with you in the beginning. You are Gary Fong such as a legend! Just a little feedback not carrying a mic, it would be a disappointment.
The best review I've seen of Canon's off-camera flash. Good job and many thanks, The Gary Fong Channel !!!! Could you do a tutorial on High Speed Sync?
The STE-2 is where you would control the ratios. Under this system, the slaves are "dumb" in that all they do is listen to the commander. Which is nice because the commander will tell them when there is enough TTL, and allow you to override, right from the STE-2
Very good tutorial ! You wonder why manufacturors give such small 'manuals' with their gear. For this price I expect much. Luckily enough there is still RU-vid !
Watching in 2024 as I've added some cheap used Speedlites to my collection and reviewing how to use some of the functions after mainly using them on manual for years with my pop-up flash on my 60D as a trigger. My 430EXII (purchased new in 2013) doesn't have a dedicated Slave mode switch. I access it by holding down the zoom button to activate it, then press it a couple of times to cycle through the Channel then Slave settings. Everything else looks the same.
Thanks Gary! My EOS 7d works flawless with my 2 Mets speedguns. In Camera control is great and quick in ettl of even manual right from the 7d's menu. I'll watch your vid tomorrow. To late now in NL
Thank you for this review! Quick question: When using the STE-2 with 580 ex II & Mark II 5D camera, how do I quickly take the flash power if it is over/under exposing my image? I thought that I'd be able to do that with the STE-2 using the ratio tool but it seems that that only works when using multiple flashes. Help!
Hi Gary. I have a canon 430ex ii and i'm using the phottix transmitter and receiver . My question is. Is their a cable to connect the the receiver to the flash ? Thanks Gary
There are also long ETTL cables that you can purchase. Search Canon ETTL long cable and you will find them. You can then use the 580 as a master off camera and retain full control from the on camera menu.
Gary, great video. I agree, I was not able to find a definitive guide to speedlights anywhere. I realized I was confused - a speedlight takes commands on Infrared - but my T4i doesn't transmit infrared when using pop-flash. Right? Also, High Speed Sync - can't control from pop-up flash to a slaved SpeedLight? It does not look like HSS is possible on my T4i using pop-up flash.
If you set up the 580ex II as a slave then you can control both the 580 and a 480EX II together using Canon's built in wireless flash system. I'm not sure about using flash groups to control output, I haven't figured that out yet but you can always put the flashes into M mode and set output manually on each flash.
The Canon 6D has no on camera flash. Can you operate the 580 EX II without attaching it to the camera? I only have the one speed light and would like to use off camera lighting. Thanks for your interest.
Gary, I have a canon 6D and a 580 ex ii and 600 ex rt. 1. If I get a transmitter and two receivers, can I use the both of the flashes off camera? 2. I was unable to get the 600 to fire as a slave and 580 on camera as a master. Both are on same channel with optical selected. Should I be able to use either one as a master and as a slave? Thank you for your videos.
Hello Brother, Did you ever figure this out? I have the same problem. I have both the 580 and the 600 flashed. I use the St-e3-rt transmitter.. But, haven't been able to figure out how to use them both at the same time.
It's amazing how every time Canon releases a new speed light they get worse. I recommend getting the original 580ex second hand, it actually makes sense.
I've followed your instructions for using the popup flash as the trigger for my 580 EXII (as the slave) and selected just to power the 2nd flash under the wireless function on my Canon. I can still see the popup flash go off, and it seems to figure into the exposure. Am I missing something here?
Hi. I have a canon compatible "Phottix Strato TTL" triggers kit and Canon 580 ex ii. if I want to connect a slave flash, have I buy another same brand and same model receiver ? or canon optical slave mode is enough for success connection between canon flashes? and I heard optical connection is not good as far as radio connection under the daylight stiuation. is it true? By the way I wanna use both flashes off-camera.
Gary, Is there any way to enable autofocus while triggering the camera remotely from the flash unit? It definitely does trigger the camera, but with moving subjects it doesn't take much motion and the picture is out of focus.
Hi, thank you in advance :) I have tried with the way to use the pop up flash to control the slave (yongnuo) and the pop up always shot. I have tried and tried every point in the menú of the camera but always the pop up expose, I am really fed up of the point..
I have 2 canon flashlight 430exii flash and my camera is T3i , i know T3i camera already build in the wireless popup flash on it , but right now i don't want to use that popup flash because that popup flash there have a sync limited speed max is 200 or 250 , so what can i do now? i went to some camera store and ask them about that question they just tell me to buy a Canon Flashlight 600EX-RT , but after that i gonna ask another people they said i just need to buy a Canon Transistor STE2 . That's i confusing question and make me don't know who is wrong and who is right , so please help me to freak out that problem thanks
Gary: Will the 580 transmit the master signal though a ligthsphere collapsible? Thinking Event pics with another 580 as slave to capture ambient. BTW great video. I have sent it to all my friends that constantly call for me to remind them how to set up master and slave.
Hi Gary and tank you for the grate video that i accidentally funded today , i want to ask you a question , i have the canon speedlite 600, with the radio transmitter , now i needed another flash as well , and fought i can use my 580EX II as a slave ( i use the 600 as slave as well , because i use the transmitter ST. E3 RT as master , i know that 580EX II don't read the radio transmitter , but u usually can use it when another flash use , so i fought it may go , but i couldn't use 2 flashes , the 580 EX II didn't read the another flash . do you know why is that ? and if i can do that somehow ?
Hello Brother, Did you ever figure this out? I have the same problem. I have both the 580 and the 600 flashed. I use the St-e3-rt transmitter.. But, haven't been able to figure out how to use them both at the same time.
Hi Gary. I have the 580 ex ll, just bought it a few months ago. My display screen constantly blinks and I cannot get it to stop. Can you please guide to what is going on or how to make it stop? Thanks
Hi, I have a canon rebel T5 with the same settings but when I go on the built in flash function settings I cant get to the wireless functions. Thank you.
Does anyone know how exactly the camera (or the transmitter) tells the remote flashes what exposure to use? I mean, I understand that the camera shoots twice the flash light. What does it actually do? When does the camera tell the flash 'hey, use 1/8 of a power'? I'm assuming that the camera first send the information about the power each group of flashes have to use, and then it shoots, as well as the rest of the remote flashes. Is it like that?
Hi Gary, quick question about the STE2 ratio options. If you have 3 flashes(580ex2), 1 in A, 2 in B, do you have to set the ratio setting in the flash or does the STE2 communicate the ratio to all 3 flashes wirelessly when you adjust with the buttons?
T2i Doesn't have a wireless option (Commander mode). You might want to use a radio trigger. There are lots of cheaper radio triggers out there :)... I'm do also own a T2i/Kiss X4.
so I have a canon 1d mark III, and a 580 EX II flash. and I cant for the life of me figure out how to make the flash work off camera. do I need to buy a transmitter to make it work off camera
hello sir, sir i would like to know how to do setting on flash and on my canon 70D AND 6D FOR MASTER FLASH? SIR IAM USING BOTH CAMERA BODY.70D,6D, But i don"t know how to do setting on flash and on camera.flash i have a canon 580 ex ll and youngnuo 568 ex ii, sir i don"t know how to use this as a master flash.how it"s work as a wireless..or what we said for that periticular funstion? sit if simple way you explain it will be help me to work nicely. sir i hope you will help me.
+Mira Jr , Hallo Mira, I´ve just seen your comment and don´t know if you got an answer. : You have to push the zoom button to get into the slave mood. Is the nswer ok for you?
Not sure if the Neewer system has a Canon hack in it to allow for this. You may need to invest in a Neewer transmitter in order to communicate with the flash properly.
Canon products last a lifetime I still have flashes,cameras,lenses and more from the 1980's and they still work. My older sigmas , tokinas and sunpak flash 422 all failed now. Cant get parts for them to repair . So go ahead buy junk flashes you get what you pay for...I bought two 600ex rt ii and one 430ex rt iii.
Forster Stewart I totally agree with you. Also, contrary to the introductory comments in this video, I found the Canon off-camera flash system to be very easy to figure out the first time I used it. It is not complicated and having the ability to let the master flash either contribute to the exposure or not is fantastic.
cooloox yes also now the 430ex can now be set as master how cool is that. You can mix in group mode ettl,manual,old school with thyristor type manual & auto from the 80s. The radio revolution is such an advancement canon RULES. They keep their finger on the pulse of photography technology as well as photographers. Thank you canon.
We've tested numerous flash systems, triggers, etc. and found there are simpler solutions to use that will enable the grouping, ETTL, manual mode setups you're referring to. The radio transmitter revolution is not unique to Canon at all. There are several other options that are more reliable and cost a third of the price. Godox and Phottix to name a couple. Additionally, the only flash units I've ever owned that have failed were the Canon 550EX and 430EX.
I always get what i pay for with canon , lukily canon has never failed for me so i for one will always be a canoniester. Plus i can control all flashes with my 5dsr . Is that possible with the cheapo's.
Really annoying the interchangeable use of the term 'wireless'. Manufacturers should make clear that optical flash triggering is NOT the same as radio triggering and whether their devices support one or both.
just one question, say if i had a 430 ex iii rt and a yongnuo yn560 iv can i trigger both of them with my pop up flash on my canon or do i need to get a transmitter?
