[h0001244]

Dear ALL Chings,

Anyone has experience on comparing the COVERING RANGE of the
- 7D internal flash trigger external flash
- ST-E2
- 580EX as master

especially
indoor and bright sunlight should be challenging to them


I only have 580 as master. Indoor is okay, eg hotel room, home, not referring to banquet. Outdoor is not always okay especially under bright sunlight.


Please share....

[h0001244]

I only found this one, no 7D
http://martybugs.net/blog/blog.cgi/gear/Canon-STE2-vs-580EX-Master.html

[ks chung]

h0001244 C-Hing,
不用花時間作比較, 因為3個組合都是同一方式行IR, 所以在陽光下, 太陽光線就蓋過IR. 3個組合都會失靈!!

[h0001244]

Yes, you are right KS Chung Ching,

The performance under sunlight is x$%@#, sometimes it works sometimes don't. I have to make sure that the receiver is directly pointing to the master flash to make it works.

Some forum said the 580EX is a bit better as it has the rotating head which allows you to twist the flash head 90deg to right say if you have an external flash at right hand side to make it works

ST-E2 can't rotates like that and 7D can't rotates as well.

[ks chung]

其實我之前亦用580EX作引閃, 但影到火都來!!! 好多外影(日+夜)都影唔到. 所以叫你唔好花$花時間!!!

[h0001244]

haha.....really thanks KS Chung Ching....
yes, I have same experience as you before.....really 火都來

I am not heading for 7D, but just hope that 5D3 would have such new function, as D700 can also do this.

I wish to bring one flash with me and can take external flash photos, I love such effects.

For the ShumShuiPo receiver and transmittor, it's cheap, around $200. But can't do ETTL, not good for fast pace wedding photos.

I know that there are some professional transmittor and receiver that can do ETTL, but the radio frequency violates HK law.

[wesleyyau]

Many wedding photographers using PocketWizard, and some of them said it didn't violate the law. You may ask staff in Tin Chexxg.
Radio signal is more reliable in some of circumstances.

[h0001244]

Thanks wesleyyau ching,
PocketWizard costed $2k at least right?
I don't often take wedding photos infact, just leave some memorable moments for friends,
$2k investment seems not quite worth for me....... just wondering if I could reduce the weight after 5D3 released.

[ks chung]

Not 2K. Need 3K!!!

[h0001244]

$3k ~~~~ that kills me

wondering if camera factory would release the Blue-tooth signal control.

[h0001244]

Any Made in China products that do the job same as PocketWizard ?

[ks chung]

上星期影緊嘢時, 聽個C-Hing說, 鴨仔記有隻韓國仔貨(他無說品牌), 話有8成功力!! 你可以出去行行! 好似都過千大洋!!!

[h0001244]

Sounds more reasonable

[h0001244]

Chings, Anyone seen this in HK ? ?

http://www.ayton.id.au/wp02/?tag=wireless-remote-flash

[ediot]

this might be of help

pocket wizards have 100% reliability and massive range, but they're almost $3k per unit which makes almost $6k for initial investment (one transmitter one receiver). it's the benchmark of triggering.

however, if that's too hefty a budget (for most of us amateurs), you can look at brands like elinchrome triggers and alienbees, which i've used and find them just as reliable albeit a shorter range. Still, 50 meters is no problem and i've hardly needed it at this range.

the third option, which is what i actually PREFER, are the YongNuo (spelling??) 4 channel trigger/receivers that you can buy from the famous "Ying Gei" of Ap Liu Street. they're about hkd300 for a pair (transmitter + receiver) and have a 99% reliable range of .. um.. 15 feet sans obstacle. if there's something in the way you might have to fire a few times/ close the range a little. when you buy them tho, it's best to buy two pairs of trigger/receivers AND TEST THEM TO ALL WORK TOGETHER before you leave. i myself have two triggers and 4 receivers and they work beautifully. One thing tho, no TTL functions so it's not really for wedding photographers or the lazy let-the-camera-do-the-work type. while my cameras only sync up to 1/200, i find that they can sync 1/320 no problem, but for those of you trying to sync a G10/G11 or Nikon D40 (CCC sensor, not CMOS) at 1/500 or faster, no luck for you. Otherwise it's fine.

I'm very used to stopping down ambient, putting one strobe on lightstand/tripod for fill and handhold one strobe (usually with two pieces of A4 white paper in front to soften a little) as key, and the YongNuo's have given me very good reliability in firing. no problem in sunlight either.

one caveat is that you HAVE to learn to use flash power/ aperture to control strobe exposure output, and aperture/shutter speed to control ambient. it's not hard via practise - i don't even meter anymore.