Canon off shoe cord 2

[Dave New]

I use the STE-2, and also the cord, depending on my mood, and whether I believe that there is sufficient bouncing surfaces for the infrared signal from the STE-2 to be seen by the 550/580EX. Outdoors, for instance, the STE-2 mostly doesn't work, and I then rely on the cord.

Also, using the STE-2 can be creatively restrictive, as it is much easier to set up 2nd-curtain and focal-plane (hi-speed) flash when the flash is directly connected to the body. See the STE-2 manual to see the various flash modes that it does not support for remote flashes.

[Terry Zorich]

Originally Posted by Dave New

I use the STE-2, and also the cord, depending on my mood, and whether I believe that there is sufficient bouncing surfaces for the infrared signal from the STE-2 to be seen by the 550/580EX. Outdoors, for instance, the STE-2 mostly doesn't work, and I then rely on the cord.

I'm surprised you found that to be so. Common sense would suggest that you'd need line-of-sight for the signal to work, but in my own experience - and to my surprise - shooting nighttime HS football (outdoors, or course) with an ST-E2 and two 550's mounted above the camera, I found the combination to work perfectly. Maybe you don't need line-of-sight if the proximity is close enough. All I can suggest is that you try it yourself and see...?

[Al_Escudero]

Someone in these forums posted an image of a homemade contraption with two mirrored surfaces that they placed in front of the ST-E2 that split the beam to increase the range for flash units placed to the side ofthe camera. Improved Flash Lighting

I'm wondering if the 'reliability' of using the ST-E2 for a camera mounted on a bracket could be increased by mounting a similar contraption that splits the beam up and to the side to match the positions of the flash on the bracket in both horizontal and vertical aspects?
AL

[Dennis_Vied]

I have used the Light Sphere both with and without the RRS B87-B. I like the results of the Light Sphere, and use it when I'm working a job such as a wedding reception or party, but it doesn't fold up, so if one is on vacation or traveling light, the StoFen might be handier. The LS with insert fits the SB-800, but is too small for the 580EX. I had to take the insert out to fit it on the 580EX.

I also have the ST-E2, so the next time I rig up the B87-B, I'll try to remember to use it instead of the cable and see how it works.

[Brian_Wilcox]

Al , I use the light sphere now but when I was using a flash braket I used the Stratos (spelling?) flash braket made in Canada. I liked the Stratos because I could mount it on either side of my camera body and when you flip the bracket for vertical shooting the flash head was always orienated correctly with the camera, by that I mean you didn't have the camera vertical and the flash head horzontal. I never heard of any problems shooting with a vertical camera and a flash horzontal but to me it jut did not seem correct. I also was using it with the 550...Brian

PS I haven't used my bracket in such a long time I might part with it. It is still in good shape

[Brian_Wilcox]

Sorry Al I id not answer all of your questions. I
was shooting about 25 weddings a year plus stuff for schools....B

[MarkAlsop]

Originally Posted by Al_Escudero

Someone in these forums posted ...

I'm wondering if the 'reliability' of using the ST-E2 for a camera mounted on a bracket could be increased by mounting a similar contraption that splits the beam up and to the side to match the positions of the flash on the bracket in both horizontal and vertical aspects?
AL

I have put together a ‘hand-held copy stand’ using parts of a Novoflex Duo Flash holder and RRS brackets to shoot student art in school art fairs. I use 2-580EX flash units at each end of the flash bracket and an ST-E2 mounted on the camera’s flash shoe. The splitter is not needed in this situation because the ST-E2 is quite close to the 580EX transceiver windows. The Novoflex has ball mounts at each end for the cold shoe so the 580EX transceiver window can be pointed directly at the ST-E2 while the flash head is pointed forward toward the artwork. I think this would also work with a vertically mounted flash and horizontally mounted flash. You might want to use a ball mount for each flash so that the transceiver window is pointed at the ST-E2. I have never had the flash fail to fire with this setup.

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