Need recomendation on Canon Speedlite

**hwchoy** · 5th Dec 2007, 14:52

Originally Posted by luenny

Pardon my question, I'm quite new to Canon, but can't Canon cameras itself (say the 400D) act as a commander without having the ST-E2 mounted?

cannot. only some nikons can.

**Shadow** · 5th Dec 2007, 17:17

Yeah, that make Nikon D80 attractive, $200~$300 more than Canon EOS 400D.

**hwchoy** · 5th Dec 2007, 18:09

however with the Nikon on board flash, you will have problem with reflection from the glass as it cannot be disabled. I would have loved for the canon on board flash to be able to act as flash trigger, that will give me an option to use ST-E2 or not. some times it is OK to flash from front (e.g. non-aquatic subjects) and it is less of a hassle to fix on the ST-E2.

**luenny** · 5th Dec 2007, 18:24

Actually all my fish shots were done using the D200's on board flash as a trigger. In the D200, there's an option to set the on board flash to very low power when using it as commander mode. When I do that, I don't get any reflection on the glass, don't even need to put tissue paper. I'm not sure if that is present in D80 or not but I think it is likely to be there.

**hwchoy** · 5th Dec 2007, 18:32

not sure, so far the D80 owners I know are still struggling with their on board flash

**Shadow** · 5th Dec 2007, 19:43

I'm a bit lost here, so.. in Nikon D200 for example, it is using the on board flash as a trigger and not IR. Because I've been thinking that both ST-E2 and Nikon using IR to trigger as well as comunicate with external flash

**hwchoy** · 5th Dec 2007, 20:35

Originally Posted by Shadow

Because I've been thinking that both ST-E2 and Nikon using IR to trigger as well as comunicate with external flash

now why would you think that?

**valice** · 5th Dec 2007, 20:48

Originally Posted by luenny

Actually all my fish shots were done using the D200's on board flash as a trigger. In the D200, there's an option to set the on board flash to very low power when using it as commander mode. When I do that, I don't get any reflection on the glass, don't even need to put tissue paper. I'm not sure if that is present in D80 or not but I think it is likely to be there.

for fish shots, not an issue. In fact, it acts as a very nice fill flash when properly diffused.

but once you use it for tank shots, unless your overhead lighting is so much stronger than the outside of the tank lighting, no matter how much lower you put down the on-board flash, you will be see that nice white spot on your pictures.

and then the nikon becomes not so attractive.

my experience came from using the

00 with the sb-800 as the master commander.

but nikon also have a similar gadget as the ST-E2 right? But think more expensive.

**Shadow** · 5th Dec 2007, 21:56

Originally Posted by hwchoy

now why would you think that?

Isn't that how the ST-E2 comunicate with the flash right E-TTL and not sure what do you call it in Nicon? So why not use the same IR to trigger the flash?

Somehow Canon manage to keep E-TTL spec well. I can't find any info on it.

**Shadow** · 5th Dec 2007, 21:58

Originally Posted by valice

for fish shots, not an issue. In fact, it acts as a very nice fill flash when properly diffused.

but once you use it for tank shots, unless your overhead lighting is so much stronger than the outside of the tank lighting, no matter how much lower you put down the on-board flash, you will be see that nice white spot on your pictures.

and then the nikon becomes not so attractive.

my experience came from using the

00 with the sb-800 as the master commander.

but nikon also have a similar gadget as the ST-E2 right? But think more expensive.

OK my choice come back to Canon then

**hwchoy** · 5th Dec 2007, 21:59

Originally Posted by Shadow

Isn't that how the ST-E2 comunicate with the flash right E-TTL and not sure what do you call it in Nicon? So why not use the same IR to trigger the flash?

I mean, why would you think canon and nikon both do the same thing?

**luenny** · 6th Dec 2007, 10:58

Originally Posted by valice

but once you use it for tank shots, unless your overhead lighting is so much stronger than the outside of the tank lighting, no matter how much lower you put down the on-board flash, you will be see that nice white spot on your pictures.

and then the nikon becomes not so attractive.

my experience came from using the

00 with the sb-800 as the master commander.

Funny, I don't get such problem. Anyway, I never use the SB-800 as master commander. My SB-800 is set as slave on top of the aquarium. The D200 itself is set as commander and the flash is set to none (although it will still flash). In this mode, if you try to take indoor picture with just the onboard flash with normal ISO100 settings, you will see the flash go off but the picture will turn out as if there is no flash (all dark). I've tried that a few times when I forgot to switch the flash back to TTL.

**Shadow** · 6th Dec 2007, 11:30

Originally Posted by hwchoy

I mean, why would you think canon and nikon both do the same thing?

Only base on the assumption that both probably use the same way to cumunicate IR or RF though the format/protocol most likely different. Otherwise canon on Nikon flash will be interchangeable which is not.

**Mossman** · 6th Dec 2007, 16:56

Flash Photography with Canon EOS Cameras

**luenny** · 6th Dec 2007, 18:09

Originally Posted by Shadow

I'm a bit lost here, so.. in Nikon D200 for example, it is using the on board flash as a trigger and not IR. Because I've been thinking that both ST-E2 and Nikon using IR to trigger as well as comunicate with external flash

You may be right by saying that they use something other than the flash to communicate the metering information to the slave flash. The on light from the board flash itself probably does not trigger the slave. You can confirm this by blocking the light with a piece of card board or something and see if the slave flash still fire or not. I think I tried mine before and it works - I think.

**luenny** · 6th Dec 2007, 18:14

Originally Posted by Shadow

just wondering is there any web site that describe E-TTL sinal/format and hot shoe connection?

I got a feeling that it can be DIY, not easy but possible.

Just to warn you, if you DIY wrongly, the worst case scenario is not your flash not firing. The worst case is your DIY item causing your camera to spoil. So do it only if you really know what you're doing.

**valice** · 6th Dec 2007, 20:26

If you are already spending 1000 bucks for the camera, 700 bucks for the lens, 500 on a flash. 200 bucks on the ST-E2. DIY = Priceless? I don't know.

**Shadow** · 6th Dec 2007, 21:23

At this point, cable is good enough

maybe 3 meters
Just connect the flash box to the camera using hot shoe cable (what ever you call it)

Originally Posted by Mossman

Flash Photography with Canon EOS Cameras

Thanks bro, good website for beginner like me, learn lots of info there

**luenny** · 7th Dec 2007, 11:51

I don't know about Canon's accessories. Nikon's TTL cable for the flash can cost around $70-$100 too. And it can only work with 1 flash. So you might as well get the ST-E2 which is 200 bucks.

**Shadow** · 7th Dec 2007, 13:47

$70-$100 just for cable?

Thread: Need recomendation on Canon Speedlite

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