Wireless ETTL Flash Control for Canon – Take your TTL flash photography off the camera
Every digital photography accessory seems to be copied by China manufacturers these days, while most have been shoddy knock-offs that can’t do half of what the original version does, some companies are actually making the effort of improving on the original yet knocking down the price level significantly as well.
The YongNuo ST-E2 is a copy of the aging Canon ST-E2 wireless flash controller that was released way back in 2004-05 era when the Canon 550EX and film EOS cameras were still the bread-and-butter products of Canon. While it was highly revolutionary at that time, it clearly lacks the modern functionalities, flexibility, and usability of the Nikon SU-800 controller. That’s another story to complain about, however.
The Canon ST-E2 is an infrared-based flash controller mounted on the camera’s hotshoe that allows the user to control multiple off-camera slave flashes sorted in channels and groups. The ST-E2 allows you to retain ETTL flash metering as well as high-speed sync and ratio-based output even when flashes are placed away from the camera wirelessly.
The YongNuo ST-E2 also sports a high-output auto-focus assist beam to use in low-light, particularly for cameras without a built-in flash/AF assist beam.
The YongNuo variant offers almost identical features, and then some. Here are the key features that the YongNuo have over the Canon ST-E2.
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- Utilizes 2pcs of standard AA batteries (Canon uses relatively hard-to-find and expensive 2CR5 Li-Ion batteries).
- Swiveling head +/- 135-degrees
- Significantly increased range, especially outdoors
- Metal hotshoe
- Price – YongNuo US$106 shipped (eBay) – Canon US$234
The YongNuo ST-E2 works will the Canon 550EX, 430EX (I & II), 580EX (I & II), and other 3rd party flashes that works as a ETTL slave for Canon.
The YongNuo ST-E2, as mentioned, uses IR beams for communication. Unlike radio triggers, the ST-E2 requires line-of-sight for the flashes to receive the signal of the controller. However, line-of-sight is less critical when in an indoor environment as nearby walls and ceilings aid the IR beam patterns even without line-of-sight.
In many cases, manual power flash with radio triggers are more efficient, cheaper, and consistent. However, wireless TTL offers speed and flexibility that may suit event and ‘on-the-go’ photographers more than manual flash adjustment.
External
The YongNuo (abbreviated to YN, here on-out) ST-E2 package comes with the ST-E2 unit, a stand, velour pouch, a user manual, and a product sheet for other YN products.
The YN ST-E2 looks very similar to the original with the exception of a twist-type shoe lock (instead of a locking slide switch) and subtle battery cover door differences.
At the rear, the differences are minimal as well, save for the feel of the buttons and font type.
The YN ST-E2 sits snugly on a standard Canon hot shoe, no surprises here.
Swivel
As mentioned previously, the YN ST-E2′s head swivels 135-degrees to both sides. This allows the IR beam to be aimed towards a flash unit better particularly if the flash is off-center.
There are no buttons or switches to push when swiveling the head, just a simple twist changes the head direction with a tactile feel every 45-degrees or so.
Range and Sensitivity
I conducted a simple test outdoors with the YN ST-E2 to see how well it works under bright sunlight with direct line-of-sight.
15 Feet
30 Feet
40 Feet
50 Feet
60 Feet
80+ Feet
After 80 feet or so, the flash no longer ‘syncs’ with the shutter. The flash will visibly illuminate during shutter press, but does not register in the photograph. At around 90 feet, the flash no longer fires.
The swivel ability of the YN ST-E2 also allows the user to fire a flash that’s positioned behind the camera, something the Canon version cannot do. The photo below has a 580EX firing through a brolly as fill to the afternoon sun (Group A) while a 550EX placed off to the side as rim light (Group B). The 580EX was placed slightly behind and to the left of camera.
High-speed sync was used to retain f/2.8 aperture for this shot.
2 flashes with HSS
If you are interested in knowing the distance comparison with the Canon ST-E2 as well as multi-flash setup, please check out this Chinese review (you may need Google Translate if you can’t read Chinese characters).
Ratio and Power Adjustment
The ratio works as advertised, but for some strange reason, it didn’t work the first time I tried firing two flashes (A:B), it only fired both flashes at 1:1 ratio.
Nevertheless, everything worked fine a few hours later. The ratio works whether you adjust it via the YN ST-E2 itself or within your camera’s menu system. All of the in-cam “wireless” menu items work with the YN ST-E2.
Flash Off
8:1 Ratio
1:1 Ratio
1:8 Ratio
Recycling/Consistency
I advice using full 1.5V batteries for the YN ST-E2 as opposed to 1.2V rechargeable cells. There are reports that the YN ST-E2 doesn’t recycle that quickly as compared to the original, but in my experience, using 1.5V Lithium AA batteries (I use Energizer Lithiums) instead of 1.2V NiMh batteries.
The Canon uses a 6V 2CR5 cell, I would think that dropping the rated voltage to 3V would affect recycling speeds and using even lower 1.2V cells will make things worse.
With fresh Li-Ion AAs, I was able to fire at 8fps consistently as long as the flash itself is up to the task in recycling (full batteries with CP-E4 external battery pack attached).
AF Assist
Using an ST-E2 instead of a full-sized flash for AF-assist purposes is not only lighter, but more compact as well. The full-frame and professional EOS cameras right now lack a built-in pop-up flash that functions as an AF-assist beam as well. With less sensitive AF sensors of non-pro bodies like the EOS 5D and 5D Mark II, the ST-E2 is a good, small, and effective solution in low-light.
Unfortunately, the YongNuo ST-E2 AF assist beam is almost useless compared to the Canon ST-E2 or any other external flash unit’s AF assist beam that Canon offers.
The Canon ST-E2 throws out a matrix-grid like red beam pattern to cover multiple AF points for AF-assist. The YN ST-E2 uses four, VERY thin vertical lines that is not very visible even in pitch-dark rooms, let alone bright enough to help the AF sensors.
Even the pop-up AF-assist light present in consumer-grade EOS bodies, while annoying, do a better job than the YN ST-E2 in this department, which is a big disappointment.
With vertical beam patterns, you need cameras with cross-type AF sensors to even have a chance to using the AF-pattern beam, but most cameras only have vertical AF sensors off-center, so the AF assist beam offers little to no assistance.
The solution could’ve been simple, just change the beam pattern of the AF-assist light. Makes you wonder if they only tested this feature on a 1D series or 7D cameras as these are the only cameras, it seems, that can remotely utilize the poor AF assist feature of the YN ST-E2.
Conclusion
Other than the useless AF-assist, YongNuo seemed to have ticked all the right boxes for a Canon ST-E2 alternative. Better range, swivel head, AA batteries, in-cam menu control, low price. It’s a worthwhile purchase if you like to use wireless ETTL, particularly if you don’t have one of the newer cameras (600D, 60D, and 7D) where there are built-in pop-up flash wireless control.
The price is reasonable for the functionalities as well as the build quality.
Just don’t buy it if you’re looking for a small AF assist beam for your 5D and 1D series camera.
Update, Canon already released the new Canon ST-E3 controller.
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About David L. Tong
can anyone tell me….is this item ccomatible with the canon mrk3
Hi there,
Let’s take an example :
I mount the ST-E2 on my camera, and I mount my external 430exII flash on a tripod somewhere in the room. I want to be able to control the flash unit power without going to adjust it manually.
Question 1 : If I put my flash to manual mode, can I change the power of the flash from the external flash menu from inside my camera ?
Question 2 : If I put the flash in a softbox will it receive information from the ST-E2 ?
Thanks very much !
Hello Cristi:
Q1: Yes
Q2: Yes, as long as the sensor of the 430EX2 can “see” the ST-E2 beam. If you’re using a softbox where you stick the entire flash into the box (like Westcott softboxes), I don’t think it’ll work. If you’re a softbox mount where the flash body is exposed and only the flash head is inside the box opening, then you’re fine.
If you find yourself shooting manual most of the time, save yourself the hassle and go manual triggers or RF TTL triggers like the PocketWizard TT-Mini or cheaper but just as reliable Phottix Odin RF TTL triggers.
Dave
Hi there, thanks for the useful information.
Do you know if the YN ST-E2 works with the canon 600D. ive tried everything and it doesnt wok on the hotshoe. When its off the camera my speedlite fires with test button, but not when placed on the camera
thanks
Hello,
It should as it just follows the same pin pattern of all Canon units. I’ve tested it on the 30, 40, 50, 7D, 5D2, 550D, and they all work as advertised.
Can you check if you’ve turned off your flash settings in-camera?
Hi there
Ive tried all options and no luck. It works on all models except from 600D on wards, so will not work on 650D and 5d mk3 – Did Canon change their ttl protocol. Is there a work around on this. Could you please do me a favour and test this on one of the newer models. Thanks in advance
Wish I could Vastu, but I’ve already switched to an micro 4/3 system and sold my ST-E2… I’ll try to ask but that’s weird because old flashes like 550EX works just fine as a master on 5DIII 60D, and 7D.
I checked some threads online and it does seem that it works with most but the 600D http://www.flickr.com/groups/strobist/discuss/72157630424639556/
Just want to say big thank you for your review! It really makes choice a lot easier. Usually I prefer to choose original Canon products but here it seems that you can safely chose a cheaper analog.
Does this thing works with metz af58?
It should work with any Canon flash slave unit, but honestly, I haven\’t tried.
Hello, Do you know if this works with Canon 5D ? It does not say that in the specs
Hi Sri, I've tested it on the 5DII and it works (both positive and negative aspects in the review apply identically). I'm not sure about the 5D1, but I don't see why not as most of the 5D1 is identical to the 30D.
I've used it on the original 1D, the XTi, and the 40D. Works the same on all with the exception of not being able to access group C on the 1D or XTi. Neither camera supports in camera external flash menus. But you can still set ratios via the back of the ST-E2.
Thanks for the detailed reports, I\’m sure a lot of folks who own those cameras are enlightened :)
Thanks for the detailed reports, I\’m sure a lot of folks who own those cameras are enlightened :)
Hi, thanks for posting a review. I saw a link to your review here from a comment on the Strobist blog. In one of the previous comments the poster asked if the unit only did ratios of 1:8, 1:1, and 8:1. The poster contacted the ebay seller (whomever was selling them at the time) and asked if those were the only ratios available, the seller said yes. I come here for clarification and you've only shown 1:8, 1:1, and 8:1. Is this indeed the only ratios available? Nothing in between?
Also, I know that you can't adjust power levels if your slave units are set to manual, but will this YN St-E2 trigger them? I don't mind walking over to the flash and making the adjustments, but if it would trigger them in Mode that makes my job so much easier.
Thanks
Dan
Cabbinc: Hi there, I mentioned the RANGE of power adjustment, which is accurate at 8:1-1:1-1:8, the sample photos merely show the extremes, and not the full ratio increments. Naturally, there are ratio increments in between as you can clearly see in the rear-view photo of the unit above.
Yes it will trigger the manual slave flashes, you just have to turn off the ETTL function on the ST-E2.
Dave
Excellent, thank you for clearing that up. I don't take anything at all for granted anymore since I read review after review that states the Sigma EF 530 Super flash was identical to a 580EX, only to find out the hard way that it couldn't be further from the truth.
\”Identical\” is quite a red-flag indeed… The 580EXII may not be perfect, but I\’ve yet to use a Canon-compatible flash better than the 580EXII on a Canon DSLR.
I now have the YN ST-E2 and I'm impressed. Works great. One thing you should note, when you power the ST-E2 down then back on you're starting over again. Ratios and the rest are reset to zero. Not sure if the Canon unit works that way or not. Also, the Sigma 530 Super isn't totally compatible as a slave. As long as you don't set a ratio and just use it off camera it USUALLY works. But if you set a ratio, try to deviate from group A, or anything else it just doesn't sync right. At least that's what I'm seeing. Canon 430EX and 430EXII are fine with this, but the Sigma flash is just dudly. I recommend anyone who has one to recycle it as soon as possible.
just curious, does this thing work through softboxes like an apollo?
I have a canon 60D, and I can use the built in CLS for canon, but, when the box is turned in a way that I c annot have Line of Sight to the IR sensor, I lose.
So would this help better? I dont use range but what, 30ft max. Thanks.
Hi Vincent,
1) By Apollo, I reckon you mean the 'insert flash into softbox' type? If that's the case, then it's a hit-or-miss thing depending on the amount of reflective surfaces and angle. You'd be better off with radio triggers for this kind of softbox.
2) Yes, it'll be the same with the ST-E2 as your on-cam flash. It will not help your situation, unfortunately,
Dave
I bought moreless 20 of these units. And started testing them after see that in one of them the autofocus light doesn't work at all. In some units the AF assist beam is strong and works as it should, in some units the beam is weak, in one of them it didn't worked at all, in another one the beam was strong two times and became weak. I know what you mean, the AF assist beam of a Canon 580EX II flash for example is barely visible and works very nice. But in my opinion the problem is not the AF sensors of the cameras, the AF assist beam seems to be strong in some units and be defective in others, the problem is that I found defects in almost HALF of the units I received. Maybe if you tried a bigger amount you would find at least one where the AF assist beam works.
Well, apart from the strength of the beam itself, the main negative is how the IR beams are arranged as well. Vertical lines or center dots are not very useful for most cameras, that's why OEM flashes employ a grid-type or diagonal AF beam patterns.
Thanks ,for your review, it was weary useful. I was thinking to get one of those little triggers for poor 5D AF , but now I'm thinking to go for an used 550ex.
Or get the real ST-E2 instead… The 550 would be mighty heavy for an AF-assist only device. A 430EX (I or II) would be a better option as well since it's newer and lighter if you already have another flash that can act as a master.
Cheaper than a real ST-E2 would be an eTTL capable flash like the 220EX or 270EX. Although I'm not sure if you can turn the flash part of it off from the 5D's menu. I'm pretty sure you can from the 5DmkII's menu.
completely agree with your review: IR ettl2 control is excellent, AF assist is terrible.
I\’m still trying to find a way to alter the beam pattern, hopefully I can stumble on something.
Thanks. We can get this in the Philippines for PhP5000. How does this compare with pocket wizards?
Hi David,
you make my search easy…….will hunt this in singapore …
Thank you …
Hi Elmer, just get it online. I received mine in 8 working days (with tracking).