Product Description

Developed in conjunction with the Speedlite 550EX and the EOS-3 camera, this master control device for a wireless Speedlite flash system meets and exceeds professional and advanced amateur standards. Its dedicated transmitter controls an unlimited number of 420EX or 550EX Speedlites as slave units up to 33 feet away outdoors and 49.5 feet away indoors. It is mounted as a clip-on with shoe lock lever and locking pin. Compatible Cameras - Type A EOS cameras (E- TTL, autoflash); Type B EOS cameras (Manual flash) Type - 550EX-dedicated, clip-on Speedlite transmitter with direct contacts

Product Details

• Brand: Canon
• Model: ST-E2
• Dimensions: 2.60" h x 3.40" w x 5.00" l, .55 pounds

Features

• Wireless flash controller for the Canon EX420 and EX550
• Indoor transmission range of approximately 40 to 50 feet
• Outdoor transmission range of approximately 26 to 33 feet
• 1,500-transmission battery life
• Turns off after 90-second idle

Amazon.com Product Description
The Canon Speedlite Transmitter ST-E2 is compatible with Type A EOS cameras (E-TTL, auto flash) and Type B EOS cameras (manual flash). The ST-E2 is designed to control slaved Canon 550 EX flashes, enabling simultaneous flash use in professional settings. The wireless controller has a flash ratio control, allowing for several different A:B ratios, 1:8 to 8:1 in half-step increments, as well as slave confirmation via a test transmission button, which sets off slave A, followed by slave B, at 1/64 output.

Customer Reviews

BATTERY NOT INCLUDED
My STE-2 Speedlite Transmitter arrived from Amazon yesterday. I was surprised there wasn't a battery in the box. Especially considering that Amazon doesn't try to sell a battery with the transmitter anywhere on the page. And also considering that you have to click on the "More Technical Details" portion of Amazon's page advertising the transmitter to learn that the battery is not included.

So this intended to be more a politely critical review of Amazon's website with respect to this item than the item itself. Because I can't test the item because I didn't know that I was supposed to buy a battery because the information wasn't efficiently presented to me, the customer.

I chose "five stars" for my rating because I'm sure that once I get to actually use the product, I will love it, because I'm sure it's terrific, because it's made by Canon.

When it works, it works great - It'll do.
It's not a Pocket Wizard, but for what it's intended for it'll do fine. The more I shoot, the more I shoot full manual - Radio Poppers and PW's are the way to go there.

Sometimes though, when we have people over, I will set up 2 580EX's pointed at the ceiling and use the ST-E2 to capture group shots. Works great - never ever fails to trigger the flashes. For portraits indoors I have been known to hide a flash behind a chair, set to manual at 1/64 as a hair light, and a main light camera right or left. The flash hidden behind the chair fires too, with the IR signal bouncing off walls and such.

For fast, ad-hoc throwdowns where I don't have time to set the shot up perfectly, I'll use this thing with ETTL and let the camera meter the shots. This is what I imagine this thing will be best for: clackering off quick shots without thought, when time is tight, let the camera's meter do the work.

So while this device is perfectly fine indoors...it's outdoors that it starts to cool off - better at night, oddly, but still not great unless the flash units are pretty close to the emitter. I knew that going in, though, so I'll limit my review to indoor stuff.

4 instead of 5 stars? That damn battery. This thing is showing it's age, using a 2CR5 battery. They're expensive and sometimes hard to find. As for battery life...we'll see.

Meanwhile the Radio Popper people state this device is use ALONGSIDE their remotes...I don't know how, but I'm going to find out...

Convenient alternative to RF (with caveats)
I can't complain about this unit. It costs far less than an RF solution like the PocketWizard, preserves E-TTL flash metering, and adds as little gear to my camera bag as possible, at least compared to lugging, charging, and connecting RF transceivers.

Of course it doesn't have the range of RF, requires line of sight, and doesn't perform as reliably outdoors, so ultimately it comes down to what your needs are.

I shoot mostly indoors and find the ST-E2 exceedingly reliable and convenient. If I needed an RF solution I wouldn't be writing this review. So for what it does, this is an ideal little unit.