ST-E2 and 5Dmk3

[wickidwombat]

I couldn't find the previous thread

anyway i did some testing with my 5Dmk3 and the yongnuo ST-E2 copy on the weekend
and which it fires the flash the timing does seem off and you just get black images

then i decided to just try it for AF assist purposes
... in  a dark room

and it works really well. with a couple of factors to note

the grid it projects might not necessarily line up with the af point however it can be rotated to make the grid line up (it doesnt take much rotation)

the AF response was nice and snappy MUCH MUCH faster than not having it
in future if shooting low ambient light i will definately still use this for AF assist purposes
I have attached an image showing which AF points work (coloured in red)

not sure why the bottom left one wouldnt work but I am pretty happy with those points being useable in almost zero light

hope this helps anyone else wondering about this

[pwp]

Thanks WW. I might get a fresh battery for my neglected ST-E2 and pop it in the bag.

PW

[neuroanatomist]

I wonder if this applies to the actual Canon ST-E2 as well, or just the knock-off?

[wickidwombat]

I wonder if this applies to the actual Canon ST-E2 as well, or just the knock-off?

dunno i've only got the knock off but its really really fast for very low light shooting where I've found the AF speed pretty sluggish, granted it will actually achieve focus where the 5Dmk2 would previously get nothing

also being lighter and smaller than a flash is nice if you only want AF assist, I have also found the AF assist from the 580 ex II to not be as effective as the little yongnuo beasty

[DB]

Yongnuo market the ST-E2 as having 'Ultra AF' assist with an effective range of 25m (about 80 feet), I don't have one but I do have a YN565-EX speedlight and that throws out one powerful IR grid too - will light up a dark room. I find this an interesting thread as I have a 7D with built-in wireless trigger, so did not feel the need to get an ST-E2 for flash photography, but your test makes me think that it might be worth it (less than 100 euros) for improved AF in low light situations such as indoors

[wickidwombat]

I just wanted to add some technical info to how i tested this
I was in my home theatre aiming at the blank white projector screen so absolutely now way of geting focus lock even in good light without AF assist, it was almost totally dark, i was standing probably about 8m away from the screen so its pretty powerfull

One thing i have been wondering is how annoying the grid is going to be for the subject
ie say shooting a band in a venue. they might get upset with a red laser grid beaming into their eye
i'll play around a bit more and test it on friends first and see what they think

hopefully they will still be friends after 

[awinphoto]

I just hope they fix these, or make some knock off like this that actually fully functions with the 5d3...  come on china, you can do it!!!

[wickidwombat]

I just hope they fix these, or make some knock off like this that actually fully functions with the 5d3...  come on china, you can do it!!!

its quite odd that it's out of sync with the flash

I havent tried using a 580 to fire remote 580's yet the yongnuo shouldnt be any different to this approach