Canon without any announcement has added version 3 of the ST-E3-RT transmitter to Canon USA and other retailers. It is now available for pre-order from various shops including B&H Photovideo for $299.00
From Canon;
The Speedlite Transmitter ST-E3-RT (Ver.3) provides continued support of Canon camera's that feature a standard hot shoe (not compatible with multi-function shoe equipped cameras). Many of the most popular features carry over to version 3, such as wireless rear curtain synchronization to capture ambient light trails and convey a sense of speed for moving subjects. An expansive minimum output range (down to 1/8192 power), and FE Memory as part of the radio transmitter so you can lock-in an E-TTL flash exposure level, even in complex multi-flash set-ups, and continue to use it for the same scene or subject. Radio controlled, two-way wireless transmission up to 98.4 ft., up to five groups or fifteen individual Speedlites, a dot matrix LCD with backlighting, intuitive controls and more.
The ST-E3-RT Version 3 features include;
- High-Performance Hot Shoe Contacts for Reliable Information Transmission and Operation.
- Up to 5 groups, or 15 Individual Flashes can be Controlled via one Transmitter.
- Supports E-TTL II Flash, Manual Flash, Stroboscopic and Auto External Flash Metering.
- Dot Matrix LCD Panel displays all pertinent Information Simultaneously and Backlit Control Panel means Easy Operation.
- 8 Types of Custom Functions, 3 Types of Personal Functions.
- High-performance Hot Shoe Contacts for Reliable Information Transmission and Operation.
- Wireless Rear Curtain Synchronization.
- Minimum Output Range of 1/8192.
- FE Memory built-in so you can lock-in an E-TTL flash exposure level.
Who buys these from Canon anymore?
With the ranges of lights now available from Godox and Profoto having standard speed lights to 600w lights for a third of the cost and for some,
has last them what seems forever who would invest their hard earn money on a $300. trigger?
Can\'t find this other YouTube video, but this guys goes over how canon uses the GHZ bandwidth which is now occupied by iPhone radios and wifi, leading to the deterioration of connection in the past 5 years. My conn radios were flawless in 2012 until about 5 years ago.
this YouTuber talked about using the PocketWizard Plus IV Transceiver with is hot shoe pass thru as a backup because this radio operates in freezer 900mhz range.
ok, found his video!!
Now I wish canon offered a DUO radio option to slip under the GHZ range to alleviate this option... or at leas low the radio ro reset the remote flashes without power cycling them.
Otherwise the canon system remains unreliable.
Canon would either have to allow the receivers in the flash to DYNAMICLY reset the receiver without you having to power cycle them (this would have to be a change on the actual flash unites, not just the transmitter), or operate in the less used 330-400mhz bandwidth that is far less used today... this is what pocket wizards use.
dunno what's up canon's ass for not acting on this.
canon operates in 2.4 gigahertz channels that is operated by dynamic router and 5G smartphones mores in the past 5 years.
Canon would either have to allow the receivers in the flash to DYNAMICLY reset the receiver without you having to power cycle them (this would have to be a change on the actual flash unites, not just the transmitter), or offer an option to operate the radios in the less used 330-400mhz bandwidth that is far less used today... this is what pocket wizards use.
Great video documenting this link lost problem. HELLO! CANON!.....
this video explains the issue at the 15:38 mark:
canon needs to provide a solution OUTSIDE the 5G bandwidth for RELIABLE operation.
I have the Westcott system and the wireless 300m, and it works on Canon frequency, however, when using the EL-1 to fire the Wescott FJ-200 or FJ-400 it misses the communication on the other side of the dance floor on a wedding. This never happens with the Wescott transmitter.
Any other wireless system has a good range, and Canon should have it too.
I don't think the problem has anything to do with "interference". We have all kinds of devices coexisting on the frequencies successfully. I suspect that the receiver unit itself picks up something that it thinks it needs to listen to and crashes. Can't bring it back up until you power cycle the flash(es) or transmitter. Normally the receiver has the ability instantly reconnect if it loses connection (i.e. you turn off the transmitter), but when the receiver crashes it can no longer resync.
This is something you think could be fixed with a firmware update; I asked Canon on the case if there was any way to get diagnostic data out of the flash unit or transmitter but got no answer on that.
I think if there was a firmware fix for this they would have done it already (Assuming they can update flash firmware at all), otherwise maybe they're using an embedded receiver that cannot be updated.
Can't see why they would continue to let this problem exist in the new flashes though.
I'm using EL-5 / 2x 600EX-RTs, and the ST-E-something for the Intelligent hotshoe on the R3/R6m2. I'm thankful my 600ex's can use optical, and have a 580ex to trigger optical if there is wifi around.
Have contemplated getting an RF spectrum analyzer to see what's going, also.
5G smartphones use licensed frequency ranges that are not in this range. Unlicensed exactly means you don't need a license to operate devices using those frequencies. "Dynamic router" has nothing to do with radio transmissions - many people call "router" their WiFi Access Point just because they're All-in-One including a modem, a router, and an access point (and dynamic routing is a wholly different thing).
Building devices for worldwide use need to take into account frequencies available in different countries, and allowed transmission power (which means also range can be affected). The available bandwidth for each band can be different, and that impacts how many channels are available. They might not be all the same everywhere. If your devices are sold only in the US market it can be easier than selling worldwide. The 900MHz range is used by GSM phones in Europe (and now by some 5G bands also) - it's reserved in "Region 1" only, and even in US IIRC the number of channels is limited.
Anyway it looks since Canon has no way to update the firmware on ST transmitter, it looks getting issues fixed may cost $300.
Again, why was I banned instead of corrected by a canon rep. If you look at the replies from canon, they are scripted and not addressing the actual loss of sync issue. As the folks here say, why is wescott and profoto more robust than canon's system, which IMHO was the best. How can canon leave so many of us hanging. I lost an opportunity to capture a bands last performance in a venue that worked for over a decade for me with the same flash system. Inexcusable response (or lack of) by canon...
Dot matrix can be very hard to see in many lighting situations.