600EX-RT and ST3-RT

[bobthebrick]

Guys, canon announced the ST3-RT and the 600EX-RT.

Thomas.

 

[DEFILER]

I am actually more interested in the new flash and wireless trigger than in any MKIII announcement to be honest. I really like what I'm seeing in the new flash and triggers. So glad I haven't chosen a third party radio system yet. Thanks for posting this.

 

[bryanwolfmd]

seems disappointing... 100 foot transmission range (I guess I don't know why I'd need more, but don't pocket wizards get something like 2 football fields?). Also no optical controlf for the ST3-RT so your 580 exii is useless? I don't get it...

 

[Carny]

*Because it does not have an optical transmission function, the Speedlite Transmitter ST-E3-RT is not compatible with earlier Speedlite models such as 580EX II.

Will there be and adapter coming out soon to connect to existing flashes and enable radio on them?

 

[TCull]

One would hope so, certainly an entertaining idea. I find this way more interesting than the 5d MKIII. That's too rich for me.

 

[Leopard Lupus]

Has an estimate price-point been found by anyone as of yet?

 

[bobthebrick]

*Because it does not have an optical transmission function, the Speedlite Transmitter ST-E3-RT is not compatible with earlier Speedlite models such as 580EX II.

Will there be and adapter coming out soon to connect to existing flashes and enable radio on them?

I would guess not, this will annoy some people, but the "professionals" will just buy more 600EXs.

I would also hazard a guess it will be about 550-570 USD. (600EX)

 

[dr croubie]

*Because it does not have an optical transmission function, the Speedlite Transmitter ST-E3-RT is not compatible with earlier Speedlite models such as 580EX II.

Does the new 600EX function as a radio master? or an optical master? or both?
Or is it only the ST-E3-RT that is a radio master (and is the 600 is only a radio slave?)
How about an radio-slave-box with a hotshoe, so we can use all our 220-580 flashes as radio slaves?

I definitely picked that radio was coming months ago, now that they're including optical master in all new bodies, they just had to come up with some new not-in-body gadget to get us to spend money on... [/cynical]

 

[Carny]

Looks like the 600 may have optical control also.

 

[dr croubie]

"Integrated radio frequency triggering, in addition to standard infra-red wireless flash control, allows photographers to achieve exciting results with complex on-and-off-camera lighting set- ups. Using one master 600EX-RT or the new ST-E3-RT radio-frequency wireless Speedlite transmitter..."

So to sort of answer my own question:
the 600EX is radio master, radio slave, optical slave (maybe optical master too? ambiguous)
the st-e3-rt is radio-master only?

Still, a box with a battery and a radio-slave, and a hotshoe that we can connect to any old 220-580EX spedlite gets my vote, and would be a really big seller. If canon don't make one i'm going to go ask china to design one...

 

[vinfung88]

hey guys, im starting out photography here, so still pretty amateur about stuff, but I would like to hear about some advices on speedlites. ive got a 580EX II right now, and does that mean with the new speedlite introduced, they are not able to work together as in like to have a master and slave unit? Can someone help to explain or direct me to websites as to where I can learn about what equipment I need to have to have a multiple speedlite setups, eg. pocketwizards, transmitters, etc? Thanks a lot in advance!

 

[Vaz]

Well you can put your 580 in slave mode and the 600 will trigger it when it goes off, so yes they will work together. They will just be triggered by different radiation signals.

 

[mike_s_one]

From www.photographybay.com

"The Speedlite 600EX-RT and Speedlite Transmitter ST-E3-RT are also scheduled for end of March 2012 availability at estimated retail prices of $629.99 and $470.00 respectively."

That's a pretty expensive transmitter!

 

[vinfung88]

so I do not need to get other accessories to trigger it? What does the pocketmaster and the transmitter do actually? Thanks so much for the help!=)

 

[JimKarczewski]

While I'm happy Canon finally switched to radio transmission, I really wish they would had worked with an existing company (i.e. POCKETWIZARD!!!!) so it would be less of a closed loop system and more open to allowing other lights. Almost making the transmitter into something like Paul C Buff's cyber commander.

The 100ft also disappoints me. Shooting basketball I have issues with PW at times, who knows if the Canon system will even work if the PW have issues receiving a signal when they are rated a 1/15 the distance as a PW.