An open letter to Canon regarding the Canon RT system

[virsago_mk2]

To whom it may concern at Canon Inc.,

I am writing this email to express my disappointment with the Canon RT system, particularly the Canon Speedlite 600EX-RT & ST-E3 RT units.

Recently I just purchased a pair of Canon Speedlite 600EX-RT & one ST-E3 RT for my lighting equipment to complement a pair of my Canon 5D mark III & several Canon L lenses.
Prior to that, I was using Speedlite 580EXII, 580EX, 430EX & Phottix Odin radio trigger for most of my off-camera flash photography work.

Just FYI, I decided to sell the above equipment, particularly the Phottix Odin system, to purchase the Canon RT system. Because I thought that using the new Canon RT system with simplified Canon system will help my photography productivity, especially when using off-camera flash.

I found that 600EX-RT & ST-E3 RT system failed to meet my expectations. While there are many improvements compared to the previous generation Speedlite, I found that the Canon RT system has so many limitation that makes it inferior compared to the competitor products, such as Phottix Odin radio trigger system I was using before.

Below are the two major limitations on the Canon RT system that I am really frustrated about:

1. Lack of wireless 2nd curtain sync.
This feature should be easy to be implemented into the Canon RT system. But I am very surprised that Canon decided not to implement 2nd curtain sync in wireless mode. The competitor's products such as Phottix Odin have this feature. I find that the 2nd curtain sync is a very important feature, especially on my photography work. Why would Canon not include this feature, is beyond a common sense & it is unforgivable.

2. Lack of slave zoom control from the transmitter.
Again, this is a feature that the competitor's products like Phottix Odin managed to execute perfectly. Phottix Odin allows the user to change the zoom setting of the slave units from the transmitter.
By having the ability to set the zoom setting of the slave units directly from the transmitter, the user do not required to walk around & manually change the zoom setting on each flash unit. This process will make the photography work much more time-efficient.

I have invested so much money on the Canon DSLR & equipments. I was always happy using the Canon DSLR, but this is the first time I have ever felt that Canon has chosen to become arrogant & give the customer an inferior product / system. Even though I am currently still using pair of my 600EX-RT & ST-E3 RT system for my photography works, I am highly considering to go back to the Phottix Odin system, due to the two major limitations on the Canon RT system I stated above.

However, I still have a little bit of faith in Canon RT system. The Canon RT system has a very great potential if Canon can remove the two major limitations above.

I sincerely hope, or rather HIGHLY DEMAND, that Canon would release a firmware upgrade for the 600EX-RT & ST-E3 RT to add these features:

1. Add wireless 2nd curtain sync.
2. Add slave zoom control in the transmitter unit.

If somehow Canon failed to deliver the firmware updates containing the features above, I am definitely going to GET RID of my Canon RT system and go back to the competitor's product, the Phottix Odin.

Yours sincerely,


A Canon user from Australia

 

[steen-ag]

Hallo Down Under.

I fully agree. But I think you should have read the specs for the Canon RT System before you sold the Phottix Odin.

I have also bought the Photix Odin system and it works very fine and you save a lot of time by setting the slaves from the Phottix Odin


with regard
Steen Aage Nielsen
DEnmark

 

[Rienzphotoz]

While I can understand your requirements, I find it hard when people buy expensive gear without checking what it can and cannot do. That's pretty foolish.
Its not like Canon claimed that those features are available in their RT systems and then did not deliver ... you cannot blame Canon for that.

 

[RMC33]

Bummer man. I love my 600's. I would sell the ST e3 RT though. It has little to no value in the RT system and a 3rd speed light would do you much more good. Just re-buy the Odin triggers if you need them till canon either firmwares the flash or release some new system that has it.

Also, no Canon wireless system (optical or RT) has ever supported 2nd curtain. Hence why these companies like Phottix stepped in to make triggers. Same goes for the zoom control. In all the reviews I read the two listed grievances were the only ones that made any appearance.

 

[Menace]

I'm satisfied with my Phottix gear.

Yours is probably a rare occasion when Canon branded products are not necessarily best for camera bodies / speedlites.

 

[pwp]

Another case of buyers regret... It's tough when it bites you. There's a lesson there in reading up on all the specs. You'll do it in the future.

When I make a change to a new way of doing things, I always keep the old hardware until the new stuff is fully bedded down and my familiarity with it is at a level that is professionally appropriate. That may take weeks or months.

It would have been cool if the 600RT system did everything you needed it to, but as you have specific needs that the Odins will achieve, get some more, put this all down to experience and get on with what you do best...shooting great images.

-PW

 

[Quasimodo]

Given that the situation is as it is, would you reccomend the phottix odin, or the pocket wizard plus III? Do they pretty much have the same capabilities (apart from phottix is sender, and separate receivers, and the pw is transeiver). The price of the pw is just a tad more than the phottix, but I have the impression that most people in here have gone with the pw...

 

[JerryKnight]

And how exactly are you expecting Canon to release a firmware update for a flash and/or transmitter? That's basically a recall situation, which they would only do for defects. So don't hold your breath on that.

I would have thought the outrageous pricing would have been the first big clue that Canon is arrogant about their flashes. You can get a lot of third party equipment (ie. Yongnuo + Phottix) for the price of the bare basics in the RT system.

But it's good that you're posting here about these deficiencies. Maybe people who are considering the RT's without carefully comparing specs will see this and go with other flashes, and that will eventually send a much louder message to Canon.

 

[Marsu42]

I found that 600EX-RT & ST-E3 RT system failed to meet my expectations.

In hindsight, Canon's rt system probably isn't designed for large studio setups, but as a more reliable version of the old optical system plus the "group flash" feature to quickly set up some flash lighting on the road as an added incentive.

After all Canon is a mass manufacturer and always balances price (as high as possible), reach (as large as possible, from Rebel to 1DX) with cost (support, development for an ettl-3 system with remote zoom & 2nd curtain remote sync). Plus Canon's profits seem to be doing ok even w/o being overly innovative...

 

[Marsu42]

This thread is a cross-post, more responses here (why do people think their thread is so important to justify posting it multiple times?): http://www.canonrumors.com/forum/index.php?topic=12740

 

[Rienzphotoz]

This thread is a cross-post, more responses here (why do people think their thread is so important to justify posting it multiple times?): http://www.canonrumors.com/forum/index.php?topic=12740

Could be an oversight or some technical problem from the user end ... it happned to me once, I posted something 4 times due to some problem with my internet connection, I did not realise until someone pointed out and I deleted 3 of them ... not all of us are tech savvy ... so give him the benefit of doubt. Peace

 

[Marsu42]

This thread is a cross-post, more responses here (why do people think their thread is so important to justify posting it multiple times?): http://www.canonrumors.com/forum/index.php?topic=12740

Could be an oversight or some technical problem from the user end ...

Probably not, he cross-posted it in different equally appropriate sections, probably to gain the widest reach for this open letter. I'm not really infuriated but I just noticed it so the mods can merge the threads - it's more productive to see all answers at once.

Btw: I'm not arguing that people handling dslr equipment and doing postprocessing should be able to use a bb system :->

 

[wockawocka]

I'm sure there was a very good reason for lack of 2nd curtain sync. I doubt it's something they overlooked.

Honestly though, we have wireless flashes. Good ones too (I have six 600EX-RT's) so I think you're nit picking in an extreme way...good to comment but write an open letter to Canon...c'mon?

 

[Marsu42]

Honestly though, we have wireless flashes. Good ones too (I have six 600EX-RT's) so I think you're nit picking in an extreme way...good to comment but write an open letter to Canon...c'mon?

A good point for a pressing open letter would be to ask Canon how they can consider the 600rt flashes a *system* with just two parts available, no in-camera rt control, no 430ex2 successor, no receivers for legacy speedlites or studio flashes... and a st-e3 unit w/o focus assist beam.

 

[Rienzphotoz]

This thread is a cross-post, more responses here (why do people think their thread is so important to justify posting it multiple times?): http://www.canonrumors.com/forum/index.php?topic=12740

Could be an oversight or some technical problem from the user end ...

I just noticed it so the mods can merge the threads - it's more productive to see all answers at once.

I agree

 

[davidbellissima]

Given that the situation is as it is, would you reccomend the phottix odin, or the pocket wizard plus III? Do they pretty much have the same capabilities (apart from phottix is sender, and separate receivers, and the pw is transeiver). The price of the pw is just a tad more than the phottix, but I have the impression that most people in here have gone with the pw...

Phottix Odin are totally different to the PW Plus III. Way more control capability on the Phottix Odin. Some key features where the Phottix Odin shines is the ability to remotely set the power of the flashguns (in manual and TTL), zoom their heads, set second curtain sync. The Odins are very, very good and ultra reliable.

 

[Quasimodo]

Given that the situation is as it is, would you reccomend the phottix odin, or the pocket wizard plus III? Do they pretty much have the same capabilities (apart from phottix is sender, and separate receivers, and the pw is transeiver). The price of the pw is just a tad more than the phottix, but I have the impression that most people in here have gone with the pw...

Phottix Odin are totally different to the PW Plus III. Way more control capability on the Phottix Odin. Some key features where the Phottix Odin shines is the ability to remotely set the power of the flashguns (in manual and TTL), zoom their heads, set second curtain sync. The Odins are very, very good and ultra reliable.

Ok, thanks

 

[AvTvM]

I would extend the letter to Canon.

They really need to
1. add second curtain sync to radio wireless [and optical wireless too]
2. add zoom head control over radio wireless
3. finally introduce cost-effective RT-receivers that allow full integration of 580EX II and 430EX II into a radio wireless setup
4. quickly introduce 440EX-RT, reasonably priced!
5. introduce an improved ST-E3 RT Mk. II with laser-diode AF assist
6. build RT-master commander into all pro and semi-pro cameras [7D II, 5D IV, 1D-whatever, the one after 1D-x]

I will start buying RT-gear, once items 1-3 are provided.

 

[RMC33]

I would extend the letter to Canon.

They really need to
1. add second curtain sync to radio wireless [and optical wireless too]
2. add zoom head control over radio wireless
3. finally introduce cost-effective RT-receivers that allow full integration of 580EX II and 430EX II into a radio wireless setup
4. quickly introduce 440EX-RT, reasonably priced!
5. introduce an improved ST-E3 RT Mk. II with laser-diode AF assist
6. build RT-master commander into all pro and semi-pro cameras [7D II, 5D IV, 1D-whatever, the one after 1D-x]

I will start buying RT-gear, once items 1-3 are provided.

Canon has never had 2nd curtain synch on any system. The only feasible way to add it would be via option3. Zoom via RT would be nice. The RT system was JUST introduced this year. I would not be shocked if canon has something to hook older systems in the works. Cost effective? Who knows.

 

[David Hull]

Honestly though, we have wireless flashes. Good ones too (I have six 600EX-RT's) so I think you're nit picking in an extreme way...good to comment but write an open letter to Canon...c'mon?

A good point for a pressing open letter would be to ask Canon how they can consider the 600rt flashes a *system* with just two parts available, no in-camera rt control, no 430ex2 successor, no receivers for legacy speedlites or studio flashes... and a st-e3 unit w/o focus assist beam.

This is the biggest one for me, lack of the focus assist on the ST-E3. That would have come in handy this weekend. Work around: Carry a small LED flashlight $8, Buy another 600EX $599. It is my understanding that Canon recommends the latter.