Canon Speedlite 600EX-RT - I'm impressed!

[Marsu42]

But, why did Canon leave out an AF assist beam on the transmitter??

Many people seem to be wondering about that - I would rather get another 600rt than the rather expensive transmitter due to the missing af beam (which works excellent btw, seems to be better than on my 430ex2). Maybe the transmitter is so small that the beam wouldn't fit? Or they have an updated transmitter in the pipeline, together with the rumored 660rt with ettl-iii (featuring remote 2nd curtain sync )?

 

[bdunbar79]

But, why did Canon leave out an AF assist beam on the transmitter??

Many people seem to be wondering about that - I would rather get another 600rt than the rather expensive transmitter due to the missing af beam (which works excellent btw, seems to be better than on my 430ex2). Maybe the transmitter is so small that the beam wouldn't fit? Or they have an updated transmitter in the pipeline, together with the rumored 660rt with ettl-iii (featuring remote 2nd curtain sync )?

That's what I did. Went with 2 of the flashes (at a considerable cost ) but I'm really happy with the performance. I love the master/slave and dual flash, as well as the Manual settings, semi-manual settings are amazing, and last but not least I love the exposure bracketing/compensation.

 

[Daniel Flather]

But, why did Canon leave out an AF assist beam on the transmitter??

Many people seem to be wondering about that - I would rather get another 600rt than the rather expensive transmitter due to the missing af beam (which works excellent btw, seems to be better than on my 430ex2). Maybe the transmitter is so small that the beam wouldn't fit? Or they have an updated transmitter in the pipeline, together with the rumored 660rt with ettl-iii (featuring remote 2nd curtain sync )?

That's what I did. Went with 2 of the flashes (at a considerable cost ) but I'm really happy with the performance. I love the master/slave and dual flash, as well as the Manual settings, semi-manual settings are amazing, and last but not least I love the exposure bracketing/compensation.

Using a 600 just for it's AF beam seems like a waste, but in some instances you need the AF beam. Having two 600s and the transmitter gives me flexibility.

 

[bdunbar79]

I don't use it for the AF beam. I literally need an on-cam flash and a fill flash. Since this is full radio and optical transmission, having two of them for me is certainly not a waste. I think you thought I meant something else, which is OK, it's hard for me to figure out what others mean too when it's just reading words vs. hearing them speak 8)

 

[Marsu42]

Using a 600 just for it's AF beam seems like a waste, but in some instances you need the AF beam. Having two 600s and the transmitter gives me flexibility.

If you already have 2 or more flashes and are sure never to use a tiny fill/bounce flash, maybe. But as a 2nd, the price tag of the transmitter is rather big given the flash that the whole flash tech is left out, the 600rt has optical control and the assist beam. So it's basically about less weight, but of course that's a good reason.

I guess the transmitter will be more attractive when (and if! - pretty please, Canon?) they come around releasing radio-addons for their legacy speedlites and studio strobes, then at least the optical control of the 600rt is not needed anymore.

 

[Daniel Flather]

It's hard for me to figure out what others mean too when it's just reading words vs. hearing them speak 8)

+1

 

[junjun cruz]

works perfectly on my 1Dx.....superb!

 

[dlleno]

any issues getting the 600 and a 580 EX ii to play together?

 

[wopbv4]

yes, the 600 and 580 II will working together, but only in optical mode.
I have sold my st-e2 and two 580's and upgraded to st-e3-rt and two 600.
Sofar, I have been able to set everything that I needed with the camera menus. For example, set to HSS on menu and slaves will switch to HSS. With the "old" 580, I had to do an additional step: set HSS on the flash as well.
The on flash menus are so MUCH easier to use on the 600.
It was a bucket of money, but it sure is worth it.
I will need to spend more time to explore all the additional functionality, which is a lot.

Most important for me is the radio triggering, no more need for line of sight, which really helps when you use a small softbox on the flash

 

[DB]

The pricing of the new flash appears to vary (a lot) by retailer. In many instances on eBay (mainly) you can find the new 600EX-RT for a lot less money than the 580EX II ???

I've purchased a T2i and a 7D over the years off these guys in South of England (UK), so I know that they're kosher, but the old 580EX II for $200 more than a new 600EX-RT? Plus they've been running these prices for several months now, on eBay too.

http://stores.ebay.co.uk/DigiGood/Camera-Flashes-/_i.html?_fsub=9843257&_sid=55627949&_trksid=p4634.c0.m322

 

[Strobe the globe]

Re: Canon Speedlite 600EX-RT - beware of grey imports with no warranties.

The pricing of the new flash appears to vary (a lot) by retailer. In many instances on eBay (mainly) you can find the new 600EX-RT for a lot less money than the 580EX II ???

I've purchased a T2i and a 7D over the years off these guys in South of England (UK), so I know that they're kosher, but the old 580EX II for $200 more than a new 600EX-RT? Plus they've been running these prices for several months now, on eBay too.

http://stores.ebay.co.uk/DigiGood/Camera-Flashes-/_i.html?_fsub=9843257&_sid=55627949&_trksid=p4634.c0.m322

Just be careful if you are buying a "grey import" from eBay etc. Check that it comes with at least a 1-year warranty, which allows you to get the speedlite serviced in the country that you are buying it in. Otherwise you might be paying expensive postage if there's an issue. I was given this advice before buying a lens - and was glad I got the warranty from my country - as there were issues that I had to get fixed.

 

[cayenne]

I have two of them, but when I set Master on camera and Slave off camera, I cannot get the Master to also flash, only the Slave. On a 5D Mark III.

Hmm...check your settings...

I have 2x of them, and depending on how I set the master on camera, I can have it flash same times as the slave, or just set the slave to fire.

There is a setting on the flash where you can tell master to fire or not fire and just control the slave....

cayenne

 

[alexanderferdinand]

@ impressed:
YES!!!
After using the PW TT1 and 5, keep the protocol switching them on (f51c= flash, pw on flash, pw on cam, cam); then the first blown out picture, unreliable (better after 2 years or more tolerant....)
The Canon RT: switch on, wait 2 seconds- HERE WE ARE!!!
Yes, not cheap. But it made me sick to miss shots.

 

[Marsu42]

Re: Canon Speedlite 600EX-RT - beware of grey imports with no warranties.

Just be careful if you are buying a "grey import" from eBay etc. Check that it comes with at least a 1-year warranty, which allows you to get the speedlite serviced in the country that you are buying it in.

I concur for lenses and camera bodies, but I'd risk to say if a Canon Speedlite breaks down in less than a year even with a lot of usage it's probably your fault so the warranty won't be any good... correct me if I'm wrong, but camera bodies (shutter) and lenses (is, af) with more mechanical moving parts seem more likely to fail due to a factory problem.

 

[Random Orbits]

Re: Canon Speedlite 600EX-RT - beware of grey imports with no warranties.

Just be careful if you are buying a "grey import" from eBay etc. Check that it comes with at least a 1-year warranty, which allows you to get the speedlite serviced in the country that you are buying it in.

I concur for lenses and camera bodies, but I'd risk to say if a Canon Speedlite breaks down in less than a year even with a lot of usage it's probably your fault so the warranty won't be any good... correct me if I'm wrong, but camera bodies (shutter) and lenses (is, af) with more mechanical moving parts seem more likely to fail due to a factory problem.

I remember reading something a few months ago that flash power affects flash life a lot. The more power used, the more heat is discharged, which causes the tubes to develop microfissures and ultimately crack, which is another reason why heavy users will gang multiple flashes (besides decreasing recycling time).

 

[Marsu42]

Re: Canon Speedlite 600EX-RT - beware of grey imports with no warranties.

I remember reading something a few months ago that flash power affects flash life a lot. The more power used, the more heat is discharged, which causes the tubes to develop microfissures and ultimately crack, which is another reason why heavy users will gang multiple flashes (besides decreasing recycling time).

Sure, but the question is - how often will this happen in less than a year? My guess is not when you're not full time using it in high power / hss mode , so warranty won't matter since you'll pay for the repairs yourself anyway.

 

[digital paradise]

And then there is this.

http://pixsylated.com/blog/update-deciding-between-canon-speedlites-600ex-rt-and-580ex-ii/