Canon Speedlite 600EX-RT Not bad!

Speedlite 600EX-RT Key Features

• New wireless multiple flash system using radio wave communication
• Zoom flash head covers wide range of 20-200mm; Max. Guide No. 197 ft./60m at ISO 100
• Redesigned contact construction, improved flash head durability, and exceptional dust and weather resistance
• 18 Custom and 3 Personal Functions for creative flexibility

Speedlite Transmitter ST-E3-RT Key Features

• Newly designed wireless system uses 2-way radio wave communication for enhanced communication among master and slave units
• Achieves a transmission distance of up to 98.4 ft. / 30m, all at a 360 degree angle
• Up to 5 groups, or 15 individual flashes can be controlled via 1 transmitter
• Supports E-TTL II flash, manual flash, stroboscopic and external flash metering

Maybe this explains why Pocket Wizards new trigger is so cheap.

I guessed this ages ago, now that they're including the old optical trigger in every new body (that has an inbuilt-flash at least), there's no need for the ST-E2 anymore, so they needed to come up with a new gadget that we have to buy instead. Radio-trigger it is.

*waits for 580EXs to get cheaper*

That was my thought as well.

Really like the idea of 5 flash groups. Once I add backdrop and hairlight things get crowded on three groups.

I understand that these can NOT be mixed with 580EXIIs they can not mix RT and IR
Is that your understanding.
So I will need to get all new flashes?

I was pretty sure of retrofit parts coming from Canon for the older flash units to play nice with the newer technology.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by andnowimbroke

I was pretty sure of retrofit parts coming from Canon for the older flash units to play nice with the newer technology.

---

I have no doubt of that, but I THINK the question was whether the radio trigger and preflash triggering could be used simultaneously .. and I have no idea. :)

Ahhh. My bad:) For $600 it better turn my TV on too.

I would think that some enterprising third party manufacturer (PW??) will come out with some new toys for us to play with that will let us keep our existing flash units. I hope it is soon.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Rocco

Maybe this explains why Pocket Wizards new trigger is so cheap.

---

The PocketWizard Plus III is a "dumb" trigger. Even though it's cheaper than its predecessor it still makes sense that it can be sold for so "cheap".

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Dr Croubie

there's no need for the ST-E2 anymore

---

Auto focus assist beam. Other than that, I agree.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by iND

I understand that these can NOT be mixed with 580EXIIs they can not mix RT and IR
Is that your understanding.
So I will need to get all new flashes?

---

Compatibility With 580EX II and Earlier Speedlites — Canon has done a good job of maintaining backwards compatibility with the existing line of Speedlites. The new 600EX-RT system works in radio mode or optical mode — but not both at the same time. This means that you can use the 600EX-RT with earlier generations of EX Speedlites by using optical transmission for wireless mode. Yes, it’s fair to say that, in optical mode, the 600EX-RT a better looking 580EX II.

Check out this article for a comprehensive overview on the 600EX-RT

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by andnowimbroke

Ahhh. My bad:) For $600 it better turn my TV on too.

---

I don't get this...and I have a read a LOT of people complaining about the price point. The 580EXII is currently selling for $470 and that's with a $30 rebate. Without the RF transmission I'd say that the 600EX is a worth while upgrade. Nikon's flagship flash unit goes for $550 and does not have an RF transmitter.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by jrw

I would think that some enterprising third party manufacturer (PW??) will come out with some new toys for us to play with that will let us keep our existing flash units. I hope it is soon.

---

They already have, they Mini/Flex system. I'll continue using it with my lowly 430EX IIs :-)

Wasn't aware that the Flex system is capable of supporting 5 flash groups which is the big upgrade item for me. Built in RT is a very worthwhile feature for moving forward, just want an RT unit that will allow using existing flash units in 5 channel system as it should cost less than replacing all my flash units. Would seem i have more digging to do.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by jrw

Wasn't aware that the Flex system is capable of supporting 5 flash groups which is the big upgrade item for me

---

It doesn't. It has 3 just like the old Canon tech. It would be SUPER cool if Canon came out with an accessory like a FlexTT5 that could sit on older 580EXs and 430EXs, etc and allow them to be RF triggered by either the 600EX-RT or the ST-E3-RT. I feel like they would haven't mentioned it in the press release though. Who knows, time will tell. For people just getting into the game though this is great as I am sure that future units will be backwards compatible. I see this as a rather large leap forward in Canon flash.

Sounds great. The only thing I used to envy about Nikons were their flashes. No longer! Now all Canon should focus on is improving the sync speeds of their flashes.

It really is the 5 flash groups that have caught my attention. On a regular basis I have wanted 4 to allow key, fill, hair, and background lights to all have separate control. Don't think it should be too difficult to have 5 group RTs work with my existing flashes. Of course I have been wrong before...

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Dr Croubie

now that they're including the old optical trigger in every new body (that has an inbuilt-flash at least), there's no need for the ST-E2 anymore, so they needed to come up with a new gadget that we have to buy instead. Radio-trigger it is.

---

Well...on every body with a popup flash, that is. No optical trigger on the 5DIII or 1D X - nor a built-in RF trigger, either, which would have certainly been possible.

Regardless, Amazon has the 600EX-RT in stock now, and I've just ordered mine. :D I'll see how nicely it plays with the PocketWizard FlexTT5, although my main use for the 600EX, at least initially, will probably be on-camera or via OC-E3 on a flash bracket.

Just picked one up. Looks like a flash, flash.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by neuroanatomist

I'll see how nicely it plays with the PocketWizard FlexTT5.

---

Hopefully better than they play with the 5D Mark III :-(

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Mark Elberson

Hopefully better than they play with the 5D Mark III :-(

---

What's the problem there, Mark?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by neuroanatomist

What's the problem there, Mark?

---

They don't work :-) Well, they don't work using ControlTL channels. They will work using the standard channels (no TTL & no manual power control).

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by neuroanatomist

Regardless, Amazon has the 600EX-RT in stock now, and I've just ordered mine. :D I'll see how nicely it plays with the PocketWizard FlexTT5, although my main use for the 600EX, at least initially, will probably be on-camera or via OC-E3 on a flash bracket.

---

Receive that 600EX-RT yet?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Mark Elberson

Receive that 600EX-RT yet?

---

Almost. UPS has delivered it to my work location, so it's down at the loading dock on a cart somewhere. Should be in my hands in a couple of hours, unless I get too impatient and go get it. But...since the only camera I have with me is a PowerShot S100, I'm not in a huge rush. :p

That's pretty slow for Amazon's standards. I guess I have been spoiled by "Prime". Anyway, I am very interested to see what your thoughts are.

Slow because I opted for free shipping. I'm happy with my 430EX II's, my main reason for the 600EX-RT is full AF assist coverage for the 1D X. Thus, I'm really in no hurry...

But I'll let you know what I think of it!

Just sold my 3 580EXII and my radiopoppers.
Gonna order 600 EX RT x 2
No more fiddling with connections.
I will report on the distance test once they arrive.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by iND

Gonna order 600 EX RT x 2
No more fiddling with connections

---

I will be tempted to do the same. Although ever since I switched from 580EX IIs to 430EX IIs my rate of reliability has increased several fold, "No more fiddling with connections" speaks volumes to me! Again, most of the time everything works well, but there are still times where I have to play the turn off/turn on game with the camera, the mini, the flex, the 430EX II until the Pocket Wizard Gods are satisfied and then they start working again. I use mono lights much more often than Speedlites but when I do use them (wedding receptions, fast paced shooting) I want to just turn them on and have them work. Maybe dumb triggers are the way to go. I never have had a problem with CyberCyncs. Having TTL in my back pocket does make me feel warm and cozy though :-)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by iND

I will report on the distance test once they arrive.

---

Sure I am curious but if it gets anywhere close to what is advertised I would be happy. Distance has never been an issue for me. Reliability has. Give me 100% at <= 50 feet and I'm good to go.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Mark Elberson

I use mono lights much more often than Speedlites but when I do use them (wedding receptions, fast paced shooting) I want to just turn them on and have them work.

---

Do you mix them? That's why I'm going to stick with PWs, at least for now - the ability to trigger both my 430EX IIs and my Einstein and control the power of them all from the camera. If Canon comes out with an ST-E3/600EX-RT-compatible RF receiver that has a PC sync port, I'd strongly consider switching. Also, changing power levels with the AC3 seems a lot quicker/easier than the buttons/menus of the ST-E3/600EX-RT.

First impressions of the 600EX-RT - man, that's a big box, almost the size of the box for my 7D! The tri-lingual manual is over a 1/2-inch thick. A very solid, well-built flash. Sticking in some eneloops and pressing the test button, it flashes. That's about it for first impressions. :p

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by neuroanatomist

Do you mix them?

---

Not anymore

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by neuroanatomist

That's why I'm going to stick with PWs, at least for now - the ability to trigger both my 430EX IIs and my Einstein and control the power of them all from the camera.

---

I agree, that is awesome, but I got too many misfires when using the Mini/AC3 + MC2. It got really embarrassing when I was working with a client and I'd have to stop what we were doing to go to the Einstein and, wait for it, un-plug/re-plug the MC2 into the receptacle so that it could regain communication. I had too many exposures where one or many flashes simply did not fire. What put me over the edge was when I started using the Vagabond Mini. When using a battery pack it's generally advisable to not use your modeling lamps. There's a way to turn that off in the Pocket Wizard Utility. 100% of the time after falling "asleep" or just after a few exposures the Mini would "forget" its settings and default back to turning the modeling lamps back on. Luckily I tested that thoroughly before using them with a client. My solution, take the modeling lamps out of the units! That worked :-) More misfires later I re-purchased CyberCyncs (at least they are cheap) and I have not looked back. They work every time.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by neuroanatomist

Also, changing power levels with the AC3 seems a lot quicker/easier than the buttons/menus of the ST-E3/600EX-RT.

---

I would miss the AC3. In this digital world of buried menu items and touch screens there is something to be said about knobs and dials :-) Fast and simple, end of story. Although about 100 times more robust of a unit, the Cyber Commander has nothing on those 3 dials!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by neuroanatomist

First impressions of the 600EX-RT - man, that's a big box, almost the size of the box for my 7D! The tri-lingual manual is over a 1/2-inch thick. A very solid, well-built flash. Sticking in some eneloops and pressing the test button, it flashes. That's about it for first impressions. [IMG]file:///C:/DOCUME~1/me93789/LOCALS~1/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image001.png[/IMG]

---

That's half the battle right :-) I downloaded the manual that Bryan posted about in his news feed. I was surprised to see 372 pages?!?!?

I bought (2) Canon Speedlite 600EX-RTs and gave them a pretty good workout over the weekend. My 1st impressions are very favorable. Here's what I liked about them, they WORK! Turn them on, hit the wireless button and shoot. That's it. If you are interested I can do a distance test but Syl Arena over at http://pixsylated.com/blog/ has already done so and I'd put more faith in his testing practices than mine :-) I can say that while scouting a location I went beyond the working distance of the these flashes. They even had the courtesy to tell me so via a beep and the "Link" light turning from green to red. As soon as I walked back to the transmission zone they quickly went back to green. Over the course of a portrait session (about an hour) I had ZERO misfires!

I have another session this weekend where I am sure they will be used. I’ll update this thread as I continue to work with these impressive small lights.

For anyone interested, Sto-Fen is coming out with an Omni-Bounce diffuser for the 600EX-RT. Adorama has them up for preorder.

Got the new Sto-Fen OmniBounce for the 600EX-RT last week (ordered from Adorama, now B&H has them, too). Fit is very snug - tighter than the ones for the 430EX II. There were early reports that the older one for the 550EX would fit, but I wondered about the gel sensor. On the one for the 600EX-RT, there's a little notch for the gel sensor.

Attachment 1067

The flash with the Sto-Fen mounted is too large for the Canon pouch (barely - the velcro closure still overlaps by a couple of millimeters), but it's a perfect fit in the Lowepro Quick Flex Pouch 75 AW.

Attachment 1068

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by neuroanatomist

For anyone interested, Sto-Fen is coming out with an Omni-Bounce diffuser for the 600EX-RT. Adorama has them up for preorder.

---

Not sure you have tried it John, but since I bought the Gary Fong Lightdiffuser I haven't used the Sto-Fen's

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...rted_Dome.html

I wouldn't know if it would fit the 600ex or not, but if the 600 has the same head size as the 580 it should.

On Friday I was the proud owner of a 5D II and two new 600 EX RT units.

I traded my 3 580 EX II for 2 600 EX RT units because I wanted

#1 reliable and easy to use radio triggers.
I know there are those of you who use Pocket Wizards, Radio Poppers, and others.
And I did try radio poppers and elinchrom units but was not satisfied with the amount of work (I may be electronically challanged) I had to put in to understand and trouble shoot the process of setting them up.
I never really figured how to use the Radio Popper Jrx unit.
So I believe I made the right decision.
At a wedding I need less to worry about not more. But that may be my age showing.

The second reason I want to switch was because I did not want to continue to use ratios A:B and A:B C.
I was looking forward to GROUPS (5 groups) where I could set some to ETTL and some to Manual (ie background or hair lights)
I worked on this for days, I read and reread the manual.

Then I understood what this meant:
"Cameras released after 2012, (which includes probably 95% of all canons, also includes the 5D MarkII) are not compatable with groups"
Only two cameras released after 2012 (5D Mark III and the EOS - 1DX Mark III)

Surely I was wrong, certainly all major features were available on the flagship 5D Mark II.

So I went to a Camera Event this weekend where there were live Canon Reps.
They were very very very helpful but agreed unless there is some type of 'fix' all canon users except those with the new 5D Mark III or the EOS - 1DX Mark III , will not be able to use that function.

Official Release they sent me this am:

NEW – GROUP mode – "Gr" appears as flash mode on Master Unit
This is the headline feature of the new Canon radio-based Wireless E-TTL system. It requires an EOS 5D Mark III or EOS-1D X (as of March 2012) camera body to perform; for technical reasons, it's unfortunately not possible with previous EOS SLRs.


FULL RELEASE AT

http://www.learn.usa.canon.com/resou...o_basics.shtml


So Caveat Emptor: READ THIS RELEASE.

All said the RT feature was enough for me to switch.
But also know I just took the advice of the speedlight guru Syl Arena and updated my 5DII to 5D III as of this AM.

http://pixsylated.com/blog/canon-600...t-impressions/

Luckily there is still a strong market out there for the 5DII and I think I got top dollar.
I will order my 5D Mark III soon.

All in all I think I will be very happy with the 600 EX RT system and the 5D Mark III for years to come.

All I need now is a Canon ST-E3-RT.

I wouldn't mind going all Canon RT flashes, except that there's currently no way to trigger a monolight, whereas the PocketWizard system allows me to use a blended set of both types of lights.

If Canon comes out with a receiver for their RT system that allows triggering of monolights (via PC sync, presumably), I'd likely go that route. I expect such a receiver (hotshoe, at least, not sure about the sync port) is either in development or ready for production. However, I don't expect we'll see it soon. Most likely (IMO), after a while with only the 600EX-RT and ST-E3 on the market, I expect the roadmap will be a release of a 430EX II replacement with radio slave capability (440EX-RT?), then after that's on the market for a while, a receiver - i.e., after they've sold many 600 and 440 units and sales slow, they'll release the receiver that makes current non-RT flashes compatible with the RT system.

Not sure if it will work for your monolights or not, but there is an output that can be used for triggering prior to 2012 cameras remotely. In the manual it looked like an 1/8" stereo jack on the cable end plugging into the flash. Don't know the details on this feature but it might be worth looking into.

This is separate from the PC port, which I assume is just an input for triggering. So many details to look into with these new flashes before deciding whether to plunge in or wait for 580 adaptors to be available.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by jrw

Not sure if it will work for your monolights or not, but there is an output that can be used for triggering prior to 2012 cameras remotely. In the manual it looked like an 1/8" stereo jack on the cable end plugging into the flash. Don't know the details on this feature but it might be worth looking into.

This is separate from the PC port, which I assume is just an input for triggering. So many details to look into with these new flashes before deciding whether to plunge in or wait for 580 adaptors to be available.

---

Yes, I noticed the port for the SR-N3 cable. I assume it would only send a signal if the radio system were configured to remotely release a shutter or in linked shot mode. Still - worth a try to see if it sends a signal when the flash fires.

How about trying the optical slave on the Einstein?

Has anyone tried an optical slave for a monolight?

such as

Wein 940-001 Peanut Universal Micro Slave ?



If so what is your experience?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by neuroanatomist

Yes, I noticed the port for the SR-N3 cable. I assume it would only send a signal if the radio system were configured to remotely release a shutter or in linked shot mode. Still - worth a try to see if it sends a signal when the flash fires.

---

I assume that it simply closes relay contacts if it is used for remote firing of a camera as that is what they need. Is it possible that this is what is needed for the other RF triggers that you currently have to allow combining the new with the old? Yes, that would be in linked shot mode according to the manual. Am kind of curious as to whether the contacts in the flash close in all modes or just when in linked shot mode. Anyone who already has a 600 flash willing to check it out?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Mark Elberson

How about trying the optical slave on the Einstein?

---

I thought about that...but really, I want to wait for a more elegant solution. I really like being able to dial in the power levels from the AC-3 on the camera.