Comments on: review: Canon Speedlite 600EX-RT

By: Zohar Ralt

Zohar Ralt — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 04:20:58 +0000

thank you for this clear and elegant review :D

By: David

David — Thu, 31 May 2012 17:34:07 +0000

Great review. However at the price they are selling for in the UK, currently £640 (a few dollars shot of $1k) it is just not cost effective for me, already owning Pocket Wizards. However as I upgrade gear I suspect I will make a move towards these or their successors.

By: andrew

andrew — Thu, 10 May 2012 03:24:46 +0000

Trying to get my new pair of 600EX-RTs to work wirelessly on my 5D2, as Neil appears to have done here, but can’t figure it out. Actually, the manual suggests it isn’t possible if I’m reading correctly.

By: andrew

andrew — Tue, 08 May 2012 06:33:46 +0000

Great review – I’ve just ordered two. I presume you were using manual flash for a shot like this, but wonder if you can shoot wireless radio ETTL using a pair of 600EX-RTs on a 5D2.

By: Neil vN

Neil vN — Sun, 06 May 2012 16:05:07 +0000

The shot right at the top was the Safe For Work image that I knew I needed. Otherwise people start whining that they could see a nipple or the shape of a boob. You know how that works. So I specifically posed her like that so that I had a “safe” shot where she filled the frame, and the image still looked striking. However, Karyn is an easy model to work with and pose. She takes direction very well, and also knows how to move.

Neil vN

By: Fred

Fred — Sun, 06 May 2012 16:01:23 +0000

Can we jump back to the picture at the top of this thread for a second (Karyn from behind, with hands over her head)?

Was she dancing to music when you did this, or was she posed? A really great shot!!

By: Neil vN

Neil vN — Sun, 06 May 2012 14:05:46 +0000

I just got hold of an ST-E3 so will add a review of that in the next week or so. Check back.

Neil vN

By: Brian Worley

Brian Worley — Sun, 06 May 2012 07:39:24 +0000

I have two of the 600EX-RT’s and also the ST-E3, and while many see the ST-E3 type transmitters as something you don’t need, the reality is it’s just like having a 600EX-RT as a master and not using flash for light. For the first time ever the ST-E3 does all of the things that the 600EX-RT does except emit light, to me the ST-E3 is the bargain in the system (unlike the flashes themselves!).

The glitch, there’s always got to be one, the ST-E3 cannot control the older 580EX II et al lights since it has no way to send pulsed light out.

Brian

By: Seven D

Seven D — Sat, 05 May 2012 10:06:12 +0000

That HSS/X-sync warning only applies to radio triggered off-camera flash in HSS mode or applies to X-sync one f-stop lower when radio triggered off-came. Also only to cameras prior to 2011 (e.g. everything but 5D3 and 1Dx). When you use the flash on the camera, you can sync up to X-sync and HSS without any trouble as usual.

By: mabou2

mabou2 — Fri, 04 May 2012 20:53:31 +0000

Hi Neil,

I am so happy to hear you say that you are confused about the manual stating that the 5D MkII will only sync at 1/100 second. When I saw the TV! error on my new (2) 600′s, I nearly passed out when I discovered that the sync speed is so slow, way slower (on paper) than my PW with 580s. Then I decided to give it a test and see for myself and I discovered the same thing you did. I could take the 5dmkii shutter to 1/200 and not really see an appreciable problem… I certainly don’t see any vignetting across the bottom of the frame from shutter/flash sync issues. So I started searching the internet to try to figure out what I am doing wrong.. or misunderstanding.

Let me repeat, I am SO happy to see that you addressed this very question in your post.
Thanks,
Matt