[silkstone]

Hmmm... I'd check out the legality of those in the UK. According to the manual they use the 916 MHz ISM band which is probably just dandy in the US, but comes in the middle of the frequencies allocated to mobile phones / GSM over here.

[Dave]

For the money Steve, I would pickup a 430EX instead of the ST-E2 , as you already have that function built in to your 540EX. That way you use the 540 as master, with 430 as slave & you have 2 speedlites

Must admit Nikon are ahead of the game here , with their commander mode from the built in flash. Take note Canon !!!

[Steve]

Yeah but you are still limited to shooting with one flash on or very close to the camera. Its not so much that I want to use multiple flash units, just that I want to be able to shoot with flash off camera whilst retaining full ETTL and other functionality.

[Tessa]

so, do wireless triggars work but i have to use my flash on manual?
are wireless triggars cheaper then the ST-E2

sorry i'm pretty new at this...

[silkstone]

The problem is that Canon's 'wireless' is not what most people take 'wireless' to mean.

The Canon 'wireless' uses infra-red (IR) to transmit between the camera (or master flashgun) and the slave flashguns, so the flashguns have to be in line of sight of each other, and also pointing the right way.

In most other contexts, 'wireless' means radio frequency (RF) transmission where the orientation doesn't matter, because radio waves travel through things whereas infra-red does not.

As long as you don't want the flash to be very far from the camera, you can use the Canon off-camera shoe cord which is an umbilical link between the camera's hotshoe and the flash. It provides the same ETTL functionality as having the flash on the camera, but lets you have the flash on the end of a cable.

The ST-E2 should do the same, but it is IR so you must have everything pointing the right way.

As far as I can see, the radio-frequency transmitters and receivers come with no guarantee as to what ETTL functions they will definitely support.

Since it's (allegedly) summer, wouldn't it be easier to move outside?

[Dabhand16]

I'm not aware that any of the cheap radio transmitters will support TTL metering or any other functions.

However, they will work with no line of sight, through doors and even walls, so they do offer good value at around £15-£20, depending on where you get them.

Using flash manually is no big deal, but it is easier if the flash has power output control. I've used three old flashguns and the only control I had on them was to lie to them with the ISO setting or to wrap a handkerchief around the head.

[Tessa]

guys, i bought some wireless transmitters off ebay for about £15
gona see how they work

thanks so much for the help, although i guess i'll be back here soonwith more questions...lol

[morlandroger]

Tessa there is an article in Practicle Photography about off camera flash this month. Have not bought it so not sure if it will help but PP usually good value
Roger