Yongnuo "John Snow" ST-E2 Punches Above Its Weight
For those of you who are Canon shooters and use optical remote flash, you may want to look at Yongnuo's version of the ST-E2 transmitter.
Highlights:
• AA-powered (no more 2CR5s!)
• Greater range -- like, a lot
• Swivels 135 degrees
• Thus, can control flashes behind the camera
• About half the price (est. street, China)
So what's the deal with the "John Snow" part? That's how Google machine-translates the name on the detailed review on our Chinese language partner site. So, John Snow it is.
Okay, Canon shooters, is this thing interesting enough to take a flyer? What about you current ST-E2 owners -- are the extra features enough to make you reach for you wallets?
Sound off below.
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Posted at 9:09 PM.
71 Comments:
Sold. I'll take one.
The swivel feature would be worth it for me (I'm a current ST-E2 owner). the additional range would be neat, but not terribly important.
I assume the communciation is still via infrared? So the same limitations when shooting outside would apply.
I'm definitely taking a flyer for that one.
Can't wait to see some reviews.
If this thing works as well as the early reports, let's hope they get on the Nikon bandwagon! I want an SU-800 that swivels to free up an SB-800 for those of us that don't have McNally dollars.
Dude. Nobody has McNally dollars.
What interests me is that they now have an ETTL controller.. Let's see if they can couple that with a radio trigger...
The talented engineers at Yongnuo must sleep in the office. It's one new product after another at a pace no other company seems to be able to match.
The google translation of Yong Nuo (永诺) as "John Snow" is very funny.....hehe. The machine translation of the article is pretty bad!
Sounds pretty sweet. however with the Canon Expo this week I'm holding out for some new flashes to be announced. Hopefully then I can either pick up some sweet new tech or a used 580.
Ha! I'm a Canon user, but won't work with all the Nikon flashes that I bought to replace my Canons that I dumped for lack of built-in optical slave. Actually, I saw this thing before I dumped the 550EXs, but I'm just not into the whole ratioing/grouping/IR thing.
Totally agree with Supergimp. Would love to get a YN implementation of the SU800.
I'm a ST-E2 user. Just last night the dang thing wouldn't communicate with the umbrella strobe unless the angle was just so. Since the strobe was on a tripod, that meant I had to move the camera to make it work, sacrificing composition.
My criteria for buying a John Snow version would be how well it works outdoors. Never had a problem with the ST-E2 indoors, but outdoors it is an unpredictable mess.
I would buy one in a heartbeat, as soon as I know where to send the money.
As a current ST-E2 owner the cost in battery savings alone may make it worth getting as those suckers add up quick. I'd add that since they are only rated for about 500 pops I find I always have to purchase a fresh battery before every shoot as I'm worried the prior one will die mid way through...thus I'm always stuck with half depleted 2CR5 batteries that I don't trust.
Big thanks for sharing this David!
There goes the resale value of my ST-E2. Since I switched to PW mini/flex & picked up the AC3, I'm not likely to get one, even though the features are tempting.
If only it did 3 groups A:B:C like when you use a Canon 580EXII on camera... guess you can't have it all.
I just got a Canon ST-E2 used off eBay last week. Wish I saw this sooner. The battery issue and the swivel are big selling points for me. I still love using my radio triggers mostly but got the ST-E2 for high speed sync.
I use a rechargeable battery in my ST-E2 so batteries aren't a big issue. The swivel option sounds pretty cool.
As a 7D owner, it is mighty difficult to justify shelling out the cash for something like this... I have a wireless flash commander built-in, and love the on-screen interface for it.
The range though is quite poor, basically useless outside. I wonder how much better this would do?
No thanks. I find the line of sight unreliable on the flashes and ditto for the ST-E2 I owned for a few weeks. Wouldn't be interested unless it was about $29.
I'll take a flyer, for sure. Funny, because Syl Arena just posted an entry today telling people not to give in and buy the ST-E2 (original) and one of the reasons was the lack of swivel.
I'd love to wait and see how it performs first, so I'll also be waiting on some reviews, but it certainly is interesting.
man-
IR is OLD news. can someone PLEASE make an ST-E2 with RADIO capabilities already? jeez!!! we've already seen that it's possible to transmit high-speed-sync via radio signals while still retaining ETTL/iTTL capabilities.
CANON or SOMEBODY... please make this happen so we can move on to current times.
//ed
Very interested for the batteries alone, I use an ST-e2 with Radiopoppers so distance and angle is not often a concern ( Though being able to add another flash without needing another radiopopper would be wonderful ) but those damned batteries are like $20 apiece and I seem to buy 1-2 per month. Additional infrared range and angles would be a very nice bonus.
"John Snow" is what Canon should have made long time ago. I wonder when Canon is realising that they should make a new wireless transmitter.
it is not the most elegant solution, but if I needed the "commander" to have a different angle of view from the camera I used a off camera cord and a mini tripod. The solution has its limitations (mostly in the length of the cord) but it can be workable when you want the camera for example high and the commander low to reach a flash on the ground behind a car or such.
Investing in radio transmitters is the more elegant solution, but I did not take the time to properly research the possibilities and limitations to choose the right system.
Now they just need to design one that can control 3 channels and manual power outputs...
Not enough features to buy it.
At least they cloud made this one like a cylindrical shape (antenna like) at least for the IR glass. It would give 360º coverage.
Just like Ed is saying... IR is old tech. Give us RF!!
Telmo
OK, Where do I get one?
The only reason I would use my ST-E2 is when I would want to use the AF-assist without having a heavy flash on my camera. And I definitely don't trust a 3rd party knock-off to get the focus distance exactly right.
I wouldn't want to go shoot some event in a dark venue to find out at home the focus was off 5 cm's on all my photos.
Funny you posted this as I was just reading this post on resisting the ST-E2 temptation.
And Canon however started introducing built-in flash commanders in their mid-range cameras, we have the 7D and the 60D with it.
http://speedliting.com/how-to/resist-the-st-e2-temptation/
You might also want to check how you can control your whole wireless flash setup from the camera LCD.
http://speedliting.com/how-to/best-flash-control-interface/
If Canon Rumours are to be believed Canon has applied for a radio trigger patent to be incorporated in a camera body. About time, as PocketWizard and Radiopoppers are only 10 years ahead of Canon with RF. As a RP PX and Jrx user with 7 receivers (hefty investment) it would be nice to start see pro and prosumer bodies actually incorporate a very important and critical part of the way we do business. PS Canon if you're listening, how about a flash menu that doesnt require a million button pushes to access. On topic, pass on STE2 or any variant that isnt RF based. Missing "the shot" to save a couple of bucks could cost you an account. IR simply doesnt have the reliability of any market leading RF trigger.
The ST-E2 is a piece of junk.
Had one for about two years, it never was reliable at all and a few months ago it broke.
I don't miss it.
Why doesn't Canon try making a radio trigger? PWs are expensive, but thats because they work.
If I hadn't already bought into the new PocketWizard Flex/Mini system (hopefully with a Zonecontroller on the way, as soon as they are available in Canada) there might be some temptation based on the price. The ST-E2's core features just aren't enough for me (only A:B instead of A:B:C, only TTL) and the price of the Canon has always been close enough to the price of a new 430 flash that I just can't justify the expense.
Obviously, the PocketWizards are much more expensive, but also much more capable.
Let me know when it supports 3 groups, and does its thing via RF (FlexTT5 + AC3 style). Although the PW stuff is much more expensive, it's also much more flexible.
McNally doesn't have McNally dollars, do you actually think he PAYS for all that stuff?
I didn't really think much of it when it was just radio triggers they were producing, but with the YN-560 and this ST-E2 clone, Canon has got to be a little peeved/worried. The quality is getting better and better.
Now, if they can turn their eye to Nikon stuff I'd be thrilled!
Would be interested to hear how well this works with Radiopoppers. In theory it should work, since the Radiopopper can hijsck the EM pulse from an ST-E2 to make the connection work via RF rather than IR. But will it actually work with the John Snow units?
I've used the PocketWizard solutions for years and at this point, an ST-E2 offers little real advantage, although it certainly looks like Yangshuo made a better unit than Canon - cheaper and more functional.
Contrary to many of the posters, I actually like the ST-E2, at least indoors. Outdoors it's worthless, but indoors for most of the shooting I do at least it works great and gives me a TTL option if I want it. It's also a nice low-light focus assist. My only complaint would be the battery (indoors I've never had any issues with it triggering anything, line-of-sight or not) but that's probably not enough to get me to buy, at least while my current ST-E2 is still functional.
Just Curious. After heading to JS's site, I couldn't help wondering. Why do the stands for both say"Canon Inc Made in Japan"????
I got a chance to ask a Cannon rep about why they don't put radio transmitters into their cameras and flashes. The simple answer was that there are different rules in different countries regarding radio frequencies you can use and that alone makes it a difficult feature to add when you have products being sold worldwide.
I have to wonder about the benefit of the swivel. The ST-E2 has such a low profile that, I'm thinking, if it swiveled it would point at my forehead. A 580EX can see over my head (even on a bad hair day).
If you look at the distance charts on the "John Snow" site, you'll see that the range when swiveled is reduced greatly.
I'm still standing by my opinion that it's way better to save up the coin and buy a 550EX or a 580EX to use as a master.
I'm an ST-E2 user (atop a Mini-TT1). Remember, any of these hot shoe gadgets can be used on an off-camera cord, for instance when you want to point it someplace other than straight ahead. I've ordered an AC3 ZoneController which will probably completely replace my ST-E2.
I'll take two!
The current closed aspect of the Canon/Nikon/Sony/etc. flash protocols is maddening. Why not open it up so that:
a) an open community of tinkering photographers and businesses will build up around your platform
b) more people will see the added value of buying your strobes/bodies/etc.
c) more flash/trigger options?
Incompatible or generational incompatibilities... maddening.
It's what finally sold me on PW(s): simple, reliable, and will continue to work even when I switch systems/gear, or upgrade to their next gen stuff.
How about an open flash protocol standard(IR and RF) whereby all flashes and bodies can communicate? How about putting a little more silicon in the camera to allow for custom channel encryption so people can all use their own "channel 1" without having to do a channel dance?
How about logging flash/strobe information within the images shot, or in a text file log? How many strobes were seen by the camera, ratio? aprox distance and power levels, etc. Come to think of it, with the right sensors, you would be able to record tilt, height, and relative position from one another, record that data, and then import it into an app for instant recreation of the lighting setup(or near instant).
So much can be done... *sigh*
This looks pretty cool. However, It kind of sucks that it works only on Nikon, Canon and "John Snow." The Nikon and Canon are way too expensive and the Yong Nuo just doesn't sound reliable.
Do we know if lumopro is going to release something similar? If they are, I'd be willing to pull a Joe McNally and buy a small army of flash guns.
Not me. I've abandoned ETTL and such in favor of manual shooting and using AB Cyber Sycnh radio transmitter/receivers to do the job.
Got tired of the limitation of the non-radio set up built in to Canon Speedlites and the ST-E2
If I was still using the STE-2 I would immediately get one of these for the swivel feature and the AA batteries. However, I switched to PocketWizard Mini TT1 and Flex TT5's and I love them. I have ordered the PW AC3 controller, but I guess I wasn't smart enough to order from the right place since they're on back order now just about everywhere. It appears that only a very lucky few have one of them. I hope I get the AC3 sometime in this century.
I'm surprised no hot shoe on top on the John Snow model. while they were at it, it shouldn't have been that big a deal to put one in.
I'm a hardcore ST-E2 user. Yes I know all the limitations, but the speed of set-up makes it all worth it for me. The swivel is a huge addition and I'm gonna try it out.
I use the ST-E2 as a focus assist for my 5D. As a comment to Jan Luursema:
The camera is only seeing IR light to help it focus -- I am not sure how your camera can tell what "brand" of IR light is coming in. My understanding is that the camera is doing the focusing based on the fact it sees a distant object illuminated by IR light -- there is no distance info being transmitted from the ST-E2 that would make it any more or less accurate than 3rd party IR light.
The original article is a piece of marketing material. According to the article, the main reason of using a ST-E2 is that a flash can be quite heavy on a camera. It is not the reason people use a remote flash trigger to my knowledge.
I will definitely get one. The ST-E2 is a great piece of kit, and used correctly is very reliable, even in relatively bright sunshine. If you can just keep the sensor on the receiving flash out of the sun, the flash will fire. If I am very bright conditions I use some black gaffer tape to make a small sunshade to cast a shadow over the flash sensor, this makes it easier for the flash to see the IR signal from the transmitter. I think the swiveling head will make it even more reliable. Its not very often that I need to use a flashgun more than a few metres from the transmitter, so I don't see a problem with the range, so as soon as I can, I will order one.
The think is, the only time I want anything eTTL is when the sun is bright and I need HSS... but they dont work properly in bright light.
If you shoot in portrait orientation, and have a 1/2 decent lens on your camera, you can either trigger flashes to your left, or your right... but not both. As the lens blocks the IR signal on one side...
Having said that, I have had an ST-E2 in my bag forever, and the low light focus assist is a bonus... so if I needed to replace one, I would jump at these!!
Definitely interested in the greater range. I was actually looking to invest in some radio poppers to get some greater range and better reliability.
The batteries in the ST-E2 last a long time and I buy 3 at a time, so the AA thing isn't a huge concern for me, nor is the swivel, I have fired flashes behind me with my ST-E2 many times with out issue. My biggest problem is the range and the fact that they sometimes don't like to fire in direct blazing sun
engrish? am I missing something here? it seems that we are looking at a version of english, translated from chinese, that was translated from english (no?)
is there a link to the non engrish version?
I'm in the camp that the swivel ability would make it for me.
Current ST-E2 owner with rechargable battery and radio poppers. Would get one for a 2nd body and for the swivel.
the battery issue (apparently there'sno rechargeable 2CR5 which will work with the canon transmitter) and the price is what has been keeping me from getting an ST-E2. Would love to see an article on the "John Snow" unit and a serious comparison to the Canon transmitter
If you're shooting handheld, you can put an off-camera shoe cord in the camera's hot shoe and put the ST-E2 on the end of it on a bracket, screwed in backwards, so to speak, so that it will trigger Speedlites behind you (which in turn can trigger Speedlites in front of the camera). If your camera is on a tripod, you can also put the ST-E2 at the end of an off-camera shoe cord and point the ST-E2 any way you want (including, in some cases, to bounce off a low ceiling or close wall). In fact, you can daisy-chain up to three cords to give yourself greater reach with it (though, of course, if you don't already have the cords, it will cost you about $70 for each). I've found these techniques very helpful when using umbrellas, Softliters, etc. Hope this helps others, too. Lawrence Russ (lawrenceruss.com)
Hi everybody, this looks good, but why use it when you can use radio trigger that has TTL?
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Pixel-TR-332-Flash-Gun-Wireless-Trigger-Canon-E-TTL-II-/370419792445?pt=Camera_Camcorder_Remotes
I don't know if anybody is using this, is it working ok? Planning to buy it so...
Thanks!
Hi, has anybody tried the Pixel TR-322 radio trigger, it should support TTL also?
Thanks!
Is there any news yet in when these might hit the market? I have been scouring the web, but there is no reference to them being available anywhere yet...
Seriously! When can we expect these to hit the market... I hate being teased like this!
Looks like the answer was today! LOL, an ebay seller just put a buy it now listing with 5 units up, I guess I will find out soon if it is legit, fingers crossed.
Noticed on Yongnuo's E-bay auctions that their version of the ST-E2 has "three levels of ratio control 8:1, 1:1, and 1:8". I sent them a question about whether these were the sole settings or the range of ratio control and they confirmed there are only 3 settings. Im I losing something in the translation here? Does anyone have experience with these units yet and is it true that you are limited to only 3 settings? If I'm unable to adjust the ratio control to say 2:1 or 1:4, then this item is not as great as it's been touted regardless of the extra reach.
Does anyone know if these will work with RadioPoppers?
Guys,
Am I missing something?
Why no buy a 580exII and use it as a master for all your other Speedlites?
Why buy a dedicated transmitter?
Thanks!
I think the reasons someone would want to use the STS-2 or this clone instead of a 580 EX are two big ones. First, the price...the 580 EX price is much higher. Second, convenience, the 580EX is much heavier and bulkier on your camera. If you only want to use it as a commander, and not use onboard flash, then its a very heavy and bulky commander compared to the STS-2
Hi, I have not been able to confirm whether or not YN ST-E2 is compatible with 5DmkII. The official statement don't seem to say that it is. Can anyone confirm this? Thanks!
Hey, did you have a problem with the light which assists autofocus? in my st-e2 after one night of use, it became very weak(batteries are ok, fully charged ). i almost can`t see it and because of that, i can`t normally focus in the lowlight conditions. am i the only one who got that problem? Hope to get an answer. Thanks
Mine arrived today..
The AF assist is practically useless for the ST-E2 (YN), I'm still trying to google if there's a way to alter the beam pattern of the light instead of those 4 thin lines. Use a longer lens and even a pop-up flash will put this ST-E2's AF assist to shame, unfortunately.
For everything else (triggering and such) it works as advertised.
I suggest using Lithium AAs (Energizer) instead of NiMh btw, it really needs 6V...
I'll be publishing my own review of it on my site (http://reviews.davidleetong.com) next week after taking it for a run this weekend.
Dave
As promised, here's the full review.
http://reviews.davidleetong.com/reviews/review-yongnuo-st-e2-wireless-flash-controller/
do NOT get this if you're after AF-Assist...
otherwise, ti's a great little gadget.
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