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Which speedlite wireless trigger for an old 550d?

Started Mar 25, 2016 | Questions thread
WilbaW
WilbaW Forum Pro • Posts: 11,643
Re: Which speedlite wireless trigger for an old 550d?

iancrowe wrote:

There are two types of wireless trigger

Type A. (exemplified by the Yongnuo RF-602 transmitter/receiver pair) merely transmits the flash trigger signal. The power output, zoom etc. on the flash must be set manually prior to use.

Type B. (exemplified by the Canon ST-E2 controller) transmits and receives all signals to and from the flash and allows full control of the flash and integration into the E-TTL metering system. There are two different types of these controllers.

  1. Infra-red (e.g. the ST-E2). These talk directly to the electronics in the flash using a beam of infra-red light. The drawback is that there needs to be direct line of sight to the remote flash.
  2. Radio (e.g. Yongnuo's RF-622 transmitter/receiver pair) these use a 2.4Ghz radio link and do not require a line of sight between the camera and flash.

Type A are useful for studio type set-ups where once set the lighting in not going to change over the duration of the shoot.

Type B is useful for event/outdoor shooting where the lighting can change from shot to shot.

Great post Ian. I'd just add that radio systems operate over much greater distances under any conditions than light systems, e.g. 80-100m vs maybe a tenth of that in the dark.

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