topic Re: Can I control flash power on a 600EX-RT while off camera?. Not compensation, but power? in Speedlite Flashes

Can I control flash power on a 600EX-RT while off camera?. Not compensation, but power?

JimmyMc — Mon, 23 Jul 2018 20:01:00 GMT

I shoot real estate and I trgger my camera from an ipad using a camranger. I hand hold the 600 light and have the ST-E3-RT on the camera. I cant find a way to raise and lower the power without going behind the camera? Manualy controling the speedlight power can only be done from the camera.

Any tgoughts?

JIMMY

Re: Can I control flash power on a 600EX-RT while off camera?. Not compensation, but power?

RobertTheFat — Tue, 24 Jul 2018 03:37:35 GMT

I think you can if you put the flash in manual, not ETTL, mode.

Re: Can I control flash power on a 600EX-RT while off camera?. Not compensation, but power?

Tim — Tue, 24 Jul 2018 04:22:37 GMT

Hello JimmyMc,

Hello. If you shoot the Speedlite 600EX RT in Manual mode, individual flash power can be set to individual off camera Speedlite 600EX RT receiving units.

Re: Can I control flash power on a 600EX-RT while off camera?. Not compensation, but power?

JimmyMc — Tue, 24 Jul 2018 08:44:42 GMT

Thanks Tim for your answer. How can I set "individual flash power can be set to individual off camera Speedlite 600EX RT receiving units. " ? It seems the only way I can get the green lights to link the ST_E3_RT with the individual 600exrt is by making the 600 a slave. By doing that, the only way to control the power from 3/4 power to 1/4 power is by changing it on the camera? I need to change power from the flash? I dont see a setting to allow individual off camera speedlight.

Thanks for taking time to clarify this. I think it is an odd question for most people.

JIMMY

Re: Can I control flash power on a 600EX-RT while off camera?. Not compensation, but power?

RobertTheFat — Tue, 24 Jul 2018 13:02:18 GMT

@JimmyMc wrote:
Thanks Tim for your answer. How can I set "individual flash power can be set to individual off camera Speedlite 600EX RT receiving units. " ? It seems the only way I can get the green lights to link the ST_E3_RT with the individual 600exrt is by making the 600 a slave. By doing that, the only way to control the power from 3/4 power to 1/4 power is by changing it on the camera? I need to change power from the flash? I dont see a setting to allow individual off camera speedlight.
Thanks for taking time to clarify this. I think it is an odd question for most people.
JIMMY

In the version of the manual that I have (from 2015), it's on page 31.

Re: Can I control flash power on a 600EX-RT while off camera?. Not compensation, but power?

JimmyMc — Tue, 24 Jul 2018 13:32:14 GMT

Hi Bob. In the manual, they are using the flash on camera as the master. Once you add the ST-E#_RT transmitter, the 600 becomes a slave, and only the master can controll the power. I'm not sure if you use the 600 and transmitter, but my camera is on a tripoid away from me and i controll it from my ipad. I also have the flash out with me while i do special lighting shots.

JIMMY

Re: Can I control flash power on a 600EX-RT while off camera?. Not compensation, but power?

RobertTheFat — Tue, 24 Jul 2018 14:37:04 GMT

@JimmyMc wrote:
Hi Bob. In the manual, they are using the flash on camera as the master. Once you add the ST-E#_RT transmitter, the 600 becomes a slave, and only the master can controll the power. I'm not sure if you use the 600 and transmitter, but my camera is on a tripoid away from me and i controll it from my ipad. I also have the flash out with me while i do special lighting shots.

JIMMY

I believe that the reference I cited covers the case where you have the flash out with you. Whether it's similar with a transmitter, I couldn't say; I've never used one. But in either case I suspect that the key is to have the flash set to "M" (rather than "ETTL") mode.

Re: Can I control flash power on a 600EX-RT while off camera?. Not compensation, but power?

JimmyMc — Tue, 24 Jul 2018 14:45:23 GMT

I chased another thread that came to a dead end also. I may have to buy cheap triggers and then hopefully control my flash on its own. Seems crazy to have top of the line equipment and handcuffed to use it without kelp from $30 triggers.

Re: Can I control flash power on a 600EX-RT while off camera?. Not compensation, but power?

RobertTheFat — Tue, 24 Jul 2018 15:11:59 GMT

@JimmyMc wrote:
I chased another thread that came to a dead end also. I may have to buy cheap triggers and then hopefully control my flash on its own. Seems crazy to have top of the line equipment and handcuffed to use it without kelp from $30 triggers.

I would certainly have thought that if a flash is set to manual mode and is then triggered remotely, it would fire as it had been programmed to fire, and not as the camera would have preferred. If that's not how it works, I can understand your bewilderment.

Re: Can I control flash power on a 600EX-RT while off camera?. Not compensation, but power?

TCampbell — Thu, 26 Jul 2018 02:38:47 GMT

I tested this on mine using the same 600EX-RT and ST-E3-RT.

I found that if the 600EX-RT isn't slaved, I can put it manual mode and control the power.

The moment I slave it... I lose the ability to dial the power up or down locally and have to use the camera to control it.

Soft-button 2 (on the first menu page) normally has the "-/+" which you can poke, then use the dial to adjust power. When it becomes a slave that soft-button disappears.

Re: Can I control flash power on a 600EX-RT while off camera?. Not compensation, but power?

JimmyMc — Thu, 26 Jul 2018 13:48:16 GMT

Thanks for trying it on your equipment. I love the flash system. I'm a portrait photographer and its great. Just found a need it cant help me with. When I put Pocket wizzards on the flash and cameras, I can manually adjust it. So I'll buy a couple of cheap triggers and accomplish what I need.

Thanks Again

JIMMY

Re: Can I control flash power on a 600EX-RT while off camera?. Not compensation, but power?

RobertTheFat — Thu, 26 Jul 2018 15:01:30 GMT

@JimmyMc wrote:
Thanks for trying it on your equipment. I love the flash system. I'm a portrait photographer and its great. Just found a need it cant help me with. When I put Pocket wizzards on the flash and cameras, I can manually adjust it. So I'll buy a couple of cheap triggers and accomplish what I need.

Thanks Again
JIMMY

That's a weird workaround to have to use, since its purpose is to prevent the unit's presumably well intentioned functionality from interfering with a decision that a user should plausibly be able to make. One would certainly hope that the next version of the 600EX would incorporate an option to allow it. Are you listening, Canon?

Re: Can I control flash power on a 600EX-RT while off camera?. Not compensation, but power?

JimmyMc — Thu, 26 Jul 2018 15:28:49 GMT

If they allowed you to change the flash , it would likely cause you grief when you tried to change things on the camera . The flash would have to change the camera settings which might be beyond their current technology . I’m sure they know about this . Does not benefit them to advertise it though .