Canon EL-1 and the R5C: What trigger allows for off-camera speed light control

[7thTreeImages]

Searching for a wireless trigger that allows power output control (basic stuff)

When you set the EL-1 flash to be a receiver (digital or flash), the only option is ETTL on the flash.

I can set my Canon ST-E3-RT Version 2.0 speed light transmitter to manual or ETTL when linked to the EL-1 flash. In either case, any changes to the trigger do not affect the settings on the flash.

Example: My expectation is when I I reduce the power on the ST-E3-RT version 2.0 trigger to 1/128 I would expect to see that setting on the flash - but it doesn't say that because the flash can only be in ETTL when set to Link.

Will the ST-E10 be a better option? 

For comparison: when I am using my Westcott trigger (wireless) and Westcott FJ400 with my R5C and change settings on the Westcott trigger, the settings change on the light. 

Thanks!
Pentax 35mm
Canon T6
Canon 6D MKII
Canon 5DMKIV
Canon M50
Canon R5
Canon R5C

[p4pictures]

When you use a Canon Speedlite as a receiver (off-camera) controlled by the Canon transmitters ST-E3-RT or ST-E10 then the display on the Speedlite does not update when you change a setting on the transmitter, only after the photo is taken. 

Your EOS R5C has a video only accessory shoe. It does not support the Speedlites EL-5, EL10 and transmitter ST-E10 at all. They simply will not fire. So you have to use ST-E3-RT

The way Canon works is that the required mode, power level etc is sent to the remote flash just before the flash is requested to fire. This is because another camera on the same channel & ID could also be using the same off-camera light but with different settings.

So if the EL-1 shows E-TTL on the display, and you change the ST-E3-RT to manual at 1/16 power, you need to take a photo so that the flash display will update. Though even the first photo you take will use the settings on the transmitter.

Some of the other brands change the setting on the remotes in sync with the transmitter. This can lead to issues if multiple users or a user with two cameras are using the same set of off-camera lights. 

[7thTreeImages]

First of all - THANK YOU for that awesome reply! 

My Canon DM-E1D mic works on the hot shoe which I thought was the "multi-function shoe" that is pretty much standard now on newer mirrorless cameras. I didn't think the hot shoe on the R5C was a "video only" hot shoe. 

But that is awesome to know about the ST-E10 because I was thiiiiis close to buying one - so thanks!!

I'll dig up my light meter and check that the power indeed changes even though the on-flash display does not. 

The transmitter does let me get down to 1/8192 power...hmmmm that's new. 

OMG - I just tested it in my hand!! So you have to hit the "Test" option on the flash...not the transmitter. Yes you are correct...the flash now reads "M" and the reflects the setting on the transmitter - OMG thank you!!

Sending you a virtual beer!

[p4pictures]

I found that the low power settings on the ST-E3-RT ver2 actually work with older Speedlites too. I have Speedlite 430EX III-RT, 600EX-RT and 600EX II-RT and if I set the power to 1/1024 in manual on the ST-E3-RT then I get less output from the flashes - tested with a flash meter - than they indicate since their display can only show 1/128 as minimum power. This makes sense as I knew that E-TTL could set lower power level than manual. 

Additionally the other new features on the ST-E3-RT v2 such as Flash Exposure Memory and 2nd Curtain Sync also work with older Canon radio “RT system” Speedlites.