Speedlite transmitters and R6 mark ii and 5d mark iv

[Rayh91]

I am new to flash photography and would appreciate some help please

I have a canon r6 mark II + a canon 5d mark IV and a speedlite flash 430 ex iii rt. I was wondering if the r6mark ii would fire the flash off camera without a transmitter or I would need a transmitter to perform this function?

if I would require a transmitter for both cameras, what transmitter could I get that would be compatible with both cameras? (Recommendations please) 

[deebatman316]

You need a transmitter. Look into the Canon ST-E3-RT. 

[Rayh91]

thank you ❤️

[p4pictures · Accepted solution]

Both EOS R6 Mark II and EOS 5D Mark IV lack a built-in radio wireless flash transmitter - as does every other Canon EOS camera. 

The Speedlite Transmitter ST-E3-RT will work with both cameras, but you will find it doesn't fit quite right on the R6 Mark II multifunction accessory shoe due to the rubber sealing around the foot. So to use ST-E3-RT on the R6 Mk2 you would need the AD-E1 adapter fitted to the camera and then the transmitter on that, or to pull the rubber sealing off the transmitter foot then it fits fine.

I would make sure you get the ST-E3-RT ver2 as it has a couple of additions like second curtain sync flash when used on your EOS R6 Mark II. 

Depending on local pricing, you could pick up a second Speedlite 430EX III-RT and use it on camera as a sender to control the other 430EX III-RT as a receiver. The 430EX III-RT has no rubber weather sealing around the foot so fits equally well on both R6 Mk2 and 5D Mk4. Using the 430EX III-RT on camera it is not required for the on-camera Speedlite to flash, but it can.

[Rayh91]

Thank you so much for this detailed explanation, I really appreciate it. When you say doesn't fit quite right is it a physical incompatibility or would it not work properly. Also are there any strobe lights you could recommend instead

[p4pictures]

It's a physical incompatibility - the rubber seal doesn't fit over the multifunction accessory shoe, though the functions to operate.

See the attached picture which I took showing the 600EX II-RT, 430EX III-RT, 600EX II-RT + AD-E1 and also the ST-E3-RT on the EOS R6 Mark II.

[rs-eos]

Note that if you plan to leverage radio triggering, you may want to first look at renting some Canon speedlites along with the ST-E3-RT trigger first.  There's been a decent amount of folks (myself included) over the past year or so, where links between the trigger and flashes often drop.

To date, there's no official fix for this.

I have since moved to a different brand and am now using studio strobes.

[Rayh91]

thank you for your response, are there any affordable strobe lights you would recommend ?

[rs-eos]

At this point, I could only personally recommend Profoto.  I have not used any other brands.   If you only need the power of a typical Speedlite or need on-camera flash, look at their A-series line (e.g. A10).  I'm currently using their larger and more powerful B-series ones.  Each B10X Plus is equivalent to eight 600-EX and probably around eleven 430-EX units in terms of light output.

If you do need lots of power, Westcott and Godox seem to be popular less-expensive choices.  Though I have heard that Flashpoint (I believe an in-house brand at Adorama), is effectively the same as Godox, but you get the advantage of having better support (I believe US-based).  Westcott is also US-based.