Radio Transmission Wireless Flash Photography

Shooting with wireless lighting from multiple flash units is as easy as normal E-TTL II / E-TTL autoflash shooting when you use Canon Speedlites supporting radio transmission wireless flash photography.

The system is designed so that the settings of the EL-1 (Ver.2) (sender) are automatically applied to wirelessly controlled Speedlites (receivers). This eliminates the need to operate receivers during shooting.

Positioning and Range

  • Autoflash with one receiver ()

    (1) RECEIVEREL-1 (Ver.2)

    (2) SENDEREL-1 (Ver.2)

    (3) Transmission range: Approx. 30 m / 98.4 ft.

  • Autoflash with groups of receivers (, )

    E-TTL II / E-TTL autoflash photography is possible with two or three receiver groups, and the flash ratio (proportion of flash output) can be adjusted as needed.

    (1) 2 groups (A, B)

    (2) 3 groups (A, B, C)

    Caution

    • Take a few test shots in advance, and test flash firing ().
    • Transmission range may be shorter depending on factors such as Speedlite positioning, the surrounding environment, and weather conditions.

    Note

    • Set up receivers using the included mini stand.

  • Shooting in a different flash mode for each group ()

    This is only one example of flash mode settings.

    (1) E-TTL II

    (2) E-TTL II

    (3) Manual flash

    (4) Ceiling

    (5) Manual flash

    (6) Manual flash

Difference between Radio Transmission and Optical Transmission

Wireless shooting using radio transmission provides some advantages over wireless shooting using optical transmission, such as less interference from obstacles and not having to point the receiver's wireless sensor toward the sender unit. The main functional differences are as follows.

Function Radio Transmission Optical Transmission
Transmission distance Approx. 30 m / 98.4 ft. Approx. 15 m / 49.2 ft. (indoors)
Firing group control Up to 5 groups*1
(A, B, C, D, E)		 Up to 3 groups
(A, B, C)
Receiver control Up to 15 No restriction
Channel Auto, Ch. 1–15 Ch. 1–4
Wireless radio ID 0000–9999 –
Receiver controls Test flash ○ –
Modeling flash Yes*2 –
Release Yes*3 –

1-3: Restrictions exist depending on the camera (*1: Restrictions for Specific Cameras, Shooting in Group-Specific Flash Modes, *2: Firing Test Flash/Modeling Flash from Receivers, *3: Remote Release from Receivers).

Group Control

Firing group A

You can add receivers when more light or sophisticated lighting is needed. For added receivers, simply specify the firing group (A, B, or C) that you want to be brighter.

For example, when three receivers are set to firing group A, they are all controlled as a single, high-output Speedlite in group A.

Caution

  • To fire the three groups of A, B, and C, set to A:B C. Group C does not fire when Speedlites are set to A:B.
  • Aiming the units in firing group C directly at subjects may cause overexposure.

Note

  • Flash ratios from 8:1 to 1:1 to 1:8 correspond to 3:1 to 1:1 to 1:3 (in 1/2-stop increments) as converted to number of stops.

Restrictions for Specific Cameras

Depending on the camera, functions in radio transmission wireless flash photography may be limited.

  • EOS DIGITAL cameras released in and after 2012

    When using the flash with EOS DIGITAL cameras released in and after 2012, you can shoot without any restrictions on the flash mode and flash synchronization speed, etc.

    Although EOS REBEL T100/4000D/3000D, EOS REBEL T7/1500D/2000D, EOS REBEL T6/1300D and EOS REBEL T5/1200D were released after 2012, restrictions on functions are the same as with EOS DIGITAL cameras released up to 2011 (See the following explanation for details).

  • EOS cameras compatible with E-TTL and released up to 2011

    When using the flash with the cameras listed below, radio transmission wireless shooting using E-TTL autoflash is not possible. Use manual flash () or optical transmission wireless flash shooting ().

    EOS-1Ds, EOS-1D, EOS-1V, EOS-3, EOS Elan II/Elan II E/50/50E, EOS REBEL 2000/300, EOS REBEL G/500N, EOS REBEL XS N/REBEL G II/3000N/66, EOS IX, EOS IX Lite/IX7

    Also, when using the flash with an EOS DIGITAL camera or EOS film camera released up to 2011, the following restrictions apply.

    • (1) The maximum flash synchronization shutter speed is one step slower.

      Check the maximum flash sync shutter speed (X = 1/*** sec.) of your camera and shoot with a shutter speed up to 1 stop slower than the maximum flash sync shutter speed (Example: At X = 1/250 seconds, radio transmission wireless flash photography is possible within a range of 1/125 to 30 seconds).

      If you lower the shutter speed by one step from the maximum flash synchronization shutter speed, the Synchronization speed warning warning icon will disappear.

    • (2) High-speed sync shooting is not possible.
    • (3) Group firing () is not possible.
    • (4) Modeling flash from the receiver () and remote release from the receiver () are not possible.
    • (5) It cannot be used as a "receiver camera" during linked shooting (). It can only be used as a "sender camera".