Canon ST-E3-RT User manual

INSTRUCTION MANUAL
MODE D’EMPLOI
MANUAL DE INSTRUCCIONES
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canon
SPEEDLITE TRANSMITTER

2
The Canon Speedlite Transmitter ST-E3-RT is a transmitter for wireless
flash shooting. It can control up to 5 groups (15 units) of Canon
Speedlites that have a wireless multiple flash shooting function using
radio transmission. The transmitter also has dust and water resistance
equivalent to EOS-1D series cameras.
Read this instruction manual while also referring to the
instruction manuals of your camera and Speedlite.
Before using the transmitter, read this instruction manual and the
instruction manuals of your camera and Speedlite to familiarize
yourself with the operations.
Using with an EOS digital camera (Type-A camera)
• You can perform wireless autoflash shooting with easy operations.
Using with an EOS film camera
•When using with an EOS film camera compatible with E-TTL II
and E-TTL autoflash systems (Type-A camera), you can perform
autoflash shooting with easy operations.
•This unit cannot be used with an EOS film camera with TTL
autoflash system (Type-B camera).
Introduction
Using the transmitter with a Camera

3
Chapters
Introduction 2
Getting Started
Preparations for wireless flash shooting 11
Wireless Flash Shooting: Radio Transmission
Wireless flash shooting with radio transmission 15
Setting Transmitter Functions with Camera
Operations
Setting the transmitter functions from the camera’s menu screen
47
Customizing the Transmitter
Customizing with Custom Functions and Personal Functions 53
Reference
System map, FAQ 59
1
2
3
4
5

4
3
1
2
Introduction 2
Chapters ...................................................................................................3
Nomenclature............................................................................................6
Conventions Used in this Manual ...........................................................10
Getting Started 11
Installing the Batteries.............................................................................12
Attaching and Detaching the Transmitter................................................13
Turning on the Power..............................................................................13
Wireless Flash Shooting: Radio Transmission 15
'Wireless Flash Shooting ....................................................................16
Wireless Settings ....................................................................................20
a: Fully Automatic Wireless Flash Shooting...................................24
Using Fully Automatic Wireless Flash.....................................................27
a: Wireless Multiple Flash Shooting with Flash Ratio ....................31
q: Wireless Multiple Flash Shooting with Manual Flash Output ............34
[: Shooting with a Different Flash Mode for Each Group .....................38
Clearing Transmitter Settings .................................................................40
Test Flash from a Slave Unit...................................................................40
Modeling Flash........................................................................................41
Remote Release from a Slave Unit.........................................................42
Linked Shooting ......................................................................................43
Setting Transmitter Functions with Camera Operations 47
Transmitter Control from Camera’s Menu Screen ..................................48
Contents

5
Contents
5
4Customizing the Transmitter 53
C/ >: Setting Custom and Personal Functions ............................ 54
C: Setting Custom Functions ............................................................ 56
>: Setting Personal Functions ........................................................... 58
Reference 59
ST-E3-RT System .................................................................................. 60
Troubleshooting Guide........................................................................... 61
Specifications ......................................................................................... 64
Index ...................................................................................................... 70

6
Nomenclature
<8> Select/Set button
<9> Select dial
Function button 3
Function button 4
Battery compartment
cover (p.12)
Power switch (p.13)
<K> : Power on
<a> : Button/dial lock
(Power on)
<J> : Power off
<D>
Radio transmission
confirmation lamp
(p.21, 23, 25, 30, 45)
LCD panel
Function button 2
Function button 1
Mounting foot lock lever (p.13)
Lock-release button (p.13)
Dust- and water-resistant
adapter
<I>
Linked shooting
button (p.44)
<E>
Flash mode button
(p.24, 34, 35, 38)
<Q>
Charge lamp/
Test flash button
(p.13, 25, 56)
Flash exposure
confirmation lamp (p.25)

7
Nomenclature
Case
Mounting foot
(p.13)
Terminal cover
Remote release
terminal (p.42)
Contacts
Locking pin
Nomenclature 02

8
Nomenclature
LCD panel
Radio transmission wireless shooting (p.15)
E-TTL II/E-TTL autoflash (p.24)
Manual flash (p.34)
a: E-TTL II/E-TTL
autoflash
Flash exposure compensation amount
Flash ratio
Firing group
,: Flash ratio (p.31)
g: FEB (p.28, 50) FEB sequence (p.56)
Beep
u: Custom
Functions (p.56)
T: Personal Functions (p.58)
f: Flash exposure
compensation
(p.27, 50)
Flash exposure level
k: Sync speed warning (p.19) M: Master (p.20)
c: High-speed sync
': Radio
transmission
wireless shooting
*: Channel
): Channel
automatic
setting
(p.21, 22)
Q: Slave flash ready (p.25)
q: Manual Flash
Manual flash output
The display will show only the settings currently applied.
The functions displayed above function buttons 1 to 4, such as <=>
and <@>, change according to the setting’s status.
When a button or dial is operated, the LCD panel illuminates (p.14).

9
Nomenclature
Stroboscopic flash (p.35)
Group firing (p.38)
Linked shooting (p.43)
?:
Multi (Stroboscopic) flash
Number of flashes
Flash frequency
Firing group
Flash mode
[: Group flash
x: Slave
M: Master
:
Linked shooting

10
Icons in this Manual
9: Indicates the selection dial.
8: Indicates the select/set button.
3/1/2: Indicates that the respective function remains active
for 4 sec., 6 sec. or 16 sec. after you let go of the
button.
(p.**) : Reference page numbers for more information.
: Warning to prevent shooting problems.
: Supplemental information.
Basic Assumptions
The operation procedures assume that the power switches of the
camera, transmitter and Speedlite are already set to <K>.
The icons used for buttons, dials and symbols in the text match the
icons found on the camera, transmitter and Speedlite.
The operation procedures assume that the menu and Custom
Functions of the camera and the Custom Functions and Personal
Functions of the transmitter and the Speedlite are at their default
settings.
All figures are based on the use of two AA/LR6 alkaline batteries and
Canon’s testing standards.
Conventions Used in this Manual

11
1
Getting Started
This chapter describes the preparations before starting
wireless flash shooting.

12
Install two AA/LR6 batteries.
1Open the cover.
Slide the cover down as shown in "
and open the battery compartment
cover.
2Install the batteries.
Make sure the + and – battery
contacts are correctly oriented as
shown in the battery compartment.
The grooves on the side surfaces of
the battery compartment indicate –.
This is convenient when replacing the
batteries in a dark place.
3Close the cover.
Close the battery compartment cover
and slide it up.
Slide the cover until it clicks in place.
Wireless Flash Shooting Time
You can perform wireless flash shooting for approx. 10 hours*
continuously.
* Based on new AA/LR6 alkaline batteries and Canon’s testing standards.
Installing the Batteries
Using AA/LR6 batteries other than the alkaline type may cause improper
battery contact due to the irregular shape of the battery contacts.
When <!> is displayed, replace the batteries with new ones.
Use a new set of two batteries of the same brand. When replacing the
batteries, replace both batteries at once.
AA/LR6 rechargeable Ni-MH or lithium batteries can also be used.

13
1Attach the transmitter.
Slip the transmitter’s mounting foot
all the way into the camera’s hot
shoe.
2Secure the transmitter.
On the mounting foot, slide the lock
lever to the right.
XWhen the lock lever clicks in place, it
will be locked.
3Detach the transmitter.
While pressing the lock-release
button, slide the lock lever to the left
and detach the transmitter.
Set the power switch to <K>.
XThe LCD panel illuminates.
The charge lamp lights when the
wireless shooting (slave) is ready.
During wireless shooting, press the
transmitter’s charge lamp (test flash
button) to fire a test flash.
Attaching and Detaching the Transmitter
Turning on the Power
Before attaching or detaching the transmitter, be sure to turn the transmitter
power off.

14
Turning on the Power
To save battery power, the power will turn off automatically after 5 min.
of idle use. To turn on the transmitter again, press the camera’s shutter
button halfway, or press the test flash button (charge lamp).
By setting the power switch to <a>, you can disable flash’s button
and dial operations. Use this to prevent the transmitter function settings
from being accidentally changed after you set them.
If you operate a button or dial, <LOCKED> is displayed on the LCD
panel (the functions displayed above function buttons 1 to 4, such as
<=> and <@>, are not displayed).
When a button or dial is operated, the LCD panel illuminates in green
for 12 sec. When setting a function, the illumination continues until the
setting is complete.
If the transmitter is the master unit in linked shooting, the LCD panel
illuminates in green. If the transmitter is a slave unit, it illuminates in
orange.
About Auto Power Off
About the Lock Function
About the LCD Panel Illumination
You cannot use the test flash while the camera’s 3/1/2timer is
operating.
The transmitter settings are stored even when the power is turned off. To
retain the settings when replacing the batteries, replace the batteries
within 1 min. of turning off the power switch and removing the batteries.
You can fire a test flash even when the power switch is set to the
<a> position. Also, when a button or dial is operated, the LCD panel
illuminates.
You can set a beep to sound when the slave unit is fully charged
(C.Fn-20/p.57).
Auto power off can be disabled (C.Fn-01/p.56).
You can change the duration of the LCD panel illumination (C.Fn-22/p.57).
You can change the color of the LCD panel illumination (P.Fn-03, 04/p.58).

15
2
Wireless Flash Shooting:
Radio Transmission
This chapter describes wireless flash shooting.
For the accessories required for wireless shooting,
see the system map (p.60). For the regions of use,
restrictions, and precautions related to radio
transmission, refer to the separate leaflet.
When the camera’s shooting mode is set to a fully automatic
mode or an Image Zone mode, the operations in this chapter
are not available. Set the camera’s shooting mode to V/X/
W/q/5(Creative Zone mode).
The transmitter attached to the camera is called the master unit,
and a flash that is wirelessly controlled is called the slave unit.

16
Using a transmitter and a Canon Speedlite compatible with radio
transmission wireless shooting makes it easy to shoot with advanced
wireless multiple flash lighting, in the same way as normal E-TTL II/
E-TTL autoflash shooting.
The system is designed so that the settings of the transmitter attached
to the camera (master) are automatically reflected on the Speedlite that
is wirelessly controlled (slave). Therefore, you do not need to operate
the slave unit while shooting.
The basic relative positions and operating range are as shown in the
figure. You can then perform wireless E-TTL II/E-TTL autoflash
shooting just by setting the master unit to <a>.
Autoflash Shooting Using One Slave Unit (p.24)
'Wireless Flash Shooting
Positioning and Operation Range
(Example of wireless flash shooting)
x
M
Transmission distance
Approx. 30 m (98.4 ft.)
Position the slave unit using the mini stand supplied with the flash.
Before shooting, perform a test flash (p.13) and test shooting.
The transmission distance may be shorter depending on the conditions
such as the positioning of slave units, the surrounding environment and
weather conditions.

17
'Wireless Flash Shooting
You can divide the slave units into two or three groups and perform
E-TTL II/E-TTL autoflash shooting while changing the flash ratio
(factor). In addition, you can set and shoot with a different flash mode
for each firing group, for up to 5 groups.
Autoflash Shooting with Two Slave Groups (p.31)
Autoflash Shooting with Three Slave Groups (p.32)
Wireless Multiple Flash Shooting
A
B
A
B
C

18
'Wireless Flash Shooting
Shooting with a Different Flash Mode set for Each Group (p.38)
ABC
E
D
Manual flash
Manual flash
Auto external
flash metering
E-TTL II
Manual flash
* The flash mode settings are
indicated only as an example.
Ceiling

19
'Wireless Flash Shooting
When performing radio transmission wireless flash shooting,
restrictions may apply to the flash mode, maximum flash sync speed
(referred to below as the “flash sync speed”) and high-speed sync
function, depending on the camera that you use.
EOS digital cameras released since 2012
When using the transmitter in combination with a camera such as
the EOS-1D X, you can shoot without any restrictions on the flash
mode and maximum flash sync speed.
EOS cameras compatible with E-TTL autoflash and released up
to 2011
When using the transmitter with the cameras listed below, radio
transmission wireless shooting with E-TTL autoflash is not
available. Shoot with manual flash (p.34) or stroboscopic flash
(p.35).
EOS-1Ds, EOS-1D, EOS-1V, EOS-3, EOS ELAN II(E)/
EOS 50(E), EOS REBEL 2000/EOS 300, EOS REBEL G/
EOS 500N, EOS 66/EOS Rebel XS N/EOS 3000 N, EOS IX(E),
EOS IX Lite/EOS IX 7
Also, when using the transmitter with a film or digital camera
released up to 2011, the following restrictions apply.
1. The flash sync speed is 1 increment slower
Check the flash sync speed (X = 1/*** sec.) of your camera, and
shoot with a shutter speed up to a maximum of 1 stop slower
than the flash sync speed (Example: When X = 1/250 sec., radio
transmission wireless shooting is possible from 1/125 sec. to 30
sec.). Also, high-speed sync shooting is not possible. When
you set the shutter speed 1 increment slower than the flash sync
speed, the <k> warning icon will disappear.
2. Group flash is not possible (p.38).
About Restrictions on Functions Depending on
the Camera Used

20
To perform wireless shooting, set the transmitter (master unit) and flash
(slave unit) with the following procedure.
Check that <M> is
displayed.
Check that <M> is displayed
at the position shown in the figure.
Set a flash that is compatible with radio transmission wireless
flash shooting as the slave unit.
For the slave unit settings, see the flash’s instruction manual.
To avoid interference with wireless multiple flash systems using radio
transmission that are used by other photographers, or with other
devices that use radio waves (wireless), you can change the
transmission channel and wireless radio ID. Set the same channel
and ID for both the master unit and slave unit.
Wireless Settings
Master Unit Setting
Slave Unit Setting
Transmission Channel/Wireless Radio ID Settings
When establishing multiple radio transmission wireless flash systems,
interference between flash systems may occur, even if the flashes are set to
different channels. Set different radio transmission IDs for each channel
(p.21).