background image

Speedlite Transmitter

ST-E2

USER MANUAL

To avoid fire or electrical shock, do not expose this product to rain or moisture.

To avoid short circuit, be sure the batteries contacts are securely packed and in accordance 

with local provision when handling the batteries.

Please place the batteries and the parts which can be swallowed mistakenly away from 

children. Contact a doctor immediately when it occurs.

Please take out the batteries and stop using immediately in case of below.

   This product is dropped or shocked seriously and the inner part of the product is bared.

   If the battery leaks corrosive liquids, please take out the battery with gloves.

   The product gives off strange smell, smokes or heats.

Do not disassemble or maintain this product, or the product will lose efficacy. Touching 

the internal high voltage circuit will cause electric shock.

Remove the batteries during long periods of non-use.

-1-

I. Warning

Ultra-AF

YONGNUO improves the assist focus function of ST-E2, enabling farther focus distance 

with maximum 25 meters. 

Access to Camera Menu 

"Access to camera menu" is the special function designed by YONGNUO for ST-E2. 

This enables you to set the relevant parameter of speedlite through access to the camera 

menu, providing convenient and direct use. 

Support Exposure Compensation

 

Set the exposure compensation via your camera’s menu. You can adjust the power output 

of the speedlite by using the flash and exposure compensation to make the photography

 effect meet your requirement.

Supported Exposure Bracketing 

Access to the camera menu to set the exposure bracketing function; please refer to operation 

manual of your camera for setting method; this function can help you to improve the 

success rate of photography. 

Support Group C Flash 

You can set the parameters of Group C flash via your camera’s menu. 

-2-

II. Feature

 

-3-

Modeling Flash

 

When the button of depth of field on the camera is pressed, ST-E2 can control the speedlite to 

send out the modeling flash.

Rotatable

After the controller is installed and fixed on the top of the camera, you can control the angle 

scope of the slave unit through rotating the camera body (left and right 135°). This makes it easy 

to serve the slave unit and meet your multi-angle creative need. 

III. Nomenclature

 

-4-

7. Flash ratio indicator

Indicate current flash ratio setting.

8. Channel indicator

Indicate current channel setting.

9. Flash ratio control light: 

On indicates the start of flash ratio setting and  off 

                                                   indicates that the flash ratio setting is closed. 

10.Channel setting button

The channel setting will be switched among 1, 2, 3 

                                                     and 4 for each press.

11. [  ] indicator /test button: 

Charging indication and test the flash transmission.  

12. Flash ratio setting button

Open or close the flash ratio setting state. 

13. E-TTL indicator

Indicate the communication state between controller and camera.

14. HSS indicator

The indicator is on under the setting of high speed synchronous 

                                     mode. 

15. HSS setting button

Open or close high speed synchronous mode.

16. Power switch

Open or close power of the controller.

17. Flash ratio adjusting button

Adjust the flash ratio through [LEFT] and 

                                                              [RIGHT] button.

 

-5-

 

 

2. Mount the Controller on your Camera

Loosen the locking ring by turning it in the direction of the arrow. 

Slip the controller hot shoe stand into the camera hot shoe stand until it stops. 

Turn the locking ring in the direction of the arrow tighten. 

To detach the controller, loosen the locking ring by turning it in the opposite direction.

 

 

 

-6-

V. Basic Functions

1. Basic Operations

Operation of the buttons:

Component

Operation

 [Power Switch]

Power of the controller can be opened or closed by holding this button for 

2 seconds. It is suggested that the battery shall be taken out after the power

 of controller is closed through this button.

[Flash ratio setting 

but

ton]

Press this button to switch the state of flash ratio. After entering the flash ratio

 setting state, the flash ratio can be adjusted through [left] and [right] button. 

 [HSS button]

The HSS mode can be opened or closed for each press, and the HSS

 indicator will light or turn off.

[Channel setting 

button]

It can adjust the channels by pressing this button, the channels will 

switch among the (1, 2, 3, 4) in circle for each press.

 [   ] button

 

Press this button to test the flash preparation state of controller. 

-7-

2. Power-on and Power-off

Power of the controller can be opened or closed by holding this button for 2 seconds. 

It is suggested that the battery shall be taken out after the power of the controller is closed 

through this button.

After the power of controller is switched, the [   ] indicator is on. This indicates that the 

controller is ready and the flash operation can be conducted. 

You may press the testing button [    ] to test whether the flash works normally.

After use, hold the power switch for 2 seconds to power off.

 

 

3. Setting Communication Channel

You can set the communication channel by pressing the [Channel setting button]. Every time

 this button is pressed, the channel switches among 1, 2, 3 and 4. 

If there is another Canon wireless flash system nearby, you can change the channel number to

 prevent signal confusion. Both the ST-E2 and slave units must be set to the same channel number

.

4. Ultra-AF

The improved Focus Assist function enables farther focal distance, maximum 25 meters. 

5. Exposure Compensation

The exposure compensation can be set via your camera’s menu. You can use the exposure 

compensation function of the camera to compensate flash output so as to make shooting effect 

better meet your requirements.

-8-

10. Test Flash

After powering on, you can press the button [ ] to test whether the controller work normally.

 The transmitter of the controller will flash if this button is pressed. This will cause the 

slave unit to flash. 

-10-

-11-

 

 

-12-

3. Modeling Flash

First put the slave unit to your expected position and set the same channel with the 

controller, then press the preview button of depth of field of camera, the controller will 

order the slave unit to send out continuous flash lasting one second so that you can observe 

the depth of field and flash shadow through the viewfinder. 

4. High-Speed Sync

Press the [HSS button] to turn on the HSS indicator. High-speed sync will then be enabled

 with the wireless slave units.

5. About Slave Group Control

For example, if you have the slave ID 

set to <A> for three speedlites, all

 three speedlites will be controlled

 as if they were one speedlite in

 slave group A.

 

ID=A

ID=A

ID=A

从 属

A

-13-

Type.............................................On-camera, speedlite transmitter

Channel………………………...4

Transmission range ……………The longest being 25 m

Transmission angle…………….40°to left and right along the direction of light head and

                                                    30 °up and down in vertical direction. 

Controllable slave groups……..A+B+C, A: B, A: B C (via camera menu).

Flash ratio control……………..1:8-1:1-1:8, 13 levels of ratio control

Modeling flash control………...Provided (Enabled with camera’s depth-of-field preview

                                                    button)

High-speed sync……………….Provided

Power source…………………. 2×AA size batteries (Alkaline or Ni-MH are usable)

Flash frequency………………..Approx 1500 transmissions (2×AA size alkaline batteries)

Power saving………………….Automatic sleep after two minutes’ idle state. Automatic

                                                   power off after 15 minutes’ idle state 

Additional functions…………..Rotatable, Camera menu controllable, FEC, FEB

Dimensions…………………....63×63×82mm

Net weight…………………….115g

-14-

IX. Possible problems during use and solutions

1. The Slave Unit does not Fire

ST-E2’s battery is installed in the wrong orientation: 

Please install the battery in the

 correct orientation.

The ST-E2’s battery is exhausted: 

Please replace the battery.

Do not attach the ST-E2 securely to the camera:

 Attach the ST-E2’s mounting foot 

securely to camera.

The electrical contacts of the ST-E2 and camera are dirty: 

Clean the contacts

The ST-E2 and slave unit are not set to the same channel: 

Set the ST-E2 and slave unit 

to the same channel.

The slave unit(s) is not positioned properly: 

Please position the slave unit(s) within the

 ST-E2’s wireless transmission range, and point the slave unit(s)’s wireless sensor toward the controller.

-15-

The functions of this manual are based on test conditions of our company. Further notice 

will not be given if the design and specifications change.

The YONGNUO logo in this manual includes the registered trademark or trademark of

 SHENZHEN YONGNUO PHOTOGRAPHY EQUIPMENT Co., Ltd in China or/and

 other countries (regions). All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Shenzhen Yong Nuo Photographic Equipment Co., Ltd

Address:2-A511 Saige Science & Technology Park, North Huaqian Rd, Futian District, 

Shenzhen, China

Phone: (86) 0755-837-62448

-16-

6. Exposure Bracketing (FEB)

The FEB function can be set via your camera’s menu. For the specific setting method,

 refer to your Camera Instructions. After the FEB is set, after 3 photos are taken, exposure 

compensation will be made automatically in the sequence of, for example, “normal 

 under 

 over”. This function helps you improve the success rate of photo taking.

7. Support Flash of Group C 

You can set ST-E2’s firing group to "A: B C" via external flash function settings menu.

 Please note that NOT ALL cameras provide this men

8. Overheating protection 

If the controller is used too frequently, its overheating protection function will be triggered,

 the ETTL and HSS indicator will blink alternatively, and the controller will be locked. 

In such case, please wait for about 2 minutes to cancel the protection before continuing 

the use.

9. Rotatable

After the controller is installed and fixed on the top of the camera, you can control the 

angle scope of the slave unit through rotating the camera body (left and right 135°). This 

makes it easy to serve the slave unit and meet your multi-angle creative need.

-9-

1. Transmitter

2. AF LED

3. Locking ring

4. Hot shoe stand

5. Hot shoe contact

6. Battery chamber’s cover

IV. Installation Instruction

1. Install Batteries

Slide the batteries chamber’s cover in the direction of the arrow.

Insert the batteries according to the polarity inside battery 

chamber. 

Make sure the direction of the batteries’ polarity is correct. 

Close the battery chamber cover in the direction of the arrow.

 

 

11. Power Saving Function

If the controller keep sidle for 2 minutes and then it will step into the dormancy state in 

order to save power, it will automatically shutdown after keeping idle for 15 minutes.

Under the dormancy state, you can press any button or half press the camera shutter to 

awake the controller to continue operation.

Note: 

The function listed in items 5, 6 and 7 may be realized through access to menu of 

camera. Please check whether your camera is provided with the menu for external flashlight. 

VI. Fully Automatic Wireless Flash

1. Set the Slave Unit(s)

As for the setting procedure, refer to the slave speedlite’s instruction manual.

2. Check the Communication Channel

If the ST-E2 and slave unit(s) is set to a different channel, set them all to the same channel.

3. Position the Camera and Speedlites as Desired

Please put the speedlite at the scope of proper distance to ensure that the controller and the

 speedlite can work normally.  

Use the bounce feature to swing the slave unit’s flash body so that the wireless sensor 

faces the controller.

Use the mini stands (equipped with tripod socket) provided with the speedlites to prop 

them up as slave units.

Indoors, the wireless signal may also bounce off the wall so there is more leeway in 

positioning the slave unit(s).

After positioning the slave unit(s), be sure to test the wireless operation before shooting.

Do not place any obstacles between the ST-E2 and slave unit(s). Obstacles can block 

the transmission of wireless signals.

4. Check that the Flash is Ready

When the slave unit(s) is ready to fire, the AF-assist beam will blink.

5. Check the Wireless Flash System Works

Press the ST-E2’s [    ] (test transmission) button.

The slave unit will fire.

If the flash does not fire, adjust the slave unit’s angle toward the controller and distance

 from the controller.

 

VII. The Flash Ratio Application

With two slave units, you can vary the flash ratio and shoot with E-TTL auto flash.

1. Set the Slave Unit

To put the two slave units into two slave groups, set a different slave ID for both slave

 units. To set the slave unit’s slave ID, see the speedlite’s instruction manual.

Note: 

To use a slave unit with group C, you need access the camera’s external flash 

function setting menu and set the firing group setting to A:B C. 

2. Set the Master Unit

Press the [flash ratio setting button]: Flash ratio 

control indicator will light.

Set the flash ratio: Press the [LEFT] and

  [RIGHT] button to set the flash ratio within

  1:8 to 1:1 or within 1:1 to 8:1.

Note: 

Within the flash ratio scope of 8:1 and 1:8, 

the adjustment is made in 1/2 stop. 

Set the camera and shoot: Set the camera 

in the same way as with normal flash shooting.

VIII. Specifications

2. The Power Turns off by Itself

After 15 minutes of idle operation, auto power off took effect and it  shutdown by itself.

3. The Flash Exposure tends to be Underexposed

The subject was beyond the range of the flash: Move the slave unit(s) closer to the subject.

4. The Controller is in Abnormal State. 

If you find that the controllers has something wrong during the process of use, please restart the 

controller or replace with new battery. 

Отзывы: