Does Canon have an equivalent to Nikon CLS for wireless flash control?

Asked 11/17/2014

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I’m familiar with Nikon’s Creative Lighting System (especially its wireless off-camera flash control). Does Canon offer a similar system for controlling compatible Speedlites, including TTL and high-speed sync? If so, what is it commonly called, and do some Canon bodies support using the built-in flash as a wireless master?

Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

Photography Stack Exchange contributor

11y ago

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Yes. Canon also has a near-infrared proprietary optical system for wireless flash. It doesn't have a snazzy marketing name like CLS, but is often referred to as "Canon wireless eTTL" or "Canon optical slaving". Like CLS, it can communicate most of the full hotshoe protocol, such as eTTL-II and high-speed sync (HSS). It also allows for control of the remote flash through the camera's flash control menu, if the camera is Digic IV or later and has the menu and the flash is an EX MkII or EX-RT unit. Post-2012 Canon bodies have a flash control panel that shortcuts all the settings, without as much menu diving.

Canon speedlite units that can be used as masters in this optical system are:

  • 550EX
  • 580EX / 580EX II
  • 600EX-RT / 600EX II-RT
  • 90EX
  • ST-E2 (master only; no flash head)
  • MR-14EX / MT-24EX

Canon units that can be used as slaves in this optical system are:

  • 270EX II
  • 320EX
  • 420EX
  • 430EX / 430EX II / 430EX III-RT
  • 550EX
  • 580EX / 580EX II
  • 600EX-RT / 600EX II-RT

There are, however, some differences from CLS. There is no equivalent of the SU-4 "dumb" optical slave mode. And unlike CLS, wireless 2nd-curtain sync is not possible with the Canon system. And Canon not only has an optical-based system, but also a radio-based one. The "RT" system, however, consists of only four units at this time (600EX II-RT, 600EX-RT, 430EX III-RT, and ST-E3-RT) and there are no built-in radio masters in any camera body.

Canon camera bodies that have optical masters in the pop-up flash are:

  • 600D and later xxxD models
  • 60D and later XXD models
  • 7D and later 7D models

However, the pop-up flash masters are not capable of HSS or communicating wireless HSS to slave flashes.

This optical system can allow up to three groups (A:B:C), depending on the gear (e.g., a 550EX can only master groups A:B with ratios), and power control is either by ratios, or by ratios or manual power level settings.

In 2012, when Canon's "RT" system arrived, a number of enhancements were made to the camera/flash communication. Obviously, you also need a 2012 or later body as well as Canon's RT flashes to use these additional features that are NOT part of the optical system:

  • 4-digit ID code, which with channel settings, allows for thousands of discrete channels
  • Remote shutter control over the camera from the flash.
  • Groups D and E.
  • Gr mode (i.e., groups can now independently be set to MULTI, eTTL-II, or M modes as well as turned on and off)
  • Radio communication (enhanced range and no line-of-sight requirements).

Originally by user27440. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

user27440

11y ago

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Yes. Canon has a similar system, usually referred to as Canon wireless E-TTL / E-TTL II or Canon optical wireless flash control, rather than a single marketing name like Nikon CLS.

Like Nikon’s optical wireless system, Canon’s setup can control compatible Speedlites off-camera using an optical/near-infrared link and supports features such as E-TTL metering and high-speed sync. On compatible cameras and flashes, flash settings can also be adjusted through the camera’s flash control menus.

Some Canon EOS bodies can use their built-in pop-up flash as an optical master to control remote flashes. Examples mentioned include the EOS 600D, 650D, 700D, 60D, 70D, 7D, and 7D Mark II. Other bodies require a master-capable Speedlite or transmitter on the hot shoe.

Examples of Canon master-capable optical units mentioned in the answers include the 550EX, 580EX/580EX II, 600EX-RT/600EX II-RT, 90EX, ST-E2, MR-14EX, and MT-24.

So the short answer is: yes, Canon has an equivalent capability, but it’s usually described as Canon wireless E-TTL/optical wireless rather than a branded “CLS” name.

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11y ago

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