YongNuo have released details of the soon to be available flagship YN-E3-RT Speedlight Transmitter, which will be directly compatible with the Canon 600EX-RT flash unit and ST-E3-RT transmitter.
The new YN-E3-RT transmitter will provide practically all the features of the original Canon ST-E3-RT, plus a number of important extra features. These include a built in AF assist light, 2nd Curtain Sync (Only in M mode), USB port for firmware upgrade, and added range to 100 Meters.
If you may have missed the original announcement, YongNuo will also have a fully compatible YN600EX-RT flash unit coming at some point in the near future as well.
YN-E3-RT Features -
Two-way 2.4G radio communication, fully compatible with ST-E3-RT/600EX-RT
15 Physical Channels, 1 Auto Channel, Up to 10,000 customizable photographer ID
Transmission Range: 100M
Multi YN-E3-RT can share slave flashes
Firmware can be upgraded via USB
High resolution Dot-Matrix LCD, Back-light for LCD/keys
Fast lock mechanism
Built-in AF Lamp, buzzer
Remote shutter release, Linked Shot (Need extra shutter cable for cameras released before 2012)
Flash Mode: ETTL/M/Multi/GR (GR Mode only works with cameras released since 2012)
A/B/C/D/E Five groups
Supports 1st Curtain, 2nd Curtain (Only in M mode), High speed Sync
Supports ETTL Ratio, Flash Exposure Compensation, Flash Exposure Lock, Flash Exposure Bracket, Modeling Flash
9 Custom Funtions
Settings saved automatically
UPDATE – Full GR Group Mode functionality has also now been added for pre 2012 model cameras. This allows older cameras (with flash control menu) like the 5D II and 7D etc, to have access to the full 5 groups, and mix ETTL and Manual groups etc. Pre 2012 cameras also retain full X-sync speed, instead of loosing 1 stop like the Canon ST-E3-RT does.
One small exception to the full Canon ST-E3-RT functionality, is that the ST-E3-RT supports 1/2 and 1/3 stop adjustments, according to the custom function set on the camera. While YN-E3-RT only supports 1/3 stop adjustment.
Until the YongNuo YN600EX-RT flash is available, the new YN-E3-RT transmitter will need to be used with the original Canon 600EX-RT flash units (which are also at a fairly good price of $499 at the moment).
The AF assist light in the new YongNuo transmitter will be reason enough for many people to be adding one to their existing Canon flash system.
