Canon 600ex-rt Step-by-Step Setup Guide

Gary Fong gives complete step-by-step instructions on how to use the Canon 600ex-rt in on-camera and wireless modes (both radio in optical infrared).
Canon Speedlite 600EX II-RT: amzn.to/2zLIntL
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[@patmanmcyo]

Often when people make tutorials they are either unhelpful, contain way too much "personal" dialogue, or contain information but are shot horribly. This is literally one of the best tutorial videos I have came across. Way to go!!

[@joefagan9335]

This is how tutorials should be 👏👏👏 I’m returning to photography after a long break and had forgotten everything. This was perfect 👌

[@mikehanopolpol9963]

this is way better than reading the manual - You Rock Gary!

[@dianabarbatti8184]

I had to sift through several terrible tutorials to get to yours. Your was worth the wait!!! Thank you!

[@yarospringglory]

one of the best videos out there on the 600EX RT- covered all the functions- i went form shooting HDR real estate on my camera to using flashes and now have 3 600EX RT's and the E3 transmitter and this video made it so much easier to understand all the concepts!! THANKS GARY!!! by the way- love your diffusers!!!

[@brandontowns2623]

This was an amazing tutorial. Extremely easy to follow and the “hierarchical” bit had me in tears. Thank you!

[@Skyraider3D]

"This covers the universe of the entire world." You said it! Awesome tutorial, far more than I'll ever be using mine for, I suspect. Thanks a lot for helping me understand my flash unit! :)

[@alwinney1263]

Great video, I just bought two the 600EX RT and love them already. I'm impressed with your video(s) as I've watched a number of them just to refresh some of the stuff that this old photographer has forgotten. I'm from the "good ole days of film" that's a bit of an oxymoron because film was nothing compared to what we have today. Great work Gary keep it coming.

[@Robmar54]

Gary , I love you Man !!! Just wanted to show you some appreciation.I am someone who has a difficult time learning technical stuff from reading textbooks or instructional manuals. But I actually learned about the 600EX-RT and the 430 EXII and how to use them from watching your videos. That I am totally excited about. Thanks Man !!!!!

[@scottcomo5793]

Gary, I am new to flash work and just ordered my 600ex-rt. Thank you for a solid introduction video. Well done

[@donadavisphoto]

Thank you for that wonderful tutorial. I was having trouble understanding the manual and you made it crystal clear!

[@Smooth8000]

Thanks Gary! Great info and love all your products through the years.

[@52firedup]

You made a tough subject easy....Superb job Gary!

[@rommelzapanta7277]

I thought I know my Canon 600EX-RT but a learned more cool and useful functions and configurations from your awesome and very informative tutorial. Thanks Gary for this great video tutorial.

[@albertsanchez8007]

Outstanding. Simple, clear and logical. Thank you for this excellent video.

[@shoebsuryani]

Gary,. Simplified a complex topics. Great! Love to watch other video tutorials.

[@benoyraj2050]

Very simple and straight forward tutorial ..... thanks Mr. Gray

[@PARADIGMCREATIVEGROUP]

You rock! I have owned 5 of your Fong Domes and they have saved my life on several thousand shoots over the last 10 years! Thank you so much for these videos too. :)

[@GaryfongInc]

You're welcome. Thanks.

[@GaryfongInc]

glad to hear! I'm with you on the non-manual reading.

[@traceyfrugoli8973]

This is so helpful thanks so much Gary! I have been using my two flashes with the trigger for a while now and just basically following my nose but not getting the full functionality out of it. Very helpful!

[@pressdesign]

Definitely best video on youtube about this flash.

[@WindUpBird573]

Very thorough and clear. Thanks!

[@gerodeo]

thanks for this video gary its so helpful and a brilliant demonstration

[@mydecembermydecember]

Thanks Garry, you've helped me understand my flash a lot better :)

[@perioprosth]

very helpful and concise information. Thank you.

[@cappybenton]

This was great. I just bought a Canon Speedlite and I'm trying to figure out how to use it.

[@valeriyshvetsov7022]

I purchased one today and this was very helpful!!! Great video! Thanks!

[@jmknbsc]

Thanks Gary, that was a real informative tutorial. The 660ex-rt is a lot more involved than I would have imagined. It helps to understand why the system is so expensive. I guess it's another example of getting what you pay for. jim.

[@WalidAzamiTV]

This is fantastic! I just rented this light and this was very helpful.

[@MrPutrifyingEagor]

Hi Gary,thanks for doing this great tutorial! Ive got your lightspere Collapsable kit & loving it! It has rejuvenated my interest in flash/strobe photography! Thank You!

[@Laszlomtl]

Sooo well explained Gary!!

[@mannyvirdee3818]

Hi Gary, I'm a big fan. Thanks for your great tutorials, they are very helpful.

[@shanruiren8484]

This is great guide! Easy to understand.

[@joennehartley7018]

Great tutorial Gary, thank you!

[@CostaRicaTowSurfer]

Love your diffuser, really appreciate this video. Thank you!

[@Nicky411]

This was sooooo good!

[@MrPutrifyingEagor]

Hi Gary,thanks for this great and informative video! Im having great success with this and your lightsphere kit! My Strobe photography has never looked so good!

[@kodorafox]

Thank you! This was enormously helpful.

[@strings2006]

great vid ..thanks for spending your time to show us this video , very informative .

[@pramodangra3356]

Always best explaination. thanks

[@SarahTomm]

Thanks so much, helped a lot!

[@MrRenoman2011]

Thanks Gary great video

[@EdKrisiak]

Great video Gary:)

[@supermanwhereareyounow3081]

I love this flash, There are so much more to this flash, haven't even covered External Flash ETTL mode, External Flash Manual Mode etc. Just barely scratched the surface.

[@bruce-le-smith]

Great video thank you

[@Fatboy53]

Thanks great instructional vid

[@julieworthyphotography4850]

Ok. This was amazing!

[@krismcgarigle6729]

Thank you for this video, made my new speed light and radio transmitter easy to understand. Much easier than 2 owner's manuals. The speed light did show "TTL" instead of ETTL for a while and wouldn't expose right, wouldn't go to ETTL...then eventually went back to ETTL. Not sure if I bumped something or had funky setting. Yes I am brand new at this.

[@mtnmanchad]

Great Video, thanks!

[@GaryfongInc]

Barbara - yes absolutely. The 600ex-Rt has built-in infrared slave mode. If you have a Canon Mark III 5D, you have the ability to trigger via radio without the transmitter. I have a video about this - just do a search in my channel for 600ex-rt.

[@DaveSp8]

Thanks Gary, good info.

[@blackurtis]

great video. thanks!

[@GaryfongInc]

Hi FilmstudioX - I have a video on this. The 600ex-rt has a great menu system which makes disabling the hot shoe flash from contributing to the exposure. This is one of the great features of the 600

[@Distantfieldproductions]

Thanks for the video!

[@GaryfongInc]

Phottix does have a Sony dedicated system, and I use it all the time.

[@GaryfongInc]

Hi there. You can always purchase on my e-store, we have the full inventory and we ship same day :)

[@wiver1676]

Very good! Thanks!

[@lonniex4237]

Thank you of this

[@HectorRiveraPhotography]

Thanks Gary you the best you do great job !!!t thank u

[@GaryfongInc]

sure does!

[@Abidullah_Official95]

really nice

[@GaryfongInc]

High speed sync requires that you use a snoot and have the subject pretty near to the flash if you are going to take it all the way up to 1/8000 of a sec. I have a ton of videos teaching this on my off-camera flash channel

[@GaryfongInc]

yes, use the infrared version

[@GaryfongInc]

do you have a 600 flash? You would use the popup flash on the 7D to trigger your remote Canon - ex flash, and if you were shooting outdoors, have the flash very close to your subject (as close as you can) and shoot on high speed sync. All of this instruction is on this channel in the HSS or off-camera flash playlists.

[@GaryfongInc]

I should've done that when I had the STE3, but I got rid of it. Using a 580exII requires a hybrid system, and this is really tricky. When I get one, I'll do a video.

[@jackriv1490]

Thank you!

[@LesiureBoy]

Thank you!!

[@bradystephenson3271]

Thanks!

[@Alphfirm]

Thanks so much

[@GaryfongInc]

The STE3 is exactly the same menu system as the 600ex-rt in master mode. Super simple.

[@GaryfongInc]

This should be in the video. I don't know how far into the video I explain it, but it's the part where you disable the "lightning bolt" icon.

[@GaryfongInc]

yes Jonathan - just do a google search for a video I posted on mounting the LSC to a 600ex

[@Jukalvez]

Nice!

[@KevinStolz]

Gary's tutorialas do Rock indeed and as a Canon CP I own varios 580 and 600 flashes. The tutorial rocks Gary and I am doing some testing here in Mexico with some "non Gary Fong" defusors because well we don't get them here and when we order them it is crazy expensive. One day I am going to try to test the "fakes" against the Gary Fongs but having been in Mexico for 20 years now you get used to working with knock offs. Band broke first test shoot. :( Keep up the great work Gary.

[@mcousley]

Thanks. I went with some ttl triggers to solve my problem :)

[@larwonvideos]

Great Tutorial on the 600Ex-RT. It help me to decide to purchase one. I would like to see it in action off camera using the ST E3 RT. If you have the Time. Thanks

[@fastfajr809]

Thx bro

[@GaryfongInc]

Mike, I don't know about the 580 non exII. I'm sure that can be found on google.

[@GaryfongInc]

The 430ex has a guide number of 43, whereas the 600 has a guide number of 60. So yes it is quite a bit more powerful. If you are shooting at ISO800 indoors however, the 430ex should have plenty of power, even diffused.

[@samw636]

I have canon 70D,and also youngnuo560iv,could u please,do a step by step setup guide to use as master and slave speedlight.Thank u.

[@vuca878]

Yes,fine

[@iRawrh]

Thanks :)

[@GaryfongInc]

Merrick - you cannot trip the hybrid system reliably. I actually tried this in Toronto during a demonstration after I bought my 600ex/rt, and it wouldn't work. The Canon CPS reps were there, and they concluded that it was radio or IR, but not both.

[@renncalips1812]

I'd like to know what ISO and F stop do in any speed light? What's their functions. BTW, thank you! I have learned a lot from your tutorials, they are very informative and easy to understand. Keep up the good work Gary!

[@jasonbodden8816]

Don't know if you ever got the answer for this but essentially the only two components of the exposure triangle that affect the output of the flash are Aperture and ISO. Both either increase or decrease how much light your Speedlite puts out. Your shutter speed only affects ambient light and has no bearing on your Speedlite output.

[@SchellerImgAndDesign]

Thank you! This is going to be so helpful when I get my new speedlites in! One question for now about the channels. When you checked to see which channel signal was best and you changed it from 7 to 13, does that automatically change all the other speedlites to the new channel as well? And if I am using a 600 for my master, a 580exII slave and a 600 slave will the 600 master adjust things on the 580exII as well even though it is a different model?

[@GaryfongInc]

Jim, the 600 is actually a lot simpler to use than the confusing 580exII!

[@ItsMeZoidberg]

Thanks Gary for the 600ex-rt overview! I watch this video every time I need to refresh myself about the features and functions of my flash. Also a proud owner of the Gary Fong Collapsible Lightsphere. I had a question about setting the zoom on the flash Since I am using APS-C sensor crop bodied cameras (t3i + t4i) with a crop factor of 1.6 do I need to take that into account when setting the zoom on the flash? for example, If I am using a 35mm prime lens on a t3i, would I put 50mm on flash zoom?

[@derekmack]

You forgot to mention setting the ID. The reason your link light stayed red is because the flashes weren't linked, when your setting up the lights you should give each unit a 4 digit ID, (it's on menu 3 beside the channel selector) and as you pair units up your link light will turn green. From the 5DMkiii you can also control the settings from the in-camera external speedlight setting, including all the groupings and ratios. Fantastic system imho

[@eddimax1]

Great Video! How can I get the Triger Mode switch back to changing the mode. It seems to be going into radio signals.

[@danielsahagun4367]

Gary: This was enormously helpful for me, thanks a lot. I subbed. A quick question: Can I in RADIO use Second-Curtain Sync function? Thanks in advance for your answer

[@kashr2855]

Thanks for your reply. Yes it is, its shown being as simple as pressing the link button 3/4 times. Mine only switches, to master radio, slave radio then ETTL and so on, am thinking the flash optical function may be at fault

[@GaryfongInc]

I really think that is in the video? Because I've had to deal with switching from optical to radio

[@basilbcf]

Gary, around 10:30 to 11:00 you set the A:B ratio to 1:3 and said that group B would spit out 1/3 the power. I believe you have it backwards and I have to disagree with you. I did an experiment to prove it to myself. I have 2 600-EX-RTs and a ST-E3-RT Speedlite Transmitter. I set one Speedlite to group A and placed it on the left, pointing at a wall. Then I set the other Speedlite on Group B and placed it on the right, about 8 feet from the "A" Speedlite, pointing at the same wall. I then set the Ratio at 1:1 and took a picture of the two Speedlites and the wall, with myself/camera situated at the center of the two Speedlites. It was clear from the resulting image that both Speedlites were putting out same power. Then, I set the A:B ratio to 1:8. If the way you described it were correct, I would have expected the "B" Speedlite (on the right) to emit much less light than the A Speedlight. However, the exact opposite happened. With an A:B ratio of 1:8, the "A" speed light actually gave out much less light as clearly seen in the images I shot. It did appear that the Speedlight that had the higher number (e.g., "B") put out about the same amount of light as the 1:1 baseline ratio, while the speelight on the "1" side of the equation was actually putting out, in this case, 1/8th the light. To summarize, with an A:B ration set to 1:3 or 1:4 or 1:8, etc., it is actually the "A" group that puts out the reduced amount of light.

[@justingillphoto]

@bcfbasil Correct. When discussing light ratios, a 1:3 ratio means that given any exposure of the A group, the B group is one-and-one-half stops MORE light. Not 1/3. I think Gary got mixed up because when you add a C group, then the adjustments turn to fractions of output rather than lighting ratios, which is easier to wrap your head around when talking about more than two light groups.

[@markryan3018]

At 11:14, you edit out how you got the unit to display a, b, and c on separate lines. How do you do it?

[@blacktop282]

Gary. Can you do a video on the controller and the speedlite together.

[@ethanvincentdigital]

if someone has a problem about turning the zoom from manual to auto but cannot turn it on.the solutiom is by putting back in the built in diffuser.when the diffuser is out it turn the zoom to manual.you cannot change it to unless you put it back.there is a little switch inside that's the culprit

[@mcousley]

Awesome work Gary, very very informative. Are you able to trigger a 580/430 with infrared and another 600 with radio at the same time using groups?

[@vamoshornet]

Hi,very detailed set up guide!From your experience does the high speed sync allows you have enough flash power for shooting in h mode frames with shutter speed like 1/250 or 1/300 without having alot of missfires??I know that 1/150 is a low flash and shutter speed sync for moving subjects and a trusted flash will be a fast flash like the 580.

[@markjans11]

Hello Gary, Just wandering with the zoom on a canon 70d. If i have say a 50mm lens it shows as zoom 50 but due to the crop sensor it is more like an 80mm lens with the 1.6 crop factor.

[@HectorRiveraPhotography]

Great video Gary I have 2 speed lutes 600 EX rt. I just got the transmitter ste 3. Do u have a video on how to use the transmitter ste 3 as a master to trigger the speedlites slacked ??