I bite the bullet and purchased a light kit today

[Trevor Ash]

Peter, here's a guess:

The ST-E2 communicates information to the other flash units (Canon's flash units that is) via infra red light. Obviously, it communicates all the necessary information to the flashes BEFORE the actual exposure is take. Your strobes are probably getting triggered from the communication info of the ST-E2 and when the shutter finally opens your strobes have already fired.

I've heard of pins being covered to solve the problem. A quick search pulled up this thread over at satan.com:

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/re...essage=4310266

Perhaps this will lead you in the right direction.

[Peter_AUS]

Thanks Trevor, Satan.com that is funny.

It does help, but the postings, say cover all but the firing pin, there are 5 pins, do you know which pins to cover, is it the 4 the create a box or the one by itself towards the front, looking at it upside down.

Edit,

Worked it out, it is the 4 in a box formation towards the back of the ST-E2, leaving the out of alignment single one towards the front the firing pin, I think. Tried it and it seemed to work OK.

[darkman]

In one intensely boring moment I got the ste-e2 to work by taping over certain contacts. Off hand I can't remember which ones? The problem is the unit is ettl period. Which means it and the camera always expect a preflash. Taping over the correct contacts eliminates this. Even with the 550ex in which you can turn of the ettl, the camera still expects a preflash! I figured out which contacts to tape over on this too.

Anyway, being I'm not, or really ever plan on firing my flashes off while others are firing theirs, I got a wein ssr-jr. It was the cheapest unit I could find. I've had no problems, except ones caused by me, with it.

I did modify one of my PC chords to utilize the household prong connector. Twent-nine cents at the hardware store.

It appears dummies are pretty cheap in AU. I was looking for one once and couldn't find a full size one for under $200. Bodis's (head and busts) were very close to the same cost. These were used too! I then started shooting still lifes. Which, besides taxing your creativity, is probably a better learning tool.

[Peter_AUS]

Thanks for the suggestions.