User manual CANON SPEEDLITE 550EX

[. . . ] E English Edition INSTRUCTIONS E Thank you for purchasing a Canon product. The Canon Speedlite 550EX is a powerful, high-output flash unit featuring ETTL (Evaluative-Through-The-Lens) autoflash control. It can be used as an oncamera Speedlite or as a master or slave unit in a wireless, multi-Speedlite system. When used with Type-A cameras (listed below), the 550EX obtains natural-looking flash pictures by balancing the flash output and existing light. The 550EX also enables high-speed sync (FP or Focal-Plane flash), FE (Flash Exposure) lock, FEB (Flash Exposure Bracketing), bounce flash and area AF-assist. [. . . ] 4 Focus the subject and take the picture. · The master unit can also be set for bounce flash. · With master flash OFF, you can use one slave unit as a wireless off-camera Speedlite. · Any number of slave units can be used. · The flash ratio can also be changed by changing the distance of the slave units to the subject. With the EOS-1D, 1V, 3, D60, D30, ELAN 7/7E, and 30/33, you can use the modeling flash to check the lighting effects. 62 2. Wireless E-TTL Autoflash With Flash Ratio ON As shown in the figure below, the wireless E-TTL autoflash system described as an example consists of a master unit set to master flash OFF and two slave units. · · · · The slave ID of the slave unit on the camera's left is A. The slave ID of the slave unit on the camera's right is B. Master flash OFF is set for the master unit. The camera (attached with the master unit) and two slave units are properly positioned for the subject. 15 m / 49. 2 ft For indoors A 10 m / 32. 8 ft B 12 m / 39. 4 ft For outdoors 80° 8 m / 26. 2 ft G Setting the Flash Ratio for Two Slave Units: A and B With slave unit A being the main flash and slave unit B being the fill flash, the flash ratio (A:B) between these two slave units can be set from 8:1 to 1:1 or from 1:1 to 1:8. (Thirteen 1/2-stop increments. ) In terms of stops, the flash ratio can be adjusted from 3:1 to 1:1 or from 1:1 to 1:3. The E-TTL autoflash system then controls the total flash amount according to the flash ratio to obtain a correct exposure. 63 Wireless E-TTL Autoflash With Flash Ratio ON 1 On < the master unit, press the > button and select . · Pressing the < > button changes the selection in the following loop: (Off) 2 Press the <A:B. > button to select ON · ON A:B will blink. 3 Press again. · the < > button A:B and (flash ratio bar) will blink. · In the left figure, the flash ratio bar indicates a flash ratio of 1:1. > or 4 Press the < ratio. < the A:B flash > button to set · Press the < > button to move the flash ratio bar to the left, or press the < > button to move it to the right on the flash ratio scale. 64 Wireless E-TTL Autoflash With Flash Ratio ON < 5 Press the flash ratio. register the > button to · The flash ratio bar stops blinking and remains displayed. · To indicate that a flash ratio has been set, A:B will remain displayed on the master unit's LCD panel. 6 Follow the basic procedure for wireless E-TTL autoflash picturetaking on page 60 and take the picture. · During the setting procedure, A:B and blink for 8 sec. To make them blink again (so you can alter the flash ratio), press the < > button again. · The flash ratios corresponding to the positions on the flash ratio scale are shown below. (5. 6:1) (2. 8:1) (1. 4:1) (1:1. 4) (1:2. 8) (1:5. 6) · Flash ratios of A:C and B:C cannot be set. After you set the flash ratio and the flash ratio bar is displayed, you can still change the A:B flash ratio with the < > and < > buttons. 65 Wireless E-TTL Autoflash With Flash Ratio ON G Setting the Flash Ratio for Three Slave Units: A, B and C With three wireless slave units, slave unit A is the main flash, slave unit B is the fill flash, and slave unit C is a supplemental flash. Thus, slave units A and B serve to illuminate the subject for a proper exposure while slave unit C illuminates the background to eliminate shadows. Even with three slave units, the E-TTL autoflash system controls the flash to obtain a correct exposure. In addition to setting the A:B flash ratio, a flash ratio of (A:B):C can also be set. This is done by adjusting slave unit C's flash exposure compensation amount. 15 m / 49. 2 ft C 10 m / 32. 8 ft For indoors A B 12 m / 39. 4 ft For outdoors 80° 8 m / 26. 2 ft 66 Wireless E-TTL Autoflash With Flash Ratio ON The following wireless E-TTL autoflash procedure is for a master unit with three slave units. [. . . ] · Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help. This digital apparatus does not exceed the Class B limits for radio noise emissions from digital apparatus as set out in the interference-causing equipment standard entitled "Digital Apparatus", ICES-003 of the Industry Canada. 126 The CE Mark is a Directive conformity mark of the European Community (EC) The apparatus shall not be exposed to dripping or splashing. Batteries shall not be exposed to excessive heat such as sunshine, fire or the like. Dry batteries shall not be subjected to charging. 127 CANON INC. 30-2, Shimomaruko 3-chome, Ohta-ku, Tokyo 146-8501, Japan U. S. A. [. . . ]