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E
CANON INC. 30-2, Shimomaruko 3-chome, Ohta-ku, Tokyo 146-8501, Japan
U.S.A. CANON U.S.A. INC.
For all inquiries concerning this camera, call toll free in the U.S.
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CANON CANADA INC. CALGARY OFFICE
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Thank you for purchasing a Canon product. The Canon Speedlite 550EX is a powerful, high-output flash unit featuring E- The CE Mark is a Directive conformity mark of the European TTL (Evaluative-Through-The-Lens) autoflash control. It can be used as an on- Community (EC) camera 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-look- The apparatus shall not be exposed to dripping or splashing. ing f
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01. F073-E (3~) 02.4.1 2:07 PM Page 3 Conventions Used in this Booklet The Instructions are divided into separate sections for Type-A and Type-B cameras. If you have a Type-A camera, see pages 10 to 76 and 112 to 125. If you have a Type-B camera, see pages 10 to 22 and 77 to 125. The Speedlite operation procedures assume that the Speedlite 550EX has been turned on with its main switch. Before proceeding, turn on the main switch. The camera and Speedlite’s buttons and dials and their setti
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01. F073-E (3~) 02.4.1 2:07 PM Page 4 Contents Nomenclature .........................................6 1. Installing Batteries..........................10 2. External Power Sources ................12 3. Attachment to Camera ...................13 Before You Start 4. Wireless Selector ...........................14 5. Main Switch....................................16 1. Using Flash in Full Auto Mode .......24 2. Using Flash in Basic Flash Other Camera Modes ....................26 Photography 1.
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01. F073-E (3~) 02.4.1 2:07 PM Page 5 • For Type-A cameras, see pages 10 to 76 and 112 to 125. • For Type-B cameras, see pages 10 to 22 and 77 to 125. 6. Pilot Lamp and Test Firing..........17 10. Setting the Film Speed ...............21 7. Flash Exposure Confirmation .....18 11. LCD Panel Illumination ...............21 8. Using the Zoom Button and 12. AF-Assist Beam..........................22 Wide Panel .................................18 Automatic Reversion to Default 9. Flash Mode.....
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01. F073-E (3~) 02.4.1 2:07 PM Page 6 Nomenclature Front Built-in Wide Panel (retracted) (page 20, 42) Flash head and transmitter Sensor Battery compartment cover (page 10) *The battery compartment has a switch to display the AF-assist beam emitter distance in feet or (page 22) meters on the LCD panel. External power source socket Locking collar (page 13) Mounting foot (page 13) Locking pin (page 13) Electrical contacts Shoe Mini stand pocket Case Mini stand 6
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01. F073-E (3~) 02.4.1 2:07 PM Page 7 Nomenclature Rear < PUSH >Horizontal bounce release LCD panel button (page 40, 90) When these two buttons are pressed simultaneously, the setting changes in the following loop: PUSH < > Vertical bounce release button (page 40, 90) (Off) * < > Decrement button * < > Increment * < > Select/ button Set button * < > LCD panel < > Zoom illumination button button (page 18) (page 21) Custom Function setting button(page 112) < > Flash mode and slave setting b
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01. F073-E (3~) 02.4.1 2:07 PM Page 8 Nomenclature LCD Panel Manual flash output display Flash exposure Manual zoom icon compensation display Zoom and focal length Flash exposure coverage display bracketing (FEB) display Second-curtain High-speed sync flash sync icon (FP flash) icon FEB icon / Autoflash icon Flash exposure compensation icon Manual flash icon Multi Flash ratio (stroboscopic) flash icon Distance unit (meters) Custom Distance Function icon unit (feet) Flash range scale Slav
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02. F073-E (9~) 02.4.1 2:08 PM Page 9 Before You Start This chapter is for preparing the Speedlite 550EX for actual operation. 9
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02. F073-E (9~) 02.4.1 2:08 PM Page 10 1. Installing Batteries Speedlite 550EX requires one of the following two types of batteries: (1) Size-AA alkaline batteries × 4 (2) Size-AA nickel-hydride batteries × 4 Slide the battery compartment cover 1 as shown by the arrow and flip it up. 1 2 Insert the batteries with the + and – 2 contacts oriented as shown in the battery compartment. Close the battery compartment cover 3 as shown in the figure. 1 2 10
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02. F073-E (9~) 02.4.1 2:08 PM Page 11 Installing Batteries • Use four new batteries of the same type. When replacing batteries, replace all four batteries at one time. • Size-AA lithium batteries can also be used. • Although non-alkaline, manganese batteries may also be used, the number of flashes will be less. • Remove the batteries when the 550EX will not be used for an extended period. • In low temperatures, take two sets of batteries and keep one set warm in a pocket, etc., and use the
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02. F073-E (9~) 02.4.1 2:08 PM Page 12 2. External Power Sources Speedlite 550EX can use any of the following two external power sources. For details, refer to the Instructions of the respective external power source. (1) Transistor Pack E Uses Canon Battery Magazine TP (six size-C alkaline batteries) or Ni-Cd Pack TP. (2) Compact Battery Pack CP-E2 Uses six size-AA alkaline or nickel-hydride batteries. Size-AA lithium batteries can also be used. Recharging Time and Available Flashes Rechargi
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02. F073-E (9~) 02.4.1 2:08 PM Page 13 3. Attaching the Speedlite to the Camera Loosen the locking collar by turning it 1 as shown by the arrow. Slip the Speedlite’s mounting foot 2 into the camera’s hot shoe until it stops. Turn the locking collar as shown by 3 the arrow and tighten. (The mounting foot’s locking pin will extend into the hot shoe.) • To detach the Speedlite, turn the locking collar in the opposite direction until it stops. (The locking pin retracts into the mounting foot.) Al
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02. F073-E (9~) 02.4.1 2:08 PM Page 14 4. Wireless Selector The wireless selector has three settings as shown below. Set to OFF to use the 550EX as a normal, on-camera Speedlite. Set to MASTER to use the 550EX as the master unit in a wireless, multi-Speedlite system. Set to SLAVE to use the 550EX as a slave unit in a wireless, multi-Speedlite system. 14
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02. F073-E (9~) 02.4.1 2:08 PM Page 15 Wireless Selector If the 550EX is to be used as a normal, on-camera Speedlite but the wireless selector has been set to or , the following applies: : If master flash ON has also been set, it will be the same as using the Speedlite at the wireless selector’s OFF setting. If master flash OFF has been set, a picture cannot be taken. : It will be the same as using the Speedlite at the wireless selector’s OFF setting. However, when the camera’s exposure meter
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02. F073-E (9~) 02.4.1 2:08 PM Page 16 5. Main Switch The main switch has three settings as shown below. Turns off the power. Turns on the power. Turns on the power and enables the SE mode. • The SE (Save Energy) mode turns off the Speedlite automatically after a period of non-use as indicated in the following table. Wireless Selector Setting OFF MASTER SLAVE 90 sec. 60 min. • When the wireless selector is set to or and the SE mode takes effect, the LCD panel display turns off. To cancel the
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02. F073-E (9~) 02.4.1 2:08 PM Page 17 6. Pilot Lamp and Test Firing Set the Speedlite’s main switch to . 1 • The flash will start charging. When the flash is ready, the pilot lamp lights. Red pilot lamp When the flash is fully charged, the pilot lamp lights in red. For normal use, confirm that the pilot lamp is red before taking the picture. Yellow pilot lamp When the camera is set for single shooting, a yellow pilot lamp indicates a less-than-full charge which enables a quick flash (see
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02. F073-E (9~) 02.4.1 2:08 PM Page 18 7. Flash Exposure Confirmation When a correct flash exposure has been obtained, the flash exposure confirmation lamp on the back of the Speedlite lights in yellow-green for 3 sec. If the flash exposure confirmation lamp does not light after the flash fires, the picture may have been underexposed. Move closer to the subject and try again. 8. Using the Zoom Button and Wide Panel The Speedlite’s flash head zooms automatically to provide adequate flash cover
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02. F073-E (9~) 02.4.1 2:08 PM Page 19 Using the Zoom Button and Wide Panel Automatic Flash Head Zooming Turn on the camera. 1 Turn on the Speedlite. 2 • If is displayed, press the < > button until turns off. Press the camera’s shutter button 3 halfway. The current lens focal length will appear on the Speedlite’s LCD panel. Manual Flash Head Zooming Press the < > button. and will be displayed. Keep pressing the < > button until the desired zoom setting (focal length) appears. Pressing the
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PUSH 02. F073-E (9~) 02.4.1 2:08 PM Page 20 Using the Zoom Button and Wide Panel Using the Wide Panel Pull out the built-in wide panel and flip it down to cover the flash head. The flash head’s zoom setting will be set to 17mm automatically. • Using the wide panel disables the < > button. • Use the wide panel with flash head at the normal or 7° downward tilt position. • If the built-in wide panel is used and the flash head is turned or tilted for bounce flash, the flash result may look unev
