Canon SPEEDLIGHT 550EX- User Manual

Nomenclature ● Front 6 Flash head and transmitter Built-in Wide Panel (retracted)(page 20, 42) External power source socket Locking collar (page 13) Electrical contacts Battery compartmentcover (page 10) * The battery compartment has aswitch to display thedistance in feet ormeters on the LCDpanel. S...

Nomenclature ● Rear 7 Buttons marked with an asterisk remain active for 8 sec. after the button is released. LCDpanel illumination with the < > button remains on for 12 sec. < >Horizontal bounce release button (page 40, 90) PUSH When these twobuttons are pressedsimultaneously, thesetting...

Nomenclature ● LCD Panel 8 Manual flash output displayFlash exposure compensation displayFlash exposure bracketing (FEB) display H i g h - s p e e d s y n c (FP flash) icon FEB icon / Autoflash icon Flash exposure compensation icon Manual flash icon Multi(stroboscopic)flash icon / Custom Function ic...

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 coveras shown by the arrow and flip it up. Insert the batteries with the + and –contacts oriented as...

Installing Batteries Recharging Time and Available Flashes • The minimum recycling time applies in the E-TTL or TTL mode while the maximum recycling time applies in the manual or full-output (1/1) mode. • The minimum flash count applies in the manual or full-output (1/1) mode while the maximum flash...

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-CdPack TP. (2) Compact Battery...

3. Attaching the Speedlite to the Camera Loosen the locking collar by turning itas shown by the arrow. Slip the Speedlite’s mounting footinto the camera’s hot shoe until itstops. Turn the locking collar as shown bythe arrow and tighten. (The mountingfoot’s locking pin will extend into thehot shoe.) ...

4. Wireless Selector The wireless selector has three settings as shown below. S e t t o O F F t o u s e t h e 5 5 0 E X a s anormal, on-camera Speedlite. Set to MASTER to use the 550EX as themaster unit in a wireless, multi-Speedlitesystem. 14 Set to SLAVE to use the 550EX as aslave unit in a wirele...

Wireless Selector 15 If the 550EX is to be used as a normal, on-camera Speedlite but the wireless selectorhas 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 hasbeen...

5. Main Switch The main switch has three settings as shown below. Turns off the power. Turns on the power. 16 Turns on the power and enables the SEmode. • T h e S E ( S a v e E n e r g y ) m o d e t u r n s o f f t h e Speedlite automatically after a period of non-useas indicated in the following ta...

6. Pilot Lamp and Test Firing Set the Speedlite’s main switch to . • The flash will start charging. When the flash is ready, the pilot lamp lights. ● Red pilot lamp When the flash is fully charged, the pilotlamp lights in red. For normal use, confirmthat the pilot lamp is red before taking thepictur...

Using the Zoom Button and Wide Panel ● Automatic Flash Head Zooming Turn on the camera. Turn on the Speedlite. • I f i s d i s p l a y e d , p r e s s t h e < > button until turns off. Press the camera’s shutter buttonhalfway. The current lens focal lengthwill appear on the Speedlite’s LCDpane...

Using the Zoom Button and Wide Panel ● Using the Wide Panel PUSH Pull out the built-in wide panel and flip itdown to cover the flash head. The flashhead’s zoom setting will be set to 17mmautomatically. • Using the wide panel disables the < > button. • Use the wide panel with flash head at the ...

9. Flash Mode The following flash modes can be set with the < > button: E-TTL (or TTL) autoflash, manual flash, and stroboscopic flash. Pressing the < > button changes the flash mode in the following loop: The film speed is set automatically according to the film speed set with thecamera...

12. AF-Assist Beam In low-light or low-contrast situations, theS p e e d l i t e e m i t s t h e A F - a s s i s t b e a mautomatically to assist autofocusing. TheAF-assist beam is compatible with theAF of all EOS cameras. The AF-assistbeam is effective with 28mm and longerlenses. Its effective rang...

23 For Type-A Cameras Basic Flash Photography When the Speedlite 550EX is attached to a Type-A camera such as the EOS-3, you can take flash pictures with E-TTL autoflash as easily as normalautoexposure (AE) pictures.As with evaluative metering, the E-TTL autoflash system uses a multi-zonesensor. A p...

1. Using Flash in Full Auto Mode Set the camera’s picture-taking mode to P (Program AE) or (Full Auto). Flash photography will then be as easy as normal AE photography. Thecamera sets the aperture and shutter speed automatically to suit a widevariety of lighting conditions including outdoor fill fla...

Using Flash in Full Auto Mode After the flash fires, check that thef l a s h e x p o s u r e c o n f i r m a t i o n l a m plights.When a correct flash exposure hasbeen obtained, the flash exposureconfirmation lamp lights for about 3sec. If the lamp does not light, thef l a s h m a y h a v e b e e n...

2. Using Flash in Other Camera Modes Flash photography is also automatic in the other picture-taking modes. In the Av (aperture-priority AE), Tv (shutter speed-priority AE), and M modes, the E-TTL autoflash system sets the flash exposure automatically. The camerasets the necessary shutter speed (in ...

Using Flash in Other Camera Modes (1) Av: Aperture-Priority AE and E-TTL Autoflash This mode is effective for controlling the depth of field in your flash pictures.Y o u c a n a l s o o b t a i n a b a l a n c e d e x p o s u r e b e t w e e n t h e s u b j e c t a n dbackground. You set the apertur...

Using Flash in Other Camera Modes ● Balanced Flash Exposures In low-light situations, the exposure level can be balanced between thes u b j e c t a n d b a c k g r o u n d b y u s i n g a s l o w s y n c s p e e d . Y o u c a n o b t a i nbalanced flash exposures automatically by setting the camera’...

Using Flash in Other Camera Modes (2) Tv: Shutter Speed-Priority AE and E-TTL Autoflash By selecting the shutter speed, you can obtain various effects with flash. Youcan set the shutter speed from 30 sec. to the top sync speed. The camerathen sets the aperture automatically to obtain a correct expos...

Using Flash in Other Camera Modes (3) M: Manual Exposure and E-TTL Autoflash In this mode, you set both the shutter speed and aperture. The E-TTLautoflash system controls the flash exposure based on the the aperture youset. Set the camera’s picture-taking modeto M and set the desired aperture and sh...

31 For Type-A Cameras Advanced Flash Photography This section explains advanced flash operations possible with the Speedlite550EX. It contains the following: 1. High-Speed Sync (FP Flash) (page 32)2. FE Lock (page 34)3. Flash Exposure Compensation (page 36)4. FEB (Flash Exposure Bracketing) (page 38...

1. High-Speed Sync (FP Flash) When you set the synchronization mode to high-speed sync (FP flash), thecamera can synchronize with the 550EX at all shutter speeds. When high-speed sync has been set, is displayed in the viewfinder. • High-speed sync can be used in the E-TTL and M flash modes. • High-s...

2. FE Lock You can use FE (flash exposure) lock with Type-A cameras. This is the flashversion of AE lock. With FE lock, you use spot metering to obtain the correctflash exposure reading for a specific part of the subject. • FE lock works with E-TTL and high-speed sync (FP flash). Select a picture-ta...

FE Lock Check the flash exposure level in theviewfinder, then take the picture. 35 6 • If the subject is too far away to obtain a correct flash exposure, will blink in the viewfinder. Either move closer to the subject or use a larger aperture (smaller f-number) and try again. • FE lock cannot be use...

3. Flash Exposure Compensation Flash exposure compensation with the 550EX can be set up to ±3 stops in1/3-stop increments (or 1/2-stop increments with some cameras). You canalso use flash exposure compensation in combination with normal exposurecompensation (to control the background’s exposure leve...

Effect on exposure of each type of compensation Flash Exposure Compensation Check that the subject is within theflash range displayed on the 550EX’sLCD panel. Check that the and icons are displayed in the viewfinder, then takethe picture. 37 5 6 • Flash exposure compensation set with the 550EX overr...

5. Bounce Flash W i t h d i r e c t , f r o n t a l f l a s h , h a r s h s h a d o w s a r e u s u a l l y c r e a t e d i n t h ebackground behind the subject. This can be avoided by bouncing the flash offa nearby wall or ceiling. Bounce flash also gives softer lighting effects. T o t u r n t h e ...

Bounce Flash Check that the icon is displayed in the viewfinder, then take the picture. • If the flash exposure confirmation lamp does not light after you take the picture, use alarger aperture (smaller f-number) and tryagain. 41 4 With bounce flash. Without bounce flash. Bounce the flash on a plain...

Bounce Flash ● Creating a Catchlight A catchlight is a reflection of the flash in the subject’s eyes. A catchlight in theeyes makes the subject look more lively. For portraits, you can easily create acatchlight with the 550EX. Tilt the flash head upward all the way by90˚. Extend the built-in wide pa...

6. Close-Distance Flash Photography The flash head can be tilted downward by 7°. This position enables the flashto better illuminate the lower part of a subject that is close to the camera. Press the < > button and tilt the flash head downward until it stops. The icon will blink on the LCD pan...

Manual Flash Mode Press the < > or < > button to set the desired flash output. • Each time the button is pressed, the flash output changes by one stop. P r e s s t h e < > b u t t o n a g a i n . T h e m a n u a l f l a s h o u t p u tdisplay will stop blinking and remaindisplayed....

8. Stroboscopic Flash With stroboscopic flash, a rapid series of flashes is fired. It can be used torecord multiple images of a moving subject in a single photograph for laterstudy.You can set the firing frequency (the number of flashes per sec. expressed asHz) from 1 Hz to 199 Hz. The firing freque...

Stroboscopic Flash P r e s s t h e < > b u t t o n t o s e l e c t t h e f i r i n g f r e q u e n c y , f l a s hcount, or flash output display. Whenselected, the respective item blinkson the LCD panel to indicate that itc a n b e a l t e r e d . P r e s s i n g t h e< > b u t t o n c h...

Stroboscopic Flash Use the following formula to calculatethe required shutter speed. Flash count ÷ Firing frequency = Shutter speed Example: If the flash count is 10 and the firing frequency is 5 Hz, theshutter speed will have to be atleast 2 sec. 10 ÷ 5 = 2 • If the flash count display is , the fla...

51 For Type-A Cameras Wireless Flash Photography This section covers wireless flash photography with the 550EX. It explains the550EX’s built-in master and slave flash features. 550EX Wireless Flash Features • A wireless flash system with multiple Speedlite 550EXs can be used as easily as a single, o...

[1] Wireless System Setup and Testing The wireless flash system can be setup in one of two ways: 1 With a 550EX set as the master unit and one or more 550EXs set as slave units. 2 With Speedlite Transmitter ST-E2 (sold separately) used as the master unit andone or more 550EXs set as slave units. Thi...

2. Setting the 550EX as a Slave Unit Set the wireless selector to on the 550EX to be used as a slave unit. A550EX set in this way is called a “slaveunit.” • The slave unit’s flash head zoom setting is set automatically to . 53 You can change the slave unit’s flash head zoom setting manually with the...

Setting the Master/Slave Channel Press the < > or < > button to set the same channel No. (1, 2, 3,or 4) as the master unit’s. Press the < > button. • The icon and channel No. will be displayed. 55 5 6 If the master unit and slave unit(s) are not set to the same channel No., the mas...

4. Setting the Slave ID With multiple slave units, a slave ID can be assigned to distinguish a slaveunit as being the main flash or fill flash. A flash ratio can thereby be set. Threeslave IDs are available: A, B, and C. To set a slave unit’s slave ID, pressthe < > button and select . • Pressi...

5. Master Flash ON/OFF The master unit’s flash firing can be enabled (ON) or disabled (OFF). (1) ( ) : This setting enables the master unit to fire a flash. • This setting is called “Master flash ON.”• This setting automatically sets the master unit’s slave ID to A. (2) ( ) : This setting (Master fl...

6. Wireless Flash Range After the master and slave units have been set, position them within thewireless flash range shown below. 58 • Use the mini stand (provided) for the slave unit(s). The mini stand also has a tripod socket.• Use the bounce feature to turn the body of the slave unit so that the ...

Wireless Flash Range C h e c k t h a t t h e m a s t e r u n i t ’ s p i l o tlamp is lit and that the slave unit(s)are recharged and ready. • When a slave unit is ready, its AF-assist beam blinks once per second. Press the master unit’s pilot lamp(test firing button) to fire a test flash. • When th...

[2] Wireless E-TTL Autoflash Wireless E-TTL autoflash with multiple Speedlite 550EXs can be used in oneof two ways: (1) OFF : All slave units fire at the same flash output. (2) ON : Slave units with different slave IDs (A, B, or C) can be fired at different flash outputs to produce a flash ratio. • ...

Wireless E-TTL Autoflash With Flash Ratio OFF Check for the following icons on themaster unit’s LCD panel: • displayed • not displayed • displayed M a k e s u r e t h e m a s t e r u n i t ’ s p i l o tlamp is lit and the slave units areready. P r e s s t h e p i l o t l a m p t o t e s t t h ewirel...

2. Wireless E-TTL Autoflash With Flash Ratio ON As shown in the figure below, the wireless E-TTL autoflash system describedas an example consists of a master unit set to master flash OFF and twoslave units. • The slave ID of the slave unit on the camera’s left is A. • The slave ID of the slave unit ...

Wireless E-TTL Autoflash With Flash Ratio ON O n t h e m a s t e r u n i t , p r e s s t h e< > b u t t o n a n d s e l e c t . • Pressing the < > button changes the selection in the following loop: P r e s s t h e < > b u t t o n t o s e l e c t ON A:B. • ON A:B will blink. P r e ...

Wireless E-TTL Autoflash With Flash Ratio ON ● 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 isthe fill flash, and slave unit C is a supplemental flash. Thus, slave units A andB serve to illuminate the subject ...

Wireless E-TTL Autoflash With Flash Ratio ON P r e s s t h e < > b u t t o n t o register the setting. • T h e f l a s h r a t i o b a r a n d A : B : C remain displayed. • To change the flash exposure compensation amount, repeat steps 8 to 10. F o l l o w t h e b a s i c p r o c e d u r e f o...

Wireless E-TTL Autoflash With Flash Ratio ON ● Wireless High-Speed Sync (FP Flash) After setting up the wireless flash system with one or more slave units, youcan enable wireless high-speed sync by setting on the master unit. • You need not touch any controls on the slave units. • The procedure for ...

[3] Wireless Manual Flash After setting up the wireless flash system, you can manually set the slaveunit’s flash output with the master unit. The flash output can be uniform orvaried among the slave units. To determine the proper flash exposure, use ahand-held flash meter. O n t h e m a s t e r u n ...

2. Wireless Manual Flash With Varied Flash Output You can set a different flash output for each slave unit (A, B, and C) asfollows. O n t h e m a s t e r u n i t , p r e s s t h e< > button and select M . Press the < > button and select . • Pressing the < > button changes the selec...

Wireless Manual Flash With Varied Flash Output Press the < > or < > button to set the flash output for B . Press the < > button. • C and the flash output display will blink. Press the < > or < > button to set the flash output for C . P r e s s t h e < > b u t t o ...

[5] Manual or Stroboscopic Flash With a Slave Unit Manual flash or stroboscopic flash can be set manually with a slave unit. Thesetting is independent from the master unit. The master unit just triggers thes l a v e u n i t w h i c h f i r e s a c c o r d i n g t o i t s o w n i n d e p e n d e n t ...

2. Stroboscopic Flash With a Slave Unit • W h i l e M i s b l i n k i n g , p r e s s t h e < > b u t t o n . w i l l t h e n start blinking. • To set the stroboscopic flash, seepage 46. 75 To determine the proper exposure, take test shots and experiment. Pressing the < > button while is...

1. Flash Exposure Compensation Flash exposure compensation with the 550EX can be set up to ±3 stops in1/3-stop increments (or 1/2-stop increments with some cameras). You canalso use flash exposure compensation in combination with normal exposurecompensation (to control the background’s exposure leve...

95 6. Stroboscopic Flash With stroboscopic flash, a rapid series of flashes is fired. It can be used torecord multiple images of a moving subject in a single photograph for laterstudy.You can set the firing frequency (the number of flashes per sec. expressed asHz) from 1 Hz to 199 Hz. The firing fre...

2. Setting the 550EX as a Slave Unit Set the wireless selector to on the 550EX to be used as a slave unit. A550EX set in this way is called a “slaveunit.” • The slave unit’s flash head zoom setting is set automatically to . [1] Wireless System Setup and Testing The wireless flash system can be setup...

110 Manual flash or stroboscopic flash can be set manually with a slave unit. Thesetting is independent from the master unit. The master unit just triggers thes l a v e u n i t w h i c h f i r e s a c c o r d i n g t o i t s o w n i n d e p e n d e n t ( m a n u a l o rs t r o b o s c o p i c f l a ...

112 The Speedlite 550EX has Custom Functions which enable you to customizeSpeedlite functions according to your preferences. ● Setting a Custom Function P r e s s t h e L C D p a n e l i l l u m i n a t i o nbutton for at least 2 sec. until appears on the LCD panel. Press the < > button until ...

113 Custom Functions ● Custom Function Settings Function Custom Function No. Setting Description CF-1 0 Enabled 1 Disabled CF-2 0 Correct exposure, decreased exposure, increased exposure 1 Decreased exposure, correct exposure, increased exposure CF-3 0 E-TTL 1 TTL CF-4 0 Activate after 60 min. of no...

114 Canon Speedlite 550EX System 1 9 q 2 3 7 6 5 4 8 t r y u e The accessories on the left enablewired, multi-Speedlite TTL autoflash. e TTL Hot Shoe Adapter 3 r TTL Distributor t Off-Camera Shoe Adapter OA-2 y Connecting Cord 60 u Connecting Cord 300 0 w 08. F073-E (99~) 02.4.1 2:16 PM Page 114

116 Troubleshooting Guide Problem I cannot detach the Speedlitefrom the camera. The flash does not fire evenwhen I press the shutterbutton completely. After I turn on the Speedlite,the pilot lamp turns off after awhile. When I turn on the mainswitch, the entire displayblinks. When I press the shutte...

118 Specifications Type: Direct-sync, shoe-mount flash with E-TTL/TTL autoflash control andwireless transmission/reception (E-TTL preflash, AF-assist beam, autozoom, and bounce flash). Compatible cameras: Type-A EOS cameras (for E-TTL autoflash control) Type-B EOS cameras (for TTL autoflash control)...

122 Specifications ● Maximum Continuous Flashes • When the flash count is , the maximum flash count will be as follows regardless of the flash frequency. Hz 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Flash Output 1/4 7 6 5 4 4 3 3 3 3 2 1/8 14 14 12 10 8 6 6 5 5 4 1/16 30 30 30 20 20 20 20 10 10 8 1/32 60 60 60 50 50 40 ...

123 Specifications ● AF-Assist Beam Emission Preconditions ● Camera’s Flash-Related Exposure Warnings 550EX/Camera Combination 550EX’s AF-Assist Camera’s AF-Assist Beam Emitted Beam Emitted EOS-1D, EOS-1V, EOS-3, EOS-1N, EOS-1N RS, EOS D60, EOS D30, EOS ELAN 7/7E, 30/33, EOS 50/50 E/ELAN ll/ELAN ll ...

124 Specifications ● Speedlite 550EX Feature Availability *1 With Custom Function CF-3-1.*2 Only one slave group can be controlled.*3 For bulb exposures with the EOS 700, the aperture f/5.6. *1 *1 *1 *1 *1 *1 *1 *1 *1 *2 *2 *2 *2 *2 *2 Camera Camera’s Max. Sync Speed (sec.) Autoflash Control Wireles...

E E English Edition INSTRUCTIONS This Instructions booklet is dated April 2000. For information on the camera’scompatibility with system accessories marketed after this date, contact your nearestCanon Service Center. CANON INC. 30-2, Shimomaruko 3-chome, Ohta-ku, Tokyo 146-8501, Japan U.S.A. CANON U...