Perfect Flash Exposures Make Better Pictures
Integral to Canon’s EOS system, EOS Speedlites are the ideal light source to provide perfect exposure and illumination for just about any subject. Operation is simple yet sophisticated; the more you understand the system, the more you can do with it. Whether you’re a beginner or an expert, it’s easy to obtain professional-quality results. Let’s take a look at the options:
The Difference between E-TTL, E-TTL II and TTL
WHAT IS E-TTL?
Canon’s flagship flash mode, E-TTL stands for Evaluative Through-The-Lens flash exposure control. In E-TTL, the meter reads through the lens, but not off the focal
Exposure Lock (a method of spot metering with flash) and FP flash mode (the ability to use flash at high shutter speeds). E-TTL is Canon’s most advanced flash exposure control system to date, and requires the use of EX-series dedicated Speedlites such as the 550EX, 420EX, 220EX, MT-24EX or MR-14EX in combination with a compatible camera. (See SLR Compatibility chart on page 21).
*An abbreviation for “Advanced Integrated Multi-point control system”, AIM is Canon’s original multi-point autofocusing and metering system. It links evaluative metering, spot metering and flash exposure control to the active focusing point. It enables the user to concentrate on composition and peak expression without having to first place the subject at the centre for AF Lock.
E-TTL II
The new 30V/33V and the EOS-1D Mark II employ an “evolved” version of E-TTL, the E-TTL II, which
These readings are weighted, averaged and compared with the ambient light reading, and the main flash output is then set and stored in memory.
Thus, unlike the conventional system, EOS-1D Mark II weighs and averages the flash metering capturing the subject as a “plane” and not as a “point”. As a result, the camera can obtain consistent flash exposures even if the subject contains various colours and various levels of reflections. The camera also allows the user to select an average metering pattern by using its custom function settings.
**Refer to the EF Lens Specifications chart on page 16 for E-TTL II compatible EF lenses.
WHAT IS TTL?
TTL (Through-The-Lens) is the standard flash exposure control
errors caused by unwanted reflections from highly reflective surfaces like windows or mirrors.
ADJUSTING AMBIENT
EXPOSURE IN FE LOCK After pre-flashing the subject with the FE Lock button, ambient exposure can be adjusted by turning the Quick Control Dial. The ambient exposure level is displayed on the exposure level scale in the viewfinder and on the external LCD panel. Correct ambient exposure according to the camera’s meter is indicated by the triangle index at the centre of the scale.
Note: Ambient exposure cannot be adjusted when the camera is set to Bulb Mode, or in low-light situations when the camera is set to Program or DEP.
FP MODE
FP (focal-plane) flash, or High-speed
SECOND-CURTAIN SYNC Instead of firing the instant the shutter opens, second-curtain sync fires the flash at the end of the exposure, allowing streaks of light to flow naturally behind the movement of the subject. This mode opens a door to more creative opportunities, and is most effective when slow shutter speeds are used in combination with a subject that has a light source of its own, such as the headlights of a moving car.
AV – APERTURE-PRIORITY AE Selecting Aperture-Priority AE Mode while shooting with flash gives you maximum control over depth-of-field. You choose the aperture, and the camera will automatically set a shutter speed according to the ambient light level. Backgrounds will be properly exposed, day or night. To make sure you achieve a balanced exposure, the shutter speed indicator will let you know if you’ve chosen an unusable aperture by blinking on and off in the viewfinder and external LCD display.
TV – SHUTTER-PRIORITY AE Using your flash in Shutter-Priority Mode lets you select the shutter speed while the camera selects the aperture based on the ambient light consistently resulting in correctly exposed backgrounds. In bright light, you can select high shutter speeds
and FP Flash modes. These modes provide the best overall performance and flexibility for automatic flash exposure control with E-TTL compatible EOS cameras, including wireless control of off-camera slave units with the 550EX, MT-24EX and MR-14EX. EX-series Speedlites function in TTL mode when used with earlier EOS cameras lacking E-TTL capability.
EZ-SERIES SPEEDLITES
All EZ-series Speedlites have been replaced with EX-series models. The main features shared in common by these still advanced Speedlites are A-TTL capability and motorised zoom control that automatically varies flash coverage according to lens focal length.
SLR Compatibility
SPEEDLITE 200E
This series includes low-power,
economy flash units with TTL-only flash
operation. Speedlite 200E provides fully automatic operation with any EOS film camera, and is an excellent choice for close-upphotography when used
in combination with Off-Camera
Shoe Cord 2.
Note: Speedlite 200E is not compatible with EOS digital SLRs.
plane. Utilising a pre-flash fired after the shutter button has been fully depressed but before the camera’s reflex mirror goes up, E-TTL uses the camera’s evaluative metering sensor to analyse and compare ambient light exposure values with the light reflected from the subject by the pre-flash. This data is used to calculate and store the flash output required for optimum exposure of the main subject (identified by the AIM system*), while maintaining a subtle balance between foreground and background. This method provides several extra features such as Flash
E-TTL Flash System
(Cameras with 21-zone metering)
meter weighted on extreme-left focusing point
meter weighted on centre focusing point
meter weighted on extreme-right focusing point
Primary metering zone
Secondary metering zones.
Other metering zones.
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incorporates distance information from compatible EF lenses** for more versatile flash exposure control. E-TTL II eliminates underexposure that can occur with straight reflections by ignoring sensor areas that report abnormally high levels of reflections from its calculation. This feature is useful when shooting a subject with a highly reflective object in the background or if the subject itself is highly reflective.
In addition, the new E-TTL Il prevents over-exposure when photographers lock focus and recompose the
shot by considering the flash output level calculated according to the distance information. Moreover, with the EOS-1D Mark II, the system is not dependent on the active AF point for even more consistent flash exposure result, considering the numerous focusing points. Here is how this works: the ambient light is measured when the shutter button is pressed.
Next, a pre-flash is fired and the metering sensor takes readings at the central 17 metering zones.
The ambient and pre-flash readings are compared. The metering areas having a small difference are selected as the flash exposure metering areas. Areas with very big differences between ambient and pre-flash readings are excluded or down-weighted because they are assumed to contain a highly reflective object, or that the subject is not in that part of the frame. This assumption is also ensured by the distance information, and thealgorithm avoids chronic under-exposure problems in
such situation.
mode used by the built-in flash units that come with some EOS cameras. It is also the only mode available with older Canon models such as the Speedlite 480EG, 200E, 160E and Macro Ring Lite ML-3. Additionally, TTL is available with Speedlite 540EZ in all camera exposure modes except for direct flash in Program Mode, as shown in the Speedlite Compatibility Chart on page 21. TTL is identical to A-TTL in almost every way, except there is no pre-flash. When the camera is set to Program mode, TTL flash sets an aperture based
on the ambient light level.
Note: A-TTL and TTL are not compatible with digital SLRs.
Optional Settings for Enhanced Creativity
FE LOCK
Flash Exposure Lock (FE Lock) adds Auto Exposure Lock and spot metering functions to flash photography with EX-series Speedlites and E-TTL compatible cameras. The EX-series Speedlite’s pre-flash fires when the camera’s AE Lock button is depressed, storing both flash and ambient spot metering data for up to 16 seconds. This provides enough time for adjustments: Not only can the shot be recomposed, but the ambient exposure can also be altered for maximum creative control. FE Lock is extremely useful when you wish to recompose after focus lock or to place the main subject in a part of the picture area that is not covered by one of the focusing points. It can also eliminate potential exposure
Sync, enables an E-TTL-compatible camera equipped with an EX-series Speedlite to synchronise flash at shutter speeds faster than the camera’s normal maximum sync speed. Even in bright daylight, for example, a fast lens can be used at a wide aperture to blur the background and emphasise the subject. FP flash can be combined with E-TTL or FE Lock, and is available in all AE modes plus Manual.
Note: Unlike conventional electronic flash, FP flash output (guide number) decreases according to shutter speed.
FP Flash • EF 50mm f/1L USM lens, 1/1,000 sec. at f/2
FLASH EXPOSURE
COMPENSATION
This setting adjusts the level of illumination provided by the flash without changing the shutter speed or aperture. It’s a particularly effective way to fine-tune the balance between foreground and background exposure during fill-in flash, but it can also be effective to compensate for extremely bright or dark tones in the subject. Flash exposure compensation can be set with most current Speedlites, and it can also be set with all current EOS cameras other than the EOS 3000N, EOS 300, EOS 300V and EOS 300D.
second-curtain sync makes light streaks appear in the path behind the moving subjects, by firing the flash at the end of the exposure
STROBOSCOPIC FLASH Stroboscopic flash is a series of flashes fired successively during a single exposure. With stroboscopic flash, multiple images of a moving subject appear in the photograph. Using this mode, you can analyse a golf swing or record the shattering of a windowpane. Available with Speedlite 550EX, Macro Ring Lite MR-14EX and Macro Twin Lite MT-24EX, it’s yet another way Canon adds to your creative potential.
Choosing the Best
Shooting Mode
P – PROGRAM AE
Set your EOS camera to Program and the camera and Speedlite work together to create perfectly lit exposures automatically. In daylight or brightly lit indoor situations, the background will always be correctly exposed and the camera will control the fill-flash ratio for optimum results. Indoors or at night, the Speedlite becomes the main source of illumination and the shutter speed will be kept fast enough to permit hand-held exposures.
up to the camera’s maximum X-sync speed, and even higher than that with EX-series Speedlites and E-TTL compatible cameras. In dark conditions, you can set slower speeds (up to 30 seconds) for special effects. If you select a shutter speed that is too fast to produce a correct exposure of the background, the EOS system will display a blinking warning in the viewfinder and external display.
M – MANUAL MODE
When you want full control of both shutter and aperture while shooting with flash, use the camera’s Manual Mode. This option is important in low-light situations when you want to combine small apertures with high shutter speeds. Keep in mind that manual exposure mode on the camera can be combined with fully automatic flash exposure, since the EOS camera’s metering systems for flash and existing light are controlled independently.
Shedding a Little Light on Canon Speedlites
Canon offers a full range of Speedlite flash units compatible with EOS system cameras for a wide variety of applications and photographers’ needs. They run the gamut from simple, economical flashes to high-power, highly advanced Speedlites for professional use.
EX-SERIES SPEEDLITES EX-series Speedlites such as the 550EX, 420EX, 220EX, and MT-24EX and MR-14EX share several common features including E-TTL, FE Lock,
CAMERA | E-TTL | E-TTL II | A-TTL / TTL |
EOS 620/650 | No | No | Centre-weight |
EOS 700/750/850 | No | No | Centre-weight |
| | | |
EOS 630/600 RT | No | No | Centre-weight |
EOS-1 | No | No | Centre-weight |
| | | |
EOS 1000/1000F | No | No | Centre-weight |
EOS 100 | No | No | Centre-weight |
| | | |
EOS 1000FN/1000S | No | No | Centre-weight |
EOS 10 | No | No | 3-zone |
EOS 5 | No | No | 3-zone |
EOS-1N RS /1N | No | No | 3-zone |
| | | |
EOS-1v/1v HS | Yes | No | 4-point/3-zone |
EOS 500 /3000N | No | No | 4-point/3-zone |
| | | |
EOS 5000 | No | No | 4-point/3-zone |
EOS 50/50E | Yes | No | 4-point/3-zone |
| | | |
EOS 30V/33V | Yes | Yes | 4-point/3-zone |
EOS 500N | Yes | No | 4-point/3-zone |
| | | |
EOS IX7/IX | Yes | No | 4-point/3-zone |
EOS-3 | Yes | No | 4-point/3-zone |
EOS 300V/300V Date/300/300 Date | Yes | No | 4-point/3-zone |
EOS D2000 (Digital) | Yes | No | 3-zone |
| | | |
EOS D30 (Digital) | Yes | No | Not Possible***** |
EOS 300D (Digital) | Yes | No | Not Possible***** |
EOS D60 (Digital) | Yes | No | Not Possible***** |
EOS 10D (Digital) | Yes | No | Not Possible***** |
EOS-1Ds/1D (Digital) | Yes | No | Not Possible***** |
EOS-1D Mark II (Digital) | Yes | Yes****** | Not Possible***** |
Speedlite Compatibility
Speedlite | E-TTL**** | A-TTL | TTL | Manual |
550EX | Yes**** | No | Yes* | Yes |
540EZ | No | Yes** | Yes | Yes |
| | | | |
480EG | No | No | Yes | Yes |
430EZ | No | Yes | Yes*** | Yes |
| | | | |
420EZ | No | Yes | Yes*** | Yes |
420EX | Yes**** | No | Yes* | No |
380EX | Yes**** | No | Yes* | No |
300EZ | No | Yes | Yes*** | No |
| | | | |
220EX | Yes**** | No | Yes* | No |
200E | No | No | Yes | No |
160E | No | No | Yes | No |
ML-3 | No | No | Yes | No |
MR-14EX | Yes**** | No | Yes* | Yes |
MT-24EX | Yes**** | No | Yes* | Yes |
| | | | |
* | Defaults to TTL with EOS bodies that do | ***** | All EOS Digital SLRs (except D2000) |
| not support E-TTL. | | provide automatic E-TTL flash with EX-series |
** | Defaults to TTL in all conditions | | Speedlite only. TTL/A-TTL with older |
| except direct flash in the camera’s | | Speedlite is not possible. |
| Program mode. | | Discontinued product, for reference only. |
*** | Defaults to TTL in the camera’s | ****** Not linked to AF point. |
| Manual mode. | | |
**** | Requires EOS body that supports E-TTL. | | |
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POWER SUPPLIES |
ACCESSORIES | DIGITAL |
ACCESSORIES | SHOOTING |
PERIPHERALS CASES AND STRAPS
