External Speedlites, 206 | Canon 550D instruction

External Speedlites

EOS-dedicated, EX-series Speedlites

Basically operates like a built-in flash for easy operation. When an EX-series Speedlite (sold separately) is attached to the camera, almost all the autoflash control is done by the camera. In other words, it is like a high-output flash attached externally in place of the built-in flash.

For detailed instructions, see the EX-series Speedlite’s instruction manual. This camera is a Type-A camera that can use all the features of EX-series Speedlites.

Shoe-mount Speedlites

Macro Lites

With an EX-series Speedlite not compatible with flash function settings (p.147), only [Flash exp. comp] and [E-TTL II meter.] can be set for [External flash func. setting]. (Certain EX-series Speedlites also enable [Shutter sync.] to be set.)

If flash exposure compensation is set with the external Speedlite, the flash exposure compensation icon displayed on the camera’s LCD monitor will change from yto .

If the flash metering mode is set to TTL autoflash with the Speedlite’s Custom Function, the flash will fire at full output only.

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Canon 550D instruction manual External Speedlites, EOS-dedicated, EX-series Speedlites, 206

Contents

English Take Test Shots to Familiarize Yourself with the Camera Testing the Camera Before Use and LiabilityIntroduction Copyrights With eyecup and body cap Item Check ListCamera Interface cable Basic Assumptions Conventions Used in this ManualIcons in this Manual Chapters Contents Creative Shooting Advanced Shooting Image Playback Handy FeaturesShooting Movies Reference 201 Printing Images 175Customizing the Camera 189 243 Contents at a Glance Printing FocusingPlayback Handling Precautions Camera Care Lens LCD MonitorCards About smear adhering to the front of the sensor Quick Start Guide Insert the battery. p.26Set the power switch to Red index Attach the lens. p.33 Focus the subject. p.37 Set the Mode Dial to 1 FullAuto. p.46 Take the picture. p.37 Nomenclature Contacts p.13 Nomenclature Shooting Settings Display Large/Fine Viewfinder Information Focus confirmation light Max. burst Basic Zone Mode DialCreative Zone Full Auto p.46 Creative Auto p.55 Image Zone Lens without a distance scale Lens with a distance scale Battery Charger LC-E8E Battery Charger LC-E8Charger for Battery Pack LP-E8 p.24 Getting Started Attaching the Strap Recharge the battery. For LC-E8 Charging the BatteryRemove the protective cover Attach the battery As shown in the illustration, attach the battery securely Tips for Using the Battery and Charger Installing and Removing the Battery About Auto Power Off Turning on the PowerAbout the Automatic Self-Cleaning Sensor Temperature At 23C / 73F At 0C / 32F Checking the Battery LevelBattery Life Display the menu 3Setting the Date and TimeExit the setting Under the 6 tab, select Date/ Time Set the desired language 3Selecting the Interface LanguageUnder the 6 tab, select LanguageK Insert the card Installing and Removing the SD CardInstalling the Card Open the cover Captured images are recorded onto the card sold separately Remove the card Make sure the access lamp is off, then open the coverRemoving the Card Attaching and Detaching a Lens Image Conversion Factor About ZoomingTo zoom, turn the zoom ring on the lens with your fingers Press the shutter button halfway Set the is switch toAbout the Lens Image Stabilizer Take the picture Basic Operation Holding the Camera Pressing completely Shutter ButtonPressing halfway This releases the shutter and takes the picture Display the Quick Control screen QUsing the Quick Control ScreenSet the desired setting Function Setting Display Quick Control Screen Nomenclature Menu Screen Movie shooting mode3Menu Operations Basic Zone modes Select a tab Menu Setting Procedure Display the menuSelect the setting Select the desired item Format the card 3Formatting the CardSelect Format Under the 5 tab, select Format, then press Execute Format in the following cases Menu Functions Captured Image Switching the LCD Monitor DisplayShooting Settings Basic Shooting Image Playback About the Auto Lighting Optimizer Aim any AF point over Set the Mode Dial to1Fully Automatic Shooting Subject FAQ Although it is daylight, the flash popped up Shooting a Moving Subject 1Full Auto TechniquesRecomposing the Shot Taking portraits without flash 7Disabling FlashShooting Tips Focus the face 2Shooting PortraitsUse a telephoto lens Check that the AF point covering the face flashes in red Shooting night scenes 3Shooting LandscapesWith a zoom lens, use the wide-angle end Simple background makes the flower, etc., stand out better 4Shooting Close-upsUse a simple background Move to the subject as close as possible 5Shooting Moving Subjects Use the center AF point to focus 6Shooting Portraits at Night Use a wide-angle lens and a tripod Press the Q button Set the Mode Dial to CCCreative Auto Shooting Creative Auto screen appears on the LCD monitor Blurring/sharpening the background Adjusting the picture brightnessFlash firing Image-recording quality Single, continuous, and self-timer shootingImage effects Select the image XImage PlaybackPlayback the image Creative Shooting Check the shutter speed and aperture display Set the Mode Dial to d Focus the subjectProgram AE Compose the shot and press the shutter button completely Differences Between d and 1 Full Auto Change the ISO speed or use the built-in flashProgram can be shifted. Program shift Set the ISO speed Changing the ISO SpeedNPress the Z button ISO Speed Guide About Auto for Automatic ISO Speed 3Setting the Maximum ISO Speed for Auto IsonShooting Mode ISO Speed Setting 3 /4 /5 /6 /C Effective Flash Range DUsing the Built-in FlashPress the D button ISO Speed By increasing the ISO speed, you can extend the flash range 3Using Red-eye ReductionIf the subject is far away, increase the ISO speed Bright light, decrease the ISO speed Changing the AF ModeN On the lens, set the focus mode switch to AFSelect the AF mode One-Shot AF for Still Subjects AI Focus AF for Automatic Switching of AF Mode AI Servo AF for Moving Subjects Select the AF point SSelecting the AF PointNPress the S button Focus by turning the lens focusing MF Manual FocusingSet the lens focus mode switch to Ring until the subject looks sharp Press the U key to select i, then press IContinuous ShootingNPress the YiQ button Select For still subjects 10-sec. self-timer Using the Self-timerPress the YiQ button Select the self-timer Remote control can also be used. p.204 Select Quality 3Setting the Image-recording QualityGuide to Image-recording Quality Settings Approx Select the image-recording quality Does the camera display the maximum burst? When should I use 1?What’s the difference between 7 and 8? Paper size About About 1+73 Select a Picture Style ASelecting a Picture StyleNPress the XA button Picture Style Effects User Def NeutralFaithful Advanced Shooting CAbout the Main Dial Pointer Shutter Speed Display Set the Mode Dial to s Set the desired shutter speedAction Shots To freeze the action or moving subject Using the Built-in FlashHow to blur a flowing river or water fountain Use a fast shutter speed such as 1/4000 sec. to 1/500 sec Aperture Display Set the Mode Dial to f Set the desired apertureChanging the Depth of Field Changing the Depth of Field Depth of Field PreviewN Set the exposure and take the picture Set the Mode Dial to a Set the shutter speed and apertureManual Exposure Bulb Exposures Set the Mode Dial to Focus the subject Automatic Depth-of-Field AE QChanging the Metering ModeN Select Metering modeSet the metering mode Making it brighter Setting Exposure CompensationNOSetting Exposure Compensation Making it darker Set the flash exposure compensation amount YFlash Exposure CompensationNSelect y Set the AEB amount 3Auto Exposure BracketingNSelect Expo. comp./AEB Using AEB with u single shooting Canceling AEBUsing AEB with continuous shooting Using AEB with exposure compensation Select a parameter ACustomizing a Picture StyleNSelect Picture Style Set the parameter Saturation Image’s color saturation can be adjusted Parameter Settings and EffectsSharpness Adjusts the sharpness of the image Color tone Skin tones can be adjusted LToning Effect Monochrome AdjustmentKFilter Effect Press ARegistering a Picture StyleNSelect User Def Select the base Picture Style Registering a Picture StyleN About Adobe RGB 3Setting the Color SpaceNSelect Color space Recompose and take the picture AAE LockNPress the a button AE Lock Effects Focus the subject Press the a button AFE LockNPress the D button to pop-up the built-in flash Select the white balance Setting the White BalanceNPress the WB button OCustom White Balance 100 Set the white balance correction 2White Balance CorrectionNWhite Balance Correction Select WB Shift/BKT 101 102 White Balance Auto BracketingSet the white balance bracketing amount Bracketing Sequence Select Auto Lighting Optimizer Set the correction setting3Auto Lighting OptimizerN 103 104 3Lens Peripheral Illumination CorrectionSelect Peripheral illumin. correct Under the 1 tab, select About the Lens Correction Data 105 Press the shutter button completely again Preventing Camera ShakeNFocus the subject, press the shutter button completely 106 Shooting with the LCD Monitor Live View Shooting 107 108 AShooting with the LCD MonitorDisplay the Live View image 109 To Enable Live View ShootingTemperature Shooting Conditions About the Information Display 110 111 Shooting Function SettingsQQuick Control 3Menu Function Settings 112 Live Mode d Using AF to FocusSelecting the AF Mode Move the AF point UFace detection Live Mode c 114 115 AF operation Live Mode and uFace Detection Live Mode Notes116 117 118 Quick Mode fSelect the AF point. N 119 Focus manually Focusing ManuallySet the lens focus mode switch to MF 120 121 About the E icon 122 Custom Function Notes About Full HD 123Cards which can record movies Shooting the movie Autoexposure Shooting Set the Mode Dial to kKShooting Movies 124 125 126 Manual Exposure Shooting 127 Focus and shoot the movie 128 Taking still photos during movie shooting Shooting Still Photos129 Menu options under the n and o tabs are explained below 3Menu Function Settings Display the movie menu130 Mainly for motion pictures 131Menu Movie-recording size 132 AF during k 133 Sound recording 134Menu Movie exposure KHighlight tone priority Recording and Image Quality 1352Shooting 2 Menu 136 Playback and TV connection Handy Features 137 3Silencing the Beeper Handy Features3Setting the Image Review Time 3Card Reminder 139 Setting the Auto Power-off Time3Adjusting the LCD Monitor Brightness IMG0001.JPG 3File Numbering Methods140 File numbering after replacing the card Card-1Card-2 141 Set OnPD, then playback the image. It will be rotated 3Auto Rotation of Vertical Images142 143 BChecking Camera SettingsSettings Display Select the desired setting 3Reverting the Camera to the Default SettingsNSelect Clear settings Select OK Camera Settings Shooting SettingsImage-recording Settings Live View Shooting Settings Select LCD auto off 3Changing the Shooting Settings Screen Color3Preventing the LCD Monitor from Turning off Automatically Select Screen color Select Flash control 3Setting the FlashNNormally, set this to Enable Flash firing Shutter sync Flash mode148 Set the Custom Function Clear flash settingsSelect External flash C.Fn setting, then press 149 Select Clean nowf FAutomatic Sensor CleaningCleaning the Sensor Now Disabling Automatic Sensor Cleaning Obtain the Dust Delete Data Select Dust Delete Data 3Appending Dust Delete DataNPreparation 151 Select OK, and the menu will reappear About the Dust Delete Data152 Select Clean manually 3Manual Sensor CleaningNSelect Sensor cleaning End the cleaning 154 155 About images taken with another camera HDisplay Multiple Images on One Screen Index display Switch to the index displayXSearching for Images Quickly 156 Browse by jumping IJump through Images Jump displaySelect the jump method 157 Scroll around the image YMagnified ViewMagnify the image 158 Rotate the image BRotating the ImageSelect Rotate 159 Playback on the Camera’s LCD Monitorp.162-166 KEnjoying MoviesPlayback on a TV set p.167 160 Playback and Editing with a Personal Computer 161 Playback the movie KPlaying MoviesSelect a movie 162 163 Save the movie XEditing the Movie’s First and Last ScenesOn the movie playback screen, select 164 165 3Slide Show Auto PlaybackSelect Slide show Under the 3 tab, select Slide show, then press 166 Start the slide showQuit the slide show Display time Viewing on HD High-Definition TV Sets Set the camera’s power switch toViewing the Images on TV Press the x button 168 For Hdmi CEC TV setsSelect Ctrl over Hdmi Set the camera’s power switch to 169 Select the image and protect it KProtecting ImagesSelect Protect images 170 3Checkmarking X Images to be Erased in a Batch LErasing ImagesErase the image Select Erase images 3Erasing All Images in the Card 172 About the Highlight Alert BShooting Information Display173 Brightness Display 174About the Histogram RGB Display Digital Print Order Format Dpof p.185 175Printing p.176 176 Direct printing procedure is done entirely with the cameraPreparing to Print While you look at the LCD monitor Icon will appear on the upper left to 177Press the x button To a printer Print setting screen Select Paper settingsPrint setting screen will appear WPrinting USetting the Page Layout QSetting the Paper SizeYSetting the Paper Type 179 180 What is displayed on the screenSet the printing effects 181 Set the date and file number imprintingStart printing Select Print, then press EAdjustment of Printing Effects 182 Press 0 to exit the trimming Trimming the ImageSet the trimming frame size, position, and aspect ratio 183 Handling Printer Errors Error Messages 184 Digital Print Order Format Dpof Setting the Printing Options Select Print orderSelect Set up Set the option as desired 186 Press the 7 button Print Ordering 187 Prepare to print Set the Paper settings. p.178Direct Printing with Dpof Under the 3 tab, select Print order Select Print Customizing Camera Select Custom Functions C.Fn 3Setting Custom FunctionsNChange the setting as desired Select the Custom Function No Custom Functions 191 192 3Custom Function SettingsNFn I Exposure 193 Standard Low Strong DisableFn II Image Off Auto Fn III Autofocus/Drive 194 AF/AE lock AE lock/AF Fn IV Operation/Others195 AF/AF lock, no AE lock 196 197 Fn-12 Add image verification data 3Registering My MenuN Select My Menu settingsAbout My Menu settings Select Register to My Menu Select the desired option 3Setting Copyright InformationNSelect Copyright information Enter text Text Entry Procedure 200 Reference 202 When Autofocus FailsSubjects difficult to focus Connect the DC Coupler Using a Household Power OutletConnect the power cord Insert the DC Coupler 204 Remote Control ShootingRemote Controller RC-6 Sold separately Remove the eyecup Remote Switch RS-60E3 Sold separatelyUsing the Eyepiece Cover Attach the eyepiece cover 206 External SpeedlitesEOS-dedicated, EX-series Speedlites 207 Using Non-Canon Flash UnitsCanon Speedlites other than the EX-series Sync Speed Display the connection information Using Eye-Fi CardsInsert an Eye-Fi card. p.31 Select Eye-Fi settings 208 Picture is transferred Icon switches from gray Not209 Connected to the icons below Function Availability Table according to Shooting Modes 210 211 Function Availability Table according to Shooting Modes 1Shooting 1 Red Menu Settings212 2Shooting 2 Red 3Playback 1 Blue 213YShooting 3 Red 4Playback 2 Blue 7Set-up 3 Yellow 2146Set-up 2 Yellow 9My Menu Green 215 Movie Shooting Mode MenuAbout the menu screen in movie shooting mode NMovie 1 Red Bundled AccessoriesSystem Map 216 217 System Map 218 Troubleshooting GuideBattery charger’s lamp blinks Camera turns off by itself Battery becomes exhausted quickly219 No images can be shot nor recorded Maximum burst during continuous shooting is lower 220Card cannot be used ISO 100 cannot be set 221 222 Shooting date and time displayed is incorrect Eye-Fi Settings menu item does not appear223 No image appears on the TV screen Error Codes 224 Specifications 225 Autofocus 226Viewfinder Exposure Control Flash 227Shutter Drive System LCD Monitor 228Movie Shooting Image Playback Power Source229 Interface 230 EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 is 231EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 is Trademarks Use of genuine Canon accessories is recommended232 About MPEG-4 Licensing Safety Warnings 233 234 Preventing Injury or Equipment Damage 235 European Union and EEA only 236 Index 237 238 239 Hdmi CEC 240 241 242 Quick Reference Guide 243 Quick Reference Guide Movie Shooting ModeMenu items Menu settings 244 Quick Control Screen 245 QPortrait 246PStandard RLandscape Nomenclature 247 248 Aperture Shutter speed ISO speed Shooting modeIndicator Spot metering 249 Press the D button to pop up the built-in flash, then shoot Set the Mode Dial to s 250 AF ModeN 251 252 Q and q drive modes can be selected in all shooting modes Battery Life with Live View Shooting 253 Shooting Movies 254 BShooting information 255Index Magnify Select image LErase Software Start Guide Check that the camera is not connected to your computer Installing the Software257 Click Restart Compatible OS MAC OS X 10.4 258Click Finish 259 Open the CD Double-click on the CD icon CEL-SP4EA210