Instructions
550EX Features Available with EOS Cameras
Thank you for purchasing a Canon product
Conventions Used in this Booklet
Contents
FEB
Nomenclature
Front
Rear
Nomenclature
LCD Panel
Before You Start
Installing Batteries
Installing Batteries
Recharging Time and Available Flashes
External Power Sources
Attaching the Speedlite to the Camera
Wireless Selector
Wireless Selector
Main Switch
Memory feature
Set the Speedlite’s main switch to
Pilot Lamp and Test Firing
Using the Zoom Button and Wide Panel
Flash Exposure Confirmation
Manual Flash Head Zooming
Using the Zoom Button and Wide Panel
Automatic Flash Head Zooming
Turn on the camera Turn on the Speedlite
Using the Wide Panel
Flash Mode
Setting the Film Speed
LCD Panel Illumination
Automatic Reversion to Default Settings
AF-Assist Beam
Basic Flash Photography
For Type-A Cameras
Using Flash in Full Auto Mode
Using Flash in Full Auto Mode
Fill Flash
Using Flash in Other Camera Modes
Camera Mode Shutter Speed Flash Aperture
Using Flash in Other Camera Modes
Av Aperture-Priority AE and E-TTL Autoflash
Balanced Flash Exposures
Tv Shutter Speed-Priority AE and E-TTL Autoflash
Manual Exposure and E-TTL Autoflash
Advanced Flash Photography
High-Speed Sync FP Flash
Press Buttons
LCD panel
High-Speed Sync FP Flash
With normal flash
FE Lock
FE Lock
Flash Exposure Compensation
Press the button and select
Flash Exposure Compensation
Effect on exposure of each type of compensation
FEB Flash Exposure Bracketing
FEB Flash Exposure Bracketing
Correct exposure
Bounce Flash
Bounce Flash
With bounce flash
Creating a Catchlight
Close-Distance Flash Photography
Manual Flash Mode
Manual Flash Mode
Checklens. the focusing distance on
Press the or button to set the desired flash output
Setting the Firing Frequency, Flash Count, and Flash Output
Stroboscopic Flash
Press the button Select
Shooting With Stroboscopic Flash
Stroboscopic Flash
To set the exposure settings, see Manual Flash Mode on
Second-Curtain Synchronization
Modeling Flash
Press the camera’s depth-of-field preview button
Wireless Flash Photography
Wireless System Setup and Testing
Setting the 550EX as the Master Unit
Setting the 550EX as a Slave Unit
Channel No , 2, 3, or
Setting the Master/Slave Channel
Button to set
Press Button
Setting the Master/Slave Channel
Setting the Slave ID
Slave ID A, B, or C
Master Flash ON/OFF
Press Or button to set Either Press the button
Wireless Flash Range
Wireless Flash Range
All slave units fire at the same flash output
Wireless E-TTL Autoflash
Master Flash on + Slave Units
Slave units with different slave IDs A, B, or C can be
Wireless E-TTL Autoflash With Flash Ratio OFF
Master Flash OFF + Slave Units
Wireless E-TTL Autoflash With Flash Ratio OFF
Wireless E-TTL Autoflash With Flash Ratio on
Setting the Flash Ratio for Two Slave Units a and B
Press the button to select on AB
Wireless E-TTL Autoflash With Flash Ratio on
On the master unit, press Button and select
Pressagain. the button
Press the button to register the flash ratio
Setting the Flash Ratio for Three Slave Units A, B and C
Press the button to select
Press the button again To select on AB C
AB flash ratio
10Press the button to register the setting
Slave Groups
Wireless Flash Exposure Compensation
Wireless High-Speed Sync FP Flash
Wireless FE Lock
Wireless Flash Exposure Bracketing FEB
Wireless Manual Flash
Desired flash output
Wireless Manual Flash With Varied Flash Output
On AB or ABC
Wireless Stroboscopic Flash
Wireless Manual Flash With Varied Flash Output
Press Button to
Setting Manual Flash With a Slave Unit
Manual or Stroboscopic Flash With a Slave Unit
Stroboscopic Flash With a Slave Unit
Speedlite Transmitter ST-E2 Sold separately
For details
For Type-B Cameras
Using Flash in Full Auto Mode
Fill Flash
Using Flash in Other Camera Modes
Av Aperture-Priority AE and TTL Autoflash
Balanced Flash Exposures
Tv Shutter Speed-Priority AE and TTL Autoflash
Manual Exposure and TTL Autoflash
Advanced Flash Photography
Flash Exposure Compensation
Effect
FEB Flash Exposure Bracketing
FEB Flash Exposure Bracketing
Bounce Flash
Creating a Catchlight
Close-Distance Flash Photography
To Av or M
Manual Flash Mode
Stroboscopic Flash
Shooting With Stroboscopic Flash
Focus the subject
Icon on the LCD panel
Wireless Flash Photography
Attach the 550EX to the camera and set
100
To set the master unit’s channel No Press the button Select
No , 2, 3, or
101
As the master unit’s
102
103
Either Press Button
104
105
106
Flash output Press Button
107
108
109
Manual Flash With a Slave Unit
110
111
Setting a Custom Function
Custom Functions
112
Custom Function Settings
Custom Functions
113
Canon Speedlite 550EX System
114
Canon Speedlite 550EX System
Battery Magazine TP
Compact Battery Pack CP-E2
Speedlite Transmitter ST-E2
Troubleshooting Guide
116
Troubleshooting Guide
117
Specifications
118
Specifications
119
120
Transistor Pack E
Guide No
121
Maximum Continuous Flashes
122
AF-Assist Beam Emission Preconditions
Camera’s Flash-Related Exposure Warnings
123
Speedlite 550EX Feature Availability
124
125
126
127
CT1-1707-004 Canon INC 1098Ni5.0
External power source socket
Locking collar (page 13)
Electrical contacts