Specifications

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SPEEDLITE FLASHES
SPEEDLITE TECHNOLOGY
Integral to the EOS System, Canon Speedlite
flashes are the ideal flash source for EOS
cameras. They are technologically advanced
to provide perfect exposure and illumination
with just about any subject, yet operation is
remarkably simple. Whether you’re an amateur
or an expert, Canon Speedlite flashes make
it easy to obtain professional results.
optimum exposure of the main subject (as
identified by the AF point) and the background.
E-TTL requires the use of EX-series dedicated
Speedlite flashes such as the 600EX-RT, 580EX II,
430EX II, 320EX, 270EX II, MT-24EX, or MR-14EX
in combination with a compatible camera.
E-TTL II – Available on Canon’s EOS DSLR cameras,
E-TTL II incorporates distance information from
compatible EF lenses (see page 34 for details) for
more versatile flash exposure control. E-TTL II
minimizes underexposure that can occur with
straight reflections by ignoring sensor areas that
report abnormally high levels. 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,
because distance information is used in
calculating the flash output level, E-TTL II
prevents overexposure when photographers
lock focus and recompose. For example, with
the EOS 5D Mark III the ambient light is first
measured using the camera’s 63-zone metering
Sophisticated Flash Control Modes
E-TTL – In E-TTL (Evaluative Through-The-Lens)
flash exposure control mode, meter readings
are taken through the lens, but not off the focal
plane. Using 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 compare
the ambient light values with the light reflected
from the subject by the pre-flash. The camera then
calculates and stores the flash output required for
when the shutter button is pressed. Next,
a pre-flash is fired and the metering sensor
takes readings. The ambient and pre-flash
readings are compared. The metering areas
having small differences are selected as the
main flash exposure areas. Areas with large
discrepancies between ambient and pre-flash
readings are excluded or down-weighted
because they are assumed to contain a highly
reflective subject, or the subject is not in that
part of the frame – an assumption validated by
distance information. The algorithm thus helps
avoid chronic underexposure problems in such
situations. These readings are weighted,
averaged, and compared with the ambient
light reading and the main flash output is then
set and stored in memory. The E-TTL II, in effect,
captures the subject as a “plane” and not as
a “point.” As a result, EOS SLR cameras can
help deliver consistent flash exposures even
if the subject contains various colors and
levels of reflection. The camera also allows
the user to select an averaged metering
pattern through custom function settings.
TTL* – TTL (Through-The-Lens) is the standard
flash exposure control mode used by the
built-in flash units that come with some 35mm
EOS film cameras. Unlike E-TTL or E-TTL II, TTL
reads flash illumination reflected from the film
during the exposure. When the camera is set to
Program AE mode, TTL flash sets an aperture
based on the ambient light level.
Flash Exposure Lock (FE Lock)
FE Lock adds Auto Exposure lock and Spot
metering functions when shooting with EX-series
Speedlite flashes and E-TTL compatible EOS
cameras. The EX-series Speedlite flash’s
preflash fires when the camera’s AE Lock button
is depressed, storing a Spot meter reading of
flash and ambient lighting data for up to 16
seconds. This provides enough time to not only
recompose the shot, but also alter the ambient
light exposure 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 frame not covered by
one of the focusing points. It can also eliminate
potential exposure errors caused by unwanted
reflections from 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.
FP Mode***
FP (focal-plane) flash, or High-speed Sync,
enables E-TTL and E-TTL II compatible cameras
equipped with an EX-series Speedlite flash to
synchronize 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 reduce depth-of-field
and emphasize the subject. FP flash can be
combined with E-TTL, E-TTL II, or FE Lock, and
is available in all AE modes plus Manual.
Flash Exposure Compensation****
This setting adjusts flash output without
changing the shutter speed or aperture. It’s
a particularly effective way to fine-tune the
balance between foreground and background
exposure for fill flash shots, but it can also be
used to compensate for extremely bright or
dark tones in the subject.
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 a moving subject. This
creative flash mode is most effective with
slower shutter speeds and subjects with light
sources, such as the headlights of a moving car.
Stroboscopic Flash
Stroboscopic flash is a series of flashes fired
in rapid succession during a single exposure.
With stroboscopic flash, multiple images of
a moving subject appear in the photograph.
Using this mode, you can analyze a golf swing
or record the shattering of a windowpane.
(Available with Speedlite 600EX-RT, 580EX II,
Macro Ring Lite MR-14EX, Macro Twin Lite
MT-24EX, and the built-in flash of the EOS 7D).
LED Light
In a first for Canon
Speedlite flashes, the
320EX features a bright,
built-in LED light for
illumination when shooting
video or for use as a
modelling light. With fully
charged AA batteries, the
LED light can last for up to four hours of
continuous use.
Flash Release Function
Select Speedlite flash models include a
convenient feature that enables photographers
to release the camera shutter from the remote
flash wirelessly with a 2-second delay. With EOS
DSLR cameras that provide a master function
with remote reception mode, this feature makes
it possible to reposition the flash with complete
freedom – even out of the camera’s line-of-sight
and at some distance from the camera.
High-Speed Sync — EF 135mm f/2.0L USM lens •f/2 •1/750 sec.
Taken with MT-24EX and EOS-1v HS
* A-TTL and TTL are not compatible with DSLR cameras. See lens chart for a listing of lenses that supply distance information. ** 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 AE or A-DEP. *** Unlike conventional electronic flash, FP flash output (guide number)
decreases as shutter speed increases above normal X-sync speed. **** Flash exposure compensation can be set with most current Speedlite flashes, and it can also be set with all
current EOS cameras other than the EOS Rebel series and EOS Digital Rebel.
† Not Linked to AF point. †† Requires EOS body that supports
E-TTL and E-TTL II respectively. ††† Defaults to TTL in all
conditions except direct flash in the camera’s Program mode.
SLR Compatibility
Camera Model E-TTL E-TTL II A-TTL / TTL
EOS-1D X No Yes
†
Not Possible
EOS-1Ds Mark III No Yes
†
Not Possible
EOS-1D Mark IV No Yes
†
Not Possible
EOS 5D Mark III No Yes
†
Not Possible
EOS 6D No Yes
†
Not Possible
EOS 5D Mark II No Yes
†
Not Possible
EOS 7D No Yes
†
Not Possible
EOS 70D / 60D / 50D / 40D / 30D No Yes
†
Not Possible
EOS Rebel T5i / T4i / SL1 / T3i / T3 / T2i / T1i / XSi / XS No Yes
†
Not Possible
EOS Digital Rebel XTi / XT No Yes
†
Not Possible
EOS-1v / EOS-3 Yes No
4-point/ 3-zone
EOS ELAN 7ne Yes Yes 4-point/ 3-zone
EOS Rebel T2 / T2 Date No Yes Not Possible
EOS Rebel K2 / K2 Date Yes No
4-point/ 3-zone
Speedlite Compatibility
E-TTL / E-TTL II E-TTL / E-TTL II A-TTL TTL Manual
600EX-RT Yes
††
No Yes
†††
Yes
580EX II Yes
††
No Yes
†††
Yes
430EX II Yes
††
No No Yes
320EX Yes
††
No No Yes
270EX II Yes
††
No No Yes
90EX Yes
††
No No Yes
MR-14EX Yes
††
No Yes
†††
Yes
MT-24EX Yes
††
No Yes
†††
Yes