Canon Speedlite 188A User manual

Canon
SPEEDLITE
188A
E
Engtah tdHton

Introduction
The Canon Speedlite 188A is an automatic,
electronic, flash unit for hot-shoe attach¬
ment on the Canon A-series SLR cameras
such as AE-1 PROGRAM or A-1, and F-1
The speedlite mounts onto the accessory
shoe of the cameras lor hot-shoe attach¬
ment
On the A-1. AE-1 PROGRAM, and AE-1.
the 188A will set both the shutter speed
the aperture for the cameras set normally
for automatic exposure For the F-1. the
188A will set only the shutter speed or lens
aperture as well depending on the exposure
mode the camera is set for. For the AL-1,
AV-1 and AT-1, the flash will set the shut¬
ter speed automatically while the aperture is
set manually
When the 188A is used with the AE-1
PROGRAM, a blitz ”[J]" mark lights up In
the viewfinder when the flash is charged.
After the shutter is released, the same dis¬
play flashes on and off to indicate there
was sufficient illumination for the shooting
distance. Thus you can concentrate on
shooting and picture composition You
never have to take your eye away from the
viewfinder.
For the AE-1 PROGRAM as well as for
other A-series SLRs and the F-1, a unique
average light measuring system ensures at¬
taining better overall exposure.
Another feature of the 188A is that while
you are waiting for the flash to recycle, the
camera's normal automatic exposure func¬
tion is retained and you can shoot using ex¬
isting light Of course, for insufficient light
slow shutter speed is required and long ex¬
posures may be suitable only when there is
no motion to be stopped
2

Summary for Use of the 188A

Select an aperture
Mount the 188A on the camera
Check viewfinder information, and
press the shutter button.
5

Loading the Batteries
1 Use four new size AA alkaline-man¬
ganese (LR6/AM-3) or Ni-Cd batteries
Carbon-zinc batteries may also be
used, but their battery life is shorter
Before loading the batteries, wipe their
contacts and the flash contacts with a
clean, dry cloth to prevent poor contact
from dirt
2 Press and slide the battery chamber
cover off in the direction of the arrow in
the photo
3 Load the batteries so that their con¬
tacts are in the directions indicated by
the diagram inside the battery cham¬
ber For proper function of the flash, it
is very important that their contacts be
facing in the correct directions.
4 Once the batteries are loaded, slide the
battery chamber cover back on while
pressing the batteries down Make sure
the cover’s tab fits into the correspond¬
ing groove on the flash body.

• Remove the batteries if you do not
expect to use the 188A for about three
weeks or longer
• Set the main switch to OFF when
flash photography is finished
• When the batteries become exhausted,
replace all four at the same time with
four new ones of the same brand
• Since battery performance deteriorates
in low temperatures, keep the batteries
warm until just before use Keep a set
of spare batteries warm and alternate
them with the loaded ones so that
warm batteries are always in use
• In temperatures below 0°C, the use of
fully-charged Ni-Cd batteries is recom¬
mended When recharging Ni-Cd bat¬
teries, follow the instructions of the
battery manufacturer
• Each brand of Ni-Cd batteries has its
own terminal system Be sure to use a
type which is suitable for this flash,
Setting the ISO Film Speed
To set the film speed, slide the ISO film
speed switch until the ISO value of your
film is aligned with the orange index At this
time, the aperture displayed in the Aperture/
MANU window will also change Because
the guide number of the flash varies with
the sensitivity of the film in use, be sure to
set the ISO film speed correctly
* The number after ISO is the equivalent
ASA number
[ m

* Make sure that the camera is set to the
correct ISO film speed
It is possible to set the following ISO
film speeds Numbers in parentheses
are intermediate film speeds indicated
by the dots on the scale
( 32 ) ( 40 ) ( 64 ) (001 1125 ) (1601
IS025 . -50 • • 100 •
( 250 ) (3201 ( 500 ) ( 640 )
200 • • 400 • • 800
Choosing an Aperture and Reading its
Value
There is a choice of two apertures for auto¬
matic flash photography To select an aper¬
ture, set the Aperture/MANU selection
switch to the upper or middle position; the
aperture value will appear in the Aperture/
MANU window The aperture will change
depending on the setting of the ISO film
speed When ISO 100 film is used, for ins¬
tance, the upper position Is f/2 8 and the
middle position is f/5 6
When the Aperture/MANU selection switch
is set on the lowest position, "MANU” ap¬
pears in the window As this indicates
manual flash photography, automatic flash
photography is impossible
• In automatic flash photography, if the
ISO film speed is set between gradua¬
tions. such as 64 or 80, the aperture
value indicated is between click-stops
on the aperture ring In the case of the
F-1 (depending on its exposure mode),
AL-1 or AV-1, set the lens' aperture
ring to the click-stop of the larger aper¬
ture

Reading the Auto Shooting Distance
Range
Once you have selected an aperture by
setting the Aperture/MANU selection
switch to the upper or middle position,
there is only a certain range of shooting
distances which wilt give correct exposure
On the 188A, the correct shooting dis¬
tance is indicated by the red and green
lines in accordance with the selection of
the aperture
The break in the colored tine indicates the
maximum limits of the range, and the left
range is effective when the Wide Adaptor
188A is attached
Effective Shooting Distance Range
Green Line
Red Line
0.5-4.5m; 1 6-15 ft
(0 5-2 8m; 1.6-9 ft)
l-9m: 3 3-30 ft
(1-5.6m: 3.3-18 ft.)
HIf_
0.5 1 2 0 4.5 5 i On
1.6 13 9 15 18 30 ft
(Numbers in parentheses indicate the range oT correct
shooting distances when the Wide Adaptor 188A is
attached )
After focusing, confirm the shooting dis¬
tance on the lens' distance scale Remem¬
ber that correct exposure is impossible if
the shooting distance is not within the
effective shooting range.
Both depth of field and the shooting dis¬
tance are factors to consider when select¬
ing an aperture on the 168A Use tt)e
following as guides:
9

upper position: For isolating the subject
(red line) from its surroundings by
blurring the foreground
and background Also to
be used when the sub¬
ject distance is greater
than 4 5m (15 ft.) (with¬
out Wide Adaptor 188A).
or when camera-to-sub-
ject distance varies with¬
in the limits of the effec¬
tive range
Middle position: For the widest range of
(green line) good focus in front of
and behind the subject.
* Note that the auto shooting distance
ranges remain the same regardless of
the film speed
Mounting the 188A on the Camera
1 Turn OFF the 188A's main switch.
2 Loosen the lock nut and insert the
Speedlite into the camera's accessory
shoe For correct electrical contact,
make sure it is pushed in all the way
Retighten the lock nut
3

Automatic Shutter Speed Setting
On the Canon F-1 (in Shutter-Priority AE
mode). A-1, AE-1 PROGRAM, AL-1, AE-1,
and AV-1, once the pilot tamp lights up
(which means the flash is charged), the
shutter speed switches to 1/60 sec. (1/90
sec in the case of F-1) automatically except
when the camera is set to "6 " Setting the
shutter speed is, therefore, unnecessary.
1.6 3.3 9 15 18 30 ft
^tomatic Aperture Setting
When the lens is set on "A," once the pilot
lamp glows the aperture of the F-1 (in
Shutter-Priority AE mode), A-1, AE-1 PRO¬
GRAM or AE'1 is set automatically to the
same aperture chosen on the 188A with
the Aperture/MANU selection switch. In the
case of the AL-1, AV-1 and F-1 in aper¬
ture-priority AE mode and manual mode,
turn the lens' aperture ring to the same ap¬
erture which is set on the 188A
Main Switch and Pilot Lamp
Turn the main switch ON. and focus The
pilot lamp lights up when the flash is
charged, telling you that it is possible to
shoot.
The A-1 and AE-1 PROGRAM have spe¬
cial viewfinder displays which make it pos¬
sible to confirm that the flash is charged
See p. 18 for details
12

Test Firing
To Test the flash for proper function, press
the pilot lamp after it glows If a flash is
fired, the flash is in proper working order
Confirming Exposure and Shooting
After focusing, check the lens' distance
scale to make sure the shooting dis¬
tance is within the auto distance range
indicated by the red or green line on the
flash If it is not, either move closer to or
farther away from the subject as required,
or set the Aperture/MANU selection
switch to a more appropriate position
After the pilot lamp lights up. press the
shutter button halfway and confirm expo¬
sure information in the viewfinder The
indication varies depending on the camera
,see ppt8-21) If everything is correct,
confirm focusing and press the shutter
button all the way for shutter release
Reverting to Normal AE Photogr^hy Be¬
fore the Recycling of the Flash When
Using FD Lenses
All cameras listed in this instruction booklet
except AT-1 provide one type or another of
automation in exposure. Depending on the
camera/lens settings (plus attachment of
accessory in case of the F-1). either shutter
priority, or aperture priority, or both are pro¬
vided This type of AE photography is pre¬
served while you are waiting for the flash to
recycle. If means camera reverts to normal
AE photography between flash pictures until
the pilot lamp comes on again and the
camera switches over again to flash circuit
This arrangement makes possible for the
photographer, if he desires, to depend on
normal AE photography between flash pic¬
tures when there Is no motion to be stop¬
ped Use of slow shutter speed required for
lowlight conditions may present some dif¬
ficulties in hand-held shooting Also, larger
aperture opening will be required to cope
13

for lowlight condition Therefore, it is all the
more important to make sure that the aper¬
ture or shutter speed to which the camera
is actually set for normal AE photography is
appropriate for correct exposure as well as
for ease in hand-held shooting should the
photographer be compelled to make ex¬
posures before the flash charge is com¬
pleted
Switch OFF
Once flash is no longer necessary, be sure
to turn OFF the 188A's main switch to
prevent battery drain With the main
switch OFF, the circuit between the
camera and flash is disconnected and it is
possible to shoot normally even while the
flash is attached to the camera
14

Wide Adaptor 188A
This flash covers an angle of view as wide
as that of a 35rnm lens When the Wide
Adaptor 188A is attached, the 188A's
flash angle is widened to cover the angle
of view of a 28mm lens To attach the
Wide Adaptor, hook its tab into one of the
grooves on either side of the flash head
and push down on the other end of the
adaptor until it snaps into place To remove
the adaptor, lift up on the protruding tab
* Remember that use of the Wide Adap¬
tor 188A shortens the auto shooting
distance range (see p 9)
15

Normal Use with the F-1, A-1, AE-1 PROGRAM, AL-1, AE-1, and AV-1
The shooting modes are;
1 Full autoflash mode;
2 Automatic shutter setting autoflash
mode, and
3 Manual flash mode
Full Autoflash Photography
This is possible only on the A-1. AE-1
PROGRAM, AE-1 or F-1 (in Shutter-Priority
AE mode) with an FD lens set on “A” Both
the shutter speed and aperture are automat¬
ically set on the camera when the pilot lamp
glows (Except when the camera is set to
"B”)
Automatic Shutter Setting
Autoflash Photography
With the AL-1. AV-1, AT-1 or F-1 (in
Aperture-Priority AE or Manual mode), al¬
though the shutter speed is set automatical¬
ly, manually set the aperture which has
been selected on the flash
Mode
A-1. AE-1 PROGRAM. AE-1.
F-1*
AL-1. AV-1, AT-1.
F-1"
Full Autoflash
Yes Main Mode
No
Automatic
Shutter Setting
Autoflash
Yes
Yes Main Mode
.
Manual Flash
Yes
Yes
F-1 ■ : Shutter-Priority AE Mode Manual or Aperture-Priority AE Mode
16

Because the aperture is set manuallv, this
mode is especially useful when exposure
correction is desired.
* With the A-1. AE-1 PROGRAM or AE-
1, manual aperture setting is possible
when using an FD lens In this mode,
the shutter speed is still switched auto¬
matically to 1/60 sec
* If you turn the lens' aperture ring to the
same aperture which was chosen on
the flash, the result will be the same as
if the aperture ring had remained on
Automatic Shutter Setting
Autoflash with an FL Lens on ttie A-1,
AE-1 PROGRAM, AE-I, AL-1, AV-I, AT-1
or F-1
FL lenses do not have the signal pin for full
aperture metering and the aperture cannot
be set automatically The shutter speed,
however, is switched automatically to X-
sync Turn the lens' aperture ring to the
same aperture which is set on the flash

Viewfinder Information and
Warnings
After the pilot lamp lights up, press the
shutter button halfway to activate the view¬
finder information display Viewfinder infor¬
mation and exposure warnings vary with
the cameras.
* If the aperture selected on the flash is
larger than the lens' maximum aperture
you cannot take a correct exposure On
the A-1, the lens' maximum aperture
will flash on and off to indiate under¬
exposure On the AE-1 PROGRAM, the
preselected aperture on the flash will
flash on and off On the AE-1, the
underexposure lamp blinks On the
F-1 (Shutter-Priority AE Mode), the
meter needle points to the underexpo¬
sure mark or below. In this case, set the
Aperture/MANU selection switch to a
smaller one
A-1 Display
Full Autoflash Mode: FD lens on "A" and
AT dial not on "B."
• "BD” rneans the shutter speed is set
to 1/60 sec, the "P" signal indicates
the camera is ready for flash, and the
aperture set on the flash will be dis¬
played in the viewfinder
• When the shutter speed is set on "B."
"bu" will be displayed instead of
■ B O”
GO F 5 .B
Automatic Shutter Settirrg Autoflash
Mode: FD lens off "A" and AT dial not
on "B," or FL lens.
a In addition to the above-mentioned dis¬
plays in automatic shutter setting auto¬
flash mode, "M,” reminding you that
you have taken the aperture ring off
"A," is displayed. Set the aperture as
displayed in the viewfinder by hand
* With the FL lens, the viewfinder display
is not always reliable and should be
switched OFF
B D F B . B M I
18

[Error in Dispiav)
The aperture displayed may be one-half f/
stcH> off the one selected on the flash. This
is because the aperture display is in one-
half f/stop increments; it has no effect on
actual exposure The aperture display may
also flash on and off if the flash-selected
aperture is the same as the lens' maximum
aperture. In this case, exposure will be cor¬
rect, but it is advisable to check the flash-
selected aperture to make sure it is not
larger than the lens' maximum aperture.
AE-1 PROGRAM Display
Full Autoflash Mode: FD lens on "A" and
shutter speed selector dial not on “B."
• The aperture selected on the
flash ar>d the "[Jf' mark in-
dicatir^ the flash ts charged
will be displayed. After the
shutter is released, the
mark will flash on and off for
two seconds provided you
continue to press the shutter
button hallway and the sub¬
ject was within the auto
shooting distance range.
Automatic Shutter Setting Autoflash
Mode: FD lens off "A" or FL lens.
• glows in addition to the above-
mentioned displays If. however, the
auto-exposure confirmation mark
flashes on and off in this mode, it does
not confirm auto-exposure and should
be disregarded.
Note; The aperture display may flash on
and off in both modes if the flash-
selected aperture is the same as the
lens' maximum aperture. In this case,
exposure will be correct.

AE-1 Display
Full Autofiash Mode: FD lens on
"A" and Shutter dial not on "B.'
e The meter needle swings to
the aperture pre-selected on
the 188A to assure correct
exposure.
Automatic Shutter Setting
Autoflash Mode: FD lens off
“A" or FL lens.
The aperture selected on the
188A arx) "M" {for manual ap¬
erture control) flashing on and
off are displayed.
20
AL-1 and AV-1 Display
Automatic Shutter Setting Autoflash
Mode: Selector dial not on “B."
a The meter needle swings to
the shutter speed of 1/60
sec. orKe the pilot lamp
glows.
When the pilot lamp goes
out, the meter needle points
to the shutter speed for nor¬
mal aperture-priority AE.