Canon Speedlite 299T User manual

E
English
Edition

Especially
designed
for
Canon'sSLRs,
including
the
T-series,A-series
and
F-1
cameras,the
Canon
Speedlite
299T
isa high-performance,
automatic,electronicflashunit*.Withitsmany
impressivefeatures
you
will
beabletosuccess-
fullyhandlevarious
difficultsubjectlighting
con-
ditions.
With
the
cameras
mentioned
above,theshutter
speed
is
automaticallysettoeachcamera's
X-sync
speeduponflashchargecompletion.
Youcan useany one
offourmodes tosetthe
aperture.Thefirst
isthd
PROGRAM
modein
which
thecamerasets
the
apertureautomatical-
ly.This
system
responds
toa wide
range
ofil-
luminationsfrom
darksultroundingsto
bright,
so
supplementallighting
duringthedaytimeisalso
possible.
Secondly,
in
the
F.NO.
SET
mode,
you
canselectthe
aperturefromarangeofeightbe-
tween
Il2 and t122.
Byselectingtheaperture,
you
cantakesuchfactorsas
flashrecycling
timeanddepthoffieldintoconsideration.
Manualflash
photography
is
possible
inthe
MANUALFULL
mode
with
a
guide
number
of30
(lSO
100.m,flash
headsettingof35
mm,
at
full
charge).ThelastmodeisMANUAL
1/16
which
isusedforfill-flash.
Flashintensityis
1/16th
that
offullflashwith
the
guide
numberbecoming
1/4th
thatof
fullflash.
Asidefrom
exposure
control,the
299T
offers
severalother
professional
features.
One
is
its
bounceflashmechanism.
The
flashhead
can
betilted upward
and/or
swung
right
andleft
to
bounceoff
a wall,
ceiling,orother
suitablesur-
faceand create
softer
lighting
effects.
Another
featureis
thebuilt-inzoom
mechanism.Efficient
useof
flash
energy
isensured
becausetheflash
headmoves
backwards
and
forwards
adjusting
the
flash
coverageangle
to
fit
thelensin
use.
One
ofthe299T's
safetyfeatures
is
the
auto
power-off
functionwhich
prevents
unnecessary
consumptionof batteryenergyif
you
forget
to
turnofftheflash.lf
the
main
switchis
ONbut
the
flashhasnot
beenusedfor
approx.25minutes,
itautomatically
switchesoff.
lnaddition,slow-syncflash
photography
with
the
F-1,T90
and
A-1,
plus
synchronizedmultiple
flash
photography
withalloftheabovecameras
l, are
possible.
Thefilmspeedcanbe
setup
to
: ISO1000
andalltheoperating
controlsarear-
rangedonthe
backoftheunittomake
thead-
vanced
functionseasierto
use.
For
afullunderstanding
ofthe299T,
please
read
this
instruction
booklet
carefullybeforeusing
theflash.
* An
automatic
exposure
flash
hasa sensor
whichmeasures
thelightreflected
back
from
thesubject
andcutsoffflash
emissionauto-
maticallywhen
thesubjecthas
received
the
proper
amountoflight.
www.orphancameras.com

NOMENCLATURE
HorizontalDirection
BounceLatch
ZoomMechanism
Position
lndicator
Flash
Head
Synchro
Cord
ConnectingSocket
Battery
Chamber
Cover
Film
Speed
Window
FilmSpeed
Selector
Aperture
Scale
tureSelector
Main
Switch
Slow-syncSelector
Mode
Selector
BounceWarning
lndicator Pilot
Lamp
AutoFlash
Confirmation
Lamp
LockNutDirectlyCoupledContact InfraredLight
Emitter

Gontents
Op*tl SumnmryL
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EaCic:Op
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6
,p.P7'
P.EB,
F.3'l
p,3S
p,s4
F"41r
P"41.
p.42
Handling
Precautions.
.... .
Careof the Flash
$pecifications.
www.orphancameras.com

operation summary (For
pRoGRAM
Mode
onry)
I Load
the
batteries 2 Set
the
filmspeed 3Mount
the
flashunit
on
the
camera.
Setthe
mode
selector
to
..PROGRAM''.
6
4Confirm
that
the lens
to the "A"mark
when
anFD
lens.
is
set
usrng 5 Trrn
the
main
switch
ON

9
I
7Make
surethe
pilot
lamp
lightsup
\.:.)
i:::i
Pressthe
shutter
button
halfwayto
activate
the
view-
finder
information
display,
lf
there
are
nowarnings,
press
theshutter
buttonall
the
way
totakethe
picture.
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Bastc
Uperation
Usefournew
size
AA
alkaline-manganese
(LR6)
or Ni-Cd batteries.
Carbon-zincbatteriesmay
alsobeused,
buttheirlifeis
shorter.
1)Wipe
thebattery
terminals
with
a clean,dry
clothtoensure
proper
contact.
2) Slide
thebatterychamber
coveroff.
3) Load thebatteries
sothattheir
terminalsface
in
thedirections
indicated
bythediagram
inside
thebatterv
chamber.

4) Once thebatteries
are
loaded,
slidethe
bat-
tery
chambercoverbackonwhile
pressing
thebatteriesdown,Make
surethecover's
tab
fits
into
thecorresponding
groove
on
the
flash
bodv.
Notes
* When
thebatteries
become
exhausted,replace
all
four
at
thesame
time
with
fournew
onesof
the
samebrand
* Remove
thebatteriesif
you
donot
expecttouse
the299Tfor
about
threeweeks
orlonger.
" The
performance
ofthe
batteriesdeteriorates
in
cold
temperatures
so
please
keep
thebatteries
warm
until
just
before
use.
For
best
results,
use
fully
charged
Ni-Cd
batteries
in
especially
cold
temperatures
lbelow
0"C
(32"F)]
* When
usingNi-Cd
batteries,
please
note
that
dif-
ferent
brands
have
different
typesof
terminals.
Be
sure
touse
atypewhich
is
suitable
forthisflash.
Recharge
Ni-Cd
batteries
according
tothe
manu-
facturer's
instructions
www.orphancameras.com

Tosetthe
filmspeed,
slidethe
film
speed
selec-
tor
untilthe
ISOnumber
of
your
filmisaligned
with
the
green
index.
Note
" Makesure
thatthe
filmspeed
isset
correctly
on
thecamera
itself.
1)Loosenthe
lock
nutandslidethe
299Tinto
thecamera's
accessory
shoe.
Toinsurecor-
rect
electrical
contact,
makesure
itis
pushed
inallthe
way.
2) Tighten
the
lock
nut.
lf
acamera
does
not
haveelectrical
con-
tacts
forflash
in
its
accessory
shoe,
use
theSynchro
Cord
A
to
connect
the
flash
tothe
camera.
10

To testthe functioningof the flash,
press
the
pilot
lamp
after
it
has
lighted.lftheflash
fires,itis
in
proper
working
order.
Note
* Dependingon
theoutput
of
the
flash,
the
pilot
lampmayremainlitafterexposure,indicatingthat
theflashisreadyfor
the
nextexposure.Whenthe
pilot
lampdoesnot
glow
immediately
afterexpo-
sure
(with
anAEcamerainan
AE
mode),the
camera
will
go
intonormal
AEmodeoperation
until
the
pilot
lamplightsup
(except
when
the
camerais
setto
"8").
When
the
pilot
lamp
glows
again,
thecamerawillautomaticallyswitchback
to
flash
photography.
Slide
the
main
switchto
"
|" andwaitforthe
pilot
lamp
tolightup.
In
thecaseoftheT-series,A-
seriesandF-1
cameras,
it
is
also
possible
to
confirmwhether
the
flashis
chargedby
looking
in
the
viewf
inder.
11
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AutoPower-OffFunction
Toconservebatteryenergy,
when
flash
photogra-
phy
isfinishedalways
make
sure
toturnthe
flash
OFF
byslidingthemainswitch
to
"O".
TheCanonSpeedlite
299Tisequipped
with
an
auto
power-off
functionwhich
prevents
unneces-
sary
consumption
ofbattery energyif
you
forget
to
turnthe
mainswitch
OFF.
When
the
mainswitch
isleftONand
theflash
isnot
used
(no
mainflash,
testflash,
or
pref
lash)
forapprox.25
minutes,
the
power
tothe
f
lashunit
isautomaticallycut
off.In
this
case,the
pilot
lamp
flashesforapprox.'100
seconds
before
power
iscutofftowarn
you
of
the
auto
power-off
operation.
il
Toturnthe
flashonafterauto
power-off
operation,
either
press
the
pilot
lamponce,orturnthe
main
switch
OFFand
thenONagain.
When using
the299TwiththeT-series,A-series
and the F-1 cameras,the shutterspeedauto-
maticallyswitchesto each camera's
X-sync
speedassoon asthepilot lamplightsup,
except
whenthe
shutterspeed
is
set
to
"B".
Notes
* Whenusingthe299T
with
camerasotherthan
thosementionedabove.settheshuttersoeed
dial
toX-syncmanually.
* Foranexplanationofslowsyncflash
photography,
please
referto
p.31.
'r"
l:P,
lcr
i
12
*il;kaic':i::

AutoPower-Off
Function
Toconservebatteryenergy,
whenflash
photo$ra-
phy
isf
inishedalways
make
sure
toturnthe
flash
OFFbyslidingthemainswitch
to
"O".
TheCanon
Speedlite299Tisequipped
withan
auto
power-off
functionwhich
prevents
unneces-
sary
consumption
of
battery
energy
if
you
forgetto
turn
themainswitch
OFF.
Whenthemainswitch
isleftONand
theflashisnotused
(no
main
flash,
test
flash,or
pref
lash)foraBprox.25
minutes,the
power
tothe
flashunitisautomatically
cutoff.
In
this
case,the
pilot
lampf
lashesforapprox.
1OO
seconds
before
power
iscutofftowarn
you
of
the
auto
power-off
operation.
ry
To
turn
theflashonafter
auto
power-off
operation,
either
press
the
pilot
lamponce,
or
turn
themain
switch
OFFand
thenONagain.
..}(-
When using
the 299TwiththeT-series,
A-series
and the F-1 cameras,the shutterspeed
auto-
matically
switchesto each camera's
X-sync
speedassoonasthepilot
lamp
lights
up,except
when
theshutterspeedissetto
"B".
Notes
" When
usingthe
299Twith
camerasother
than
thosementionedabove.settheshutter
soeeddial
to
X-sync
manually.
* Foran
explanationofslowsync
flash
photography,
please
referto
p.31.
'il-
i.f,a
l,tr
12 ;*;;*. "**xrJ$*ir"1cc:,
www.orphancameras.com

Zoom Mechanism
The299T
offers
a zoommechanism
whichadjusts
the flash
coverage
angle in order
to use flash
energymore
effectivelyThis
adjustment
incover-
ageangleis
usuallyaccomplished
with
conven-
tionalflash
units
byattachingwide-angle
andtele-
photo
adapter
panels.
When theflash
headis
pushed
all
the
way in,itis
setat the 2B mm position.
When
you
areusinga
longer
focallength
lens,
pull
theflash
headout
and setit
to eitherof the two click-stop
positions
according
to the lensin use.When the flash
head
i issetcorrectly
at oneof the threeclick-stop
posi-
tions,
azoom
position
setting
of
28,
35,or
B5mm
will
beilluminated
in
thezoommechanism
oosi-
tionindicator
on
theback
oftheflash
Note
" Donot chooseazoom
position
settinglarger
than
thefocallengthof
thelensinuse.Always
be
suretosettheflash
to
aposition
equaltoor
smallerthan
the
lensfocal
length.
Otherwise,
exoosure
willnot
beuniform
Examples:
Focallength
oflens
In
use Zoom
position
setting
28mm 2B
35
mm 35or28
50mm 35or
28
85
mm 85.35.or28
13

You
can
choose
four
flashmodesdepending
on
your
shooting
objectives.
1,
ProgramMode
Thismodecanbe
used
with
cameras
which
have
a shutter-priority
orprogram
AEmode.
Used
in
either
ofthese
modes,
when
theshut-
terbutton
is
pressed
halfway,the
299T
will
emit
near-inf
rared
rayswhichbounce
offthe
subject
andare
measured
bythesensor,
An
aperture
is
then
automatically
selected
ac-
cording
totheshooting
distance
and
reflec-
tivity
ofthesubject
14
2, F NO
SET
Mode
Thismodecan
be
used
withany
Canon
camera.
lt
should
be
used
when
you
want
to
take
flash
recyclingtime
orsubject
depth
of
fieldintoaccount.
Youcan
choose
froma
wide
rangeofeight
apertures
between
fl2
and
f122.
www.orphancameras.com

3. ManualFull
Mode
In
somecases,
automatic
flashmaynotbe
suitable
for
your
subject.
lf,forinstance,the
subject'ssurroundings
arebright
white
with
strong
reflectionsorifthe
mainsubject
is
small
with
a dark
ordistant
background,
the
automatic
flashexposure
maybeaffected
by
thecontrasting
background.
Incorrectexpo-
surecan
beavoided
byusing
the
Manual
Full
mode.
4. Manual1/16Mode
While
the
ManualFullmode
gives
fullflashin-
tensity,
the
Manual
1/16modeisused
forfill-
flashorto
make
the
flashrecyclingtimeas
short
as
possible.
Flashintensityis
1/16th
that
of
fullflash
andthe
guide
number
of
the
flashbecomes1l4tnthatof
f
ull
flash
15

lnthe PROGRAMMode
1)When
usingFD
lenses,
makesurethatthe
lensissetto
the
"A"
mark.
(This
isnotneces-
sarv
withAC
lenses.)
2)Turn
the
main
switchONandset
themode
selectorto
"PROGRAM".
3) Make
surethe
pilot
lamp
lights
up.
The
"
f "
markinthe
viewfinderwill
come
onatthe
sametimeasthe
pilot
lamp.Theshutter
speed
will
automaticallyswitch
toeachcam-
era'sX-sync
speed.
Tho rocnpntirro namorec'Y.qrrnn qnoodq A'^ ^- +^l
',vruo /\ ryr ru rpvvvr ulU OJ lUl-
IOWS:
T90
(in
the
manualmode1/250
sec
)
TB0,
T70
and
F 1
Ttrn ^^n A -^,i^^ ^^-
I
uv Griu n-JcluJ uorflel?S
1/90sec
1
/6Osec.
16
www.orphancameras.com

4) Compose
the
picture
andfocus
the
subject.
5) Press
the
shutterbutton
halfway
to
activate
theviewf
inderinformation
display
T90:
When
the
" |" mark,
theaperture
value
and
theshutter
speedlight
up,
you
can
take
the
picture
T70:
When
the
"
t " mark
and
theselected
aperturevalue
light
up,
you
can
take
the
picture.
T50
and
TB0:
When
the
"
f " and
"P"
marks
light
up,you
can
takethe
pictu
re.
6)lf
there
arenowarnings,
press
the
shutter
button
alltheway
totake
the
picture
7)Turn
themain
switchOFF
when
flash
pho-
tographyisfinished
Notes
* lf
thesubject
is
toofar
away,
the
viewfinderwarn-
ingdisplayisasnoted
below,
T90:The
aperture
value
and
theshutter
speed
blink
f70: Thefullaperturevalue
ofthelens
you
are
usingblinks
rapidly,
T50
and
TB0:The
"P"
mark
blinks
rapidly
In
thiscase
remove
your
fingerfrom
theshutter
buttonand
move
closertothesubject,until
when
the
shutter
buttonis
pressed
again,theaperture
value
or
"P"
lights
upsteadilyOnce
you
have
found
asuitable
shooting
position,
besureto,re-
focus
thesubject
Then
you
cantakethe
picture.
lf
you
do
notremove
your
fingerfrom
theshutter
button,exposure
will
be
incorrect
since
exposure
is
setandheldoneachtimethe
shutterbutton
is
pressed
halfway.
* Please
keepin
mind
that
theclosestautomatic
f
lashshootingdistance
inthe
PROGRAM
mode
is
O7m(23ft)
. When
the
"o"
markon
the
left
end
of
the
aperture
scaleontheback
of
the
f
lash
glows,
correct
expo-
sure
isimpossiblebecause
oflackoflight.
* Do not use the bounce
mechan
ism in the
PROGRAM
modebecause
exposure
willbe
incor-
rect.
lf
the
299Tissetupfor
bounce
flash,the
bounce
warning
indicatorto the rtghtof
"PROGRAM"
will
blink
to
warn
vou
17

Inthe F.NO. SET Mode
t
) When
using
FD
lenses,
make
lens
isset
tothe
"A"
mark.
(This
sary
with
AC
lenses
)
D Turn
the
main
switch
ON
andsetthe
mode
selector
to
"F.
NO.
SET".
At
this
point,
the
ini-
tial
aperture
setting
is
always
f/5.6.
3) Set
theaperture
you
wantby
pushing
the
aperture
selector.
Youcanselect
eightaper-
turesbetweenf
l2and
t122.
sure
that
the
is
not
neces-
1g
www.orphancameras.com

4) Make sure
the
pilot
lamp
lightsup.
The
"
f "
mark
in
the
vrewfinder
will
come
onatthe
sametime
asthe
pilot
lamp.
Theshutter
speed
will
automatically
switch
toeach
cam-
era's
X-sync
speed
(see
p,1
6).
5)Pressthe
pilot
lampto
firea test
flashand
confirm
whether
your
subject
is
within
the
au-
tomatic
flash
shooting
distance
range.
lf
the
green
autoflashconfirmation
lamp
lightsup
aftertheflash
isfired,thesubject
is
withinthe
automatic
flash
shooting
distance
range.
6) Composethe
picture
and
focusthesubject.
7) Presstheshutter
button
halfwayto activate
the
viewfinderinformation
display.
T90:When
the
" | " mark,theaperture
value
and
theshutter
speed
lightup,
you
can
takethe
picture.
T70:When
the
" I " mark
andthe
aperture
value
set
onthe
flashlight
up,
you
can
take
the
picture
T50
and
TB0:
Whenthe
"1" and
"P"
marks
light
up,
you
cantake
the
picture.
B)
lf
there
are
no
warnings,
press
the
shutter
button
allthe
waydown
totake
the
picture.
9)
Turnthe
mainswitch
OFF
whenflash
pho-
tography
is
finished.
19