Canon 550EX - Speedlite - Hot-shoe clip-on Flash User manual

Canon
SPEEDLITE
550EX

Thank you for purchasing a Canon product.
The Canon Speedlite 550EX is a powerfu l. hig h -ou tp ut /lash un it leaturing E-
TIL (Evaluative- Throug h- The- lens )autollash control. It can be used as an on-
camera Speedlite or as a master or slave unit in a wireless, mulli-Speedlite
system,
When used with Type-A cameras (listed below), the 550EX obtains natural-
looking lIash pictures by balancing the flash output and existing light. The
550EX also enables high-speed sync (FP or Focal-Plane flash) lor flash syn-
chronization at all shutter speeds, FE (Flash Exposure) lock, FEB (Flash
Exposure Bracketing), and bounce flash. lis AF -assist beam is compatible wi th
the EOS-3 's area AF.
When used with Type-8 cameras (listed below), the 550EX works as a TIL
auloflash unit.
With Type-S cameras, some 550EX features a re not available. Refer to the
tables below to check your camera type and the features available.
Th is Instructions book l et has separate secti ons for Type-A and Type-B cam-
eras.
Read the section which applies to yo ur camera .
Type- .... Camera ,·Tn
EOS·3, EOS50 1EOS SO E. EOS ElAN I / EOS ELAN. E.
eos FlESEL G I E OS 500 N. EOS IX
Type-S Camera Tn
..... Qlher EOS cameras.
550EX Features Available with EOS Cameras o Availabl8 x:
NO! availabla
W"" T",, ·8 C.m . ...
o
Key to Symbots
U : Warning lor preventi ng camera Of Speed li te malfunction.
e:I : Supp lementary notes for basic operation.
; ~ : He lplul tip for Speedli te operation or picture tak i ng .
• Keep this Instructions booklet handy for future reference.
X
x
2L --------------- ------------ ----~

Conventi ons Used in th is Booklet
The In st ructions are divided into separate sections for Type-A and Type -S
cameras. II you have a Type-A camera , see pages 10 to 76 and 112 to
125 . If you have a Type-8 camera , see pages 10 to 22 and n to 125 .
• T he Speedlite operation procedures assume thai t he Speedlite 550EX
has been turned on with i ts main switch. Before proceeding, tum on
the main switch.
• The camera and Speedlite's buttons and dials and their settings are
indicated by icons in the Instructions . The name of each button and
dial ca n be found in "Nomenclature" on page 6. Icons for camera
modes are also used. They are as fo llows:
0 : F ull A uto
P : Program AE
Av : Aperture-priority AE
Tv : Shutter speed -priority AE
M : Manual
• The Iii icon indicates a si mp le explanation 01 a relevant Custom
Function. For delails, see ·Custom Functions· on page 1 12. T he
Custom Function explanatio ns assume that the default Custom
Function settings are in effect.
3

Contents
Before You Start
Basic Flash
Photography
Advanced Flash
Photography
Wireless Flash
Photography
Basic Flash
Photography
Advanced Flash
Photography
Wireless Flash
Photography
1. iii
2. . .. 12
3. Attachment to Camera ....... 13
4. Wireless Selector ......................... 14
5. Main Switch ........... ,.... .... 16
1. Using Flash in Full Auto Mode .......24
2. Us i ng Flash in
Other Came ra Modes .................... 26
1.
Syoc
2. ........................... .......32
..34
3. Flash Exposure
Compensation ..............................
36
Wire l ess System Setup and T esting ... 52
. SettiAg I he SSOEX as the Masler Unit. ... 52
2. Setting lhe 550EX as a Slave Unil... .... 53
3. Setting the MasterlSlave Channel , ... .... 54
4. Setting t he Slave ID ..................."....... 56
5. M asler Fl as h ON/O FF ................ ..... , .. 57
6. Wi reless Fl ash Range ................ .. ... . ... 58
1. Using Flash in Full Aul0 Mode ..•.•.• 78
2. Using Flash in
O1he r Camera Modes .•.•..•..•.•........80
1.
Flash Exposure Compensation ..... 86
2. FEB (F l as h Exposure Brack e ti ng) ...... 88
3. Bounce Flash ......................•..90
Testing ... l00
Masler Un it ...• loo
as a Slave Unit ...... l 00
Sen i ng the MaslerlSlave Channel •..... 10 1
Sening the Slave 10 . .. . . .... 103
Master Fl ash ON/OFF .......... . 104
Wi reless Flash Range . ...... . ................ 105

·
For T ypa- A ca m eras . see page s10 to 16 and 112 to 12 5.
For T ype B camer as see pag es 10 to 22 and n to 125
6. Pilot
lamp and Tesl Fi ri ng ..........17 10. $effing the Film Speed .............. .21
7. Flash Exposure Confirmation .....18
11 . LCD Panellilum ioation ............... 21
••
Using the Zoom Button and
12. AF-Assist 8eam..........................22
Wide Panel
.. ........... .. .............. .. ..18 Automatic Reversion 10 Cetault
9. Flash Mode....
.. ... .. . .. . .. ................ 21
5
el1in
9$ ·· ····· ·· ······ ·· ······ ·· ··· ·· · ·· ······22
(I) Av: Aperture-Priority AE and (3) M: Manual Exposure and
E·TTL Aulotlash..........................27 E-TTL Autollash..........................30
(2) Tv: Shutter Speed-Priority
AE and
E- TT l Autollash . .. .......................29
4. FEB
7. Manual Flash Mode....................44
(Flash Exposure Bracketing) ... .. . 38 8. Stroboscopic Flash .....................46
5. Bounce Flash.....
.. . .. ..... .. . ..... .......40 9. Second·Curtain
6. Close·Distance Flash Synchronization ..........••.•..•..•..•...49
Photography
•..•.••.•. ...........••.•..•..43 10. Modeling Flash
..•.• .••.•..•....•.........50
[ 2) Wi rel ess E- ffi Autoflash .... 60 2.
Wife l ess Man ual Flash
1.
Wire l ess E- ffi Au to n ash With Va ri ed Flash 0Utput .....•.•.......... 72
Wit h Flash Ratio OFF ...........••.......... 60 (4) Wireless Stroboscopic Flash •... 73
2.
Wire l ess E- TTL Aulonash [5)
Manual or Siroboscopic Flash
Wi th Fl ash Ralio ON .. .. ... ................63
With a Slave Unit . ... 74
[3)
Wireless Manual Flash .... 71 1. Sening Manual Flash
1.
Wireless Manual Fl ash Wrth aSl ave Unit .... ... ..
. ..••...•.....•••.. 74
With Uniform Flash Output .... .......... 71 2. Su
oboscopic Flash With aSl ave Unil ... 75
( I)
Av: Aperture-Priority AE and (3) M: Manual Exposure and
E-
TTl Autoflash•.......••.••.•......••... 81 E· TTl Auloflash. .. ...................•.•• 84
(2) Tv:Shutter Speed·Priority
AE and
E·m Autoll ash ..................•.•.....83
4. Cl
os e- Distance
6. Stroboscopic Flash .•. .......... .. . .. ..95
Flash Photography .... .... ...•.••.•..•. 92 7.
Second · Curtain Synchron ization. .98
5.
Manual Flash Mode....••.•.••..•.•....93
[2) Wire l ess Manual Flash
••. 10 7
1.
Manual F las h With aSl ave Un it ....•• lI 0
1. Wire less Manual Flash
2. Stroboscxlpic Flash W ith a Slave UniI .•• 111
Wilh Uniform Flash Output .............107 Custom Functions........•..•.••.•.••.••.••.
112
2.
WnIess!.l¥wl Flash W :h Vaned flash ~ •• 1 08
Canon Speedlite 550EX Sy stem..... 114
[3)
Wireless Stroboscopic Flash
..• 109 Troubleshooting Guide .... .. .... .... .. 116
[4) Manual or Stroboscopic Flash
Specilicalions.. .. .. .. . .. . .... . ... . .. . . .. .. . .. 118
With a Slave Un~
.. . 110
5

6
Nomenclature
• Fr ont
Flash head '"" --
transm i tter
~~.J~~ii~ - Built-in Wide Panel (retracted)
~ (page 20, 42)
Battery compartment
cover (page 1 0)
AF -assist b",m '«@''' -+-IC-- l1
(page 22) 1 _" ,1'1
-T he battery
compartment has a
switch
to display the
distance in feet or
meters on t he L CD
pane l.
Mounting loot (page 13)
'I] ~ "-- E"",,,l po." source socket
Locking collar (page 13)
Locking pin (page '3) -----~ L_ ____ EI,,,.,,, contacts
Shoe
Mini stand pocket - --Jh ~~=""""",,~) I
Case
Mini stand

Nom e nclalure
• Rear
<E3>Horizontal bouoce release
button (page 40 . gO)
,----- LCD panel
When t hese two
buttons are pressed
simullaooously,lhe
sening changes in lI1e
lallowi ng loop:
" "-":.:J
L--C0II) 4
• <~ > Decrement -~;jF, ~~~i~j~i ~
button
<8> Vertical bounce
release button
( page 40, 90)
• '" +:> Increment -~-tr-
button
f7l H-HH-- -- . <S EL /S ET > Selectl
Sel button
• < . fp · LCD panel --;= ~!(j ",~~.,.,
i llumina t ion button (; ~*-tt- -- < ZO OM > Zoom
(page 21) bullan (pag e 18)
CF Custom F unction
(
<MO DE > Fl ash
mode and slave
setting bullon
(page21,74.112)
< PIL OT> PiI'>I -- --- -
l ampITest firing
buUonJWireless slave
SE cancel button
(page 17. 59, 107)
L __ _ Main switch ( page 16)
o : Tums off the power.
I : Turns on Ihe power.
SE: Turns on the power and
enables the SE mode .
L __ ,~,,,,,, '" selector ( page 14 )
<(§U» : For operation as an on -
cameraSpeedlile.
<MASTER> : For operation as a
wir
eless master unit.
<S LAV E> : For operation as a
wireless
slave unit
Bunons marked with an aste risk remain activt tor 8 sec. alter the bunon is released. LCD
panel il lumination with the < ~ > bunon remains on for 12 sec.
7

-
• LCD Panel
Manuaillash output display
Flash !!)(posure
compensation disp la y
Flash exposure
bracketing ( FEB) display
{!I High-speed sync ----,
(FP lIash) icon
~ FEB ",, ------,
Nomenclature
mManual zoom icon
Zoom and focal length
coverage display
[t» Second-curtain
fla sh sync icOil
alI F lash "' 1 """" 1 r~~~~.~ ~~ ~~~*;l
compensation i con
•
M/M ULTI Manual
flash icon Mulli
(stroboscopic)
flash icon
(D Custom
Function icon
Flash range ,,,.,, _--.J
Flash ratio
~"'Z..~ Wireless icon ----J
Master : ~ z.
Slave : "'Z..~
Flash m,"', ",on , ----; ;::- ---
Master lIash ON : .:l "i.
Master flash OFF : ~'z. :"i
Slave lIash ::l :oi
""" +-FI,,,h ratio
unit (meter s)
unit (feel)
l
~::: ,~Slave icon
ratio icon
,,'"
~ Channel icon
'----- "i.F las h mode i con
(Blinks when !lash head is
lilted down ?O)

Before You Start
This chapter is lor preparing the Speedtite 550EX for actual operation .

1. Installing Batteries
Speed l ite 550EX requires one of the followi ng two types of baneries:
(1) Si ze-AA alkaline LR6 batteries x 4
(2) Size-AA Nicad KR15f51 batteries x 4
10
1 Slide the battery compartmen t cover
as shown by the ar r ow and flip It up.
2 Insert the batteries with the + and -
contacts oriented as shown in the
battery comparlment.
3 Close the battery compartment cover
as shown in the figure.

In stalling Ba tter ies
Batlery Cautions
Use four new batteries of the same type. When replacing batteries. replace all four
baNeries at one time.
Although non·alkaline batteries (RS) may also be used. the number of flashes will be
fess.
The contacts of Nicad baneries are not standardized. If you want to use Ni cad
batteries. make sura the baNery contacts touch the battery compartment's contacts
sBCUfely.
Remove the balleries when tile Speed\ite will not be used for an extended period.
In low temperatures. take two sets of fully<harged Nicad balleries and keep one sat
warm in a pocI(et. etc " and use the balleries alternately.
To ~revent f aulty connedions. make stlre the ballery con tacts ale dean. If necessary,
use a clean doth to wipe the ballery contacts.
Sile- AA lithium FRS balleries can also be used.
Recharging Time and Available Flashes
Ballery Type
Recharging Time
Available Flashes
Quid!. Flash Normal
Flash
Size - AA alkaline
Appro~ . 0.1 ·4 sec . Approx. 0.1 . 8 sec.
Appro~. 100 to 700
LRS batteries
Size·AA Nicad
Approx. 0.1·2.5 see . Approx . 0.1 . 5 sec . Approx. 40 to 300
KR t5,lSI balter;es
The minimum feeh3rging fim e appIles to the E-TTl or TTL mode while the maximum recharging
~me applies to the manual Of fu ll-output (1 /1) mode.
The min i mum available fl ashes applies to the E·TTL or TTL mode while the maximum available
fl ashes a~pl i es to the manual or full·output (111) mode.
The above data ale based on Canon 'S standard tests with new balleries.
11

12
2. External Power Sources
Speedlite 550EX can use any of the following two external power sources.
Fo r deta ils, refer to the Instructio ns of the respec t ive external power source.
(!) Transistor Pack E
Uses Canon Battery Magazine TP (six size-C alkaline R14 batteries) or
Ni - Cd Pack TP.
(2) Compact Battery Pack CP-E2
Uses six size-AA alkaline LR6 or Ni-Cd batteries.
Size-AA lithium (FRS) batteries can also be used .
Recharging Time and Available Flashes
Inler na l
Pow.,
~~,
hlelna l
Power
So"'Oe$
Power Sourc e Recharging
T.me (sec.) Available
Flast>es
Quick Flash Normal Fl ash
Si le -AA alkaline LA6I AM-3 ba ne ries . 4 Appro< . O.1 . 4 Appro •. 0 1 • Approx. 100 -700
Si ,e-A,A N;cad K R15151 i»tterie$. 4 Appro •. 0.1 -2.5
Appro, . 0. I - 5 Approx.
40 ~
T,an.islOI Pad< E INi-Cd Pack TP) Appro •. Q.' - 1.5
Appro,. 0. I · 3 Awrox,3OO . ..00
Transistor Pad<. E IlR14IAM·2) Appro x. O .1 -2 Approx_0.1 , Approx, 350
,~
Compact Batt&r; Pack CP-E2 ILRSiAM -3 ) Appfo., 0,I " Appro.,
0, I , Appro,,35O
,~
Compact Balter; Pac~ CP-E2IKRl5151)
Approx, 0, I
.,
Appro"O .1
.,
Appro• . 130
""
While High-Voltage Pack E315's main switch is stitt on, do not clean the connector
pl llQ with water or a meta l pin arld do not tooch the p lu g.
Even when an ex ternal power sourCll is used, batte ries must be insta ll ed in the 550EX
to power the i nternal circuitry.
The 550EX uses both the internal and externat power sources to recharge the tlash.
Therefore , the internal power source may become exhausted sooner than the externa l
power source. For prolonged fl ash photography. keep a spare set of baneries hai1dy
for the i nternal power source.

3. Attaching the Speedlite to the Camera
-1 Loosen
the locking collar by turning it
as shown by the ar row .
2 Slip the Speedlite's mounting foot
into the camera's hoi shoe until il
slops.
3 Turn the locking collar as shown by
the arrow and tighten. (The moun t ing
foot's locking pin will extend into t he
hot shoe.)
To detach the Speedlite. turn the locking
co llar ,n the opposite direction until it slops.
(The locking pin retracts into the mounting
loot.)
I§l Although the hot shoe on the EOS 650. EOS 620. eos 750, and EOS 850 does not have
l.jJ a locking pin hol e. Speedli te 550EX can still be mounted on these cameras,
13

4. Wireless Selector
The wireless selector has three settings as shown below.
.., K>..i'
0))
OFF
°1° SLAVE
STER
'4 ... ( 0 »
eel- 5 '$ E
MASTER
14
Set to OFF to use the 550EX as a
norma l, on -camera Speed li le.
Set to MASTER to use the 550EX as thE
master unit in a wireless , mu l ti-Speed li tE
system .
Set to SLAVE to use the 550EX as <
slave unit in a wireless, mull i- SpeedlilE
system.

Wire l ess Selector
Illhe 550EX is Ie be used as a normal, on-camera S~edlile bulthe wireless selector
has been sello MA S TER or SLAVE, Ihe following applies:
MASTER II master flash ON has also been set, il will be the same as using Ihe
Speedlile
althe wireless selector's OFF setti ng. II master lIash OfF has
been set, a picture calWlOt be taken.
SLAVE It will be the same as using the Speedlile at Ihe wireless selector's OFF
setting. However, when the camera's txposure meter tums oftS sec. after
the shutter button Is pressed. the 550EX wi ll be a slave un~.
II the wireless selector is set to MASTER and master Il ash OFF has been sel, the
flash will 001 lire. (see page 57)
WhefJ t he wireless selector is set to MASTER or S LA VE, too 1Iash coverage is set
automatically to IZII c'l _. The G r,rirje No. decreases as a result
15

16
5. Main Switch
The main switc h has th r ee se ll ings as shown be l ow.
a ~
C\IQd)
T urns off t he powe r.
T um s on the po w er.
Tu rn s on t he power and enables the SE
mod e.
The SE {Save Enargy) mode turns 011 Ihe
Speedlite aulomaticaly a fle< a period 01 non·use
as indicated in the IoIIowing table.
Wireless Seleclo rSelli ng
OFF MASTER I SLAve
9O~. 60 min.
wr.en the wireless seilldor is sel to (QW or M ASTER and the SE mode takes etflld. the LCD
panel display turns off. To ca ncellhe SE mode, ~ther pless IhB camera's shutter button halfway
or press the Speedlile's \aslliriog button. The Speedlite wililhen tum on again .
IIl hIt vrirelllss seIecIor is set to SLA VE and the SE mode takes effec l. SE is displayed on the
L CD pal'lel . lI the li me ~mit (1 hour Of 8 hours) lor turning on the Speedl;18 agail'l (SE mode
cancellati
on) elapses, SE turns 011 on tile l CO panel . In this case, you musl turn the SpeE'(Aite's
main swilch 011 and on aga in to 11,111'1 ij on aga in.
-
-Custom Function CF·4 can
al ter the ti me it takes before the slave unit enters the SE
mode .S ee p age 11 3,
Custom Function CF-5 can aller lhe ti me limillor Ihe masler un i llo be able 10 cancel
Ihe slave unirs
SE mode . See page 113.
.:-~: Memory feature
- 'fI -The Speed l ~e ·s cunenl mode, lOOI!I setting, flash exposure COrnpensaliOl"l setting, ele .,
are retained in memory even alter the Speedli le is turned 011. WIlen the Sped1e is
lurned on again, all the settings remain el1ective. When replacing Ihe balleries.
the
settings stored in memory can stitl be retained it the new batteries are il1S talled wi th in one
mi nute.

6. Pilot Lamp and Test Firing
=
• o 1 Set
the Speedlile's main switch 10 I .
The flash win SIan chargi ng. When the flash
is ready, the pijlo4lamp lights.
• Red p4lo t lamp
When the Hash Is fully charged, the pilot
lamp lights in red. For normal use. confirm
that Ihe pilot lamp Is red betore laking the
piClUIe •
• Yellow piIoIlamp
When the cam&l'a is set tor single shooting, a
yellow pilot lamp Indicates a IesS -ltlan-lun
charge which enables a quick lIash (lee
description below). FOf close subjll(:ts which
do nol require ful l-output Ilash. quick lIash
shortens th e recharging t ime.
2 To lest t he Speedlile, pr ess the pilOI
lamp (test firing button) to fire a lest
flash .
• About Quick Flash
Wolh Ihe quick -llash feature . roo can tit. , flash even beloIe the flash is fully cha r ged . When II'Ie
piIoIlamp is yellow, aq.JidIlIash can be lirld. The Guide No . lor Oil quick I\a5h is 112 \0 111 6 ttwlt 01 a
normallla$l'l. For details, see page 12 1.
0Jid< Ilash cannot be fired in the IoIIowing cases:
When the Speedlile is used with. Type·B camera.
The camera Is set 10 continuous shoot i ng Q,.
FEB Is used ,
In Iht manual flash mode Of siroboscopic nasll mode willi III, output set to III and 1/2.
In!he stl'Obosropic I\ash moo. ,
When TTl HoI Shoe Adaptef 3is used with the Spedt • .
When Custom Function CF'3 is seI to I (TTl. 8I.Jtoflash) .
The Speedlite cannot be lest fired during lhe 6 see. altef ~ou pl"ess lhe camera's
sIlun8f button hallway (wtl i l. e~posuflt metering is activt).
It Ille Speedlile is in Ihe SE mode, pressing I h' leSI tiring bUl10n lurns on the
Speedlil e.
17

7. Flash Exposure Confirmation
OT
When a correct flash exposure has been
obta ined, the flash exposure
confirmation lamp
on the back of the
Speedlile lights in yellow-green for 3 sec.
I! the flash exposure confirmation lamp
does not light after the flash fires, the
picture may have been underexposed.
Move closer to the subject and try again.
8. Using the Zoom Button and Wide Panel
ETTL
Zoom samm
uu 1 '-' , , • •• " " ..
'Il:
o MODE + SELISET ZOOM
"gcg;ggg
18
The Spee
dlite's flash head zooms
Iy to provide adequate flash
for the current lens foca l
e Speedlile can provide
ash coverage for 24mm to
s focal lengths. If a zoom lens
the flash head also zooms to
ns focal length. The flash
om selting can also be set
automalical
coverage
length. Th
adequate 11
105mm len
is zoomed,
suit the Ie
head's zo
manually.
The Speedlite 's buil t-in wide panel
provides flash coverage for 17mm wide-
angle lenses.

U si ng the Zoom Button a nd Wide Panel
-
• Automatic Flash Head Zooming
ErTL
loom SO mm
uo. , , ... , , • •• " " ..
1 T urn on the camera.
2 Turn on t he Speedlile.
• II m is displayed, press the .. ZOOM ~
botton until CI turns off.
'"
oI0I00£ ~ SEL/$t,'T lOOM
,,(['))(Q:Q!(['))([')) 3 Press
the camera's shutler button
halfway. Th e current lens focal length
will appear on the Speedlite's LCD
panel.
• Manual Flash Head Zooming
ETTl
i:J Zoom ('Ii"""
... , , ... ,... "" ~
'f l
9©6:b©j
n n' 0,1
Press the <ZOOM > butto n. m and
Zoom will be displayed. Keep pressing
the <ZOOM> bullon until the desired
zoom selling (focal lengt h) appears.
Pressing the <ZOOM> button c han ges
the zoom setting in the loop shown
below.
C Ill ZoomC'iO- .. III Z00.,cBmm-'- lIIz oomlS""" ---..III Z00m SO"'J
looMIAUIOmIIlic_I ....-III Zaom:Os .... ~IIIZ oom 80.... .-- m z_ 10_
If tilt! zOQm salling is a Ioea l length l onger than the actual len s focal length, the light will
faU 011 along the periphery of the picture.
I
19

20
Using the Zoom Button and Wide Panel
• Using the Wide Panel
Pull out the built-in wide panel and flip it
down to cover the flash head. The flash
head's zoom setting will be set to 17mm
automatically.
Using the wide panel disables the -< ZOOM >
button.
Use the wide panel with flash head at the normal
or 7' downward tilt
pos ition.
• II the built·in wide panel is used and the Ilash head is tumed or t il ted lor bounce lIash,
the flash
resu lt may look uneven. The LCD panel display will blink as a waming.
• Do not pu ll out the wide panet too hard. Otherwise. the wide panel may come off.
If the wide panel comes 011, the
-< ZOOM > button will not work. If this
happens,
fo ll ow the procedure below.
Use your finger
to push in the panel as
shown by the arrow.
The "ZO OM> button will worl<. again.
bul the entire LCD panel display will
keep blinking. Take the Speedlite
to the
nearest Canon Serv ice Center for
repair.