Canon MACRO SPEEDLITE MR-14EX User manual

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QuickGuide to Macro Speedlite
MR-14EX and MT-24EX
This QuickGuide reviews how to use either of Canon’s
two Macro Speedlites: the MR-14EX and MT-24EX. The
primary difference is between them is that the MR-14EX
has two circular ash tubes permanently mounted opposite
each other onto the Flash Ring, while the MT-24EX has
two removable and adjustable ash heads that snap into
miniature ash shoes.
Control Layout
1. LCD ILLUMINATOR/C.Fn – LCD illuminator/Custom
Function button
2. MODE – Flash mode button. Toggles between ETTL/
TTL and M (manual) ash mode.
3. + : Increase button. Increases ash exposure
compensation. Press SEL/SET rst.
4. − : Decrease button. Applies “minus” ash exposure
compensation. Press SEL/SET rst.
5. SEL/SET – Select/Set button. For selecting and
setting features and functions.
6. LAMP – Focusing lamp button
7. ◄ - Left arrow button. Increases power to left ash
tube (A) relative to right (B).
8. ►- Right arrow button. Increases power to right ash
tube (B) relative to left (A).
9. RATIO – Flash ratio button. Cycles ratio between OFF,
A:B, and A:B C. When A is displayed in Manual ash
mode, the ash output displayed (1/1 thru 1/64) is
for ash tube A. When B is displayed in Manual ash
mode, the ash output displayed is for ash tube B.
10. CH - Channel button. Selects ash channel (1 – 4)
when unit is in wireless slave mode.
11. PILOT – Pilot lamp and test re button
12. Flash Exposure Conrmation lamp
13. Power switch –Turns power on and off. SE position
enables “Save Energy” mode, which automatically
powers down the ash after 90 seconds of inactivity.
To cancel SE mode, press the PILOT button.
Attaching/Detaching the Flash Ring
The Flash Ring attaches directly to the following lenses:
• EF 50mm f/2.5 Compact Macro
• EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro USM
• EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro (now discontinued)
• MP-E 65mm f/2.8 1-5x
The EF 100mm f/2.8L IS Macro requires Macro Lite
Adapter 67C. The EF 180mm f/3.5L Macro requires
Macro Lite Adapter 72C (each sold separately). Macro
Lite adapters are available in sizes 52mm, 58mm, 67mm
and 72mm.
To attach the Flash Ring, press in on the release
button(s) while placing the ring onto the lens. When the
ring is in place, let go of the button(s). Make sure the
ring is rmly attached. To detach the ring, reverse the
procedure.
Selecting camera exposure mode
Set your camera to whatever exposure mode you prefer:
P, Av, Tv, or M. Choose Manual mode when you want
small apertures for maximum depth-of-eld combined
with a fast shutter speed to help minimize blur and
separate the subject from the background. (Light falls
off more rapidly at short distances, therefore the closer
the ash is to the subject, the darker the background
exposure will be unless you either increase the shutter
speed/ambient light exposure or light the background
separately.)
E-TTL OPERATION
Basic E-TTL Auto operation
When the ash unit is set to E-TTL it will automatically
emit a brief pre-ash prior to the actual ash exposure.
Based on the pre-ash measurement, it will then adjust
the ash duration to provide proper exposure based
on a combination of ash-to-subject distance, subject
reectivity, aperture, shutter speed, and ISO. This applies
to all camera exposure modes, including Manual. Press
the MODE button to toggle between E-TTL and M. The
ash is in E-TTL mode when ETTL appears in the upper
left corner of the LCD.
To operate the ash in E-TTL mode:
1. Turn the power switch to ON or SE.
2. Set the camera to the ISO and exposure mode of
your choice. If the camera is set to Auto ISO, the ISO
setting will vary as follows:
Tv or Av or P or CA or Full Auto: The camera will
automatically set the ISO speed at 400 (or 800 on
Rebel T3).
Av Fill-in Flash: If the pre-ash detects over-
exposure at ISO 400 (or 800), the camera will reduce
the ISO to as low as 100.
P or CA or Full Auto & bounce ash: If the pre-
ash detects under-exposure at ISO 400 (or 800),
the camera will increase the ISO speed to as high as
1600.
3. Focus and release the shutter.
4. If there was enough light for a correct exposure
the green Flash Exposure Conrmation Lamp will
illuminate for 3 seconds. If not, the lamp will not
illuminate.
E-TTL Flash Ratio Control
Because the MR-14EX and MT-24EX have two ash tubes
(A and B) you have the option of ring A and B at equal
output (1:1), ring A and B at an unequal ratio (1:2, 1:4, 2:1,
etc.), or ring either A or B independently.
Equal output
1. Press the RATIO button once. The ratio display will
appear.
2. Conrm that the ratio indicator is in the center, below
1:1. If not, press either the ◄ or ► arrow as needed
to move the bar back to the center.
A:B ratio
1. Press the RATIO button once. The ratio display will
appear.
2. Press the ◄ arrow toward ash A (left) to increase
its power. Press the ► arrow to increase power of
ash B (right). Each press will increase the ratio by a
half-stop. An A:B ratio of 2:1 indicates that ash A will
output twice as much light (one stop) as B. A ratio of
4:1 indicates four times as much (two stops). A ratio of
8:1 indicates eight times as much (3 stops).

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E-TTL Flash Ratio Control (continued)
The reverse also applies. For example, an A:B ratio of 1:4
indicates that ash B will output four times as much light
as A.
Turning off A or B (ring one tube only)
1. Press the RATIO button once. The ratio display will
appear.
2. Press either the ◄ or ► button as needed to move
the ratio indicator all the way to the left (A) or right (B).
The ratio scale will disappear, leaving only the ash
tube ring icon for the side you have selected.
Wireless E-TTL Flash
The MR-14EX and MT-24EX are fully compatible with
the Canon Speedlite wireless ash system. Because the
MR-14EX/MT-24EX already comprise units A and B of a
wireless ash group, you would normally set any additional
unit(s) as a slave assigned to group C. Be sure to set A:B
C ratio. The Macro Lite’s A and B tubes will light the main
subject. You can use Slave C either to light the background
only or create accent lighting, according to your preference.
If you activated FLASH C.Fn 5-1, you can instead assign
any additional slave units to supplement slave groups A
and B. Slaves assigned to A and B will not otherwise re
unless C.Fn 5-1 is active.
MANUAL OPERATION
Manual Flash Mode Settings
In the manual ash mode, you can adjust the ash output
from 1/1 (full) to 1/64 power in whole-stop increments.
When shooting in manual mode you must either use a ash
exposure meter or pre-test the ash exposure. The camera
will not automatically adjust the exposure. The ash tubes
can be red in one of three congurations:
1. Fire both ash tubes at the same output
2. Fire ash tube A at a different output from ash tube B
3. Fire only one of the ash tubes (A or B)
To re both tubes at equal output:
1. Set the camera’s shooting mode to Av or M.
2. Press the <MODE> button and change the mode from
ETTL to M.
3. Press the <SEL/SET> button. The ash output display
will blink.
4. Press the < + > or <−> button to set the desired ash
output. Each time you press the button, the ash
output will increase or decrease by one stop.
5. Press the <SEL/SET> button again to lock in your
choice.
To re both tubes at a different output:
1. Follow steps 1 – 2 above
2. Press the RATIO button and select A:B
3. Press the ◄ or ► button to select ash tube A or B;
selected group is underlined
4. Press the < + > or <−> button to set the desired ash
output.
5. Press the <SEL/SET> button again to lock in your
choice, and move to next ash group
Wireless Manual Flash
To set up a wireless ash system (compatible with EOS
digital SLRs):
1. Press the Macro Lite’s <MODE> button and select
"M (Manual)".
2. Press the <RATIO> button and select RATIO A:B
C. Each time you press the button, the selection will
change in the following order: OFF → RATIO A : B
→ RATIO A : B C
3. Press the <C H.> button to select the channel you
wish to use. Select any channel from 1 to 4. All ash
units under your control must be set to the same
channel.
Setting ash output for A and B and Slave C
With [RATIO A:B C] displayed on the master unit, set the
ash output for ash tubes A and B, then set the ash
output for slave C. For the setting procedure, refer to
“Manual Flash Mode Settings” above.
MODE-INDEPENDENT FEATURES
Modeling ash
Press the depth-of-eld preview button on your camera to
trigger modeling ash. (Note: Rebel T3 requires C.Fn 8-1
be set on-camera.)
Focusing lamps
Press the LAMP button to turn on the focusing lamps. They
will automatically shut off in approximately 20 seconds. To
turn the lamps off manually, press the LAMP button again.
Flash Exposure Compensation (FEC)
You can set FEC up to ±3 stops in 1/3-stop increments (or
1/2-stop increments with some cameras). To set FEC:
1. Press the SEL/SET button repeatedly until the [+/−]
icon appears on the LCD. The icon and FEC amount
will blink.
2. Press the + or – button to set the FEC amount.
3. Press the SEL/SET button to lock in your choice.
Flash Exposure Bracketing (FEB)
Three ash shots can be bracketed up to ±3 stops in
1/3-stop increments (or 1/2-stop increments with some
cameras) in the following order: Correct exposure,
decreased exposure, and increased exposure. FEB is
canceled automatically after all three bracketed ash
exposures have been completed. To set FEB:
1. Press the SEL/SET button repeatedly until the
[BRACKETING] icon appears on the LCD. The icon
and FEC amount will blink.
2. Press the + or – button to set the FEB amount.
3. Press the SEL/SET button to lock in your choice.
Flash Sync Options
By default, the ash res in synchronization with the rst
shutter curtain when the shutter is fully open. With Second-
curtain Sync, the ash res immediately before the
second shutter curtain closes at the end of the exposure.
High-Speed Sync (FP Flash) allows the Macro Lite to
sync at all shutter speeds. Although this reduces power
output, this can be a benet when you are working at close
distances or if you are using the ash for ash-ll lighting.
To set either option:
1. Press the <+> and <−> buttons simultaneously to
select the ash sync option of your choice. The icon
for the corresponding mode will appear on the LCD
screen as well as in your camera’s viewnder. Each
simultaneous press of these two buttons will change
the sync setting.
2. To switch back to standard 1st-curtain sync, press the
<+> and <−> buttons simultaneously until neither the
2nd-curtain sync nor high-speed sync icons are visible
on the LCD.