Canon SPEEDLITE 320EX User manual

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English
INSTRUCTION MANUAL

English

2
Thank you for purchasing a Canon product.
The Canon Speedlite 320EX is a multi-feature flash unit for Canon EOS
cameras. It works automatically with E-TTL II and E-TTL autoflash
systems. It can be used as an on-camera flash that attaches to the hot
shoe of the camera or as part of a wireless flash system used at a
distance from the camera. It is also equipped with an LED light for
movie shooting.
Read this instruction manual while also referring to your
camera’s instruction manual.
Before using the Speedlite, read this instruction manual and your
camera’s instruction manual to familiarize yourself with the Speedlite
operations.
Using with an EOS digital camera
• You can use the Speedlite for easy autoflash shooting just like a
camera’s built-in flash.
Using with an EOS film camera
• When using with an EOS film camera with E-TTL II and E-TTL
autoflash systems, you can use the Speedlite for easy autoflash
shooting just like a camera’s built-in flash.
•This flash unit cannot be used with an EOS film camera with
TTL autoflash system.
Compatible camera types
For convenience, in the camera’s instruction manual, cameras that
support E-TTL II and E-TTL autoflash systems are referred to as
A-type cameras.
Using the Speedlite with a Camera

3
Contents
1Getting Started and Basic Operations................................. 7
Installing the Batteries............................................................................................. 8
Attaching and Detaching the Flash ......................................................................... 9
Turning on the Power Switch ................................................................................ 10
Fully Automatic Flash Shooting............................................................................. 11
Flash Shooting in Each Camera Mode ................................................................. 13
2Using Flash .......................................................................... 17
AFE Lock ............................................................................................................ 18
Switching the Flash Coverage .............................................................................. 19
Bounce Flash ........................................................................................................ 21
AF-assist Beam..................................................................................................... 22
Movie Shooting Using the LED Light .................................................................... 23
3Flash Function Settings by Camera Operations............... 25
Flash Control from Camera Menu Screen ............................................................ 26
yFlash Exposure Compensation........................................................................ 27
High-speed Sync................................................................................................... 28
Second-curtain Sync ............................................................................................. 29
Manual Flash......................................................................................................... 30
Setting Custom Functions ..................................................................................... 32
4
Wireless Flash Shooting ..................................................... 33
Wireless Flash Shooting ....................................................................................... 34
Reference .................................................................................. 40
320EX System ...................................................................................................... 40
Troubleshooting Guide .......................................................................................... 41
Specifications ........................................................................................................ 43

4
Nomenclature
Flash head (p.19)
Wireless sensor
(p.35)
LED light (p.23)
Remote control
transmitter (p.39)
Shoe
Case 320EX mini stand
(p.35)
Mini stand pocket
Mounting foot (p.9)
Locking pin
(p.9)
Contacts

5
Firing group
selection switch
(p.34/36)
Flash-ready lamp
(p.10)
Flash head extended
lamp (p.19)
Power switch/
Slave function switch
(p.10/34/39)
<
ON >: Turns on power
<
SLAVE >: For wireless flash
shooting
<
OFF >: Turns off power
Mounting foot’s lock lever
(p.9)
Wireless communication
channel selection switch
(p.34)
Bounce angle index (p.21)
Remote release button
(p.38/39)
Manual LED light button
(p.23)
Battery compartment
cover (p.8)
LED light switch
(p.22/23)
Lock-release button
(p.9)

6
Icons in this Manual
8: Indicates that the respective function remains active for 16 sec.
after you let go of the button.
M: If shown on the upper right of the page, it indicates that the
function is available only in the Creative Zone modes of the
camera.
(p.**):Reference page numbers for more information.
: Warning to prevent shooting problems.
: Supplemental information.
Basic Assumptions
The operation procedures in this instruction manual assume that both
the camera and Speedlite’s power switches are already set to <
ON >.
Icons used in the text to indicate the respective buttons, dials, and
settings match the same icons found on the camera and Speedlite.
The operation procedures assume that the menu and Custom
Functions of the camera and the Custom Functions of the Speedlite
are at their default settings.
All figures are based on the use of AA/LR6 alkaline batteries and
Canon’s testing standards.
Conventions Used in this Manual

7
1
Getting Started and
Basic Operations
Installing the Batteries ............................................ 8
Attaching and Detaching the Flash......................... 9
Turning on the Power Switch................................ 10
Fully Automatic Flash Shooting ............................. 11
Flash Shooting in Each Camera Mode................. 13
To avoid overheating and degrading the flash head,
do not fire more than 20 flashes continuously. After
20 continuous flashes, allow a rest time of at least
10 min.
If you fire more than 20 continuous flashes and
then fire more flashes in short intervals, the inner
overheating prevention function may be activated
and make the recycling time about 8 to 20 sec. If
this occurs, allow a rest time of about 15 min. and
the flash will then return to normal.
Cautions for firing continuous flashes

8
Install four AA/LR6 batteries.
1Open the cover.
Slide the battery compartment cover
as shown by the arrow and open it.
2Install the batteries.
Make sure the + and – battery
contacts are correctly oriented as
shown in the battery compartment.
3Close the cover.
Close the battery compartment cover
and slide it as shown by the arrow.
Based on new AA/LR6 alkaline batteries and Canon’s testing standards.
Installing the Batteries
Recycling Time and Flash Count
Recycling Time (Approx.) Flash Count (Approx.)
0.1 - 2.3 sec. 180 - 1000
Using AA/LR6 batteries other than the alkaline type may cause improper
battery contact due to the irregular shape of the battery contacts.
If you change the batteries after firing many flashes continuously, be
aware that the batteries might be hot.
Use a new set of four batteries of the same brand. When replacing the
batteries, replace all four at one time.
AA/LR6 rechargeable Ni-MH or lithium batteries can also be used.

9
1Attach the Speedlite.
Insert the Speedlite’s mounting foot
into the camera’s hot shoe all the
way. (The mounting foot will protrude
slightly from the hot shoe.)
2Secure the Speedlite.
On the mounting foot, slide the lock
lever to the right.
XWhen the lock lever clicks in place, it
will be locked.
3Detach the Speedlite.
While pressing the lock-release
button, slide the lock lever to the left
and detach the Speedlite.
Attaching and Detaching the Flash
Before attaching or detaching the Speedlite, be sure to turn off the
Speedlite.

10
1Set the power switch to <
ON >.
XThe flash recycling starts.
2Check that the flash is ready.
When the flash-ready lamp blinks and
then lights in red, the flash is ready to
fire (fully charged).
The flash-ready lamp blinks when Quick Flash is ready even before the
flash is fully charged.
You can use the flash to take a picture at that time; however, the flash
output is only half or one-third of the flash’s full charge. This is useful for
taking pictures of subjects very close to the flash.
To save battery power, the power will turn off automatically after 90
seconds of idle use. To turn on the Speedlite again, press the camera’s
shutter button halfway.
Turning on the Power Switch
About Quick Flash
About Auto Power Off
The time until auto power off takes effect may increase when firing
continuous flashes.
Auto power off can also be disabled (p.32).

11
When you set the camera’s shooting mode to <d> (Program AE) or
Full Auto, you can shoot in E-TTL II/E-TTL fully automatic flash mode.
Cameras with external flash function settings
Press the camera <M> button and
select [Flash control] or [External
Speedlite control].
Select [External flash func. setting]
and set [Flash mode] to [E-TTL II].
Cameras without external flash function settings
This operation is not required on EOS film cameras or EOS digital
cameras without the [Flash control] or [External Speedlite
control] menu functions because the flash mode cannot be
changed on these camera models.
Fully Automatic Flash Shooting
Readying the Camera
The Speedlite does not fire when the LED light (p.22) is turned on.
“Full Auto” refers to <A>, <1>, and <C> shooting modes.

12
1Focus the subject.
Press the shutter button halfway to
focus.
XThe shutter speed and aperture will
be set as displayed in the viewfinder.
Check that <D> is lit in the viewfinder.
2Take the picture.
XWhen you press the shutter button
completely, the flash will fire and the
picture will be taken.
Taking the Picture
After taking the picture, check the image on the LCD monitor of the camera.
If the light from the flash did not reach the subject, move closer to the
subject and take the picture again. You can also increase the ISO speed
when using a digital camera.

13
With the flash mode set to E-TTL II/E-TTL autoflash, just set the
camera’s shooting mode to <s> (Shutter priority AE), <f>
(Aperture priority AE), or <a> (Manual exposure) and you can use
E-TTL II/E-TTL autoflash.
On EOS digital cameras without the [Flash control] menu function or
EOS film cameras, E-TTL II/E-TTL autoflash is set automatically.
Select this mode when you want to set
the shutter speed manually.
The camera will then automatically set
the aperture matching the shutter speed
to obtain a standard exposure.
If the aperture display blinks, it means that the background exposure will be
underexposed or overexposed. Adjust the shutter speed until the aperture
display stops blinking.
Flash Shooting in Each Camera Mode
s: Shutter Priority AE

14
Select this mode when you want to set
the aperture manually.
The camera will then automatically set
the shutter speed matching the aperture
to obtain a standard exposure.
If the background is dark, such as in a
night scene, a slow sync speed will be
used to obtain a standard exposure of
both the main subject and background.
Standard exposure of the main subject is
obtained with the flash, while a standard
exposure of the background is obtained
with a slow shutter speed.
If the shutter speed display blinks, it means that the background exposure will
be underexposed or overexposed. Adjust the aperture until the shutter speed
display stops blinking.
Select this mode if you want to set both
the shutter speed and aperture manually.
Standard exposure of the main subject is
obtained with the flash. The exposure of
the background is obtained with the
shutter speed and aperture combination
you set.
f: Aperture Priority AE
a: Manual Exposure

15
The result will be the same as using <d> (Program AE).
1/X sec. is the camera’s maximum flash sync speed.
This function optimizes the white balance during flash shooting by
transmitting the color temperature information to the EOS digital
camera when the flash fires. When you set the camera white balance to
<Q> or <D>, the function is enabled automatically.
See the Specifications in the camera’s instruction manual for
compatible models.
Z: Depth-of-field AE, Y: Auto Depth-of-field AE
Flash Sync Speeds and Apertures Used
Shutter Speed Aperture Value
Full Auto,
<d>Set automatically (1/X sec. - 1/60 sec.) Automatic
sSet manually (1/X sec. - 30 sec.) Automatic
fSet automatically (1/X sec. - 30 sec.) Manual
aSet manually (1/X sec. - 30 sec., Bulb) Manual
Function for Transmitting the Color Temperature
Information

16

17
2
Using Flash
AFE Lock............................................................ 18
Switching the Flash Coverage.............................. 19
Bounce Flash........................................................ 21
AF-assist Beam .................................................... 22
Movie Shooting Using the LED Light.................... 23

18
FE (flash exposure) lock locks the correct flash exposure setting for any
part of the scene.
With the flash mode set to E-TTL II/E-TTL autoflash, press the camera’s
<A> button to enable FE lock. On some cameras, press the <B> or
<7> button.
1Focus the subject.
2Press the <A> button. (8)
Aim the center of the viewfinder over
the subject and press the <
A > button.
XThe Speedlite fires a preflash, and
the required flash output is retained in
memory.
X“FEL” will be displayed in the
viewfinder for approx. 0.5 sec.
Each time you press the <A> button,
a preflash will be fired and a new
flash exposure reading will be locked.
3Take the picture.
Compose the picture and press the
shutter button completely.
XThe flash fires when the picture is
taken.
AFE LockN
If the subject is too far away and underexposure may result, the <D>
icon will blink in the viewfinder. Move closer to the subject and perform
FE lock again. You can also increase the ISO speed and perform FE lock
again when using a digital camera.
If the target subject is too small in the viewfinder, the FE lock might not
be very effective.