Canon Speedlite 430 EZ User manual

Introduction
Parts
Description
The Speedlite 430EZ was introduced in 1989, two years after the introduction of the first EOS
camera and the first Speedlite. This battery-operated, hotshoe-mounted flash unit is dedicated to the
EOS system, and is a direct replacement for the Speedlite 420EZ. The feature set was updated to
coincide with the launch of the EOS 600 / EOS 630 camera body.
Features
zTilt and swivel head
zFully automatic operation on EOS cameras
zAuto zoom head (24-80mm coverage)
zA-TTL autoexposure
zTTL autoexposure
zManual power control (1/1-1/32)
z2nd curtain sync
zStroboscope function
zBacklit LCD display
zFlash Head
zA-TTL metering flash and sensor
zAF assist pattern lamp
zBattery compartment
zExternal power socket
zLocking wheel
zHot shoe with locking pin
zTilt scale (60°, 75°)
zSwivel scale (60°, 75°, 90°)
zSwivel latch
zBacklit LCD display
z5 button control panel
zReady lamp/test button
zPower switch
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General Operation
Power
Select a fresh set of 4 AA cells of the same type, such as NiMH, NiCd, or alkaline. Slide back the
non-removable cover, and swing it up on its hinge to expose the battery compartment. Check the
p
olarity diagram, then insert the AA cells. Swing the battery cover down, and slide closed.
Turn the flash ON. A whirring sound indicates charging. The ready lamp glows GREEN to indicate
approximately 50% charge, and RED to indicate about 80% charge. The flash can be used for
p
hotography if the ready lamp is glowing, particularly if you do not require full flash intensity.
If there is no READY light within 10 seconds, the battery might be exhausted, so replace the
batteries. If there is still no READY light with fresh batteries, send the flash for service.
Rapid Fire
"Rapid Fire" is the name given to the feature where the Speedlite indicates that it is ready when it is
p
artially charged. This allows the photographer to take photos in quick succession, providing that
only part of the flash capacity is used for each shot. You will enjoy greater success with "Rapid
Fire" flash if you use more sensitive film (e.g. ASA 400 instead of ASA 100), use direct instead of
indirect or bounced flash, and shoot from a closer rather than further distance.
Mounting
Turn the flash power OFF.
Loosen the lock nut, and make sure that the locking pin is retracted. Slide the flash all the way
forward into the camera hotshoe. Tighten the locking nut, and test that the flash is locked securely
by gently trying to slide it out of the hotshoe.
Turn the power ON to charge the flash.
N
ote: The locking pin is used to help hold the flash securely in the hotshoe of nearly all EOS
cameras. Since the locking pin is spring loaded, you can still mount the flash on a standard shoe
(e.g. studio umbrella holder or macro flash bracket).
Removal
Turn the flash power OFF.
Unscrew the locking nut FULLY. When the locking pin has retracted, slide the flash out of the
hotshoe. Be careful not to damage or dirty the electronic contacts in the hotshoe.
N
ote: The flash could be impossible to remove unless the locking pin is fully retracted.
Reset
To clear all user settings on the flash, turn the flash ON, then open the battery compartment cover.
Wait for the LCD to go blank, indicating that the power is completely drained. Close the battery
compartment. The flash will power up in default mode (A-TTL, A ZOOM at 35mm, first curtain
sync, single flash, zero FEC).
Power Saver
After 90 seconds of inactivity, the Speedlite will automatically switch to a sleep mode with lower
p
ower consumption. You can wake the flash using any one of several methods: Push down half-
way the shutter button on the camera; Push the TEST button on the flash; Switch the flash POWER
off, then ON; Reset the flash. The Power Saver function cannot be disabled.
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Panel backlight
If the panel is too dark to read, push and release the LIGHT/MULTI(HZ) button to activate the
backlight. The backlight will automatically extinguish after 8 seconds.
Flash Test
Switch your flash ON and wait for the flash to charge. When the READY light glows, push the test
button on the flash. The flash should fire an unmetered burst, and begin to recharge. This can be
used 1) to verify electronic and flash tube function; 2) to check whether to replace the battery when
recharging time is prolonged; 3) to fire the flash without the camera, such as during bulb exposures
or painting with light.
N
ote: If you have activated the metering function on your camera, the flash TEST button might be
disabled because of flash exposure lock. If so, turn either your camera or your Speedlite OFF, then
ON.
Tilt
Pull the the flash head up to adjust flash direction. The tilt range is directly ahead (0°) to directly
upward (90°). Click stops at 60° and 75° are marked on the tilt-scale.
N
ote: If the autozoom function is active, tilting away from 0° will zoom the head to 50mm
coverage. This can be overridden by manual zoom.
Swivel
To swivel the flash head, push and hold the swivel latch in the direction of the arrow, the turn the
head left or right to the desired direction. The swivel range is up to 180° left, or 90° right, with
click stops at 60° and 75°.
N
ote: If the autozoom function is active, tilting away from 0° will zoom the head to 50mm
coverage. This can be overridden by manual zoom.
Manual Operation
Zoom
The angle of coverage can be changed. Switch the flash ON, then push the ZOOM button to cycle
from automatic ("A ZOOM") through one of six manual zoom settings ("M Zoom"). The flash
coverage is specified in terms of focal length for hotshoe mounted flash pointed directly at the
subject, using 35mm film. Select the angle of coverage suitable for the subject and the lens and
camera used. If too narrow a beam is used, objects around the edges of the photograph might not be
lit adequately and may appear dark. If too wide a beam is selected, there may or may not be enough
flash power to adequately light dark or distant objects in the photograph.
z24mm Broadest coverage, weakest beam
z28mm
z35mm
z50mm
z70mm
z80mm Narrowest coverage, strongest beam
Intensity
Flash intensity is normally under the automatic control of the TTL flash sensor circuitry. In
situations where a fixed flash intensity is required, set the flash to manual control by pushing the
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"MODE" button to cycle through the choices until you see "M" mode
Once in Manual mode, you can adjust the flash intensity to one of six power levels by pushing the
"+" or the "-" button until the desired power level is displayed on the LCD:
z1/1 Full power for M mode
z1/2
z1/4
z1/8
z1/16
z1/32 Minimum power for M mode
Use a handheld flash meter to determine the power setting which will produce correct flash
exposure. If you do not have a flash meter, you can get an approximate idea using simple Guide
N
umber calculations:
a) Measure the flash-to-subject distance
e.g. 2 metres
b) Multiply the flash-to-subject distance by the aperture setting on your lens
e.g. for f/11, multiply by eleven
c) Express the product as a fraction of the Guide number of the flash. For ISO 100, the guide
number is 43m.
e.g. 2 m times 11 equals 22m, which is very close to half of the Guide number for the flash,
43m
d) Set your flash power to the result fraction
e.g. 1/2 power
e) Check your result. Usually, some adjustment is required, since the actual guide number may
differ from the value specified as ideal.
When using a Digital SLR, check your histogram to make sure that highlights are not blown
out.
f) A new setting is required only if you change the aperture or the flash-to-subject distance.
Synchronization
The flash is normally synchronized to the OPENING of the shutter. If you wish to synchronize
flash to just before the CLOSING of the shutter, select "2nd curtain sync" by pushing the "+" and
the "-" buttons together.
"2nd curtain sync" is indicated on the LCD panel by a symbol with three triangles.
Stroboscope
The flash normally emits a single burst of light during each exposure. For special effect
p
hotography, such as multiple exposures to show a sequence of motion, you can cause the
Speedlite to emit several bursts of light.
A-TTL -> M -> M MULTI ->
Guide Number (ideal)
ISO 24mm 28mm 35mm 50mm 70mm 80mm
100/21° 25 m 27 m 30 m 35 m 40 m 43 m
200/24° 35 m 30 m 42 m 50 m 57 m 60 m
400/27° 50 m 34 m 60 m 70 m 80 m 86 m
800/30° 70 m 60 m 84 m 100 m 114 m 120 m
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In "M MULTI" mode, you must select the desired frequency and intensity of the flash bursts. Push
the "LIGHT / MULTI(HZ)" button to choose one of ten frequency settings:
z1 Hz
z2 Hz
z3 Hz
z4 Hz
z5 Hz
z6 Hz
z7 Hz
z8 Hz
z9 Hz
z10 Hz
Choose one of four power settings for flash intensity by pushing the "+" or the "-" button until the
desired power level is displayed on the LCD:
z1/4 Maximum power for MULTI mode
z1/8
z1/16
z1/32 Minimum power for MULTI mode
Flash OK
Unlike flash units with an automatic exposure sensor, the Speedlite 430EZ does not have an
indicator for adequate flash exposure.
Automatic Operation
Auto Zoom
By default, the angle of flash coverage can be automatically matched to the lens and camera used.
This is especially useful if using zoom lenses. If too narrow a beam were to be chosen, objects
around the edges of the photograph might not be lit adequately and may appear dark. If too wide a
beam was selected, there may or may not be enough flash power to adequately light dark or distant
objects in the photograph.
Switch the flash ON, then push the ZOOM button until automatic ("A ZOOM") is displayed. The
flash coverage is specified in terms of focal length for hotshoe mounted flash pointed directly at the
subject, assuming the use of a 35mm film camera. If the flash head is tilted or swivelled for indirect
or bounce flash, the Auto Zoom function selects the 50mm setting by default.
z24mm Broadest coverage, weakest beam
z28mm
z35mm
z50mm (auto default for indirect flash)
z70mm
z80mm Narrowest coverage, strongest beam
TTL
The Speedlite 430EZ is intended to couple via the hotshoe to the TTL (through-the-lens) automatic
A-TTL -> M -> M MULTI ->
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flash exposure circuitry present in nearly all film-based EOS camera bodies, the EF-M being the
only notable exception. When attached to an E-TTL capable film-based EOS camera body, the
Speedlite 200E will function, but only as a TTL flash, without any E-TTL features such as high-
speed sync and Flash Exposure Lock.
N
ote: The TTL automatic flash exposure function does not work with E-TTL-only EOS camera
bodies, such as the EOS D30 and later digital cameras.
The TTL circuit is activated whenever the flash is switched out of Manual mode. During flash
exposure, light is metered directly from the film plane when the shutter is open. During the flash
burst, as soon as adequate flash exposure is detected, a "TTL" signal is sent via the hotshoe to
quench the Speedlite.
To make use of TTL flash, first set the camera to Av, Tv, or M mode. Push the "MODE" button on
the Speedlite until the LCD panel shows "ATTL" or "TTL". Make sure the READY light is
glowing on the flash, and that the FLASH indicator in the camera viewfinder LCD is lit. To take a
p
icture, fully depress the shutter button on the camera.
Exposure Compensation
Flash metering assumes an average reflectance for the scene. In cases where the scene is unusually
reflective or unusually dark, the flash exposure can be adjusted to suit the scene. Flash Exposure
Compensation (FEC) can be applied in increments of one third of one stop within a range of 3
stops.
To make the flash exposure brighter, push the "+" button on the Speedlite control panel until the
desired compensation is reached (range 0 to +3.0).
To make the flash exposure darker, push the "-" button on the Speedlite control panel until the
desired compensation is reached (range 0 to -3.0).
A-TTL
Preflash
A-TTL (Advanced TTL) was Canon's extension of the TTL flash metering system. The primary
feature of A-TTL was the addition of a infrared-filtered second flash tube and a forward pointing
flash exposure sensor on the front of the Speedlite. As soon as the shutter button was half-pressed,
an invisible preflash was emitted and the reflected signal from the subject measured to determine
the subject reflectance, and indirectly, the subject distance. A strong reflectance signal indicated a
close-by subject, allowing the use of a narrow lens aperture, while a weak reflectance signal results
in the automatic selection of a wider aperture. In the case of indirect or bounce flash, the infrared
p
reflash would not be accurate, so a visible light preflash from the main flash tube was employed.
To make use of A-TTL mode, first set the camera to "FULL AUTO" (Green) mode or to "P" mode.
Push the "MODE" button on the Speedlite until the LCD panel shows "ATTL". Make sure the
READY light is glowing on the flash, and that the FLASH indicator in the camera viewfinder LCD
is lit. To take a picture, fully depress the shutter button on the camera.
N
ote: The A-TTL automatic flash exposure function does not work with E-TTL-only EOS camera
bodies, such as the EOS D30 and later digital cameras.
Out-of-range
A very weak A-TTL reflectance reading would indicate that the subject is too far away for adequate
Darkest Darker Neutral Brighter Brightest
-3 -2 2/3 -2 1/3 -2 -1 2/3 -1 1/3 -1 - 2/3 - 1/3 0 + 1/3 + 2/3 +1 +1 1/3 +1 2/3 +2 +2 1/3 +2 2/3 +3
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flash exposure. An out of range warning was indicated by a flashing aperture setting, but,
unfortunately, this feature is available only on the EOS 600 / EOS 630 and EOS 10 / EOS 10 S
camera bodies.
Aperture setting
If the camera was set to FULL AUTO (green) or "P" mode, the A-TTL program selects an aperture
determined by the preflash metering, but also affected by the ambient light meter reading,
whichever was the smaller. In general, the program is biased towards maximizing Depth of Field,
rather than balancing background and foreground exposure. As a result, photographs shot in A-TTL
tend to be well focussed, but with dark backgrounds.
If the camera is set to Av, Tv, or M, the A-TTL program has no effect on aperture selection.
However, a preflash is still emitted from the Speedlite 430EZ that was intended for the out-of-range
function of the EOS 600 / 630 and EOS 10 / 10S camera bodies.
Exposure Compensation
Flash metering assumes an average reflectance for the scene. In cases where the scene is unusually
reflective or unusually dark, the flash exposure can be adjusted to suit the scene. Flash Exposure
Compensation (FEC) can be applied in increments of one third of one stop within a range of 3
stops.
To make the flash exposure brighter, push the "+" button on the Speedlite control panel until the
desired compensation is reached (range 0 to +3.0).
To make the flash exposure darker, push the "-" button on the Speedlite control panel until the
desired compensation is reached (range 0 to -3.0).
Accessories
Power
Accessory high capacity battery packs and high voltage power packs are available.
The 430EZ was the first Speedlite to have a high voltage port. It can take a Quantum Turbo, Canon
Transistor Pack or other high voltage battery, and recycle the flash in less than 1.5 seconds after a
full power manual pop. The six volt external batteries like the Quantum Battery 1+ do not recycle
the 430EZ any faster than a modern set of rechargeable AA's, which recharge the flash in about 5-6
seconds.
Connectors
The Speedlite 430EZ is normally directly mounted onto the hotshoe, but can also be used for off-
camera flash by using a Canon accessory Off-Camera Shoe Cord (OCSC or OCSC2), so long as the
camera is compatible with that accessory.
Alternatively, Canon had a system of connectors, cords, and distributors that carried
synchronization and TTL quenching signals over a maximum total of 10m /30ft of wiring between
the camera and up to four Speedlites. However, this system is very expensive and not very flexible,
in that lighting ratios between Speedlites or groups of Speedlites could not be set easily.
Another alternative is to use a wireless slave trigger. These range from simple low-cost hotshoe
optical slave triggers, to more complex remote-TTL units like the Ikelite Lite-Link (about
Darkest Darker Neutral Brighter Brightest
-3 -2 2/3 -2 1/3 -2 -1 2/3 -1 1/3 -1 - 2/3 - 1/3 0 + 1/3 + 2/3 +1 +1 1/3 +1 2/3 +2 +2 1/3 +2 2/3 +3
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$USD80). These work quite well and are easy to set up. For more reliable triggering, such as where
light interference exists, or where line-of-sight is not guaranteed, an even more expensive, but
reliable system of radio slaves is recommended.
The connecting cord system for multiple flash has been supplanted by the wireless E-TTL system,
which requires an EX series Speedlite, and so is not compatible with the Speedlite 430EZ.
Diffuser
Flash coverage can be modified or widened by the use of accessory third party diffusers.
Commercial examples include devices from: Stofen; Lastolite; Lumiquest;
Concentrator
The flash range can be extended by the use of accessory third party flash concentrators.
Commercial examples include: the Better Beamer; Flash Extender.
Incompatibilities
EF-M body
EF-M has no TTL sensor. In TTL mode, the 430EZ will fire at full power. Using the 430EZ in
manual mode is recommended.
EOS bodies
EOS 620, EOS 650, EOS 750, EOS 850 cannot respond to flash-exposure compensation set on the
flash
EOS 100 - exposure problems at greater than ISO 2500
EOS600/630 & EOS RT - not compatible with OCSC2
Bodies newer than EOS 600/630 and EOS 10/10s - no A-TTL out of range warning
E-TTL-only Digital SLR bodies - flash fires only when set to Manual or Multi mode. Flash does
not fire in TTL or A-TTL modes.
Power
Rapid-Fire is disabled when using a High-Voltage power supply. See:
http://www.kjsl.com/~dave/430ez.html
Lithium AA batteries (FR6) are associated with overheating. See: http://photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-
fetch-msg?msg_id=00D5wo
Precautions
Turn off the flash when not in use.
Remove batteries before long term storage.
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