Canon SPPEDLITE 577G User manual

INTRODUCTION
The Speedlite 577G is Canon’s
most powerful electronic computer
flash unit with many impressive au¬
tomatic and professional features.
With Canon SLR cameras, it goes
well beyond the conventional mean¬
ing of automatic in flash photo¬
graphy. On a Canon New F-1, A-1,
AE-1 PROGRAM, AE-1, AL-1 or AV-1
camera, it will automatically switch
the shutter speed to the flash sync
speed of 1/60 second. (1/90 sec¬
ond in the case of the New F-1.)
Even the aperture will be set auto¬
matically for the New F-1 (Shutter-
Priority Mode), A-1, AE-1 PROGRAM,
and AE-1 as long as the lens is on
“A”. If using one of the New F-I’s or
A-I’s slower shutter speeds is de¬
sirable, that is possibie too. Flash
photography with the 577G is as
easy as turning on its power switch,
selecting one of three apertures by
sliding one switch and waiting for
its pilot lamp to glow. Its many spe¬
cial features and accessories offer
all of the necessary options for
obtaining beautiful and professional
results. For control of shadows and
better modeling of the subject, the
flashhead tilts upward up to 120°
and swings to the left and right
120° each way. Its unique bracket
design insures quick release of the
flash unit for varying the distance
between the flash and the camera.
And since it has a carefully mated,
separate sensor which remains in
the camera’s hot shoe, correct ex¬
posure is obtained even when the
flash itself is not aimed directly at
the subject.
The 577G normally covers the angle
of view of lenses having a focal
length of at least 35mm, but with its
Wide Adapter 577G-24, flash photo¬
graphy can also be done with 24 or
28mm lenses. Even flash photo¬
graphy with a 20mm lens can be
accomplished by attaching the Wide
Adapter 577G-20, an optional ac¬
cessory. With special synchro cords
which are available on the market
for connecting other Canon Speed-
lites, synchronized multiple flash is
another option.
* Since the Canon Speedlite 577G
does not have an internal power
source, use of the Canon Tran¬
sistor Pack G, which accepts
either six C-size batteries or the
Canon rechargeable Ni-Cd Pack
TP, is required.
2

BAS/CS
Assembly.....p.6
Transistor Pack G.....p.9
How Automatic Flash Control Works....p.11
Setting the ASA Film Speed.p. 12
Setting the Shutter Speed...p. 12
Setting an Aperture on the Flash...p. 14
Setting the Aperture on the Camera.p. 15
Pre-Shooting Checks.p. 16
Shooting.......p. 20

r
9
^
®
9
@
®
O

O Flash Head
© Slow-Sync AUTO/MANU Switch
© Transistor Pack G Connecting
Socket
O Synchro Cord Socket
© Auto Shooting Distance Range
Scales
@ ASA Fiim Speed Setting Dial
O Attachment Groove for Wide and
Tele Adapters
© Aperture Selection Window
0 Aperture Selection Switch
0 Tilting Angle Indicator Window
0 AUTO/MANU Switch
0 Pilot Lamp (Flash Test Button)
0 Auto Check Lamp
0 Sensor Unit Socket
® Positioning Groove
© Bracket Coupling Pin
© Tightening Screws
© Slide Lock Release Button
© Threaded Attachment Point
© Camera Placement Positioning
Groove
© Tripod Screw Socket
© Bracket Coupling Pin Socket
® Motor Drive MF Adapter
Attachment Site
® Framing Guides
© Tripod Socket Screw
© Wide Adapter 577G-24
© Lock Nut
© Synchro Cord A Socket
© Sensor
© Connecting Plug
© Coupling Index
^ Pilot Lamp
© Power Switch

ASSEMBLY
Slide lock button to left. While
holding it in, pull flash section
apart from camera support.
4 Align the index on the clamp
with positioning groove on the
grip.
Screw large tripod-type screw
into the threaded end of the
groove.
After sliding clamp on grip, re¬
tighten the two screws on flash
section.
3 Adjust position of support be¬
fore completing.
Align flash section with
camera support section and
push them together.

(1) B racket to Camera
1. Slide the lock button on the flash
section of the bracket to the left
and, while holding the button in,
separate the flash section from the
camera support section (Photo 1).
2. Screw the large tripod-type screw
into the camera support section of
the bracket to the screw thread at
one end of the groove (Photo 2).
3. Screw the tripod-type screw part¬
way into the tripod socket on the
camera's base. Before screwing it
in the rest of the way, shift the
camera support back and forth
untii the ridges across the front of
it are right up against the front of
the camera. Make sure the
camera is not sitting on top of
these ridges. Aiso adjust the
support sideways for the best fit.
Then finish tightening the screw
(Photo 3).
(2) B racket to 577G’s Grip
1. W ith a coin or a similar object,
loosen the two large screws on the
flash section. Separate the clamp
from the rest of the section.
2. Align the index on the clamp
with the positioning groove on the
grip and slide the clamp as far up
around the grip as you want (Photo
4).
3. Realign the flash section with the
clamp and retighten the two
screws (Photo 5). The clamp
should be positioned on the grip
so that, when assembly is com¬
pleted, the flash will be facing
straight ahead, in the same direc¬
tion as the lens.
(3) F lash Section to Camera
Support Section
Align the flash and camera support
sections of the bracket and push
them together (Photo 6). The lock
button on the flash section will spring
to the right when the two parts are
locked together.
♦ T o separate the two sections of
the bracket, slide the lock button
on the flash section to the left and
push it in. The lock button must
also be in this position for cou¬
pling the two sections as above.
7

(4) Sensor Unit G20 to Camera
and Flash
Rather than having a built-in sensor,
the 577G has a separate one which
slips into the camera’s accessory
shoe. It is very finely attuned to the
particular Speedlite 577G with which
it comes so that it can give the best
results possible.
1. Loosen the sensor’s lock nut and
slide it into the camera’s acces¬
sory shoe so that its eye is facing
forward. If the accessory shoe is
a hot shoe, be careful to push the
sensor all the way in so that pro¬
per electrical connection will be
made. Then tighten the lock nut.
2. To connect the sensor with the
577G, align the index on the plug
at the end of its cord with the
index on the 577G’s sensor socket
and push the plug in all the way.
* If the camera does not have a hot
shoe, Synchro-Cord A, an op¬
tional accessory, must also be
attached. See p. 31.
• A flash coupler must be used to
attach the sensor to the Canon
F-1. Three are available as op¬
tional accessories. Flash Coupler
F is especially for this combina¬
tion. Flash Coupler D or L may
also be used.
♦ Since the 577G and the sensor
provided with it are so carefully
matched to each other, they
should be considered a set. Do
not use the 577G with a different
sensor unit G20.

TRANSISTOR PACK G
This accessory provides power for accessory), which is rechargeable.
Speedlite577G. The Ni-Cd pack should be fully
Proper Batteries: Six new C-size al- charged,
kaline-manganese batteries or the
Canon Ni-Cd Pack TP (optional
Turn off the transistor pack’s Insert the set of six alkaline- Insert the transistor pack into
power switch. manganese batteries into its case and rehook the cord.
battery magazine TP.
Align the plug’s index with Turn on transistor pack’s Turn 577G’s AUTO/MANU
the 577G’s power source power switch. Lamp next to it switch to AUTO for auto¬
socket index. Push plug into should light up. matic flash control,
socket.

1. Unhook the Transistor Pack G’s
cord from its case and remove the
pack from the case.
2. Turn off the transistor pack’s
power switch (Photo 1).
3. Insert the set of six al¬
kaline-manganese batteries into
battery magazine TP as illustrat¬
ed. Then align the contact on the
magazine with the transistor
pack’s and insert the one into the
other (Photo 2).
OR
Insert a fully-charged Ni-Cd Pack
TP into Transistor Pack G the
same way as battery magazine TP
is inserted.
4. Reinsert the transistor pack into
its case as shown in the photo.
Then rehook the cord (Photo 3).
5. Align the index on the piug at the
end of the transistor pack’s cord
with the index on the 577G’s ex¬
ternal power source socket. Push
the piug securely into the socket
(Photo 4).
6. Turn on the transistor pack’s
power switch. The lamp next to
the power switch should light up
(Photo 5).
7. Make sure the usual preparations
as described in the following
pages have been made on
camera, flash and lens and wait
for the 577G’s pilot lamp to glow.
Then take the picture (Photo 6).
* The transistor pack’s operation
lamp glows as long as the power
switch is on and there is power.
However, even when it is glowing,
the batteries should be replaced
with new ones or the Ni-Cd Pack
TP should be recharged if the
flash unit’s recycling time be¬
comes longer than usual.
* When the batteries wear out, re¬
place all of them at the same time
with a set of new ones which are
all of the same brand.
* If you do not expect to use Tran¬
sistor Pack G for a long time, re¬
move the alkaline-manganese
batteries from the magazine. Ni-
Cd Pack TP may be left inserted
but the power switch must be off
to prevent corrosive battery
leakage and other potential dam¬
age.
• Be sure the transistor pack’s
power switch is off whenever it is
not in use.
• Should the battery temperature
rise in continuous shooting with C-
size batteries, you may rest at
ease, for it is a normal condition.
* There is a protective lining be¬
tween Battery Magazine TP and
Transistor Pack G.
Before using, remove this lining.
It may be thrown away.
10