Canon Speedlites
EX-series Speedlites: Perfect Flash Exposures Make Better Pictures
Integral to Canon's EOS system, EOS Speedlites are the ideal light source to provide perfect exposure and illumination forjust about any subject. Operation is simple yet sophisticated; the more you understand the system, the more you can do with it. Whether you're a beginner or an expert, it's easy to obtain pro-quality results. Let's take a look at the technology:
What is E-TTL?
Canon's flagship flash mode, E-TTL stands for "Evaluative Through-The- Lens" flash exposure control. In E-TTL, the meter reads through the lens, but not off the focal plane. Utilizing a preflash fired after the shutter button has been fully depressed but before the camera's reflex mirror goes up, E-TTL uses the camera's evaluative metering sensor to analyze and compare ambient light exposure values with the light reflected from the subject by the preflash. This data is used to calculate and store the flash output required for optimum exposure of the main subject (identified by the AIM system*), while maintaining a subtle balance between foreground and background.
This method provides several extra features such as Flash Exposure Lock (a method of spot metering with flash) and FP flash mode (the ability to use flash at high shutter speeds). E-TTL is Canon's most advanced flash exposure control system to date, and requires the use of EX-series dedicated Speedlites such as the 580EX, 420EX, 220EX, MT-24EX or MR-14EX in combination with a compatible camera (such as all the EOS Digital SLRs on this Website).
FE Lock
Flash Exposure Lock (FE Lock) adds Auto Exposure Lock and spot metering functions to flash photography with EX-series Speedlites and E-TTL compatible cameras. The EX-series Speedlite's preflash fires when the camera's AE Lock button is depressed, storing both flash and ambient spot metering data for up to 16 seconds. This provides enough time for adjustments: Not only can the shot be recomposed, but the ambient exposure can also be altered for maximum creative control. FE Lock is extremely useful when you wish to recompose after focus lock or to place the main subject in a part of the picture area that is not covered by one of the focusing points. It can also eliminate potential exposure errors caused by unwanted reflections from highly reflective surfaces like windows or mirrors.
Adjusting Ambient Exposure in FE Lock
After pre-flashing the subject with the FE Lock button, ambient exposure can be adjusted by turning the Quick Control Dial. The ambient exposure level is displayed on the exposure level scale in the viewfinder and on the external LCD panel. Correct ambient exposure according to the camera's meter is indicated by the triangle index at the center of the scale.
FP Flash - EF 50mm f/1L USM lens. 1/1000 sec. at f/2 |
Note: Ambient exposure cannot be adjusted when the camera is set to Bulb Mode, or in low light situations when the camera is set to Program or DEP.
FP Mode
FP (focal-plane) flash, or High-speed Sync, enables an E-TTL compatible cameras equipped with an EX-series Speedlite to synchronize flash at shutter speeds faster than the camera's normal maximum sync speed. Even in bright daylight, for example, a fast lens can be used at a wide aperture to blur the background and emphasize the subject. FP flash can be combined with E-TTL or FE Lock, and is available in all AE modes plus Manual.
Note: Unlike conventional electronic flash, FP flash output (guide number) decreases according to shutter speed.
Flash Exposure Compensation
This setting adjusts the level of illumination provided by the flash without changing the shutter speed or aperture. It's a particularly effective way to fine-tune the balance between foreground and background exposure during fill-in flash, but it can also be effective to compensate for extremely bright or dark tones in the subject. Flash exposure compensation can be set with most current Speedlites, and it can also be set with all current EOS cameras other than the EOS Rebel series and EOS Digital Rebel.
Second-Curtain Sync makes light streaks appear in the path behind the moving subjects, by firing the flash at the end of the exposure. |
Second-Curtain Sync
Instead of firing the instant the shutter opens, Second-Curtain Sync fires the flash at the end of the exposure, allowing streaks of light to flow naturally behind the movement of the subject. This mode opens a door to more creative opportunities, and is most effective when slow shutter speeds are used in combination with a subject that has a light source of its own, such as the headlights of a moving car.
Stroboscopic Flash
Stroboscopic flash is a series of flashes fired successively during a single exposure. With stroboscopic flash, multiple images of a moving subject appear in the photograph. Using this mode, you can analyze a golf swing or record the shattering of a windowpane. Available with Speedlite 580EX, Macro Ring Lite MR-14EX and Macro Twin Lite MT-24EX, it's yet another way Canon adds to your creative potential.
Choosing the Best Shooting Mode
- P -- Program AE
- Set your EOS camera to Program and the camera and Speedlite work together to create perfectly lit exposures automatically. In daylight or brightly-lit indoor situations, the background will always be correctly exposed and the camera will control the fill-flash ratio for optimum results. Indoors or at night, the Speedlite becomes the main source of illumination and the shutter speed will be kept fast enough to permit hand-held exposures.
- Av -- Aperture-Priority AE
- Selecting Aperture-Priority AE Mode while shooting with flash gives you maximum control over depth-of-field. You choose the aperture, and the camera will automatically set a shutter speed according to the ambient fight level. Backgrounds will be properly exposed, day or night. To make sure you achieve a balanced exposure, the shutter speed indicator will let you know if you've chosen an unusable aperture by blinking on and off in the viewfinder and external LCD display.
- Tv -- Shutter-Priority AE
- Using your flash in Shutter-Priority Mode lets you select the shutter speed while the camera selects the aperture based on the ambient light consistently resulting in correctly exposed backgrounds. In bright light, you can select high shutter speeds up to the camera's maximum X-sync speed, and even higher than that with EX-series Speedlites and E-TTL compatible cameras. In dark conditions, you can set slower speeds (up to 30 seconds) for special effects. If you select a shutter speed that is too fast to produce a correct exposure of the background, the EOS system will display a blinking warning in the viewfinder and external display.
- M -- Manual Mode
- When you want full control of both shutter and aperture while shooting with flash, use the camera's Manual Mode. This option is important in low light situations when you want to combine small apertures with high shutter speeds. Keep in mind that manual exposure mode on the camera can be combined with fully automatic flash exposure, since the EOS camera's metering systems for flash and existing light are independently controlled.
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