550 EX

[Honestman]

Got a problem with the above when used with the D30. The pictures all come out dark no matter which mode the camera is in - Green box, P, TV, AV, Portrait, Landscape etc - as I don't have the manual what is the best setting to use with regards to:

On off switch - Middle or SE setting?

Bottom switch - OFF - MASTER - SLAVE?

LCD Reading - ETTL - M - MULTI?

The damn flashgun is more confusing than the actual camera!

Thanks in advance

Tim

[defordphoto]

Did you lose the manual? That's quite a complicated piece of gear you have there. I just got mine and it's produced perfect or near perfect photos since I got with for my 10D. You have to read the manual.

[Honestman]

Jim

I got it 2nd hand for £85 from a local camera shop but there was no manual with it

Tim

[Jim Larson]

Got a problem with the above when used with the D30. The pictures all come out dark no matter which mode the camera is in - Green box, P, TV, AV, Portrait, Landscape etc - as I don't have the manual what is the best setting to use with regards to:

On off switch - Middle or SE setting?

Bottom switch - OFF - MASTER - SLAVE?

LCD Reading - ETTL - M - MULTI?

The damn flashgun is more confusing than the actual camera!

Thanks in advance

Tim

The canon website may have a downloadable manual. GET ONE NOW :evil:

On-OFF switch: Set to middle.
Bottom switch: off
LCD Reading: ETTL. M is manual flash power. TTL won't work on your camera. Multi is for multi-flash units (not you)

[timmyquest]

You have to read the manual.

The darn manual :lol:

[defordphoto]

Jim

I got it 2nd hand for £85 from a local camera shop but there was no manual with it

Tim

Get a manual. You definitely need it. Without it you're just (here it comes) shooting in the dark. (Sorry, it just came out all by itself)

[jcsorensen]

How does the camera work with the internal flash? Try taking a picture with the flash into the mirror. If you can't see the flash in the picture, you may have a flash synch or shutter element problem.

[TeraGram93013]

... can be downloaded (for a price).

http://www.manualsrus.com/CScripts/prodView.asp?idproduct=76

[Ellie]

Just saw a post in another forum about the manuel. You can get from PBase somewhere...free too! Can't find the post right now... been reading for 3 hours so I think I lost it somewhere. Try looking in Pbase though.

Ellie

[Ellie]

Ok, I went back and found the site for the manual, here you go.

Ellie


http://www.pbase.com/canon550ex/550ex_manual

[robertwgross]

LCD Reading: ETTL. M is manual flash power. TTL won't work on your camera. Multi is for multi-flash units (not you)

Jim, I think you meant to say that Multi is for setting the firing frequency and count of a multi-flash output. I agree, that is an advanced technique that we don't worry about much.

The OP tried the different camera modes, so that kind of eliminates compensation from being the culprit.

The user really has to read the manual, go through some exercises with the flash, study the results, and then go read the manual again. Make sure that the wide angle diffuser panel is tucked away as it should be. See if the focal length display shown is the same as the lens in use, just to make sure that the two are "talking".

If there is a problem, then either it has to be in the flash, in the camera, in the communication between the two, or user error. Reading the manual should allow us to eliminate the user error. Then try moving the flash to another Canon camera and see what happens.

---Bob Gross---

[kufel]

manual will confuse you :-)
try this:
http://photonotes.org/articles/eos-flash/

[neil_r]

550 EX on ETTL was dark with my D60, set flash compensation to +2 and thingas are fine.

(maybe unscientific, but it works for me)

Neil

[Jim Larson]

Most canon manuals can be obtained from the CANON website.

I have downloaded 10D and 300D manuals from there.

[Ellie]

Jim,
How'd you get manual from the web site? I was told by Canon that they didn't offer it there, that I would have to pay for it. Please post a link so I can check it out.

Ellie

[PacAce]

Jim,
How'd you get manual from the web site? I was told by Canon that they didn't offer it there, that I would have to pay for it. Please post a link so I can check it out.

Ellie

Actually there aren't any manuals for flashes on the Canon website for viewing or downloading. Jim was referring to the manuals for the cameras.

[Ellie]

OH, You are correct. I knew the thread was about the 550ex, but now I see the 10D and the 300. Much to early in the morning to think very straight. Sorry


Ellie

[G3]

Switch positions:

Main switch:

O=off
1=On
SE= Save Energy mode. The flash will power itself off after a period of inactivity to save batteries. This time period depends in part on the setting of the master/slave switch. If it is set to Slave, the unit will power off after 60 minutes. If it is set to Master or off, the unit will power off after 90 seconds. To turn it back on, simply either press the test fire button on the flash (slave) or press the shutter button on the camers halfway(master or off).

Modes:

E-TTL/TTL= Evaluative Through the Lens/Through the Lens Your camera is a "Type-A" camera, which means it will use E-TTL. "Type-B" cameras will use TTL. ETTL uses a multi-zone sensor in the camera that is tied to the active focus point. In this mode, if there is enough light to properly expose the background and the subject but there is a high level of contrast, the flash unit will automatically reduce it's output to provide fill-flash, especially with back-lit subjects.

M= Manual mode:This mode is just what the name implies. You choose the flash output.

Multi= Miltiple flash (stoboscopic flash) You set a count and frequency for a stroboscopic effect.


Master/Slave:

This switch is for when you are using multiple speedlights in a Master-Slave setting, where one flash (the Master) will cause other flashes to fire (the slaves). In normal on-camera operation, this switch should be set to the "off" position.

There are many more useful features and functions that the 550EX is capable of, far too many to list here. You really, really need the manual.

Some are:

Modeling flash
Second curtain synch
Flash exposure compensation
Flash exposure bracketing
High speed sych
Flash Exposure lock

[AndyDe]

Jim

I got it 2nd hand for £85 from a local camera shop but there was no manual with it

Tim

:wink: They got anymore ?