CANON INC. CANON U.S.A. INC. CANON EUROPA N.V. CANON .

CANON INC. 30-2, Shimomaruko 3-chome, Ohta-ku, Tokyo 146-8501, JapanU.S.A.CANON U.S.A. INC.For all inquiries concerning this camera, call toll free in the U.S.1-800-OK-CANON or write to: Customer Relations, Canon U.S.A., Inc.One Canon Plaza, Lake Success, N.Y. 11042-1198CANADACANON CANADA INC. HEADQUARTERS6390 Dixie Road, Mississauga, Ontario L5T 1P7, CanadaCANON CANADA INC. MONTREAL BRANCH5990, Côte-de-Liesse, Montréal Québec H4T 1V7, CanadaCANON CANADA INC. CALGARY OFFICE2828, 16th Street, N.E. Calgary, Alberta T2E 7K7, CanadaFor all inquiries concerning this camera, call toll free in Canada1-800-OK-CANONEUROPE,AFRICA &MIDDLE EASTCANON EUROPA N.V.Bovenkerkerweg 59-61, P.O. Box 2262, 1180 EG Amstelveen, The NetherlandsCANON COMMUNICATION & IMAGE FRANCE S.A.102, Avenue du Général de Gaulle 92257 La Garenne-Colombes Cedex, FranceCANON UK LTD.Woodhatch Reigate Surrey RH2 8BF, United KingdomCANON DEUTSCHLAND GmbHEuropark Fichtenhain A10, 47807 Krefeld, GermanyCANON ITALIA S.p.A.Palazzo L, Strada 6, 20089 Rozzano, Milanofiori, Milano, ItalyCANON Benelux N.V./S.A.Bessenveldstraat 7, 1831 Diegem (Machelen), BelgiumCANON Schweiz AGGeschäftsbereich Wiederverkauf, Industriestrasse 12, CH-8305 Dietlikon, SwitzerlandCANON G. m. b. H.Oberlaaerstrasse 233, 4th floor, 1100 Wien, AustriaCANON España, S. A.C/Joaquín Costa, 41, 28002 Madrid, SpainSEQUE Soc. Nac. de Equip., Lda.,Praça da Alegria, 58, 2 , 1269-149 Lisboa, PortugalCENTRAL &CANON LATIN AMERICA, INC. DEPTO DE VENTASSOUTH AMERICA 703 Waterford Way Suite 400 Miami, FL 33126 U.S.A.CANON LATIN AMERICA, INC. CENTRO DE SERVICIO Y REPARACIONApartado 2019, Zona Libre de Colón, República de PanamáASIACANON HONGKONG CO., LTD.9/F, The Hong Kong Club Building, 3A Chater Road, Central, Hong KongCANON SINGAPORE PTE. LTD.79 Anson Road #09-01/06 Singapore 079906OCEANIACANON AUSTRALIA PTY. LTD.1 Thomas Holt Drive, North Ryde, N.S.W. 2113, AustraliaCANON NEW ZEALAND LTD.Fred Thomas Drive, P.O. Box 33-336, Takapuna, Auckland, New ZealandJAPANCANON SALES CO., INC.12-15 Mita, 3-Chome, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8011, JapanEThis Instructions booklet is dated April 2000. For information on the camera’scompatibility with system accessories marketed after this date, contact your nearestCanon Service Center. CANON INC. 1998PRINTED IN JAPANECT1-1707-0041098Ni5.0English EditionINSTRUCTIONS

Thank you for purchasing a Canon product.The Canon Speedlite 550EX is a powerful, high-output flash unit featuring ETTL (Evaluative-Through-The-Lens) autoflash control. It can be used as an oncamera Speedlite or as a master or slave unit in a wireless, multi-Speedlitesystem.When used with Type-A cameras (listed below), the 550EX obtains natural-looking flash pictures by balancing the flash output and existing light. The 550EXalso enables high-speed sync (FP or Focal-Plane flash), FE (Flash Exposure)lock, FEB (Flash Exposure Bracketing), bounce flash and area AF-assist.When used with Type-B cameras (listed below), the 550EX works as a TTLautoflash unit.The CE Mark is a Directive conformity mark of the EuropeanCommunity (EC)The apparatus shall not be exposed to dripping or splashing.Batteries shall not be exposed to excessive heat such as sunshine, fire or the like.Dry batteries shall not be subjected to charging.With Type-B cameras, some 550EX features are not available. Refer to thetables below to check your camera type and the features available.This Instructions booklet has separate sections for Type-A and Type-B cameras. Read the section which applies to your camera.Type-A CameraE-TTLType-B CameraTTLEOS-1D, 1V, 3, D60, D30, ELAN 7/7E, 30/33, 50/50 E, ELAN ll/ELAN ll E,300/REBEL 2000, 500N/REBEL G, 3000N/66/REBEL XSN, IX, IX 7/IX LiteAll other EOS cameras.550EX Features Available with EOS CamerasFeatures?: Available X: Not availableWith Type-A CamerasWith Type-B CamerasE-TTL autoflash control?XHigh-speed sync (FP flash)?XFE lock?XFEB?Wireless, multi-Speedlite E-TTL?XKey to Symbols: Warning for preventing camera or Speedlite malfunction.: Supplementary notes for basic operation.: Helpful tip for Speedlite operation or picture taking. Keep this Instructions booklet handy for future reference.2127

01. F073-E (3 )02.4.1 2:07 PMPage 3Conventions Used in this BookletThe Instructions are divided into separate sections for Type-A and Type-Bcameras. If you have a Type-A camera, see pages 10 to 76 and 112 to125. If you have a Type-B camera, see pages 10 to 22 and 77 to 125. The Speedlite operation procedures assume that the Speedlite 550EXhas been turned on with its main switch. Before proceeding, turn onthe main switch. The camera and Speedlite’s buttons and dials and their settings areindicated by icons in the Instructions. The name of each button anddial can be found in “Nomenclature” on page 6. Icons for cameramodes are also used. They are as follows:: Full AutoP: Program AEAv : Aperture-priority AETv : Shutter speed-priority AEM: Manual Theicon indicates a simple explanation of a relevant CustomFunction. For details, see “Custom Functions” on page 112. TheCustom Function explanations assume that the default CustomFunction settings are in effect.3

01. F073-E (3 )02.4.1 2:07 PMPage 4ContentsNomenclature .6Before You StartFor Type-B CamerasFor Type-A CamerasBasic FlashPhotography4Advanced FlashPhotographyWireless FlashPhotographyBasic FlashPhotographyAdvanced FlashPhotographyWireless FlashPhotography1.2.3.4.5.Installing Batteries.10External Power Sources .12Attachment to Camera .13Wireless Selector .14Main Switch.161. Using Flash in Full Auto Mode .242. Using Flash inOther Camera Modes .261. High-Speed Sync(FP Flash) .322. FE Lock .343. Flash ExposureCompensation .36[1]1.2.3.4.5.6.Wireless System Setup and Testing .52Setting the 550EX as the Master Unit.52Setting the 550EX as a Slave Unit.53Setting the Master/Slave Channel .54Setting the Slave ID .56Master Flash ON/OFF .57Wireless Flash Range.581. Using Flash in Full Auto Mode .782. Using Flash inOther Camera Modes .801. Flash Exposure Compensation .862. FEB (Flash Exposure Bracketing) .883. Bounce Flash .90[1]1.2.3.4.5.6.Wireless System Setup and Testing.100Setting the 550EX as the Master Unit.100Setting the 550EX as a Slave Unit.100Setting the Master/Slave Channel .101Setting the Slave ID .103Master Flash ON/OFF .104Wireless Flash Range.105

01. F073-E (3 )02.4.1 2:07 PMPage 5 For Type-A cameras, see pages 10 to 76 and 112 to 125. For Type-B cameras, see pages 10 to 22 and 77 to 125.6. Pilot Lamp and Test Firing.177. Flash Exposure Confirmation .188. Using the Zoom Button andWide Panel .189. Flash Mode.2110. Setting the Film Speed .2111. LCD Panel Illumination .2112. AF-Assist Beam.22Automatic Reversion to DefaultSettings.22(1) Av: Aperture-Priority AE andE-TTL Autoflash.27(2) Tv: Shutter Speed-Priority AE andE-TTL Autoflash .29(3) M: Manual Exposure andE-TTL Autoflash.304. FEB(Flash Exposure Bracketing) .385. Bounce Flash.406. Close-Distance FlashPhotography .437. Manual Flash Mode .448. Stroboscopic Flash .469. Second-CurtainSynchronization .4910. Modeling Flash .50[2] Wireless E-TTL Autoflash.601. Wireless E-TTL AutoflashWith Flash Ratio OFF .602. Wireless E-TTL AutoflashWith Flash Ratio ON .63[3] Wireless Manual Flash.711. Wireless Manual FlashWith Uniform Flash Output .712. Wireless Manual FlashWith Varied Flash Output.72[4] Wireless Stroboscopic Flash.73[5] Manual or Stroboscopic FlashWith a Slave Unit.741. Setting Manual FlashWith a Slave Unit .742. Stroboscopic Flash With a Slave Unit .75(1) Av: Aperture-Priority AE andE-TTL Autoflash.81(2) Tv: Shutter Speed-Priority AE andE-TTL Autoflash .83(3) M: Manual Exposure andE-TTL Autoflash.844. Close-DistanceFlash Photography .925. Manual Flash Mode .936. Stroboscopic Flash .957. Second-Curtain Synchronization.98[2] Wireless Manual Flash.1071. Wireless Manual FlashWith Uniform Flash Output .1072. Wireless Manual Flash With Varied Flash Output .108[3] Wireless Stroboscopic Flash.109[4] Manual or Stroboscopic FlashWith a Slave Unit.1101. Manual Flash With a Slave Unit.1102. Stroboscopic Flash With a Slave Unit .111Custom Functions .112Canon Speedlite 550EX System.114Troubleshooting Guide.116Specifications.1185

01. F073-E (3 )02.4.1 2:07 PMPage 6Nomenclature FrontBuilt-in Wide Panel (retracted)(page 20, 42)Flash head andtransmitterSensorBattery compartmentcover (page 10)* The batterycompartment has aswitch to display thedistance in feet ormeters on the LCDpanel.AF-assist beam emitter(page 22)External power source socketLocking collar (page 13)Mounting foot (page 13)Locking pin (page 13)Electrical contactsShoeMini stand pocketCaseMini stand6

01. F073-E (3 )02.4.1 2:07 PMPage 7Nomenclature Rear PUSH Horizontal bounce releasebutton (page 40, 90)When these twobuttons are pressedsimultaneously, thesetting changes in thefollowing loop:(Off)* * Decrementbutton Incrementbutton* LCD panelillumination button(page 21)Custom Functionsetting button(page 112) Flashmode and slavesetting button(page 21, 74, 112) Pilotlamp/Test firingbutton/Wireless slaveSE cancel button(page 17, 59, 107)Flash exposure confirmationlamp (page 18)LCD panel PUSH Vertical bouncerelease button(page 40, 90)* Set button Select/ Zoombutton (page 18)Main switch (page 16): Turns off the power.: Turns on the power.SE: Turns on the power andenables the SE mode.Wireless selector (page 14) : For operation as an oncamera Speedlite. : For operation as awireless master unit. : For operation as awireless slave unit.Buttons marked with an asterisk remain active for 8 sec. after the button is released. LCDpanel illumination with the button remains on for 12 sec.7

01. F073-E (3 )02.4.1 2:07 PMPage 8Nomenclature LCD PanelManual flash output displayFlash exposurecompensation displayFlash exposurebracketing (FEB) displayHigh-speed sync(FP flash) iconManual zoom iconZoom and focal lengthcoverage displaySecond-curtainflash sync iconFEB icon/Autoflash iconFlash exposurecompensation icon/Manualflash icon Multi(stroboscopic)flash iconFlash ratioDistanceunit (meters)CustomFunction iconDistanceunit (feet)Flash range scaleFlash ratio scaleSlave iconFlash ratio iconWireless iconMaster :Slave :Flash mode iconMaster flash ON :Master flash OFF :Slave flash8:Aperture displayFEB status displayStroboscopic flash count andfrequency displayCustom Function displayChannel iconFlash mode icon(Blinks when flash head istilted down 7 )

02. F073-E (9 )02.4.1 2:08 PMPage 9Before You StartThis chapter is for preparing the Speedlite 550EX for actual operation.9

02. F073-E (9 )02.4.1 2:08 PMPage 101. Installing BatteriesSpeedlite 550EX requires one of the following two types of batteries:(1) Size-AA alkaline batteries 4(2) Size-AA nickel-hydride batteries 4the battery compartment cover1 Slideas shown by the arrow and flip it up.12the batteries with the and –2 Insertcontacts oriented as shown in thebattery compartment.1102the battery compartment cover3 Closeas shown in the figure.