Canon 300 TL User Manual
Cation
Speedlite
(NSTRUCT3 0NS EnfiJish edition
r
Preliminary Preparations
Loading the batteries
X
Use four new size-AA alkaline-manganese (LR6) or Ni-Cd
batteries. Carbon-zinc batteries may also be used, but
their life is shorter
1) Wipe the battery terminals with a clean, dry cloth to
ensure proper contact.
2) Push the battery chamber cover down lightly and lift
off
Notes
• Remove the batteries if you do not expect to use the
300TL for about three weeks or longer.
• Battery performance deteriorates in cold
temperatures so keep the batteries warm until just
before use For best results, use fully charged Ni-Cd
batteries in especially cold temperatures [below 0°C
(32 °F)]
3) Load the batteries so that their terrrrinais face in the
directions indicated by the diagram inside the battery
chamber.
4) To repiace, insert the cover ieaving a smaii space as
shown above. Then, push down iightly and siowiy
siide forward to cióse. Do not force the cover on and,
be careful not to break the small notches near the in
side edge
When using Ni-Cd batteries, please note that various
brands have different types of terminals Be sure to
use a type which is suitable for this flash. Recharge
Ni-Cd batteries according to the manufacturer's in
structions
INTRODUCTION
Exclusively designed for the Canon T90, the Canon
Speedlite 300TL is a high-performance, automatic TTL
control flash unit with the foiiowing modes.
1. The A-TTL mode provides simpie, fully automatic
operation under any conditions from totai darkness
to fili-in flash.
2. The FE Lock mode incorporates the AE lock concept
into flash photography using spot metering.
The 300TL is specially equipped with FULL AUTO
MODE, a fully automatic flash photography mechanism.
By merely setting the mode selector and pressing the
shutter button beginners can easiiy enjoy fiii-in flash
photography of high technical operation.
For easy reference to the camera's parts, please unfold
the front flap of this booklet.
CONTENTS
Nomenclature
Preliminary Preparations
A-TTL Mode ....................................................
(a) T90 Program AE Mode
(b) T90 Shutter-Priority AE Mode
(c) T90 Aperture-Priority AE Mode
PEL (Fiash Exposure Lock) Mode ..................
(a) T90 Program AE Mode
(b) T90 Shutter-Priority AE Mode
(c) T90 Aperture-Priority AE Mode
Fuli Auto Mode (Program-Position Mode)
TTL-Manual Mode ...........................................
Manual Mode/Hi and Lo
Intermediate Operation
• FEL Mode + H/S Controi
• Slow-Sync Flash Photography
• Second Curtain Sync Flash Photography
• Bounce Flash Photography
• Multiple Flash Photography......................
Specifications & Cautions ...............................
Program Characteristics
Exposure Warning Displays in the Viewfinder
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NOMENCLATURE
Flash Head
Infrared Light Emitter
Bounce Warning
Indicator
Mode Selector
"P" Position ■
Confirmation'
Lamp
Battery Chamber-
Sensor
Pilot Lamp'
Lock Nut'
Bounce Latch
Directly Coupled Contact
Zoom Mechanism
Position Indicator
Control Mode
Confirmation Lamp
Control Mode Set
button
Sync Position
Selector
Main Switch
Mounting the 300TL on the Camera
Turn the main switch OFF ("O" mark).
Loosen the iock nut and slide the 300TL into the
T90's accessory shoe. To insure correct electrical
contact, make sure it is pushed in all the way.
Tighten the lock nut.
3)
Main Switch and Pilot Lamp
If the pilot lamp lights up when the main switch is turned
on ("I" mark), the flash is ready for use. It is also possible
to confirm whether the fiash is charged by looking
mark in the viewfinder.
• There is no need to set the film speed because it
is transmitted from the camera body.
Test Firing
Press the pilot lamp after it has lit to test the flash. It the
flash fires, it is in proper working order
The SE (Save-Energy) Function
Turn the main switch OFF (“O" mark) when flash
photography is finished to prevent unnecessary battery
consumption. The Canon Speedlite 300TL has a built-in
SE (Save-Energy) function that automatically turns off
the power when the flash is not used for approx. 5
minutes. To use this function, slide the main switch to
the "SE” position.
To use the flash after it has turned off automatically,
either press the shutter button halfway or sef the main
switch to the "I" position and then again to the "SE" posi
tion.
Interval flash photography is possible if the Command
Back 90 is used with the 300TL. Set the Command Back
90 to the interval timer or self-timer mode and set the
300TL to the "SE” position. (The flash charge will starf
one minute before the shutter release.)
6
Zoom Mechanism
24 35 50 85 f
The 300TL offers a zoom mechanism which adjusts the
fiash coverage angle in order to use flash energy more
effectively.
Pull the flash head out and set it to one of the four-clickstop positions accordingly. A zoom position setting of 24,
35, 50, or 05mm will be illuminated in the indicator on the
back of the flash.
Do not choose a zoom position setting larger than the
focal length of the lens in use.
Lens in-use Zoom setting
24mm 24
35mm
50mm 50. 35 or 24
85mm 85, 50, 35 or 24
35 or 24
A-TTL Mode (Advanced-TTL)
Use this mode in fill-in flash photography to correct the
lighting of the main subject and its background outdoors.
The A-TTL Mode works by first measuring the brightness
of the subject and its background. Next, the distance to
the main subject is measured by the SOOTL’s near-in
frared rays. The appropriate shutter speed and aperture
are then set automatically. Flash output is controlled by
directly measuring the light coming through the lens and
reflected from the film surface.
When using fill-in flash in brighter settings, this advance
feature balances the exposure between the main sub
ject and its background to prevent unnatural effects by
automatically reducing flash output (ref. P.38 Flash Ex
posure Level Control Characteristics).
For special photographic techniques, it is possible to
select any T90 shooting mode, (Program AE, ShutterPriority AE, and Aperture-Priority AE).
We recommend using the program AE mode in dark set
tings.
r/«
^ n 91 II
i I ft
OO 01 s 'p
OE SI i,
1) Make sure the aperture ring of the lens is set to the
"A” mark. The metering mode of the T90 may be on
any setting.
2} Turn the main switch ON. ("1” mark).
3) Set the mode selector to the Mode Set position. Set
the sync position selector to the first curtain sync
position.
4) Set the control mode set button to A-TTL and make
sure the confirmation lamp lights up.
5) Pull the flash head out to set the proper zoom posi
tion according to the lens.
6) Make sure the pilot lamp lights up. The mark in
the viewfinder will come on at the same time as the
pilot lamp. Compose the picture and focus the sub
ject.
Even when an exposure is made without pressing the
control mode set button with the mode selector at
the Mode Set position, the shutter speed and aper
ture are set automatically The flash output Is deter
mined by measuring the light reflected from the film
surface.
The T90 metering mode sets to Center-weighted
average metering automatically in any position.
[a] T90 Program ^ Mode
This is a fully automatic program flash mode, and easy to
enjoy even when using fill-in flash in daylight for advanc
ed techniques.
7) Press the shutter button halfway to activate the
viewfinder information.
8) Press the shutter button all the way to take the pic
ture.
10
If the subject is out of shooting distance range, both
the shutter speed and the aperture will blink in the
viewfinder. In this case remove your finger from the
shutter button and move cioser to the subject, until
both the shutter speed and the aperture value light
up steadily when the shutter button is pressed again.
If you do not remove your finger from the shutter but
ton, exposure will be incorrect. (Exposure is set and
held on each time the shutter button is pressed
halfway.)
A blinking apertue value of 27 or 32 warns of overex
posure in the background.
jlbJ T90 Shutter-Priority AE Mode
It is possible to set the shutter speed between 30 and
1/250 sec., for photographic effects of moving subiects.
7) Use the electronic input dial of the T90 to set the
shutter speed.
• The shutter speed will be set to 1/250 sec.
automatically if set at a higher value
8) Press the shutter button halfway to activate the
viewfinder information
9) Press the shutter button all the way to take the pic
ture.
If the subject is out of shooting distance range both
the shutter speed and the aperture value will blink in
the viewfinder. In this case, follow the note mention
ed in the Program AE Mode.
A blinking aperture value of 27 or 32 warns of overex
posure in the background.
In darkness, a blinking aperture vaiue of 1.4 or 1.8
warns of impossible fill-in flash photography. When a
picture is taken the main subject is correct in ex
posure and the background is underexposed.
When you set the shutter speed slower than 1/60
sec., be careful of camera shake.
11
[c];T90 Ape^rtiiire-Pfiority AE Mode
Use this mode to set the aperture value in advance for
depth-of-field photographs like portraits.
7) Use the electronic input dial of the T90 to set the lens
aperture between the maximum and the minimum
aperture.
• The camera will automatically set the shutter
speed between 30 and 1/250 sec.
8) Press the shutter button halfway to activate the
viewfinder information,
9) Press the shutter button all the way to take the pic
ture.
12
If the subject is out of shooting distance range, both
the shutter speed and the aperture will blink in the
viewfinder. In this case, follow the note mentioned in
the Program AE Mode.
A blinking shutter speed of 1/250 sec, warns overex
posure in the background.
In a dark setting, a blinking shutter speed indicates
that fili-in flash photography is impossible. An ex
posure taken in these values will result in the main
subject in correct exposure and the background
underexposed.
When the shutter speed is slower than 1/60 sec,, be
careful of camera shake.
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