Canon 420 EZ User Manual
Canon
■;
ÌNSTRUCTiONS engiiìh Edition
B
Especially designed for EOS cameras, the
Canon Speedlite 420EZ is a high-perfor
mance, electronic flash unit featuring the
A(Advanced)-TTL automatic flash output
control, which responds to a wide range of
illumination from dark surroundings to
bright (fill-in flash) without troublesome
operations. Advanced techniques such as
bounce and slow-sync flash photography
can be used in the automatic mode. In addi
tion, the large, easy-to-read LCD display
enables you to check shooting information.
Please read this instruction booklet careful
ly for a full understanding.
•The Speedlite 420EZ is sold in both
“meter” and “feet” display versions, but
product availability may vary from area to
area.
Nomenclature
Bounce Latch
LCD Display Panel
Flash Head
Infrared Light Emitter
Sensor
A-TTL Button
Ready Lamp
Manual Flash Set Button
Sync Position Button
Light Button
Zoom Button
Main Switch
Battery Chamber
Lock Nut
Directly Coupled Contact
AF Auxiliary Light Emitter
Table of Contents
Preliminary Preparations
1. Loading the Batteries...................... p. 6
2. Mounting the Flash
........................
p. 7
3. Ready Lamp and Test Firing
SE (Save-Energy) Function
Rapid-Fire Flash
Auto Internal Zoom
Mechanism
Display Panel Illumination
AF Auxiliary Light
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p. 8
p. 8
p. 9
p.10
p.11
, p.11
Basic Operation....................p.12
□a
For easy reference to the Speedlite’s parts,
please unfold the front flap of this booklet.
other Operations
1. Program AE Mode [A-TTL]
2. Shutter-priority AE Mode [A-TTL] ... p.16
3. Aperture-priority AE Mode [A-TTL] . p.18
4. Manual Mode (TTL]........................ p.20
5. Manual Flash Exposure
6. Stroboscopic Flash......................... p.25
7. Bounce Flash Photography
8. Second-Curtain Sync Flash
Photography ...................................p.30
Handling Precautions
Speedlite Care
Program Characteristics
Specifications
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p.14
p.22
p.27
p.31
p.31
p.32
p.34
Preliminary Preparations
1. Loading the Batteries
Use four, new, size-AA alkaline (LR6) or
Ni-Cd batteries. Carbon-zinc batteries may
also be used, but their life is shorter. Wipe
the battery terminals with a clean, dry cloth
to ensure proper contact.
1) Slide the battery chamber cover down in
the direction of the arrow to open.
2) Load the batteries so that their terminals
face in the directions indicated by the
diagram inside the battery chamber.
3) Finally, push the cover completely down
and slide it back to close.
Notes
• When the batteries become exhausted, replace
all four at the same time with the same brand.
• Remove the batteries if you do not expect to use
the flash unit for about three weeks or longer.
• Battery performance deteriorates in cold
temperatures below 0°C/32°F so please keep
the batteries warm until just before use. For
best results, use fully-charged Ni-Cd batteries in
cold temperatures below 0°C/32°F.
•When using Ni-Cd batteries, please note that
various brands have different types of ter
minals. Be sure to use a suitable type.
Recharge Ni-Cd batteries according to the
manufacturer’s instructions.
2. Mounting the Flash
1) Loosen the lock nut and slide the flash
unit into the camera’s accessory shoe.
To ensure correct electrical contact,
make sure it is pushed in all the way.
2) Tighten the lock nut.
3. Ready Lamp and Test Firing
Turn the main switch ON (“I” mark) and
wait for the ready lamp to light up. To test
functioning, press the ready lamp after it
has lit and if the flash fires it is in proper
working order.
• Be sure to press the ready lamp before press
ing the shutter button halfway. Otherwise, test
firing is not possible.
• Flash charge is also confirmed by the “ i ”
mark in the viewfinder.
• When the shutter button is pressed halfway,
the flash head position automatically adjusts,
(see p.10)
• For interval flash photography, attach the
Technical Back E and set the mode to the in
terval timer or self-timer. The flash charge
starts automatically one minute before shutter
release.
8
SE (Save-Energy) Function
Turn the main switch OFF (“O” mark) when
flash photography is finished to prevent un
necessary battery consumption. The
Speedlite 420EZ has a built-in SE (Save-
Energy) function that automatically turns off
power when the flash is not used for approx
imately five minutes (test firing, preflash,
etc.). All panel displays start blinking approx
imately 30 seconds before SE operation.
Press the ready lamp to re-start the flash.
Rapid-Fire Flash Capability
To help capture an unexpected moment in
flash photography, the Speedlite 420EZ has
rapid-fire flash capability, a short flash
recycling time, previously impossible with
any other SLR system.
When charged, the color of the ready lamp
changes as follows;
(1) Yellow-green
- Indicates the unit in
rapid-fire flash status,
but fires for correct ex
posure.
(2) Red
• See the guide number table for rapid-fire
flash status on p.34.
Replace with new batteries if the yellow-
green lamp does not light for 10 seconds
after the main switch is turned ON.
Indicates the unit is fully-
charged.
Auto Internal Zoonn Mechanism
The Speedlite 420EZ has an auto zoom
mechanism which automatically adjusts
flash coverage angle to use flash energy
more effectively.
The flash head position automatically ad
justs according to the lens focal length.
When using a zoom lens, it also switches
automatically according to zooming. The
position setting of 24, 28, 35, 50, 70, or
80mm and “A Zoom” appears in the display
panel.
0
To change the flash head position
manually, press the zoom button until the
desired setting appears, the “M Zoom”
lights. Do not choose a setting larger than
the lens focal length. Always be sure to
set the position equal to or smaller than
the lens focal length, otherwise, exposure
will not be uniform.
The guide number varies according to
the flash head position, see p.34.
Display Panel Illumination
Press the light button to illuminate the
display panel for approximately eight sec
onds.
AF Auxiliary Light
Canon
In dark settings difficult for autofocusing,
the AF auxiliary light automatically emits to
help the camera focus. The effective
distance range is approximately 0.9-8m.
(3-26.2 ft.) If the subject is too far away, the
AF in-focus indicator blinks. Remove your
finger from the shutter button and move
closer to the subjeot until the AF-focus in
dicator lights steadily when pressed again.
Basic Operation
Use the Speedlite 420EZ in conditions rang
ing from total darkness to supplemental
daytime lighting by following these steps:
1) Slide the lens focus mode switch to
“AF”.
12
2) Set the camera’s main switch to the “Full
Auto’’ position (green “o” mark).
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