Canon 577 G User Manual

INSTRUCTIONS

INTRODUCTION

The Speedlite 577G is Canon’s most powerful electronic computer flash unit with many impressive au tomatic and professional features. With Canon SLR cameras, it goes well beyond the conventional mean ing of automatic in flash photo graphy. On a Canon New F-1, A-1, AE-1 PROGRAM, AE-1, AL-1 or AV-1 camera, it will automatically switch the shutter speed to the flash sync speed of 1/60 second. (1/90 sec ond in the case of the New F-1.)

Even the aperture will be set auto

matically for the New F-1 (Shutter-

Priority Mode), A-1, AE-1 PROGRAM,

and AE-1 as long as the lens is on “A”. If using one of the New F-I’s or A-I’s slower shutter speeds is de sirable, that is possible too. Flash photography with the 577G is as easy as turning on its power switch, selecting one of three apertures by sliding one switch and waiting for its pilot lamp to glow. Its many spe

cial features and accessories offer all of the necessary options for obtaining beautiful and professional results. For control of shadows and better modeling of the subject, the flashhead tilts upward up to 120° and swings to the left and right

120° each way. Its unique bracket design insures quick release of the flash unit for varying the distance between the flash and the camera. And since it has a carefully mated, separate sensor which remains in the camera’s hot shoe, correct ex posure is obtained even when the flash itself is not aimed directly at the subject. The 577G normally covers the angle of view of lenses having a focal length of at least 35mm, but with its Wide Adapter 577G-24, flash photo graphy can also be done with 24 or 28mm lenses. Even flash photo graphy with a 20mm lens can be

accomplished by attaching the Wide

Adapter 577G-20, an optional ac cessory. With special synchro cords which are available on the market for connecting other Canon Speedlites, synchronized multiple flash is another option. * Since the Canon Speedlite 577G

does not have an internal power source, use of the Canon Tran sistor Pack G, which accepts either six C-size batteries or the Canon rechargeable Ni-Cd Pack TP, is required.

BAS/CS

Assembly......................................................................p.6

Transistor Pack G How Automatic Flash Control Works Setting the ASA Film Speed

Setting the Shutter Speed........................................p. 12

Setting an Aperture on the Flash Setting the Aperture on the Camera Pre-Shooting Checks

Shooting.....................................................................p. 20

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p.9 p.11 p. 12

p. 14 p. 15 p. 16

I ^

(E)

CLAMPING BRACE

CAMERA SUPPORT BRACKET

O Flash Head

& Slow-Sync AUTO/MANU Switch ® Pilot Lamp (Flash Test Button)

@ Transistor Pack G Connecting ® Auto Check Lamp

Socket O Synchro Cord Socket © Auto Shooting Distance Range

Scales © ASA Film Speed Setting Dial O Attachment Groove for Wide and

Tele Adapters

® Tilting Angle Indicator Window

® Sensor Unit Socket ® Positioning Groove

® Tightening Screws

Groove © Tripod Screw Socket ® Bracket Coupling Pin Socket

® Motor Drive MF Adapter

Attachment Site ® Framing Guides ® Tripod Socket Screw ® Wide Adapter 577G-24 © Lock Nut © Synchro Cord A Socket © Sensor © Connecting Plug © Coupling Index © Pilot Lamp © Power Switch

ASSEMBLY

Slide lock button to left. While holding it in, pull flash section apart from camera support.

Align the index on the clamp with positioning groove on the grip.

Screw large tripod-type screw into the threaded end of the

groove.

After sliding clamp on grip, re tighten the two screws on flash section.

Adjust position of support be fore completing.

Align flash section camera support section

push them together.

(1) Bracket to Camera

1. Slide the lock button on the flash section of the bracket to the left and, while holding the button in, separate the flash section from the camera support section (Photo 1).

2. Screw the iarge tripod-type screw into the camera support section of the bracket to the screw thread at one end of the groove (Photo 2).

3. Screw the tripod-type screw part way into the tripod socket on the camera’s base. Before screwing it in the rest of the way, shift the camera support back and forth untii the ridges across the front of it are right up against the front of the camera. Make sure the camera is not sitting on top of these ridges. Also adjust the support sideways for the best fit.

Then finish tightening the screw (Photo 3).

(2) Bracket to 577G’s Grip

1. With a coin or a similar object, loosen the two large screws on the flash section. Separate the clamp

from the rest of the section.

2. Align the index on the ciamp

with the positioning groove on the grip and siide the clamp as far up around the grip as you want (Photo

4).

3. Realign the flash section with the clamp and retighten the two

screws (Photo 5). The clamp should be positioned on the grip so that, when assembly is com-

pieted, the flash will be facing

straight ahead, in the same direc tion as the lens.

(3) Flash Section to Camera

Support Section

Align the flash and camera support sections of the bracket and push them together (Photo 6). The lock button on the flash section will spring to the right when the two parts are iocked together. * To separate the two sections of

the bracket, siide the lock button on the flash section to the left and push it in. The lock button must also be in this position for cou pling the two sections as above.

(4) Sensor Unit G20 to Camera

and Flash

Rather than having a built-in sensor, the 577G has a separate one which slips into the camera’s accessory shoe. It is very finely attuned to the

particular Speedlite 577G with which

it comes so that it can give the best results possible.

1. Loosen the sensor's lock nut and

slide it into the camera’s acces sory shoe so that its eye is facing forward. If the accessory shoe is a hot shoe, be careful to push the sensor all the way in so that pro per electrical connection will be made. Then tighten the lock nut.

2. To connect the sensor with the

577G, align the index on the plug at the end of its cord with the index on the 577G’s sensor socket and push the plug in all the way.

♦ If the camera does not have a hot

shoe, Synchro-Cord A, an op tional accessory, must also be

attached. See p. 31.

• A flash coupler must be used to attach the sensor to the Canon F-1. Three are available as op tional accessories. Flash Coupler F is especially for this combina tion. Flash Coupler D or L may also be used.

• Since the 577G and the sensor provided with it are so carefully matched to each other, they should be considered a set. Do not use the 577G with a different sensor unit G20.

TRANSISTOR PACK G

This accessory provides power for Speedlite 577G.

Proper Batteries: Six new C-size al kaline-manganese batteries or the

Canon Ni-Cd Pack TP (optional

Turn off the transistor pack’s power switch.

-V

Align the plug’s index with the 577G’s power source socket index. Push plug into socket.

accessory), which is rechargeable. The Ni-Cd pack should be fully charged.

Insert the set of six alkalinemanganese batteries into battery magazine TP.

Turn on transistor pack’s power switch. Lamp next to it should light up.

Insert the transistor pack into its case and rehook the cord.

611

Turn 577G’s AUTO/MANU switch to AUTO for auto matic flash control.

M/TO

^ UANU.

TEST

■1

PILOT

CHECK 1

AUTO 1

1. Unhook the Transistor Pack G’s cord from its case and remove the pack from the case.

2. Turn off the transistor pack’s power switch (Photo 1).

3. Insert the set of six al kaline-manganese batteries into battery magazine TP as illustrat ed. Then align the contact on the magazine with the transistor pack’s and insert the one into the

other (Photo 2).

OR Insert a fully-charged Ni-Cd Pack

TP into Transistor Pack G the same way as battery magazine TP

is inserted.

4. Reinsert the transistor pack into its case as shown in the photo.

Then rehook the cord (Photo 3).

5. Align the index on the plug at the

end of the transistor pack’s cord with the index on the 577G’s ex ternal power source socket. Push the plug securely into the socket

(Photo 4).

6. Turn on the transistor pack’s power switch. The lamp next to the power switch should light up (Photo 5).

7. Make sure the usual preparations as described in the following pages have been made on camera, flash and lens and wait for the 577G’s pilot lamp to glow. Then take the picture (Photo 6).

* The transistor pack’s operation

lamp glows as long as the power switch is on and there is power. However, even when it is glowing, the batteries should be replaced with new ones or the Ni-Cd Pack TP should be recharged if the

flash unit’s recycling time be comes longer than usual.

* When the batteries wear out, re

place all of them at the same time with a set of new ones which are all of the same brand.

* If you do not expect to use Tran

sistor Pack G for a long time, re

move the alkaline-manganese batteries from the magazine. NiCd Pack TP may be left inserted but the power switch must be off

to prevent corrosive battery

ieakage and other potential dam age.

* Be sure the transistor pack’s

power switch is off whenever it is not in use.

* Should the battery temperature

rise in continuous shooting with Csize batteries, you may rest at ease, for it is a normal condition.

* There is a protective lining be

tween Battery Magazine TP and

Transistor Pack G. Before using, remove this lining. It may be thrown away.

HOW AUTOMATIC FLASH

CONTROL WORKS

The 577G’s sensor acts something

like the camera’s photocell; it

measures the intensity of light from the flash which is reflected back from the subject. When it decides that the subject has received enough light, it automatically cuts off flash emission.

Flash Mode

Full Autoflash

Automatic

Shutter Setting Autoflash

Normal

Autoflash

A-1.AE-1 PROGRAM, AE-1, New F-1 (ShutterPriority AE Mode)

AL-1, AV-1, New F-1

(Aperture-Priority AE

or Manual Mode)

F-1 or other cameras

Camera

In order to do this properly, the sensor must, like a camera’s photo cell, be as close to the film as possi ble and facing the subject. Since the 577G’s sensor is separate in the camera’s accessory shoe, it is always in the best position to measure the light correctly even while the flash unit itself can be aimed in many dif ferent directions for the best lighting effect.

Shutter Speed

Setting

Automatically switches

to X-sync unless on

"B"

Automatically switches

to X-sync unless on

"B"

Manual (to X-sync)

Aperture Setting

Automatic (When using FD lens set on “A" mark)

Manual

To make its decision on when the subject has received enough light, the sensor must know three things:

1) the film speed, 2) the aperture and

3) the shutter speed. You must always set the ASA film speed on the flash by hand, but depending on the

camera you use, the flash may set

the aperture, the shutter speed or both automatically. The table on the left shows the various ways that the aperture and shutter speed may be set with various cameras.

SETTING THE

ASA FILM

The sensor must know the ASA film speed to give correct exposure. Make sure it is set correctly on both the camera and the flash. To set it on the 577G, rotate the calculator dial until the film speed index is aligned with the ASA speed which corres ponds to that of the film in the camera.

SHUTTER SPEED

Canon New F-1 Normal Flash Photography; Once

the 577G is attached to the camera and its pilot lamp is glow ing, the camera switches auto matically to a sync speed of 1/90 sec., provided the shutter dial is not on “B”.

Slow Sync Flash: Set the 577G’s

slow sync switch to MANU. Then turn the camera’s shutter dial to any speed from 1/60 sec. to 8 sec.

Canon A-1 Camera

Normal Flash Photography: Make

sure the 577G's slow-sync

AUTO/MANU switch is on “AUTO”. Except for “B” (Bulb), the

AT dial and AE mode selector may

be on any setting and the shutter speed will switch to 1/60 sec., the flash synchronization speed,

automatically as soon as the

577G’s pilot lamp glows. If the AT dial is set to “B”, you will be in control of exposure duration just as you normally are with “B”.

AUTO ProHirn MANU. 1/60-30S

Slow Sync Flash: Set the 577G’s

slow-sync AUTO/MANU switch on "MANU”. Set the AT dial to a shutter speed from 1 /60 sec. to 30 sec. The picture will be taken at the speed to which the dial is set.

Canon AE-1 PROGRAM, AE-1, and AL-1

Except for "B”, the shutter speed dial may be on any setting and the shut ter speed switch to the flash sync speed of 1/60 sec. automatically as soon as the 577G’s pilot lamp glows. If the dial is set to “B”, “B” will be the exposure duration.

Canon AV-1

The shutter speed will switch to the flash sync speed of 1/60 sec. auto

matically when the 577G’s pilot lamp

glows if the selector dial is on the red

(a] (the preferable setting). It will stay on 1/60 sec. continuously if the dial is set to “60^ ”. If the dial Is on "A Self" or “Self^”, the shutter speed will be 1/60 sec. and the flash will be synchronized with the camera for a delayed shot by selftimer.

Other Cameras

Set the shutter speed dial by hand to the camera’s X flash synchronization speed: e.g., to 1/60 sec. or slower on the Canon F-1.

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