Canon SPEEDLIGHT 420ex Instructions Manual

Thank you for purchasing a Canon product.

The Canon Speedlite 420EX is an autozoom flash unit equipped with a
wireless sensor for E-TTL wireless autoflash.

* E-TTL stands for Evaluative-Through-The-Lens.

The features available with Speedlite 420EX depend on the EOS camera.

Refer to the table below to identify your camera type.
This instruction booklet has separate chapters for Type-A and Type-B EOS
cameras. After reading the first chapter applicable to both camera types,

read the respective sections that apply to your camera.

EOS-10, 1V,

Type-A

Type-B Camera

Camera

E-TIL

TTL

ELAN II/ELANIIE,

.

SOON/REBELG,3000N/66/REBEL XSN,
All other EOS cameras other than the above.

Available 420EX Features with EOS Cameras

Feature
E-TTL autoflash
TTL

autoflash
High-speed sync (FP flash)
FE lock

E-TIL

wireless

autoflash

with

mUltiple

Speedlites

3,060,030,

SO/SOE,

With

Type-A Cameras

ELAN 7/7E, 30/33,

REBEL 2000/300,

0:

Available

With

0 X

X 0

0 X
0
0

Key to Symbols

oThe Caution symbol alerts you to actions to prevent flash

photography problems.

IX,IX7/IX Lite

X:

Not available.

Type-B Cameras

X
X

[i] The Note symbol gives additional information for basic operations.

~8-:

The Light bulb symbol offers helpful tips for operating the

...

~'

Speedlite or for taking pictures.

Keep this instruction booklet handy for future reference.

2

Conventions Used in

this

Booklet .

This instruction booklet
Type-B cameras. If
30 and 39 to 53.

If you .have a Type-B camera, read pages 9 to 16 and

• The operation procedures in this instruction booklet assume
that the main (power) switch on the camera
been turned on. Be sure to turn on the main switch before
proceeding.

• The icons in
and dials and their settings. The icons in the text are the same
ones found on the camera and Speedlite. For the name of the
button
icons for the camera's picture-taking modes are also used:

or

the

dial, see "Nomenclature" on page

has

separate chapters for Type-A and

you

have a

text indicate the camera and 420EX's buttons

Type-A

camera, read pages

31

to 53.

and

420EX has

8.

The following

Hto

o :Full Auto

p : Program AE

Av
Tv

: Aperture-priority AE
: Shutter speed-priority AE

M : Manual

• The (016) icon indicates that the respective function remains in
effect

• Reference page numbers are indicated in parentheses as

follows: (-7page

for 16sec. after the relevant button is released.

.)

3

Conventions Usedinthis Booklet. 3
Nomenclature 6

Installing the Batteries 10
Mounting the Speedlite 12

Wireless Selector 13

Main Switch 14

High-Speed Sync (FP Flash) Switch 14

Pilot Lamp and Test Firing 15

Flash Exposure Confirmation 15
Flash Coverage 16
AF-Assist Beam 16

in

Flash
Flash

Full Auto Mode 18

in

Other Picture-Taking Modes 20
High-Speed Sync (FP Flash) 25
FE

Lock 27
Second-Curtain Synchronization 29
Modeling Flash 30

4

Flash
Flash

in

Full Auto Mode 32

in

Other Picture-Taking Modes 34

Contents

4(Advan.c.ed(

Bounce Flash 40
Flash Exposure Compensation
Multi-Speedlite System .42

Troubleshooting Guide .48
Major Specifications .49

••.

FI·.~sb·i·l?hotographYi

••

(F()r

•.

Type.A.iand····.B

··Cllmeras)

39

.41

4

5

Nomenclature

Front

Wireless sensor

AF-assist beam emitter

(~page

16)

-------1'==;<'=1--

--1'7--_

.---------

¥---f-f--

Flash head

Battery chamber
cover

(---7page

10)

Locking

Mounting foot

pin(~page

(---7page

12)

--J(~~~

12) ......J

• The reference pageisindicated

•Inthe text, the 420EX's controls and settings are indicated with the corresponding
in

icons enclosed

brackets < >.

6

'-----------

by

(~page

('&-~~~-----

.).

Locking collar

(~page

Contacts

12)

(~page

12)

Back

Nomenclature

<lpUSHI>

Horizontal bounce
release button

E-

TTL indicator

(~page

<~H>

High-speed sync

switch

(~page

14)

<PILOT>

Pilot lamp I

Test firing button

40)

---------,

-------t---,

E-TTL

:

~

,=========5~O~70~1~05~

(FP

flash) •.,

----+\--------1ffl

.~mIEl=--___;:;:;__-~

(~page

15)----""~~~~~~--::~5:.p

<8>

Upward bounce release
button

~5

• • ..-!-+-+--+-++---Autozoom position

(~page

indicators

r~

;1)1

OFF.,

rON

~~~ltll-Main

switch

(~page

<OFF>: Turns off the power.
<ON>:

Turnsonthe power.

40)

(~page

16)

14)

Flash exposure confirmation
lamp

(~page

15)

< GROUP>

10)

Slave group (SLAVE
button

(~page

43)

---------'

-----'
<

'------Wireless

CH.

>Channel button

selector

(~page

(~page

43)

42)

7

This chapter helps you prepare for flash
photography with the 420EX.

BeforeYou Start

Installing the Batteries

Install one of the following types of batteries:

(1) Four size-AA alkaline batteries

(2) Four size-AA nickel-hydride batteries

Open

• Slide the battery chamber cover as
shown by arrow 1 and flip it up as
shown by arrow

the battery chamber cover.

2.

Insert the batteries.

• Make sure the + and - battery
contacts are properly oriented as
showninthe battery chamber.

Close the battery chamber cover.

• Close the cover and push it down
while sliding it as shown by arrow

2.

10

Installing the Batteries

[J]

•Use four new batteries of the same type. When replacing batteries, replace all

four batteries at one time.

• Size-AA lithium batteries can also be used.

• Although non-alkaline, manganese batteries may also be used, the number of
flashes will be less.

• Remove the batteries when the 420EX will not be used for an extended period.

·In

low temperatures, take two sets ofbatteries and keep one set warmina

pocket, etc., and use the batteries alternately.

•

An

external power pack cannot be used with the 420EX.

--

• To prevent faulty connections, make sure the battery contacts are clean. If

necessary, use a clean cloth to wipe the battery contacts.

·In

the case of size-AA nickel-hydride and size-AA lithium batteries, the shape
of the contacts is not standardized. Be sure that the batteries are compatible
with the flash unit before buying.

Recycling

Size-AA alkaline batteries

Time

Battery Type

and Flash

Count

Recycling Time Flash Count

Approx. 0.1-7.5 sec. Approx.200-1400

• The above specifications are based on Canon's testing standards.

• Using size-AA nickel-hydride batteries will yield only about 70 to 80
percent of the flashes (1550 mAh at full output) obtainable with size-AA

alkaline batteries. The recycling time will also be about half the time with
size-AA alkaline batteries.

11

Mounting the Speed

lite

Loosen the locking collar.

• Turn it as shown by the arrow.

Mount the 420EX onto the camera.

• Slide the 420EX's mounting foot all
the way into the hot shoe.

Tighten the locking collar.

~

Turn the locking collar as shown by
the arrow. The mounting foot's
locking pin extends into the hot
shoe's locking pin hole.

• To detach the 420EX, turn the
locking collar
until it stops. (The locking pin retracts
into the mounting foot.) Then slide
out the 420EX from the hot shoe.

in

the opposite direction

..

The hot shoe on the EOS
hole. Although the 420EX can still be mounted on these cameras, be careful not
to have it slip off the hot shoe.

12

650,620,750,

and 850 does not have a locking pin

The wireless selector has the following settings.

For Normal Flash Operation

• Set the wireless selector to OFF to
use the 420EX as a normal, on-

camera Speedlite.

@O))

OFF

~

L.-OSLAVE

For Wireless Flash Operation

• Set the wireless selector to SLAVE to
use the 420EX as a wireless slave
unit.

~

The flash coverage is set to 24mm
automatically.

I:&l

•Even if the wireless selector is accidentally set to

operate as an on-camera Speedlite for normal flash photography.

<SLAVE>,

the 420EX will still

13

The main switch has the following settings.

Turns off the power.

OFF...,

rON

OTIU

OFF...,

rON

ttJ[IQ)

The high-speed sync switch has the following settings.

Turns on the power.

~

After 90 sec. of non-use, the SE

(Save Energy) mode takes effect

automatically to turn off the 420EX
and save battery power.

• To cancel the SE mode, press the

test firing button.

Sets the normal sync mode.

Eil

•When the 420EX is used with a Type-A camera and the switch is set to

setting a shutter speed faster than the camera's fastest sync speed sets the
high-speed sync mode. And using a shutter speed slower than the fastest sync
speed sets the normal sync mode.

• When a Type-B camera is used, the normal sync mode takes effectregardless
of this switch's setting.

14

Sets the high-speed sync mode.

<~H>,

Before taking the flash picture, you can fire a test flash.

GROUP
B C

0][

CH.

1 2 3 4

.,

@)

OFF,

0]

r~

~

rON

ann

[lI

•

Test

firing is not possible while the camera's exposure metering is active after

you press the shutler button halfway.

•

If

the SE mode is in effect, pressing the test firing button cancels the SE mode

and turns on the 420EX.

Check

• When the flash is ready, the

<PILOT> lamp lights.

After
pressitto

~

A test flash fires.

• The <

firing button.

that

the

PI

the

<

PI

LOT> lamp

<

PI

LOT> lamp lights,

fireatest

LOT> lamp also works as a test

flash.

is

lit.

Flash Exposure Confirmation

.,

~[)j

OFF,

ann

GROUP

B C

0)

(1 2 3 4

CH.

r~

rON

0]

If the correct flash exposure has been
obtained, the flash exposure
confirmation lamp lights (in green) for
about 3 sec. after the flash fires.

If the flash exposure confirmation lamp
does not light after the flash fires, the
picture may have been underexposed.
Move closer to the subject and try
again.

15

The 42DEX's flash head zooms automatically to provide adequate flash

coverage for the lens focal length

24mm to 1
indicator on the Speedlite lights.
When­suit the focal length you zoom to.

(--.;;;.•

D5mm

a zoom lens is used, the flash coverage changes automatically to

.:..:E-T;..;.;TL~

focal lengths. The corresponding autozoom position

)

in

use. Flash coverage is provided for the

Press the shutter button halfway.

@

~ ~ ~ ~

~

.,

1'::5

r~

m

W))

PILOT

00

..

If a lens focal length shorter.than 24mm is used, the picture's periphery will look

dark.

III

·When the flash coverage changes, the Speedlite's Guide No. also changes.

See the Guide No. table on page 50 to see how the Guide No. changes.

• If the lens focal length is 105mm or longer, the
.lights.

• When the wireless selector is set to

is set automatically to 24mm.

OFF,

rON

am

• The autozoom position indicator for
the corresponding lens focal length

lights.

t05

autozoom position indicator

<SLAVE>

(---7page

42), the flash coverage

If where you focus lacks sufficient light or contrast, the 42DEX's AF-assist
beam is emitted automatically so that the camera can autofocus. The AF­assist beam can
almost all other EOS cameras. The AF-assist beam
7 m/2.3 to 23ft. at the center focusing point.

cover the focusing points of the EOS 3D/ELAN 7E and

AF-Assist Beam Preconditions

The preconditions for the AF-assist beam to be emitted are explained on
page 51.

16

is

effective from

D.7

to

When the 42DEX is mounted on a Type­A camera such as the EOS 3D/ELAN

lE,

usingE-TTL autoflash

easy as normal autoexposure (AE).

E-

TTL autoflash uses the camera's
multi-zone metering sensor for highly
precise flash exposure control. A
preflash
metering and the reading is used to

determine the main flash output. The

result is a flash picture with excellent
balance between the flash illumination
and ambient light.

is

fired for evaluative flash

i,s

just as

Easy Flash Photography

(ForType-A Cameras)

EiI

•This section uses the EOS 30/ELAN 7E as the sample Type-A camera.

on

• Before proceeding, first turn

• Set the 420EX's wireless selector to

• For EOS 30/ELAN 7E operation,s, refer to the EOS 30/ELAN 7E instruction
booklet.

the main switch on the camera and 420EX.

<

OFF

>.

With the 420EX attached to a Type-A camera set to <0 > (Full Auto) or

<P>

(Program AE), flash photography will be fully automatic and as easy

as normal AE photography without flash. The camera sets the shutter

speed and aperture automatically to suit the lighting situation, whether it is
dark or daylight (fill flash). E-TTL autoflash thereby sets the flash exposure
automatically.

Set the camera to < 0 > (Full
Auto) or

<P > (Program AE).

• Fully automatic flash photography
takes effect when any Basic Zone
mode is set with the camera.

• Set the high-speed sync switch to

<e>.

Focus the subject.

,:..,~The shutter speed and aperture

/""

settings are displayedinthe
viewfinder and on the LCD panel.

• The sync speed is set automatically
anywhere from
camera1s

fastest sync (varies
depending on the camera). The
aperture is also set automatically.
(-7page 52)

1/60 sec. to the

18

Take the picture.

• Check that the <
viewfinder, then take the picture.

• Immediately before the picture
taken, a preflash is fired. The main
flash then follows. The subject
brightness metered with the preflash
is used to determine the optimum
output of the main flash.

~

> icon is lit in the

is