Canon Speedlite 580EX system
The Canon Speedlite 580EX is a high-end external flash from Canon's flagship line of external flash equipment. The Speedlite 580EX is a powerful flash that has become a popular external flash for many serious amateurs and professional photographers using Canon cameras when a dedicated flash is needed. With so many options available with the Canon 580EX, there is a learning curve; however, getting into the basics will provide the essentials to get you started right away.
Instructions
1. Slide the battery compartment to open. Use NiMH rechargeable batteries, because these provide shorter recycling time and greater flash count. Recycling is how fast the flash can produce a flash of light. The flash count is a prediction of how many flashes the Canon Speedlite can take according to the power provided and settings on your camera.
2. Slide the Speedlite's mounting foot onto the camera's hot shoe, located on the top of the Canon D-SLR body. Secure the flash by turning the locking ring to the right. The ring is located at the base of the Speedlite 580EX. To detach, turn the locking ring toward the left; the locking pins will detach from the hot shoe. Slide the flash from the camera hot shoe.
3. Turn the flash on, and allow it to recycle. The pilot lamp, located next to the set button, will first turn green, which indicates the flash is ready for "quick flash"; the pilot will then turn red, which indicates the flash has recycled and is ready. By pressing the pilot lamp button, a test fire flash will occur. Quick flash allows the flash to fire when your subject is near or when full light output is not necessary.
4. Set your camera to full auto. Set the Flash to ETTL (Evaluative-Through-The-Lens). Press the mode button until ETTL is displayed in the upper left of the LED display. ETTL is a full auto shooting mode that makes using your Canon Speedlite 580EX a more intuitive experience. Focus your subject by pressing the shutter button halfway to allow the camera's focusing system and the flash to sync accordingly. When taking a photo, a preflash is fired, and then the main flash is fired as the shutter is tripped.
5. Set the Flash Exposure Bracketing (FEB). Flash Exposure Bracketing is used to compensate for underexposed or overexposed subjects in 1/3 or 1/2-stop increments, according to the camera model preferences. Press the set button until the lightning bolt appears, and the flash compensation amount will blink. Turn the dial to set the compensation amount. Press the set button to save your changes.
Tags: Canon Speedlite, Canon Speedlite 580EX, external flash, Speedlite 580EX, button until, camera shoe, compensation amount