Canon® Speedlite System Digital Field Guide, 2nd Edition

Canon® Speedlite System Digital Field Guide, 2nd Edition

Released February 2010
Publisher(s): Wiley
ISBN: 9780470560655

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Book description

Detailed coverage of Canon's four speedlite-580EX II, 430 EX II, 220 EX and the new 270 EX-built exclusively for Canon DSLRs

If you use a digital SLR camera, then you understand just how critical it is to have a capable flash. Canon Speedlite shines a whole new light on taking photos with a Canon DSLR. This full-color, in-depth guide takes you beyond the standard manual that accompanies the Speedlite and shows you the types of settings you can use on your camera when working with the Speedlite.

You'll explore the possibilities of wireless lighting with multiple speedlites as well as the creative effects you can achieve. Author and professional photographer Brian McLernon demystifies setting up the speedlite, synchronizing the speedlite equipment, and determining lighting ratios.

  • Canon DSLRs are only growing in popularity and the Speedlite system is a must-have accessory for exploring a new world of digital photo possibilities

  • Shows you how to create an inexpensive and portable wireless studio lighting system that can go where you go

  • Demystifies setting up the speedlite, synchronizing the equipment, and figuring out lighting ratios

  • Covers other Canon lighting system components, such as the ST-E2 Speedlite Transmitter, Macro Ring Lite, and Macro Twin Lite

Real-world information on using these speedlites illustrated by full-color examples and untangles the complexities of using the Canon Speedlite system.

Table of contents

  1. Copyright
  2. About the Author
  3. Credits
  4. Acknowledgments
  5. Introduction
    1. Short History of Canon's Speedlite System
    2. What You'll Learn from This Book
  6. Quick Tour
    1. Getting Up and Running Quickly
    2. Taking Your First Photos with the Speedlite
  7. 1. Exploring the 580EX II and 430EX II Speedlites
    1. 1.1. Features of the Canon Speedlite System
    2. 1.2. 580EX II
      1. 1.2.1. 580EX II specifications and features
      2. 1.2.2. Main components
      3. 1.2.3. Control buttons and Select dial
      4. 1.2.4. 580EX II accessories
    3. 1.3. 430EX II
      1. 1.3.1. 430EX II specifications and features
      2. 1.3.2. Main components
      3. 1.3.3. Control buttons
      4. 1.3.4. 430EX II accessories
    4. 1.4. Other Components of the Speedlite System
      1. 1.4.1. 270EX
      2. 1.4.2. OC-E3 Off-Camera Shoe Cord
      3. 1.4.3. ST-E2 wireless transmitter
      4. 1.4.4. Macro Twin Lite MT-24EX
      5. 1.4.5. Macro Ring Lite MR-14EX
  8. 2. Setting Up the 580EX II and 430EX II Speedlites
    1. 2.1. Power Requirements
      1. 2.1.1. Non-rechargeable
      2. 2.1.2. Rechargeable
    2. 2.2. Flash Modes
      1. 2.2.1. E-TTL II
      2. 2.2.2. E-TTL
      3. 2.2.3. Manual
      4. 2.2.4. Multi-stroboscopic flash
      5. 2.2.5. Zoom position
        1. 2.2.5.1. 580EX II
        2. 2.2.5.2. 430EX II
    3. 2.3. Auto Zoom Adjustment for APS-C Sensors
    4. 2.4. Adjusting Flash Exposure Compensation
    5. 2.5. AF-Assist Beam
      1. 2.5.1. 580EX II
      2. 2.5.2. 430EX II
    6. 2.6. LCD Panel Illumination
    7. 2.7. Custom Functions
      1. 2.7.1. Setting Custom Functions on the flash
      2. 2.7.2. Setting Custom Functions via the camera
      3. 2.7.3. Auto Off mode
  9. 3. Flash Photography Basics
    1. 3.1. Studio Strobes or Speedlites?
    2. 3.2. Concepts of Lighting
      1. 3.2.1. Studio lighting
        1. 3.2.1.1. Placement
        2. 3.2.1.2. Portrait lighting types
        3. 3.2.1.3. Mood and drama
      2. 3.2.2. Lighting patterns
        1. 3.2.2.1. Butterfly/Paramount
        2. 3.2.2.2. Loop
        3. 3.2.2.3. Rembrandt/45
        4. 3.2.2.4. Split lighting
        5. 3.2.2.5. Modified split/rim lighting
        6. 3.2.2.6. Shadowless
      3. 3.2.3. Using Speedlites for outdoor locations
        1. 3.2.3.1. Remembering light theory
        2. 3.2.3.2. Setting power output
    3. 3.3. Color Temperature and White Balance
      1. 3.3.1. What is Kelvin temperature?
      2. 3.3.2. Choosing the white balance
      3. 3.3.3. White balance presets
      4. 3.3.4. Balancing for the ambient light
    4. 3.4. Using Bounce Flash
      1. 3.4.1. Why and when to use bounce flash
      2. 3.4.2. Camera and Speedlite settings
    5. 3.5. Explaining Flash Exposure and Specifications
      1. 3.5.1. Guide number
      2. 3.5.2. Aperture
      3. 3.5.3. Distance
      4. 3.5.4. Guide number ÷ Distance = Aperture
      5. 3.5.5. Sync speed
      6. 3.5.6. Second-curtain sync
      7. 3.5.7. Fill flash
  10. 4. Wireless Flash Photography with the Speedlite System
    1. 4.1. How the Speedlite System Works Wirelessly with Your Camera
    2. 4.2. Overview of Flash Setup with the Canon Speedlite System
      1. 4.2.1. Step 1: Choose a flash mode
      2. 4.2.2. Step 2: Choose a channel
      3. 4.2.3. Step 3: Set up groups or slave IDs
      4. 4.2.4. Step 4: Adjust the flash ratio levels
    3. 4.3. Setting Up Master and Slave Flashes
      1. 4.3.1. Masters
        1. 4.3.1.1. Setting up the 580EX II
        2. 4.3.1.2. Setting up the ST-E2
      2. 4.3.2. Slaves
        1. 4.3.2.1. Setting up the 580EX II
        2. 4.3.2.2. Setting up the 430EX II
    4. 4.4. Setting Up a Wireless Manual Flash
      1. 4.4.1. 580EX II in Manual mode
      2. 4.4.2. Setting slaves for manual flash
        1. 4.4.2.1. 580EX II
        2. 4.4.2.2. 430EX II
    5. 4.5. Using Wireless Multi-Stroboscopic Flash
    6. 4.6. Setting Up Channels and Groups or Slave IDs
      1. 4.6.1. Channels
      2. 4.6.2. Groups
      3. 4.6.3. 580EX II
      4. 4.6.4. 430EX II
    7. 4.7. Setting Flash Exposure Compensation
      1. 4.7.1. Setting FEC with the 580EX II set to Master
      2. 4.7.2. Setting FEC slave flashes
        1. 4.7.2.1. 580EX II
        2. 4.7.2.2. 430EX II
    8. 4.8. Using Your Speedlites with PocketWizards
      1. 4.8.1. Setting channels
      2. 4.8.2. Plus II transceivers and MultiMAXes
  11. 5. Setting Up a Wireless Studio
    1. 5.1. Introduction to the Portable Studio
    2. 5.2. Light Modifiers
      1. 5.2.1. Reflectors
      2. 5.2.2. Gels
      3. 5.2.3. Grids and snoots
      4. 5.2.4. Diffusers
      5. 5.2.5. Umbrellas
    3. 5.3. Softboxes
      1. 5.3.1. Flash-mounted softboxes
      2. 5.3.2. Stand-mounted softboxes
      3. 5.3.3. Octabanks
      4. 5.3.4. Softbox alternatives
    4. 5.4. Backgrounds and Background Stands
      1. 5.4.1. Seamless paper backdrops
      2. 5.4.2. Muslin backdrops
      3. 5.4.3. Canvas backdrops
      4. 5.4.4. Background stands
    5. 5.5. Space Considerations
      1. 5.5.1. Setting up for indoor shoots
        1. 5.5.1.1. Portraits
        2. 5.5.1.2. Small products
      2. 5.5.2. Setting up for outdoor shoots
    6. 5.6. Traveling with Your Wireless Studio
      1. 5.6.1. Camera cases and bags
      2. 5.6.2. Backgrounds and light stands
  12. 6. Everyday Applications of Your Speedlites
    1. 6.1. Action and Sports Photography
      1. 6.1.1. Preparations and considerations
      2. 6.1.2. Practical pro advice
    2. 6.2. Concert and Event Photography
      1. 6.2.1. Preparations and considerations
      2. 6.2.2. Practical pro advice
    3. 6.3. Landscape and Travel Photography
      1. 6.3.1. Preparations and considerations
      2. 6.3.2. Practical pro advice
    4. 6.4. Macro and Close-Up Photography
      1. 6.4.1. Preparations and considerations
      2. 6.4.2. Practical pro advice
    5. 6.5. Portrait Photography
      1. 6.5.1. Studio portraits
      2. 6.5.2. Outdoor portraits
      3. 6.5.3. Night portraits
      4. 6.5.4. Group portraits
    6. 6.6. Still-Life and Product Photography
      1. 6.6.1. Preparations and considerations
      2. 6.6.2. Practical pro advice
    7. 6.7. Wedding Photography
      1. 6.7.1. Preparations and considerations
      2. 6.7.2. Practical pro advice
    8. 6.8. Wildlife and Pet Photography
      1. 6.8.1. Preparations and considerations
      2. 6.8.2. Practical pro advice
  13. A. Posing Basics
    1. A.1. Refined Posing
      1. A.1.1. Positioning the body
      2. A.1.2. Positioning the hands and arms
      3. A.1.3. Positioning the head and neck
    2. A.2. Posing Positions to Avoid
    3. A.3. Planning Poses
      1. A.3.1. Casual portrait poses
      2. A.3.2. Traditional poses
      3. A.3.3. Photojournalistic poses
      4. A.3.4. Glamour style
  14. B. Rules of Composition
    1. B.1. Keep It Simple
      1. B.1.1. Silhouettes
      2. B.1.2. Limiting focus
    2. B.2. The Rule of Thirds
    3. B.3. Field of View
    4. B.4. Leading Lines and S-Curves
    5. B.5. Symmetry
  15. C. Resources
    1. C.1. Informational Web Sites and Blogs
    2. C.2. Workshops
    3. C.3. Online Photography Magazines
  16. D. How to Use the Gray Card and Color Checker
    1. D.1. The Gray Card
    2. D.2. The Color Checker
  17. Glossary

Product information

  • Title: Canon® Speedlite System Digital Field Guide, 2nd Edition
  • Author(s):
  • Release date: February 2010
  • Publisher(s): Wiley
  • ISBN: 9780470560655