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Consumer Products Home :: Support :: Speedlite 550EX :: Specifications
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Specifications
Speedlite 550EX
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Speedlite 550EX
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Flash


Type


Direct- sync, shoe-mount flash with E-TTL/TTL autoflash control and wireless transmission/reception (E-TTL preflash, AF-assist beam, auto zoom, and bounce flash).


Compatible Cameras


Type-A EOS cameras (for E-TTL autoflash control). Type-B EOS cameras (for TTL autoflash control).


Guide Number


Normal Mode (ISO 100)

Flash Coverage (mm)

17

24

28

35

50

70

80

105

Normal (full) Flash Guide No.

15

28

30

36

42

46

50

55

Quick Flash

Same as for manual flash from 1/2 to 1/16

Manual Flash Guide No.

1/1

m
feet

15
50

28
92

30
99

36
119

42
139

46
152

50
165

55
182

1/2

m
feet

10.6
35

19.8
65

21.2
70

25.5
84

29.7
98

32.5
107

35.4
117

39
128

1/4

m
feet

7.5
25

14
46

15
50

18
59

21
69

23
76

25
83

27.5
91

1/8

m
feet

5.3
18

9.9
33

10.6
35

12.7
42

14.8
49

16.3
54

17.7
58

19.5
64

1/16

m
feet

3.8
13

7
23

7.5
25

9
30

10.5
35

11.5
38

12.5
41

13.8
46

1/32

m
feet

2.7
9

4.9
16

5.3
18

6.4
21

7.4
24

8.1
27

8.8
29

9.7
32

1/64

m
feet

1.9
6.3

3.5
12

3.8
13

4.5
15

5.3
18

5.8
19

6.3
21

6.9
23

1/128

m
feet

1.4
4.6

2.5
8.3

2.7
8.9

3.2
11

3.7
12

4.1
14

4.4
15

4.9
16

High-Speed Sync (FP Flash, ISO 100)

Shutter Speed

Flash Coverage (mm)

17

24

28

35

50

70

80

105

1/125
m
ft
10.6
35
19.8
65
21.2
70
25.2
83
29.7
98
32.5
107
35.4
117
38.9
128
1/160
m
ft
9.4
31
17.5
58
18.8
62
22.5
74
26.3
87
28.8
95
31.3
103
34.4
114
1/180
m
ft
8.8
29
16.5
55
17.7
58
21.2
70
24.7
82
27.1
90
29.5
97
32.4
107
1/250
m
ft
7.5
25
14.0
46
15.0
50
18.0
59
21.0
69
23.0
76
25
83
27.5
25
1/320
m
ft
6.6
22
12.4
41
13.3
44
15.9
53
18.6
61
20.3
67
22.1
73
24.3
80
1/350
m
ft
6.3
21
11.8
39
12.7
42
15.2
50
17.7
58
19.4
64
21.1
70
23.2
77
1/400
m
ft
5.9
20
11.1
37
11.9
39
14.2
47
16.6
55
18.2
60
19.8
65
21.7
72
1/500
m
ft
5.3 9.9
33
10.6
35
12.7
42
14.8
49
16.3
54
17.7
58
19.4
64
1/640
m
ft
4.7
16
8.8
29
9.4
31
11.3
37
13.1
43
14.4
48
15.6
52
17.2
57
1/750
m
ft
4.3
14
8.1
27
8.7
29
10.4
34
12.1
40
13.3
44
14.4
48
15.9
53
1/800
m
ft
4.2
14
7.8
26
8.4
28
10.1
33
11.7
39
12.9
43
14
46
15.4
51
1/1000
m
ft
3.8
13
7.0
23
7.5
25
9.0
30
10.5
35
11.5
38
12.5
41
13.8
46
1/1250
m
ft
3.4
11
6.3
21
6.7
22
8.0
26
9.4
31
10.3
34
11.2
37
12.3
41
1/1500
m
ft
3.1
10
5.7
19
6.1
20
7.3
24
8.6
28
9.4
31
10.2
34
11.2
37
1/1600
m
ft
3.0
9.9
5.5
18
5.9
20
7.1
23
8.3
27
9.1
30
9.9
33
10.9
36
1/2000
m
ft
2.7
9
4.9
16
5.3
18
6.4
21
7.4
24
8.1
27
8.8
29
9.7
32
1/2500
m
ft
2.4
8
4.4
15
4.7
16
5.7
19
6.6
22
7.3
24
7.9
26
8.7
29
1/3000
m
ft
2.2
7.3
4.0
13
4.3
14
5.2
17
6.1
20
6.6
22
7.2
24
7.9
26
1/3200
m
ft
2.1
7
3.9
13
4.2
14
5.0
17
5.9
20
6.4
22
7
23
7.7
25
1/4000
m
ft
1.9
6.3
3.5
12
3.8
13
4.5
15
5.3
18
5.8
19
6.3
21
6.9
23
1/5000
m
ft
1.7
5.6
3.1
10
3.4
11
4.0
13
4.7
16
5.1
17
5.6
19
6.1
20
1/6000
m
ft
1.5
5
2.9
9.6
3.1
10
3.7
12
4.3
14
4.7
16
5.1
17
5.6
19
1/6400
m
ft
1.5
5
2.8
9.2
3.0
9.9
3.6
12
4.2
14
4.5
15
4.9
16
5.4
18

1/8000

m
ft

1.3
4.3

2.5
8.3

2.7
8.9

3.2
11

3.7
12
4.1
14
4.4
15
4.9
16



Flash Coverage


Auto zoom head covers 24mm, 28mm, 35mm, 50mm, 70mm, 80mm, and 105mm lens focal lengths automatically.
Manual zoom: Enabled with zoom button.
Wide panel: When the built-in wide panel covers the flash head, flash coverage is extended for 17mm lens local length.


Number of Flashes


Power Source

Available
Flashes

Internal Only:

4 x AA Alkaline
4 x AA Ni-Cd

100 - 700
40 - 300

Transistor Pack E:

Ni-Cd Pack TP
6 x C Alkaline

300 - 1800
350 - 2200

Compact Battery Pack CP-E2:

6 x AA Alkaline
6 x AA Ni-Cd

350 - 2200
130 - 900




Recycling Time


Power Source

Recharging Time (sec.)

Quick Flash

Normal Flash

Internal Only:

4 x AA Alkaline
4 x AA Ni-Cd

0.1 - 4
0.1 - 2.5

0.1 - 8
0.1 - 5

Transistor Pack E:

Ni-Cd Pack TP
6 x C Alkaline

0.1 - 1.5
0.1 - 2

0.1 - 3
0.1 - 5

Compact Battery Pack CP-E2:

6 x AA Alkaline
6 x AA Ni-Cd

0.1 - 1.5
0.1 - 1

0.1 - 5
0.1 - 2




Flash Duration


0.2 ms or less. For quick flash: 2.3 ms or shorter.


Sync Speed


According to camera.


Flash Range


With 50mm f/1.4 lens (at ISO 100):
With normal flash: 0.5-30 meters/ 1.6- 100 feet
With quick flash: Min. 0.5 - 7.5 meters and max. 0.5 - 21 meters/: Min. 1.6 - 25 feet and max. 1.6 - 70 feet
With high- speed sync: 0.5 - 15 meters/ 1.6 - 49 feet (at 1/250 sec.)


Flash Modes


Normal flash; Quick flash; High-speed sync (FP flash); Stroboscopic flash: 41 flash frequency settings, 31 firing settings; Preflash: Obtains exposure reading for E-TTL autoflash control; Test flash: With test firing button; Modeling flash: Fired with the EOS-3's depth-of-field preview button


Exposure Control Modes


E-TTL autoflash (with Type-A cameras)
TTL autoflash (with Type-B cameras)


Flash Metering System


1. E-TTL autoflash with instant metering using a preflash (with Type-A cameras).
2. E-TTL autoflash with instant partial metering using a preflash (with Type-A cameras). 3. E-TTL autoflash with instant spot metering using a preflash (with Type-A cameras).
4. TTL off-the-film autoflash metering (with Type-B cameras).


Flash Exposure Compensation


1. Automatic flash output reduction for fill flash.
2. Flash exposure compensation adjustable manually with the Speedlite up to +/-3 stops in 1/3- or 1/2- stop increments.
3. Flash exposure compensation adjustable manually up to ±3 stops in 1/3- or 1/2- stop increments with cameras equipped with flash exposure compensation function.


Flash Exposure Bracketing


Set with the Speedlite up to +/-3 stops in 1/3-stop or 1/2-stop increments.


Flash Exposure Confirmation


Yellow-green pilot lamp lights.


Flash-ready Indication


Red pilot lamp indicates normal flash ready.
Green pilot lamp indicates quick flash ready.


AF Assist Beam


Linked to area AF (45 focusing points), effective from approx. 0.6 to 10 meters / 2 to 33 feet at the center and 0.6 to 5 meters / 2 to 16 feet along the periphery (in total darkness).


Bounce Positions


Direction

Angle

Click Stops

Up

0° - 90°

0°, 60°, 75°, 90°

Down

0° - 7°

0°, 7°

Left

0° - 180°

0°, 60°, 75°, 90°, 120°, 150°, 180°

Right

0° - 90°

0°, 60°, 75°, 90°




Custom Functions


Function

Custom Function No.

Setting

Description

FEB cancellation after completion

CF-1

0

Enabled

1

Disabled

FEB sequence

CF-2

0

Correct exposure, underexposure, overexposure

1

Underexposure, correct exposure, overexposure

Flash metering system

CF-3

0

E-TTL

1

TTL

Slave unit SE mode activation

CF-4

0

Activate after 60 min. of non- operation

1

Active after 10 min. of non- operation.

Slave unit SE mode cancellation

CF-5

0

Enable SE mode cancelleation by master unit for 1 hour.

1

Enable SE mode cancellation by master unit for 8 hours.

Modeling flash

CF-6

0

Enabled

1

Disabled




Wireless Functions


Transmission System


Optical pulse transmission


Configuration


Camera, master unit, and slave unit(s)


Wireless Switchover


With wireless selector


Wireless Selector Positions


OFF, Master, Slave


Channels


4 (Master unit)


Transmission Angle


Horizontal: Approx. 80° / Vertical: Approx. 60° (At M 24 mm zoom setting) (Manual zooming of flash head also enabled)


Transmission Range


Indoors: Approx. 12 to 15 meters / 39.3 to 49.2 feet Outdoors: Approx. 8 to 10 meters / 26.2 to 32.8 feet


Number of Transmissions


Approx. 1500 (without master unit firing)


Controllable Slaves


A, B, C (3 groups)


Flash Control


1. E- TTL autoflash (with Type-A cameras) High-speed sync (FP flash) / FE lock / flash exposure compensation / FEB / flash ratio control
2. Manual flash (with Type A and B cameras)
3. Stroboscopic flash (with Type A and B cameras)


Flash Ratio Control


A:B = 8:1 to 1:1 or 1:1 to 1:8 (In thirteen 1/2-stop increments) (For C, flash exposure compensation can be set up to +/-3 stops in 1/3 or 1/2-stop increments.)


Master Flash


ON/OFF possible (When ON, automatic set as slave unit A.) (Slave unit)


Reception Angle


Horizontal: Approx. 80°/ Vertical: Approx. 60°


Flash Coverage


Set automatically to M 24mm (Manual zooming of flash head also enabled)


Flash-ready Indication


AF-assist beam emitter blinks


Flash Modes


1. Controlled automatically by master unit
2. Manual flash and stroboscopic flash settable independently from master unit.


Flash Exposure Compensation


Settable individually with each slave unit up to +/-±3 stops in 1/3- or 1/2-stop increments.


Slave Operation Confirmation


Enabled with master unit's test firing button.


Slave Unit SE Mode Cancellation


While the slave unit's SE mode is in effect, the slave unit turns on when a flash is fired. The slave unit's SE mode can be canceled by the following wireless operations:
1. When the master unit's test firing button is pressed.
2. When the camera's FE lock button is pressed.


General


Power Source


Size-AA alkaline LR6 batteries (6 V) x 4; Size-AA Nicad KR 15/51 batteries x 4 Size-AA Lithium FR6 batteries (6 V) x 4



External Power Source


Compact Battery Pack CP-E2 Size-AA alkaline LR6 (AM-3) batteries (9 V) x 6; Transistor Pack E Battery Magazine TP with size-C alkaline LR14 (AM-2) batteries (9 V) x 6 Ni-Cd Pack TP (NR-SC Ni- Cd batteries x 6 in sealed pack)


SE Mode


With the power switch set to SE, the Speedlite enters the SE mode as follows:
1. On-camera master unit enters the SE mode after 90 sec. of non-use.
2. Slave unit enters SE mode after 60 min. (or 10 min. with CF-4) of non-use.


Dimensions


80 (W) x 138 (H) x 112 (D) mm/ 3.1 (W) x 5.4 (H) x 4.4 (D) in


Weight


405g / 14.2 oz


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