English

INSTRUCTION MANUAL

Thank you for purchasing a Canon product.

The Canon Speedlite 90EX is a compact flash unit for Canon EOS cameras, and works with
the E-TTL II and E-TTL autoflash systems. All control is performed on the camera side,
letting you easily enjoy flash shooting in the same manner as a built-in flash.
Use with an EOS DIGITAL camera
The 90EX is designed for optimum use with an EOS DIGITAL camera.
Be sure to also read the description of flash shooting in the cameras instruction
manual.
* The menu screens used in this instruction manual are the EOS M menu screens.

Contents
Nomenclature ............................................................................................................ 4
Installing the Batteries ............................................................................................. 5
Attaching the Flash .................................................................................................. 7
Flash Shooting .......................................................................................................... 8
Flash Shooting in Each Camera Mode ................................................................... 9
Other Functions ...................................................................................................... 12
Setting the Flash Functions by Camera Operation ............................................. 13
About Wireless Flash ............................................................................................. 15
Wireless Settings .................................................................................................... 15
Fully Automatic Wireless Flash ............................................................................. 18
Flash Ratio with E-TTL II ........................................................................................ 22
Wireless Multiple Speedlite Shooting with Manual Flash Output ...................... 27
Troubleshooting Guide .......................................................................................... 28
Specifications ......................................................................................................... 30
3

Nomenclature

"

(
)

&
$
"
#
$
%
&

'

Flash head/AF-assist beam emitter (p.12)

Flash output detection sensor
Locking pin
Contacts
Mounting foot (p.7)

'
(
)
*
+

<Q> lamp (p.8)

Battery compartment cover (p.5)
Mounting foot lock lever (p.7)
Power button (p.8)
Power lamp

Installing the Batteries

Slide the battery compartment cover

and open it as shown by the arrows.

2 Install two batteries.

Make sure the + and - battery contacts are correctly

oriented.
Return the cover to its original position.

Recycling Time and Flash Count

Recycling Time: Approx. 0.1 - 5.5 sec.
Flash Count:
Approx. 100 flashes or more
Based on new size-AAA/LR03 alkaline batteries and Canons testing standards.

 Be sure to use a new set of two batteries of the same brand. When replacing the
batteries, replace both batteries at once.
Do not fire more than 20 continuous flashes in a short time.
If you change the batteries after firing flashes continuously, be aware that the batteries
might be hot.
Using size-AAA/LR03 batteries other than the alkaline type may cause improper battery
contact due to the irregular shape of the battery contacts.

Attaching the Flash

Be sure to turn off the Speedlite before attaching or detaching it.

Slide the lock lever to the left and

attach the Speedlite to the camera.
Slip the Speedlites mounting foot firmly all the way
into the cameras hot shoe.

2 Secure the Speedlite.

Slide the lock lever to the right.

To remove the Speedlite, slide the lock lever to the
left and detach it from the camera.

Flash Shooting

1 Press and hold the power button for at

least 1 second to turn on the flash.

B The power lamp turns on and flash recycling starts.

2 Check that the <Q> lamp is lit.

When the <Q> lamp lights, you can shoot with the
flash.
See p.32 for guidelines about the flash shooting
range.

3 Take the picture.

Flash Shooting in Each Camera Mode

V: Program AE
In this mode, the camera will automatically adjust the flash output level to achieve standard
exposure with Program AE, which automatically sets the shutter speed and aperture
according to the brightness of the subject.
If the resulting picture is underexposed, increase the ISO speed.

X: Shutter Priority AE
In this mode, the camera will automatically adjust the flash output level to achieve standard
exposure for the automatically set aperture.
If the aperture display blinks, it means that the background exposure will be underexposed
or overexposed. Adjust the shutter speed until the aperture display stops blinking.

W: Aperture Priority AE
In this mode, the camera will automatically adjust the flash output level to achieve standard
exposure for the set aperture.
If the background is dark, like a night scene, a slow sync speed will be used to obtain a
standard exposure of both the main subject and background. Standard exposure of the main
subject is obtained with the flash, while a standard exposure of the background is obtained
with a slow shutter speed.
Since a slow shutter speed will be used for low-light scenes, using a tripod is
recommended.
If the shutter speed display blinks, it means that the background exposure will be
underexposed or overexposed. Adjust the aperture until the shutter speed display stops
blinking.

q: Manual Exposure
Select this mode if you want to set both the shutter speed and aperture manually.
As the camera will automatically adjust the flash output level according to the aperture you
set, the exposure of the main subject will be standard. The exposure of the background is
obtained with the shutter speed and aperture combination you set.

10

Flash Sync Speeds and Apertures Used

Shutter Speed Setting

Aperture Setting

Set automatically (1/X sec. - 1/60 sec.)

Automatic

Set manually (1/X sec. - 30 sec.)

Automatic

Set automatically (1/X sec. - 30 sec.)

Manual

Set manually (1/X sec. - 30 sec., Bulb)

Manual

1/X sec. is the cameras maximum flash sync speed.

11

Other Functions
Auto Power Off
To save battery power, power will be turned off automatically after 5 min. of idle use. To turn
on the power again, press and hold the Speedlites power button for at least 1 second.
* Canceling the auto power off function is possible. (p.14)

AF-Assist Beam
When you press the cameras shutter button halfway, the flash may fire repeatedly. This is
the AF-assist beam function that facilitates autofocus for dark scenes. Its effective range is
approximately 2.8 m/9.2 ft.
This function is available when using the Speedlite with an EOS DIGITAL camera that has an
external flash control function. Depending on the camera model, note that the firmware may
need to be updated.
During wireless flash shooting, the 90EX will not fire as AF-assist beam.

12

Setting the Flash Functions by Camera Operation

When the 90EX is attached to an EOS DIGITAL camera
with an external flash control function, the following
settings are available through camera menu operations.
See the cameras instruction manual for the setting
method and functions.

[Flash firing] (Enable*/Disable)

Set to [Enable] to use the flash in a shooting mode that forces the flash to fire.
Set to [Disable] when you wish to use only the AF-assist beam.
[Flash function settings]
Flash mode (E-TTL II*/Manual flash)
Normally, use [E-TTL II]. [Manual flash] can also be set when not using autoflash.
Default settings are indicated by *.

13

 Shutter sync. (1st curtain*/2nd curtain)

- 1st curtain:
This is the normal flash shooting mode in which the flash fires at the
timing when the shutter is fully open.
- 2nd curtain:
The flash fires right before the shutter closes.
Flash exp. comp
You can adjust the flash output level in the same way as normal exposure
compensation.
E-TTL II (Evaluative*/Average)
- Evaluative:
Fully automatic flash shooting can be performed, from dark scenes
to fill-flash shooting.
- Average:
Metering is averaged for the entire scene.
Wireless functions (Off*/Optical transmission) (p.15)
Optical channel (1* to 4)
Flash group (ALL, A:B, A:B C)
Group exposure compensation (A, B, C)
Ratio control (8:1 - 1:8, 1/2-stop increments)
[Flash C.Fn settings]
1: Auto power off (Enabled*/Disabled)

14

About Wireless Flash

With multiple Canon Speedlites having the wireless flash feature, you can create various
lighting effects with the same ease as using normal E-TTL II/E-TTL autoflash.
The settings you input with the 90EX attached to the camera are also automatically
transmitted to the slave units which are controlled by the master unit via wireless. Therefore,
you need not operate the slave unit(s) at all during the shoot.
The basic wireless set-up is illustrated on the next page. All you need to do is set the master
unit to <a> to enable wireless E-TTL II autoflash (p.18).
During wireless flash shooting, the 90EX fires to control the slave flash but does not fire
as a flash.
During wireless flash shooting, the 90EX will not fire as AF-assist beam.

Wireless Settings
You can use the menu to switch between normal flash shooting and wireless flash shooting.
During normal flash shooting, be sure to turn off the wireless setting to use the flash.

15

Positioning and Operation Range

Indoors

Approx.
10 m
(32.8 ft.)

Outdoors

Transmission distance

Approx.
8m
(26.2 ft.)
Approx. 80
Approx. 5 m Approx. 7 m
(23.0 ft.)
(16.4 ft.)

The settings of the flash exposure compensation, high-speed sync (FP flash), FE lock, and
manual flash set on the master unit are wirelessly and automatically set on the slave unit.
Even with multiple slave units, all of them will be controlled in the same way via wireless.

16

Multi-Speedlite, Wireless Lighting Configurations

You can create two (A/B) or three (A/B/C) slave groups and set the flash ratio for E-TTL II
autoflash shooting (p.22 - 27).

Wireless flash with two slave

groups (p.22)

B
A

Wireless flash with three slave

groups (p.25)

17

Fully Automatic Wireless Flash

In this shooting mode, all flash units except the 90EX fire with the same flash output, and ETTL II autoflash is used to obtain a standard exposure from the total flash output.

Check the communication channel.

You can change the transmission channel to avoid
interference with other wireless multiple Speedlite
systems being used. Set the same channel for both
the master unit and slave unit.

2 Position the camera and Speedlites.

Position the Speedlites within the range shown on

page 20.

the master units flash mode to

3 Set
<a>.
For shooting, <a> will also be set
automatically for the slave unit(s).

18

4 Check that the flash is ready.

When the slave unit is fully charged, its flash-ready

lamp lights or its AF-assist beam (LED) blinks at
1-second intervals.

5 Take the picture.

Set the camera in the same way as with normal

flash shooting.

19

Indoors

Approx.
10 m
(32.8 ft.)

Outdoors

Approx.
8m
(26.2 ft.)

Approx. 80
Transmission distance

Approx. 5 m
(16.4 ft.)

Approx. 7 m
(23.0 ft.)

Position the slave unit using the mini stand supplied with the slave unit (the one with a
tripod screw hole).
For slave units with the horizontal bounce function, point the sensor of the slave unit
toward the master unit.
Indoors, the wireless signal can also bounce off the wall so there is more leeway in
positioning the slave unit(s).
If the sensor on the slave unit is not facing the master unit, the slave unit may not fire.
After positioning the slave unit(s), be sure to test the wireless flash operation before
shooting.
To avoid interference with the transmission, do not place any obstacles between the
master unit and slave unit.

20

Using Fully Automatic Wireless Flash

Flash exposure compensation and other settings set with the master unit will also be
automatically set in the slave units. Thus, you need not operate the slave unit(s). Wireless
flash with the following settings can be done in the same way as with normal flash shooting.
Flash exposure compensation
High-speed sync (FP flash)

FE lock
Manual flash

With FE lock, if even one Speedlite results in underexposure, the <Q> icon will blink. Increase
the ISO speed, open the aperture, or move the slave unit closer to the subject.

21

Flash Ratio with E-TTL II

You can use two slave units together and perform E-TTL II autoflash shooting while
changing the flash ratio.
This is described using two slave units.

B
A

22

Setting the Slave Units

Set the firing groups so as to divide the two slave units into different groups.
Set one unit to <1> and the other to <2>.

Setting the Master Unit Flash Ratio

Set the firing group.

Select <l>.

23

2 Set the flash ratio.

3 Take the picture.

Set the camera in the same way as with normal

flash shooting.

The flash ratio range of 8:1 - 1:1 - 1:8 is equivalent to 3:1 - 1:1 - 1:3 in stops (1/2-stop
increments).
The flash ratio under the Z mark is shown in parentheses below the scale.

8:1

4:1

2:1

1:1

1:2

1:4

1:8

(5.6:1) (2.8:1) (1.4:1) (1:1.4) (1:2.8) (1:5.6)

24

Wireless Flash with Three Slave Groups

You can have slave groups A and B and also add slave group C. You can use slave groups
A and B to obtain the standard flash exposure of the subject, and slave group C to illuminate
the background to eliminate shadows.

1
C
A

Set the slave units.

See Setting the Slave Units on page 23 to set the
slave units ID to <1>, <2>, or <3>.
For slave <3>, also set the flash exposure
compensation as necessary.

2 Set the master unit and shoot.

Follow Setting the Master Unit Flash Ratio on

page 23. In step 1, select <k>.

If <l> is set, the slave unit in slave group <3> will not fire.
If you point the slave unit in slave group <3> toward the subject, the subject will be
overexposed.

25

About Slave Group Control

Firing group A

ID = A

26

ID = A

ID = A

If you need more flash output or want to perform

advanced lighting, you can increase the number of
slave units. Set an additional slave unit to the firing
group (A, B or C) whose flash output you want to
increase. There is no restriction on the number of
units.
For example, if you set a firing group with three slave
units to <1>, the three units are controlled as a single
firing group A with a large flash output.

Wireless Multiple Speedlite Shooting with Manual Flash Output

With manual flash and multiple Speedlites, you can set a different flash output for each slave unit.
All settings are made using the menus on the camera with the master unit.

Set the flash mode to <q>.

firing group.
2 Select aALL
Select <

>, <l> or <j>.

3 Set the flash output.

Set the flash output for ALL, A, B, or C on the

menu.

27

Troubleshooting Guide
If a problem occurs, refer to this Troubleshooting Guide.

The Speedlite does not fire.

Make sure the batteries are installed in the correct orientation. (p.5)
If the <Q> lamp does not light after 30 seconds, replace the batteries with new ones. (p.5)
Clean the electrical contacts of the Speedlite and the camera.

The bottom of the picture looks dark.

You were too close to the subject. Keep at least 1 m/3.3 ft. away from the subject.
If a lens hood is attached, remove the lens hood.
When using Mount Adapter EF-EOS M, the light from the flash may be obstructed, making
the bottom of the picture dark.

The picture is really blurred.

When the shooting mode is set to <W> mode for a dark scene, a slow sync speed is automatically
set, and the shutter speed also becomes slower. Use a tripod or set the shooting mode to <V>.

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The slave unit flash does not fire.

Check that the slave unit is ready.
Move the slave unit closer to this flash.
Point the sensor of the slave unit toward this flash.

The power turns off by itself.

The Speedlites auto power off has activated. Press and hold the Speedlites power button
for at least 1 second.

The picture is underexposed or overexposed.

If there was a highly reflective object (glass window, etc.) in the picture, use FE lock.
If the subject looks very dark or very bright, set flash exposure compensation.

29

Specifications
Type
Type .................................................
Compatible cameras ........................
Guide No ..........................................
Flash coverage ................................

On-camera autoflash Speedlite

E-TTL II/E-TTL autoflash EOS camera
9/30 (ISO 100 in meters/feet)
Matches a EF 24mm (EF-M/EF-S: 15mm) wide angle
lens

Color temperature information

transmission ..................................... Flash color temperature information transmitted to
camera when flash is fired

Exposure Control
Exposure control system.................. E-TTL II/E-TTL autoflash, manual flash
Effective flash range........................... 1 - 4.5 m / 3.3 - 14.6 ft.
(With EF-M22mm f/2.0 lens at ISO 100)
Functions supported by camera
operations ........................................ Flash exposure compensation, 1st/2nd curtain sync, FE
lock, manual flash

30

 Wireless Master Function .....

Transmission channel ......................
Transmission angle ..........................
Transmission distance .....................

Optical pulse method

1-4
Approx. 40 horizontally and approx. 30 vertically
Indoors: Approx. 0.7 - 7 m / 2.3 - 23.0 ft., Outdoors:
0.7 - 5 m / 2.3 - 16.4 ft.
Slave unit control ............................. 3 groups (A/B/C)
Flash ratio ........................................ 8:1 - 1:8, 1/2-stop increments

AF-Assist Beam ....................... Intermittent flash firing

Effective range: Center: Approx. 2.8 m / 9.2 ft.,
Periphery: Approx. 2.5 m / 8.2 ft.

Power Source
Battery.............................................. Two size-AAA/LR03 alkaline batteries
Recycling time.................................. Approx. 0.1 - 5.5 sec.
Battery life (flash count) ................... Approx. 100 flashes or more

Dimensions (W x H x D)........... 44.2 x 52 x 65 mm / 1.7 x 2.0 x 2.6 in.

Weight ....................................... Approx. 50 g / 1.8 oz. (excluding batteries)
All specifications above are based on Canons testing standards.
Product specifications and external appearance are subject to change without notice.

31

Flash Shooting Range Guidelines

ISO speed
100

32

[Approx. m / ft.]

EF-M18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM

EF-M22mm f/2 STM

18mm (f/3.5)

55mm (f/5.6)

22mm (f/2.0)

1 - 2.6 / 3.3 - 8.5

1 - 1.6 / 3.3 - 5.2

1 - 4.5 / 3.3 - 14.8

1 - 6.4 / 3.3 - 21.0

200

1 - 3.6 / 3.3 - 11.8

1 - 2.3 / 3.3 - 7.5

400

1 - 5.1 / 3.3 - 16.7

1 - 3.2 / 3.3 - 10.5

1 - 9.0 / 3.3 - 29.5

800

1 - 7.3 / 3.3 - 23.9

1 - 4.5 / 3.3 - 14.8

1.1 - 12.7 / 3.6 - 41.7

1600

1 - 10.3 / 3.3 - 33.8

1 - 6.4 / 3.3 - 21.0

1.6 - 18.0 / 5.2 - 59.0

3200

1.3 - 14.5 / 4.3 - 47.6

1 - 9.1 / 3.3 - 29.8

6400

1.8 - 20.6 / 5.9 - 67.6 1.1 - 12.9 / 3.6 - 42.3

3.2 - 36.0 / 10.5 - 118

12800

2.6 - 29.1 / 8.5 - 95.4 1.6 - 18.2 / 5.2 - 59.7

4.5 - 50.9 / 14.8 - 167

2.3 - 25.5 / 7.5 - 83.6

This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two
conditions: (1) This device may not cause harmful interference, and (2) this device must accept
any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation.
Do not make any changes or modifications to the equipment unless otherwise specified in the
instructions. If such changes or modifications should be made, you could be required to stop
operation of the equipment.
This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a class B digital device,
pursuant to part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection
against harmful interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses and can
radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions,
may cause harmful interference to radio communications.
However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this
equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or television reception, which can be
determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the
interference by one or more of the following measures:
Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.
Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.
Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.
This Class B digital apparatus complies with Canadian ICES-003.

33

The apparatus shall not be exposed to dripping or splashing.

Batteries shall not be exposed to excessive heat such as sunshine, fire or the like.
Dry batteries shall not be subjected to charging.
European Union (and EEA) only.
This symbol indicates that this product is not to be disposed of with your household
waste, according to the WEEE Directive (2002/96/EC) and your national law. This
product should be handed over to a designated collection point, e.g., on an
authorized one-for-one basis when you buy a new similar product or to an
authorized collection site for recycling waste electrical and electronic equipment
(EEE). Improper handling of this type of waste could have a possible negative
impact on the environment and human health due to potentially hazardous
substances that are generally associated with EEE. At the same time, your
cooperation in the correct disposal of this product will contribute to the effective
usage of natural resources. For more information about where you can drop off
your waste equipment for recycling, please contact your local city office, waste
authority, approved WEEE scheme or your household waste disposal service. For
more information regarding return and recycling of WEEE products, please visit
www.canon-europe.com/environment.
(EEA: Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein)

34

English
Franais
CANON INC. 2012

INSTRUCTION MANUAL
MODE DEMPLOI
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