Introduction The Canon Speedlite 188A is an automatic, electronic, flash unit for hot-shoe attach ment on the Canon A-series SLR cameras such as AE-1 PROGRAM or A-1, and F-1 The speedlite mounts onto the accessory shoe of the cameras for hot-shoe attach ment On the A-1, AE-1 PROGRAM, and AE-1, the 188A will set both the shutter speed the aperture for the cameras set normally for automatic exposure For the F-1, the 188A will set only the shutter speed or lens aperture as well depending on the exposure mod
distance. Thus you can concentrate on shooting and picture composition You never have to take your eye away from the viewfinder. For the AE-1 PROGRAM as well as for other A-series SLRs and the F-1, a unique average light measuring system ensures at taining better overall exposure. Another feature of the 188A is that while you are waiting for the flash to recycle, the camera's normal automatic exposure func tion is retained and you can shoot using ex isting light.
ISO Film Speed Window ISO Film Speed Switch Flash Head Battery Chamber Cover Aperture -/MANU Window Sensor Aperture/MANU Selection Switch Directly Coupled Contact Lock Nut Switch Auto Shooting Distance Range Indicator Pilot Lamp (Flash Test Button)
Sum m ary for Use of the 188A 1 Load the batteries correctly Set the 188A's main switch to ON, and focus on the subject. 2 Set the ISO film speed.
Mount the 188A on the camera ' Check viewfinder information, and press the shutter button.
Loading the Batteries 1 Use four new size AA alkaline-manganese (LR6/AM-3) or Ni-Cd batteries. Carbon-zinc batteries may also be used, but their battery life is shorter Before loading the batteries, wipe their contacts and the flash contacts with a clean, dry cloth to prevent poor contact from dirt.
Remove the batteries if you do not expect to use the 188A for about three weeks or longer Set the main switch to OFF when flash photography Is finished When the batteries become exhausted, replace all four at the same time with four new ones of the same brand Since battery performance deteriorates in low temperatures, keep the batteries warm until just before use.
Setting the ISO F ilm Speed To set the film speed, slide the ISO film speed switch until the ISO value of your film is aligned with the orange index At this time, the aperture displayed in the Aperture/ MANU window will also change Because the guide number of the flash varies with the sensitivity of the film in use, be sure to set the ISO film speed correctly * The number after ISO is the equivalent ASA number LIOD
* Make sure that the camera is set to the correct ISO film speed It is possible to set the following ISO film speeds Numbers in parentheses are intermediate film speeds indicated by the dots on the scale. 132) (40) IS025 .
Choosing an Aperture and Reading its Value There is a choice of two apertures for auto matic flash photography To select an aper ture, set the Aperture/MANU selection switch to the upper or middle position; the aperture value will appear in the Aperture/ MANU window The aperture will change depending on the setting of the ISO film speed When ISO 100 film is used, for ins tance, the upper position is f/2 8 and the middle position is f/5 6 When the Aperture/MANU selection switch is set on the lowest
Reading the Auto Shooting Distance Range Once you have selected an aperture by setting the Aperture/MANU selection switch to the upper or middle position, there is only a certain range of shooting distances which will give correct exposure On the 188A.
0.S I 2.B 5.E 9in 1.6 3.3 S 15 IS 30 f1 i.i (Numbers shooting in parentheses distances when indicate the the Wide range Adaptor of correct 186A is attached ) After focusing, confirm the shooting dis tance on the lens' distance scale Remem ber that correct exposure is impossible if the shooting distance is not within the effective shooting range. Both depth of field and the shooting dis tance are factors to consider when select ing an aperture on the 168A.
upper position: (red line) For isolating the subject from its surroundings by blurring the foreground and background Also to be used when the sub ject distance is greater than 4 5m (15 ft.
Middle position: For the widest range of {green line) good focus in front of and behind the subject.
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Autom atic Shutter Speed Setting On the Canon F-1 (in Shutter-Priority AE mode), A-1, AE-1 PROGRAM, AL-1, AE-1, and AV-1, once the pilot lamp lights up (which means the flash is charged), the shutter speed switches to 1/60 sec. (1/90 sec in the case of F-1) automatically except when the camera is set to "B " Setting the shutter speed is, therefore, unnecessary.
Automatic Aperture Setting When the lens is set on "A," once the pilot lamp glows the aperture of the F-1 (in Shutter-Priority AE mode), A-1, AE-1 PRO GRAM or AE-1 is set automatically to the same aperture chosen on the 188A with the Aperture/MANU selection switch. In the case of the AL-1, AV-1 and F-1 in aper ture-priority AE mode and manual mode, turn the lens' aperture ring to the same ap erture which is set on the 188A Main Switch and Pilo t Lam p Turn the main switch ON.
Test Firing To test the flash for proper function, press the pilot lamp after it glows If a flash is fired, the flash is In proper working order Confirming Exposure and Shooting After focusing, check the lens' distance scale to make sure the shooting dis tance is within the auto distance range indicated by the red or green line on the flash If it is not.
Reverting fore the to Norm al Recycling AE of Photography the Flash Be When Using FD Lenses All cameras listed in this instruction booklet except AT-1 provide one type or another of automation in exposure. Depending on the camera/lens settings (plus attachment of accessory in case of the F-1), either shutter priority, or aperture priority, or both are pro vided This type of AE photography is pre served while you are waiting for the flash to recycle.
Switch OFF for lowlight condition.
Wide Adaptor 188A This flash covers an angle of view as wide as that of a 35mm lens. When the Wide Adaptor 188A is attached, the 188A's flash angle is widened to cover the angle of view of a 28mm lens To attach the Wide Adaptor, hook its tab into one of the grooves on either side of the flash head and push down on the other end of the adaptor until it snaps into place.
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Normal Use with the F-1, A-1, AE-1 PROGRAM, AL-1, AE-1, and AV-1 The shooting modes are: 1 Full autoflash mode; 2. Automatic shutter setting mode; and 3.
Because the aperture is set manually, this mode is especially useful when exposure correction is desired. * With the A-1, AE-1 PROGRAM or AE1, manual aperture setting is possible when using an FD lens In this mode, the shutter speed is still switched auto matically to 1/60 sec • If you turn the lens' aperture ring to the same aperture which was chosen on the flash, the result will be the same as if the aperture ring had remained on "A.
Automatic Shutter Setting Autoflash with an FL Lens on the A-1, AE-1 PROGRAM, AE-1, AL-1.
Viewfinder Information and Warnings After the pilot lamp lights up, press the shutter button halfway to activate the view finder information display Viewfinder infor mation and exposure warnings vary with the cameras. * If the aperture selected on the flash is larger than the lens' maximum aperture you cannot take a correct exposure On the A-1. the lens' maximum aperture will flash on and off to indiate under exposure.
A-1 Display Full Autoflash Mode: FD lens on "A" and AT dial not on "B." • • “ B D " nieans the shutter speed is set to 1/60 sec, the ' ‘ f ’ signal indicates the camera is ready for flash, and the aperture set on the flash will be dis played in the viewfinder When the shutter speed is set on “B,” "bu" will be displayed instead of "BO" BD B.B Automatic Shutter Setting Autoflash Mode: FD lens off "A" and AT dial not on "6," or FL lens.
[Error in Display] The aperture displayed may be one-half f/ stop off the one selected on the flash. This is because the aperture display is in onehalf f/stop increments; it has no effect on actual exposure The aperture display may also flash on and off if the flash-selected aperture is the same as the lens’ maximum aperture. In this case, exposure will be cor rect, but it is advisable to check the flashselected aperture to make sure it is not larger than the lens' maximum aperture.
button halfway and the sub ject was within the auto shooting distance range. Automatic Shutter Setting Autoflash Mode: FD lens off "A" or FL lens. * glows in addition to the abovementioned displays If. however, the auto-exposure confirmation mark flashes on and off in this mode, it does not confirm auto-exposure and should be disregarded. Note: The aperture display may flash on and off in both modes if the flashselected aperture is the same as the lens' maximum aperture.
AE-1 Display Full Autoflash Mode: FD lens on "A" and Shutter dial not on "B." • The meter needle swings to the aperture pre-selected on the 188A to assure correct exposure. Automatic Shutter Autoflash Mode: FD "A" or FL lens. Setting lens off The aperture selected on the 188A and "M" (for manual ap erture control) flashing on and off are displayed.
AL-1 and AV-1 Display Automatic Shutter Setting Autoflash Mode: Selector dial not on "B." a The meter needle swings to the shutter speed of 1/60 sec. once the pilot lamp glows. When the pilot lamp goes out, the meter needle points to the shutter speed for nor mal aperture-priority AE.
AT-1 Display Automatic Shutter Setting Mode: Shutter dial not on "B." Autoflash • No viewfinder flash information F-1 Display Full Autoflash Mode: ShutterPriority AE Mode — With AE Motor Drive FN or AE Power Winder FN, FD lens on "A" and shutter dial not oa"B." • • The meter needle points to the aperture pre-selected on the 188A. Shutter speed indicator shows the setting on the shutter speed dial, but shut ter speed is automatically changed to X-sync. of 1/90 sec 32 22 16 11 8 S.
Automatic Shutter Setting Autoflash Mode: Aperture-Priority AE or Manual Mode. Manual Mode: shutter dial not on ‘ • In addition to the abovementioned displays the aper ture needle points to the ap erture set on the aperture ring of the lens T urn the lens' aperture ring to the sanr^Q aperture set on the flash 2S0 Aperture-Priority AE Mode: With AE Finder FN, shutter dial on ""A.
Precautions in Automatic Flash Modes * In some cases, automatic flash may not be suited to your subject If, for instance, your main subject is small with a darker distant background or if the subject’s surroundings are bright white with strong reflections, automa tic flash exposure may be affected by a contrasting background, causing under- or overexposure of the sub ject This can be avoided by switching to manual flash (see pp 23-24) • In delayed flash with the camera's self-timer, do not press the shutt
in normal AE photography, it is advis able to check that the pilot lamp is glow ing before shooting. Confirmation of auto-exposure flash is not possible when the 188A is used with any A-series camera other than the AE-1 PROGRAM, and it is only possible in the full autoflash mode. The auto-exposure confirmation signal tells you whether you are close enough to your subject but not whether you are far enough away.
Manual Flash Photography Setting the Aperture/MANU selection switch to the lowest position places the 188A in the manual flash mode The auto matic flash circuit is cut off. and both flash and camera are switched to regular syn chronized flash photography In this mode, the shutter speed of each A-series camera and F-1 are still switched automatically to the X-synchronization speed (unless the shutter speed is set on "B") when the pilot lamp glows.
distance using the guide number of formula and then set manually on the lens' aperture ring. The procedure for manual flash photo graphy is as follows: 1 Set the 188A's Aperture/MANU selec tion switch to the lowest position; "MANU” will appear in the Aperture/ MANU window 2. Make sure that the proper ISO film speed is set on the flash 3 Focus the subject 4 Read the shooting distance from the lens' distance scale. 5 Calculate the aperture using the fol lowing guide number formula; .
Make sure that both the guide number and shooting distance are in the same unit, whether meters or feet The guide number changes with film speed Paste the guide number table onto the 18 8 A for convenient use If it is necessary to shoot immediately after the pilot lamp glows, open the lens 1/2 to one full f/stop This cor rection is necessary because the flash is not yet fully charged when the pilot lamp glows
Viewfinder Information on Manual Flash 1. F-1 4. AE-1 The aperture needle points to the aper ture set on the lens. 2. The only information will be the flashing "M*’ signal to indicate manual aperture control. The meter needle will swing to its upper limit. A-1 5. AL-1 and AV-1 Shutter speed of 1/60 sec. (or "bu" when set to “B"), the “F" flash signal, and "M" for manual aperture control will be displayed. There is no aperture display. 3.
Use of the 188A on Other Cameras shooting distance range Set the aper ture on the lens Provided the focused distance is within the auto shooting distance range, exposure will be cor rect.
tion (such as the Canonet G-IH17), the 188A's Aperture/MANU selection switch must be set to the lowest position so that "MANU" appears in the Aperture/ MANU window Follow the camera's in structions for setting the camera The Speedlite 188A cannot be used as a multiple flash A slave unit cannot be used with the 188A 27
Care of the Flash 1 Remove the batteries if the flash will not be used for about three weeks or longer. During prolonged storage, oc casionally load the batteries and make several test flashes to maintain proper function of the capacitor 2 Since a high voltage circuit is built into the flash, it would be dangerous to try to take it apart by yourself If repair is necessary, take it to the nearest authorized Canon service facility 3.
Specifications Type: Electronic computer flash unit with a series control system.
Battery Type Alkalinemanganese Ni-Cd Auto Approx 0 sec Approx sec Manual Approx 8 sec Approx 6 sec Number of Flashes; (When the flash is fired in 30 sec. in tervals with new or fully-charged bat teries); Battery Type Alkalinemanganese Ni-Cd Auto Manual Approx 200-2000 times Approx 200 times Approx.
Color Temperature: Same as daylight Correction by spe cial colored diffusion screen. Flash Duration: 1/700 sec.~ 1/50000 sec Automatic Flash Control System: Light reflected back from the subject is measured and the series control sys tem saves unneeded energy. Averaged light measuring sensitivity distribution.
ISO Film Speed Scale: ISO 25 -ISO 800 Aperture Scale: f/1—f/16 Distance Scale: 0.5 —9m (1.6—30 ft) Power Source: Four Penlight (AA) alkalinemanganese(AM-3, LR6) or Ni-Cd bat teries. Pilot Lamp: Comes on when unit sufficiently charged and effects automatic switch over of camera to flash mode No flash is fired if pilot lamp does not glow Ex tinguishes when main switch OFF Also functions as flash test button.
Auto-exposure Confirmation with AE-1 PROGRAM (Full Autoflash Mode): By the "[S" mark flashing on and off in the camera's viewfinder for two se conds after shutter release Confirms there was sufficient illumination for the shooting distance Dimensions: 68mm(W) X 52mm(L) x 103mm(H) (2-11/16"x2-1/16"x4-1/16") Weight: 290g (10-1/4 ozs ), including batteries. Accessories: Soft Case, Wide Adaptor 188A. Subject to change without notice.
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