July 2011
New flash units with a remote control transmission function:
powerful, fully featured 320EX and lightweight, compact 270EX II
Photo 1: Speedlite 320EX
Speedlite 320EX
Guide No. of 32,
selectable flash coverage/Guide No.,
wireless slave/remote control functions,
silent recycling/Quick flash,
integrated LED light
Photo 2: Speedlite 270EX II
Speedlite 270EX II
Guide No. of 27,
selectable flash coverage/Guide No.,
wireless slave/remote control functions,
silent recycling/Quick flash,
lightweight, compact body
This month's technical report brings you the latest news on the Speedlite 320EX and the Speedlite 270EX II, two recently released flash units.
Introduction
The two models we will examine this month were planned and developed for users who want to try an external flash unit but have the impression that external flashes are bulky, heavy, and difficult to use. These models were designed to work with the same feel as built-in flash units while providing easy access to all kinds of specialized lighting. The powerful, fully featured 320EX (Photo 1) and the lightweight, compact 270EX II (Photo 2) were developed in tandem.
Speedlite 320EX: The key development aims were as follows.
Enhanced basic functionality
- Selectable flash coverage (24mm/50mm)
- Selectable Guide No. (24/32)
- Support for the E-TTL II/E-TTL auto flash metering systems
- Flash functions settable from camera
- Quick flash support
- Silent recycling
Simple, fully-featured lighting functions
- Bounce flash
- Wireless slave function
- Remote control functions
Enhanced lighting capabilities for Live View shooting and movie recording
- Integrated LED light
The following sections describe the flash unit's major features.
Figure 1: Selectable flash coverage and Guide No.
Figure 2: Bounce flash adjustments
Figure 3: LED light
(1) Selectable flash coverage and Guide No.
The flash coverage can be switched between 24mm (EF-S equivalent of 15mm) and 50mm (EF-S equivalent of 32mm) by extending or retracting the flash head (Figure 1). The Guide No. switches between 24 and 32 (in meters at ISO 100).
(2) Bounce flash (up, left, and right adjustments)
The 320EX incorporates a bounce flash that can produce soft, natural-looking light by reflecting the flash off ceilings or walls. The flash head can be tilted up or swiveled left or right for a wide variety of bounce flash shots (Figure 2).
(3) Wireless slave function
The 320EX has a wireless flash function that allows the unit to be placed at a distance from the camera when using the EOS 7D, EOS 60D, EOS Kiss X5, or a Speedlite unit with a master function. Photographers can produce even brighter flashes by arranging multiple flash units set as slaves.
(4) Remote control functions
With cameras that work with the RC-1, RC-5, or RC-6 remote controller, the 320EX remote control transmitter can be used for remote control shooting.
When the camera and flash are set for wireless flash shooting, the remote release function can be used to take wireless flash shots while experimenting with the 320EX at different positions and angles around the subject.
(5) LED light
The 320EX features an LED light (Figure 3) as a secondary light source for movie shooting. It can also function as an AF-assist beam for Live View shooting or movie recording. On the EOS Kiss X5 and later models, the LED light can be set to automatically come on in low-light situations.
Because the LED light is not bright enough to illuminate a wide area, it should be used as a secondary light source (AF-assist beam) for dark conditions. Table 1 lists the specifications of the LED light.
| Specification | Value | |
|---|---|---|
| Brightness (at 1 meter) | ~75 lux | |
| Flash coverage | EF lenses | 50mm |
| EF-S lenses | 32mm | |
| Range (at ISO 3200, f/1.4) | ~4m | |
| Max. illumination time* | ~3.5 hours | |
Table 1: LED light specifications
*When using AA alkaline batteries
(6) Silent recycling
By using microprocessor frequency control technology, we have greatly reduced the irritating whine that normally occurs when charging the main capacitor.
(7) Quick flash
The Quick flash function allows the unit to begin firing very soon after being turned on without waiting for the main capacitor to be fully charged.
Figure 4: External flash function settings
(8) Set flash unit functions from camera
Advanced flash functions are set from a menu (Figure 4) shown on the camera's LCD monitor. Settings include flash exposure compensation, high-speed sync, 1st/2nd curtain sync, manual flash, wireless flash settings, and custom flash settings.
(9) Easy and reliable mounting
The flash unit can be quickly and dependably mounted on the camera's hot shoe because it has a metal mounting foot and uses a sliding lock lever.
Speedlite 270EX II： The key development aims were as follows.
Continued and enhanced basic functionality
- Selectable flash coverage (28mm/50mm)
- Selectable Guide No. (22/27)
- Support for the E-TTL II/E-TTL auto flash metering systems
- Flash functions settable from camera
- Quick flash support
- Silent recycling
Simple, fully-featured lighting functions
- Bounce flash
- Wireless slave function
- Remote control functions
Light, compact body
- Powered by two AA batteries
The following sections describe the unit's major features.
(1) Selectable flash coverage and Guide No.
As on the 320EX, the flash coverage can be switched between 28mm (EF-S equivalent of 18mm) and 50mm (EF-S equivalent of 32mm) by extending or retracting the flash head. The Guide No. switches between 22 and 27 (in meters at ISO 100).
(2) Bounce flash (tilt only)
The 270EX II comes with a bounce flash adjustment that can produce soft, natural-looking light by reflecting the flash off ceilings. The 270EX II's flash head can only be tilted upward.
(3) Wireless slave function
Although the 270EX II does not have flash group or channel settings, a simple operation enables wireless flash shooting.
(4) Remote control functions
The 270EX II has the same remote control functions as the 320EX.
(5) Light and compact
Using only two AA batteries, the 270EX II is compact and portable, unusual for a clip-on flash unit.
(6) Silent recycling
By using the same technology found on the 320EX, we have greatly reduced the irritating recharging whine.
(7) Quick flash
The 270EX II has the same Quick flash function as the 320EX.
(8) Set flash unit functions from camera
The 270EX II uses the same camera menu and settings as the 320EX.
(9) Easy and reliable mounting
Although the shape of the lock lever is different from the 320EX's, the metal mounting foot can be quickly and dependably fastened to the camera with a one-touch operation.
Next are two examples of how to make effective use of an external flash unit.
Wireless flash shooting
Examples 1 through 4 are shots taken with the wireless slave function while changing the flash unit's position and orientation. Figure 5 shows the four positions. Photographers can experiment with even more light and shade variations by varying the flash strength ratio between the built-in and external flashes.
-
Example 1: Flash positioned on the left
-
Example 2: Flash positioned behind the subject
-
Example 3: Flashed positioned at the right rear
-
Example 4: Taken with the built-in flash
Figure 5: Wireless flash shooting
Bounce flash
Example 5 shows the subject taken with direct illumination from the built-in flash, whereas Example 6 shows the subject taken with indirect illumination using an external flash that bounces the flash off a wall.
Example 5: Taken with the built-in flash
Example 6: Bounce flash using an external flash
This month's technical report provides a general introduction to the Speedlite 320EX and Speedlite 270EX II along with several example photos taken with the external flash units.
As these examples show, you can readily express the true texture and dimensionality of a subject with the units' bounce flash and wireless functions. Why not move up from built-in flash photography and see what specialized lighting can do for your photos?
Table 2 compares the main specifications of these and related flash units.
Glossary
Master function
A function that wirelessly controls the flash strength and timing of a slave flash unit located at a distance from the camera.
Slave function
A function that fires the flash on receipt of wireless control signals from a camera or other flash unit with a master function.
| Specification | 270EX | 270EX II | 320EX | 430EX II | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guide Number (flash coverage) (in meters at ISO 100) |
Manually selectable between 22 (28mm) and 27 (50mm) | Manually selectable between 24 (24mm) and 32 (50mm) | Electric zoom from 25 (24mm) and 43 (105mm) | ||
| Wide panel | No | Flash coverage of 14mm | |||
| Bounce | Up | Up, left, and right | |||
| Auto flash metering systems | E-TTL II / E-TTL | Yes | |||
| TTL | No | Yes | |||
| Firing functions | FE lock | Yes | |||
| Flash exposure compensation** | Yes *1 | ||||
| 2nd curtain sync** | Yes | ||||
| High-speed sync** | Yes | ||||
| Manual flash** | 1/1 – 1/64 (1/3-stop increments) | ||||
| Flash metering system** | Yes | ||||
| Modeling flash | Yes | ||||
| Color temperature information transmission | Yes | ||||
| Recycling | Recycling time [~seconds] | 0.1 – 3.9 | 0.1 – 2.3 | 0.1 – 3.0 | |
| Quick flash | Yes | No | |||
| Silent recycling | Yes | ||||
| Slave function | Transmission method | n/a | Receives light pulse signals from master | ||
| Transmission channel | n/a | Receives on all channels | 1 – 4 | ||
| Group setting | n/a | Always A group | A, B, C | ||
| Remote control functions | Type | n/a | Infrared remote controller | n/a | |
| Release mode | n/a | Release after two second delay | n/a | ||
| Test flash | No | Yes | |||
| Camera-controlled Speedlite | Yes | ||||
| Custom Functions** [number] | 2 | 4 | 9 | ||
| Display panel | No | Yes | |||
| AF-assist beam | For phase detection AF | Intermittent flash firing*2 | Infrared LED | ||
| For contrast AF | None | LED light | None | ||
| Auto power off (after 90 sec. of idle operation) | Yes | ||||
| Batteries (number of AA alkaline cells) | 2 | 4 | |||
| Mounting foot | Attachment method | Quick-attachment lever | |||
| Metal foot | Yes | ||||
| Approx. dimensions (w x h x d in mm) | 64 × 65 × 76.5 | 65.8 × 65.2 × 77 | 70.0 × 115.0 × 78.4 | 72.0 × 122.0 × 101.0 | |
| Approx. weight (in grams excluding batteries) | 145 | 155 | 275 | 320 | |
Table 2: Specification comparisons between four flash unit models
Firing functions on the 270EX II and 320EX marked with two asterisks are set on the camera (available on cameras that support external flash function settings).
*1. The stop and increment range of flash exposure compensation settings depends on the camera.
*2. Compatible with the EOS 5D Mark II and later EOS digital cameras (EOS-1D Mark III, EOS-1Ds Mark III, EOS 40D, EOS Kiss X2, EOS Kiss F, and EOS 50D require a firmware update).
