Canon Professional Network - Canon reveals Speedlite flashguns

February 2011

Canon has revealed two additions to its Speedlite EX flashgun range - the Speedlite 320EX and the Speedlite 270EX II, a second-generation update of its pocket-sized 270EX flash.

The Speedlite 270EX II has a bounce head so you can bounce flash off a ceiling for softer results and more even lighting.

Both flashguns are designed for EOS DSLR photographers who want to use creative lighting techniques and are ideal for experimentation with different lighting set-ups with off-camera support, allowing users to alter subject lighting and add ambiance to a scene.

The Speedlite 270EX II replaces the existing Speedlite 270EX as the entry-level model in Canon's Speedlite range and is ideal for users of the new EOS 600D and EOS 1100D DSLRs. The Speedlite 320EX is a compact, powerful and versatile flashgun for users of mid-level EOS DSLRs who want to take more control over their lighting.

Both of the newly announced flashguns are compatible with Canon's distance-linked E-TTL II system and can be used on-camera or as slave units that can be controlled by a separate master unit or by the Integrated Speedlite Transmitter units of the EOS 600D, EOS 60D and EOS 7D DSLRs. Ideal for more creative home studio shooting or general use, each flashgun adds a new dimension to portraits or still life photography.

The Speedlite 270EX II - a compact, pocket-sized light

Perfect for users who want a small, pocketable flash unit, the Speedlite 270EX II is a compact, high-power flash with a guide number of 27 (m/ISO 100) and fast, silent recycling between shots. Flash settings can be manually controlled through the camera menu system, and photographers can experiment with the manual bounce flash head for different effects, as well as the zoom head to ensure efficient light distribution across the scene.

Providing the freedom for photographers to light a scene in a range of different ways, the Speedlite 270EX II features additional slave capability, allowing for creative, off-camera use. A new Remote Release function also wirelessly triggers the shutter release on a compatible EOS DSLR, allowing users to set up lighting without having to make repeat trips to the camera. Photographers can frame their shot; wirelessly trigger the 2-second shutter release timer on the camera body; then reposition the flash anywhere in the scene - capturing the image as the camera then fires both the flash and shutter release.

The Speedlite 320EX incorporates a video light and a Remote Release function to trigger your EOS DSLR from the flashgun.

Speedlite 320EX - versatile and powerful performance

Offering additional functionality, the new Speedlite 320EX is the ideal flash unit for amateurs and professionals looking for a secondary flash, featuring the ability to light a scene when recording movies. The flash offers a guide number of 32 (m/ISO 100), as well as the ability to change the flash coverage from 24mm to 50mm by manually extending or retracting the flash head. The flash head can also be rotated for more flexible bounce flash shooting, creating a wider variety of lighting effects.

The Speedlite 320EX's slave utility allows it to be controlled by a master unit via one of four selectable channels. Flash group A, B or C can also be selected, controlling the relative power of the flash and the resulting lighting effect. The Speedlite 320EX also features the Remote Release functionality that allows users to trigger their EOS DSLR camera from the flashgun.

In a first for Canon Speedlite, the Speedlite 320EX features a Video Light function, complementing bodies with EOS Movie by enabling users to illuminate low light scenes continuously when capturing HD video. When using the Speedlite 320EX in combination with the new EOS 1100D or EOS 600D DSLRs, Auto Light mode ensures that the LED light automatically turns on or off according to the ambient light of the scene when in Movie mode.