Review of the Canon Speedlite 380EX. The Canon Speedlite 380EX is designed especially to work with the Evaluative flash system of EOS cameras such as the EOS 500N, EOS 88, EOS 50/50E as well as the new EOS 300 and EOS-3 models. It can also be used with the 24mm format of the Advanced Photo System (APS) SLR cameras like the EOS IX and EOS IX-7. The cameras mentioned are known as Type A models that utilized Canon's E-TTL flash metering system. The 380EX is also compatible with Type B EOS models like the original EOS-1, EOS-1N/EOS-1N RS, EOS 5, EOS 100 and the EOS 888, providing automatic TTL flash metering. When it is used with Type A models, the E-TTL pre-stored Evaluative system in the Speedlite fires a pre-flash to determine the flash output required. The 380EX synchronizes to all shutter speeds when the FP Flash mode is selected. It has a guide number from 21-38 (ISO 100/metres) with zoom head positions from 24mm to 105mm. Canon Speedlite 380EX   This Canon Speedlite is very easy to use despite the sophisticated features it has. All the user needs to do is attach the 380EX to any Type A EOS camera, switch it on, wait for the pilot lamp to be ready, aim the camera at the subject, activate AF and click, regardless of the shooting mode. The E-TTL based Evaluative system takes care of the flash metering calculations, ensuring perfect exposures for your pictures. Whether it is direct fill-in or bounce flash, the 380EX does the job for you automatically. Always. Direct E-TLL fill-in flash with the EOS 300 Bounced E-TTL flash with the EOS 300 No flash, subject is slightly underexposed   The above photos show the differences in capturing the same subjects using E-TTL fill-in flash, bounced or no flash at all by relying on available light. The third photo that was shot without flash, the mannequin and the bike are slightly underexposed because I want to preserve the details in the background. Getting the correct exposure on the two subjects would have overexposed the elements in the background. E-TTL flash is best used when your Type A EOS camera is set in any of its AE shooting modes; Aperture Priority AE, Shutter-priority AE or Programmed AE. When the Speedlite 380EX is used with either Aperture-priority AE (AV) or Shutter-priority AE (TV) mode, the user has the option of utilizing the Slow Sync feature that allows a sense of movement in the pictures. This can be done by selecting a smaller aperture (AV) for more depth-of-field or slower shutter speeds (TV) that will not freeze subject motion. Either way, you will have movements in your pictures. << Back to Main . 1 . 2 . 3 .