Canon Speedlite 220EX. When the Canon EOS 50/50E AF 35mm SLR cameras were introduced in the fourth quarter of 1995, it came with a newly-revised flash metering system, known as E-TTL. This new method of flash metering is made possible with Type A EOS cameras (EOS 500N, EOS 300, EOS 50/50E, EOS 30, EOS-3, EOS-1v and APS models of EOS IX and IX Lite) through the use of any EX-series of Canon Speedlites and both EOS 50/50E, which have their companion unit in the form of the Speedlite 380EX. The EOS 50/50E, being Canon's midrange offerings, are of course suitable to be paired off with the Speedlite 380EX. When the EOS-3 was introduced in September 1998, its companion Speedlite was the more powerful 550EX. It is also the companion flash unit for the professional model EOS-1v. For users of the entry-level models such as the EOS 500N and EOS 300, Canon also has the ultra-compact Speedlite 220EX available. Canon Speedlite 220EX Uses four AA-size batteries     Also compatible with Type B cameras Made especially for Type A EOS cameras Weighing at only 160 grams (without batteries), the Speedlite 220EX packs quite a punch with a Guide Number of 22/72.2 (ISO 100 m/ft). Yet it is powered by only four AA-size alkaline batteries. Although designed for use with Type A EOS cameras, it can also be utilized for Type B cameras (EOS 500, EOS 888, EOS 88, EOS 100, EOS 5, EOS-1 and EOS-1N/1N RS) as well as any wired multi-flash accessory, providing TTL autoflash metering. One of the weaknesses of the standard TTL autoflash metering with Type B EOS cameras is the ability in providing adequate exposure for subjects that are strongly backlit against the light. This is one of the reasons the E-TTL autoflash metering became the new standard for Canon's EOS cameras since the EOS 50/50E models. The fill-in photo of the Michelin Man (below) is one classic example. While the Michelin Man received adequate flash coverage, the other person besides him, did not. Fill-in flash for backlit subjects Fill-in group photo (w/EOS-1N RS)     Fill-in portrait (w/EOS-1N RS) HK artiste William So (w/EOS 100) However, for most fill-in applications, the TTL autoflash can cope very well, even with the Speedlite 220EX, as can be seen from the remaining three photos from above - the group shot, half-length portrait and that of HK artiste William So. << Back to Main . 1 . 2 . 3 .