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QuickGuide to Macro Speedlite
MR-14EX and MT-24EX
This QuickGuide reviews how to use either of Canon’s
two Macro Speedlites: the MR-14EX and MT-24EX. The
primary difference is between them is that the MR-14EX
has two circular flash tubes permanently mounted opposite
each other onto the Flash Ring, while the MT-24EX has
two removable and adjustable flash heads that snap into
miniature flash shoes.
Control Layout
1. LCD ILLUMINATOR/C.Fn
– LCD illuminator/Custom
Function button
2. MODE
– Flash mode button. Toggles between ETTL/
TTL and M (manual) flash mode.
3. +
: Increase button. Increases flash exposure
compensation. Press SEL/SET first.
4. −
: Decrease button. Applies “minus” flash exposure
compensation. Press SEL/SET first.
5. SEL/SET
– Select/Set button. For selecting and
setting features and functions.
6. LAMP
– Focusing lamp button
7. ◄
- Left arrow button. Increases power to left flash
tube (A) relative to right (B).
8. ►
- Right arrow button. Increases power to right flash
tube (B) relative to left (A).
9. RATIO
– Flash ratio button. Cycles ratio between OFF,
A:B, and A:B C. When A is displayed in Manual flash
mode, the flash output displayed (1/1 thru 1/64) is
for flash tube A. When B is displayed in Manual flash
mode, the flash output displayed is for flash tube B.
10. CH
- Channel button. Selects flash channel (1 – 4)
when unit is in wireless slave mode.
11. PILOT
– Pilot lamp and test fire button
12. Flash Exposure Confirmation
lamp
13. Power switch
–Turns power on and off. SE position
enables “Save Energy” mode, which automatically
powers down the flash after 90 seconds of inactivity.
To cancel SE mode, press the PILOT button.
Attaching/Detaching the Flash Ring
The Flash Ring attaches directly to the following lenses:
•
EF 50mm f/2.5 Compact Macro
•
EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro USM
•
EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro (now discontinued)
•
MP-E 65mm f/2.8 1-5x
The EF 100mm f/2.8L IS Macro requires Macro Lite
Adapter 67C. The EF 180mm f/3.5L Macro requires
Macro Lite Adapter 72C (each sold separately). Macro
Lite adapters are available in sizes 52mm, 58mm, 67mm
and 72mm.
To attach the Flash Ring, press in on the release
button(s) while placing the ring onto the lens. When the
ring is in place, let go of the button(s). Make sure the
ring is firmly attached. To detach the ring, reverse the
procedure.
Selecting camera exposure mode
Set your camera to whatever exposure mode you prefer:
P, Av, Tv, or M. Choose Manual mode when you want
small apertures for maximum depth-of-field combined
with a fast shutter speed to help minimize blur and
separate the subject from the background. (Light falls
off more rapidly at short distances, therefore the closer
the flash is to the subject, the darker the background
exposure will be unless you either increase the shutter
speed/ambient light exposure or light the background
separately.)
E-TTL OPERATION
Basic E-TTL Auto operation
When the flash unit is set to E-TTL it will automatically
emit a brief pre-flash prior to the actual flash exposure.
Based on the pre-flash measurement, it will then adjust
the flash duration to provide proper exposure based
on a combination of flash-to-subject distance, subject
reflectivity, aperture, shutter speed, and ISO. This applies
to
all
camera exposure modes, including Manual. Press
the MODE button to toggle between
E-TTL
and
M
. The
flash is in E-TTL mode when
ETTL
appears in the upper
left corner of the LCD.
To operate the flash in E-TTL mode:
1. Turn the power switch to
ON
or
SE.
2. Set the camera to the ISO and exposure mode of
your choice. If the camera is set to
Auto ISO
, the ISO
setting will vary as follows:
Tv or Av or P or CA or Full Auto
: The camera will
automatically set the ISO speed at 400 (or 800 on
Rebel T3).
Av Fill-in Flash
: If the pre-flash detects over-
exposure at ISO 400 (or 800), the camera will reduce
the ISO to as low as 100.
P or CA or Full Auto & bounce flash
: If the pre-
flash detects under-exposure at ISO 400 (or 800),
the camera will increase the ISO speed to as high as
1600.
3. Focus and release the shutter.
4. If there was enough light for a correct exposure
the green Flash Exposure Confirmation Lamp will
illuminate for 3 seconds. If not, the lamp will
not
illuminate.
E-TTL Flash Ratio Control
Because the MR-14EX and MT-24EX have two flash tubes
(A and B) you have the option of firing A and B at equal
output (1:1), firing A and B at an unequal ratio (1:2, 1:4, 2:1,
etc.), or firing either A or B independently.
Equal output
1. Press the RATIO button once. The ratio display will
appear.
2. Confirm that the ratio indicator is in the center, below
1:1. If not, press either the
◄
or
►
arrow as needed
to move the bar back to the center.
A:B ratio
1. Press the RATIO button once. The ratio display will
appear.
2. Press the ◄ arrow toward flash A (left) to increase
its power. Press the ► arrow to increase power of
flash B (right). Each press will increase the ratio by a
half-stop. An A:B ratio of 2:1 indicates that flash A will
output twice as much light (one stop) as B. A ratio of
4:1 indicates four times as much (two stops). A ratio of
8:1 indicates eight times as much (3 stops).
