Inspiration strikes VS-260N TTL AUTOFOCUS FLASH User’s Manual
Copyright © 2015 Gradus Group. Bolt and other names of Bolt products are trademarks of Gradus Group. Other product and corporate names mentioned herein are trademarks of their respective holders.
Introduction Thank you for choosing the Bolt VS-260N TTL Autofocus Flash. This flash unit combines a compact design with versatile features to give you both automatic ease of use and creative lighting control.
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Contents Overview ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 6–7 Warnings ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 8–10 Installing Batteries ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 10–11 Mounting the Flash
1 VS-260N 2 OFF ON 8 6 TTL OK TEST/ READY 7 5 6 | Overview LOCK 4
Overview 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.
Warnings Before using your VS-260N, please read the following safety notices carefully and thoroughly to ensure safe use, and to help prevent damage to your flash or injury to yourself or others. • Do not fire the flash at close range directly into the eyes of people or animals. This can cause damage to the retina and may even lead to blindness. • To avoid overheating and damaging your flash unit, please wait for at least 10 minutes after 20 continuous flashes at full power.
• Install batteries in the proper orientation, according to the indicator in the battery chamber. Installing batteries in the reverse orientation could cause them to leak, overheat, or explode. • Do not use or store the VS-260N in flammable conditions (such as environments containing flammable gases or liquid chemicals). This could damage the flash, start a fire, or cause an electric shock.
• Keep the metal contacts in the battery compartment clean and free of corrosion and dirt. Do not touch them with your fingers. Corrosive elements on the contacts can damage the VS-260N and prevent it from functioning properly. Contacts may be cleaned with isopropyl alcohol on a cotton swab. • Dispose of used batteries properly. Never heat them or throw them into a fire, as this could cause the batteries to leak, overheat, or explode.
To install batteries, make sure the VS-260N is turned off and follow these steps: 1. 2. 3. Press on the battery compartment cover and slide it in the direction of the arrow. Insert batteries in the orientations indicated inside the compartment. Replace the battery compartment cover by pressing and sliding it into place, in the opposite direction of the arrow on the cover.
Mounting the Flash To mount the VS-260N on your camera, turn it off and follow these steps: 1. 2. 3. Press both sides of the mounting foot lock in; it will pop out, away from the flash. Slide the mounting foot all the way into your camera’s hot shoe. Push the mounting foot lock in.
Dismounting the VS-260N: 1. 2. 3. Turn the flash off. Press both sides of the mounting foot lock in; it will pop out, away from the flash. Slide the mounting foot out of your camera’s hot shoe.
Turning on the Flash and Firing a Test To turn the flash on, simply slide the power switch to the On position. When the flash is ready to fire, the Ready light will glow red. If the flash is mounted on your camera, a flash icon will also appear in the camera’s viewfinder when you press the shutter-release button halfway. To fire a test flash, press the Ready light / Test button.
Taking Photos When the VS-260N is mounted on a compatible camera, it will set the appropriate flash level automatically, in conjunction with the camera’s through-the-lens (TTL) metering system. For information about your camera’s flash sync speed range (the shutter speed range your camera will allow you to use when taking flash photos), consult your camera manual. To take photographs with the flash, turn the flash and camera on and follow these steps: 1. 2.
Locking Flash Exposure You can lock the flash output level that is optimal for specific elements of your scene by using the flash exposure lock FV Lock on your camera. To lock flash exposure, follow these steps: 1. Position the element of your scene that you want to be correctly exposed in the center of your viewfinder. 2. Press the FV Lock button on your camera. The flash will fire a test shot and lock its output level. 3. Reframe your image as desired and take the shot..
Using Flash Exposure Compensation You can use flash exposure compensation to adjust the VS-260N’s flash output incrementally, just as you would adjust exposure with the exposure compensation function on your camera. To apply flash exposure compensation, press the flash exposure compensation button on your camera and adjust the flash exposure level up or down with your camera’s controls. The flash exposure compensation range and controls vary between different camera models.
low, the VS-260N will emit a red autofocus-assist beam when you press your camera’s shutter-release button halfway to autofocus. The camera will then be able to autofocus by locking on the projected light. Note that the autofocus-assist light is only available when your camera’s autofocus system is set to AF-A or AF-S. It is not available when AF-C is selected. Bouncing Your Flash Using flash to directly illuminate a subject often creates harsh, unnatural, and unattractive shadows.
The VS-260N flash head can be tilted up at 45-, 60-, 75-, and 90-degree angles to the lens. When bouncing your flash, you may need to adjust your exposure settings, since the level of light falling on your subject will be reduced. The farther away the bounce surface and your subject are, the more illumination will be reduced. Tip: Bouncing your flash off of colored surfaces can create a color cast in your images.
Using Rear- or Second-Curtain Synchronization When you photograph a moving subject with a slow (1/30 second or longer) shutter speed and a flash, the flash will freeze the moving subject and the long exposure will cause motion blur and light trails to appear in the image, especially in low light.
Troubleshooting Problem Solution The flash is stuck in the camera hot shoe. Make sure that the mounting foot lock is released. The flash is turned on but won’t fire. Make sure that fresh batteries are installed and in the proper orientation. The edges of images look dark. Your lens angle of view is wider than the flash angle of coverage. Use a lens with a longer focal length. There’s a whining sound coming from the flash. This is normal and does not indicate a malfunction.
Specifications Type: On-camera TTL automatic flash Compatible cameras: Nikon cameras with i-TTL flash system support. Guide number (at ISO 100): 72 ft. (22 m) Flash coverage: Equivalent to a 35 mm lens on a 35 mm-format camera Flash duration: 1/2,000–1/40,000 second Flash recycle time: 0.3–10 seconds Power source: 2 AA lithium, Ni-MH, or alkaline batteries Number of flashes with fresh batteries: Approx. 100 Bounce positions: 0º, 45º, 60º, 75º, 90º Dimensions (W × H × D): 2.6 × 3.9 × 2 in.
One-Year Limited Warranty This Bolt product is warranted to the original purchaser to be free from defects in materials and workmanship under normal consumer use for a period of one (1) year from the original purchase date or thirty (30) days after replacement, whichever occurs later.
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