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Copyright © 2012 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 VX-710C Flash. This advanced digital flash unit puts creative control in your hands with a broad range of automatic and manual features. It can be used as both an on-camera flash and as a wireless slave flash.
Contents Introduction ..................................................................................................................................................2-3 Overview ......................................................................................................................................................6-9 Warnings ..................................................................................................................................................
Controlling Flash Coverage (Zoom) ............................................................................................................27-30 Using the Autofocus-Assist Light .................................................................................................................... 31 Bouncing Your Flash..................................................................................................................................31-33 Red-Eye Reduction ......................................
1 11 2 9 12 3 VX-710C 13 8 4 22 14 21 15 5 16 17 10 6 7 6 | Overview 20 18 19
Overview 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. Flash head Reflector panel Diffuser panel AF assist light Wireless slave sensor Locking wheel Mounting foot Extended interface cover Power source socket PC sync terminal Flash head position indicator (tilt) Flash head position indicator (swivel) LCD Sub button Lock / audio button Pilot button 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22.
39 23 24 25 Zoom 26 27 40 28 29 ISO 38 41 30 31 32 8 | Overview 33 34 35 36 37
23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32. 33. 34. TTL mode Manual zoom mode Zoom position Flash exposure bracketing Flash exposure compensation Manual mode ISO speed Lock icon Sound icon Low battery icon Thermal warning icon Manual flash output / Flash exposure compensation value / Flash exposure bracketing value 35. Camera communication icon 36. S1/S2 wireless flash mode icon 37. Rear-curtain sync icon 38. Camera aperture (f-stop) / Manual flash 1/3-stop increment 39. PC sync cord 40. Soft case 41.
Warnings Before using your VX-710C, 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 ten minutes after twenty-five continuous flashes at full power.
• Do not use or store the VX-710C in flammable conditions (such as environments containing flammable gases or liquid chemicals). This can damage the flash, start a fire, or cause an electric shock. • Do not clean the VX-710C with agents containing corrosive or flammable substances such as paint thinner, benzene, or nail polish remover. • This product is not water resistant. Keep it away from rain, snow, humidity, and general moisture.
• Dispose of used batteries properly. Never heat them or throw them into a fire, as this can cause the batteries to leak corrosive liquids, generate heat, or explode. Installing Batteries The VX-710C can be powered by four AA batteries of several types: • Lithium (1.5 V) • Nickel-metal hydride (Ni-MH) (1.2 V) • Alkaline (1.5 V) Note: For the fastest recycle times and longest battery life, lithium or Ni-MH batteries are recommended.
3. Close the battery compartment cover by pressing and sliding it into place, in the opposite direction of the arrow on the cover. 1 2 2 1 1 2 3 When the battery power is low, the low battery indicator ( ) will appear on the LCD, the flash ready light will turn red for twenty seconds or longer, and the flash will continuously beep for approximately ten seconds. Important! Replace all four batteries at the same time. Do not mix battery types or brands, or use old and new batteries together.
Mounting the Flash To mount the flash on your camera, make sure the VX-710C is turned off and follow these steps: 1. 2. 3. Rotate the locking wheel counterclockwise to loosen it. Slide the mounting foot all the way into your camera’s hot shoe. Rotate the locking wheel clockwise until secure.
To dismount the flash from your camera, make sure the VX-710C is turned off and follow these steps: 1. 2. Rotate the locking wheel counterclockwise to release the flash. Slide the mounting foot out of your camera’s hot shoe. Mounting the VX-710C on the included stand: You can mount the VX-710C on the included stand in the same way you would mount it on your camera.
Turning on the Flash and Firing a Test To turn the flash on, slide the power switch to the ON position. Flash ready light: The flash ready light indicates the status of your flash: Color of flash ready light Status of VX-710C Operation Green Flash ready Normal Red Recycling Normal Red for 20+ seconds Battery low Replace batteries If the flash is mounted on your camera, a flash icon will also appear in the camera’s viewfinder. To fire a test flash, press the PILOT button.
Automatic power-saving function: After three minutes of inactivity, the flash will automatically enter powersaving mode to conserve battery life. The LCD and the flash ready light will turn off. To reactivate the VX-710C, press the PILOT button or press your camera’s shutter-release button halfway. During long periods of inactivity, use the power switch to turn the flash off completely. LCD illumination: When you turn the flash on or press any button, the LCD will be illuminated for about six seconds.
To turn on the audio monitor, press the LOCK/AUDIO ( ) button repeatedly until the audio icon ( ) blinks on the LCD, then press the MODE button to confirm. Repeat this step to disable the audio monitor. Note that the low battery warning will sound even if the audio monitor is off. Lock mode: To prevent inadvertent operation of your flash, you can lock it by setting it to lock mode.
Extended Interface You can connect your VX-710C to an external power source or PC sync via the extended interface on the side of the flash. External power source: An external power source, such as the Bolt Cyclone Battery Pack, can greatly increase the battery life of your flash and reduce the recycle time in between flashes. Note: When using an external power source, the AA batteries must still be in the flash in order to operate.
To access the extended interface, follow these steps: 1. 2. Pull back the contact cover on the side of the flash. Plug the cable into the corresponding socket or terminal. A. For an external power source, plug the power cable (Canon CZ-type, not included) into the external power source socket. B. For PC sync, plug the PC cord into the PC sync terminal. Note: When using both cables at the same time, first insert the PC cord and then insert the power cord.
Using the Automatic TTL Flash Mode When the VX-710C is mounted on a compatible camera, it can set the appropriate flash level automatically, in conjunction with the camera’s through-the-lens (TTL) metering system. To use the automatic flash mode, mount the flash on the camera and follow these steps: 1. 2. 3. 4. Turn the flash on and press the MODE button repeatedly to cycle through the flash modes until the TTL mode indicator appears on the LCD.
Locking Flash Exposure In automatic TTL mode, you can lock the flash output level that is optimal for specific elements of your scene by using the flash exposure lock (FE Lock) on your camera. To lock flash exposure, follow these steps: 1. 2. 3. 4. Set your camera to any Program or Manual mode. Position the element of your scene that you want to be correctly exposed in the center of your viewfinder. Press the FE Lock button on your camera.
Using Flash Exposure Compensation Flash exposure compensation lets you adjust and optimize your flash’s automated setting by increasing or decreasing its light output without affecting the exposure as a whole. In automatic TTL mode, you can use flash exposure compensation to adjust the VX-710C’s flash output incrementally, just as you would adjust exposure with the exposure compensation function on your camera.
Using Flash Exposure Bracketing Flash exposure bracketing (FEB) lets you take three continuous pictures while automatically changing the flash exposure compensation between -3 and +3, once above and once below the set flash exposure. FEB is useful for shooting in situations in which it is difficult to determine the appropriate flash exposure.
2. 3. Press the SUB button repeatedly until the FEB icon blinks. Use the left and right navigation buttons to adjust the FEB value, and the up and down navigation buttons to fine-tune. Press the SUB button again to confirm your selection. Use the left and right navigation buttons to set the flash exposure compensation, and the up and down navigation buttons to fine-tune. To turn off flash exposure compensation, set the FEB value to 0 and press the SUB button to confirm your selection.
Using the Manual Flash Mode You can set the VX-710C’s flash output level manually, for greater creative control over your images. The 1/1 setting is the full-power flash, and each successive setting halves the light output, all the way down to 1/128. You can also fine-tune the flash output in increments of one-third. To use the manual mode, turn the flash and camera on and follow these steps: 1. 2. 3. 4.
Note: When decreasing the flash output in increments of one-third from one setting to a lower setting + 0.3 or 0.7, you will need to decrease it to the next lowest setting, and then fine-tune it up. For example, when decreasing from 1/4 to 1/8 + 0.7, you will need to decrease to 1/8, and then increase to 1/8 + 0.7. When setting exposure settings on your camera, the highest shutter speed available will be your camera’s flash sync speed.
When the flash zoom setting is adjusted, the reflectors inside the flash head shift position in order to widen or narrow the angle of coverage. Automatic zoom control: In automatic zoom mode, when you zoom in with your camera lens, the flash will automatically adjust to match the lens focal length, and the LCD will display the closest zoom setting. The available range is between 24mm and 180mm.
Manual zoom control: To manually select a setting that corresponds to the focal length of your lens, press the ZOOM button, and then use the left and right navigation buttons to adjust the focal length settings. Press the up navigation button to skip directly to 180mm, or press the down navigation button to return to auto zoom control. Press the ZOOM button again to confirm your selection. Zoom ISO The available manual zoom positions are 24, 28, 35, 50, 70, 85, 105, 120, 135, and 180mm.
Using the flash with wide-angle lenses: When you have a lens wider than 24mm mounted on your camera, you can use the built-in diffuser panel to give the flash an angle of coverage equivalent to that of an 18mm lens. To use the diffuser: 1 1. 2. 2 Pull the diffuser and reflector panels out of their slot in the flash head. Push the reflector back in and let the diffuser lay flat against the flash lens.
Using the Autofocus-Assist Light Camera autofocus systems can have difficulty locking onto a subject in dim light. When the ambient light level is low, the VX-710C will emit a red autofocus-assist beam when you press your camera’s shutter-release button halfway in order to autofocus. The camera will then be able to autofocus by locking onto the projected light. Note: The autofocus-assist light is available only when your camera’s autofocus system is set to One Shot or AI Focus.
Using flash to directly illuminate a subject often creates harsh, unnatural, and unattractive shadows. To avoid this, the flash can be tilted or swiveled, allowing you to aim your flash at a large white or neutral-colored surface, such as a ceiling, a wall, or a reflector. The light will bounce off the larger surface before striking your subject, providing softer, more natural illumination.
Creating catchlights: Catchlights are the reflections that appear in people’s eyes in photographs. Without catchlights, eyes can have a dull, lifeless look. To create catchlights in your subjects’ eyes when bouncing your flash, follow these steps: 1. 2. Pull the built-in reflector and diffuser panels all the way out of their slot in the flash head. Push the diffuser back in while leaving the reflector extended.
Red-Eye Reduction The VX-710C supports red-eye reduction on cameras that offer the setting. Consult your camera’s instruction manual to find out how to activate it. Using Rear- or Second-Curtain Synchronization When you photograph a moving subject with a flash and a slow shutter speed (1/30 second or longer), 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.
the end of the exposure. Since rear-curtain sync causes motion blur and light trails to appear behind moving subjects, it creates a more realistic impression of movement and is most often preferable to front-curtain sync. When rear-curtain sync is activated, the rear-curtain sync icon ( ) appears on the LCD. The VX-710C supports rear-curtain sync modes on cameras that offer the setting. To select rear-curtain sync, follow these steps: 1. 2. 3. Make sure your flash is in TTL or manual mode.
Using Your VX-710C as a Wireless Manual Slave The VX-710C is equipped with a wireless (optical) manual slave function, allowing you to fire the flash remotely. Using the optical slave feature, the VX-710C can be set to fire whenever it detects a signal from the master flash. This works optically—when the VX-710C sees another flash firing, it will instantaneously fire along with it.
Setting the slave mode: Depending on your camera and flash settings, the master flash may emit more than one burst of light in quick succession (called a “pre-flash”). Pre-flash is used to help the camera meter and/or focus, and is done automatically by the camera. If the slave flash is not set correctly, it may be triggered by the pre-flash and fire before the camera’s shutter opens.
3. 4. Make sure that the master flash on your camera is on and set to the appropriate mode. If you do not want the master flash to illuminate a subject in front of the camera, tilt or swivel the flash head. Press the ZOOM button to adjust the zoom setting if desired (see Controlling Flash Coverage on page 27). Important! Always take a test exposure to ensure that the slave is set correctly. Note: Some cameras, when set to red-eye reduction, will emit a series of quick flashes lasting a second or more.
When positioning wireless slaves to light a subject, keep in mind the following: • The effective communication range between master and slave flash units is approximately 33 feet (10 m) in the front position, and approximately 16–23 feet (5–7 m) on both sides. These ranges may vary, depending on the ambient light. • The flash head should not be aimed directly into the camera lens. • The optical sensor is located on the front of the VX710C.
Troubleshooting Problem Solution The flash is stuck in the camera hot shoe. Make sure that the mounting foot lock is released. (Page 15) The flash is turned on but won’t fire. • Make sure that fresh batteries are installed and in the proper orientation. (Page 12) • Make sure the flash is securely attached to the camera. (Page 14) • Make sure that the electrical contacts on the foot of the flash are not dirty. Clean them and try again. • The flash has entered overheating protection mode.
Problem Solution The flash is set up as a wireless slave, but the light is not noticeable in the picture. • Make sure that the master flash is within the transmission range, and that the wireless sensor on the slave is pointing toward the master flash. Remove any obstructions in the line of sight between the two. (Page 38) • Make sure that the flash is set to the appropriate slave mode. (Page 37) • The ambient light may be too high. (Page 39) The edges of the images look dark.
Specifications Type: On-camera TTL automatic and manual, and wireless manual flash Compatible cameras: Canon cameras with E-TTL and E-TTL II flash system support Guide number (at 50mm focal length, ISO 100): GN 50 Flash coverage: 24–180mm (18–180mm with diffuser panel) Flash duration: 1/800–1/20000 second Flash recycle time: 0.
FCC notices for customers in the U.S.A. Tested to comply with FCC Standards for home or office use. FCC Statement This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions: (1) this device may not cause harmful interference, and (2) this device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation.
Limited Warranty Bolt provides a limited warranty that this product is free from defects in materials and workmanship to the original purchaser under normal use for a period of one (1) year from the original purchase date or thirty (30) days after replacement whichever occurs later. Our responsibility with respect to this limited warranty shall be limited solely to repair or replacement, at its option, of any product which fails during normal consumer use.
