Bolt VC-310N User Manual
  1. Manuals
  2. Brands
  3. Bolt Manuals
  4. Camera Flash
  5. VC-310N
  6. User manual

Bolt VC-310N User Manual

Compact on-camera ttl flash
Hide thumbs
Table of Contents

Advertisement

Quick Links

Download this manual
Inspiration strikes
Inspiration strikes
VC-310N
COMPACT ON-CAMERA TTL FLASH
User's Manual

Advertisement

Table of Contents
loading
Need help?

Need help?

Do you have a question about the VC-310N and is the answer not in the manual?

Questions and answers

Related Manuals for Bolt VC-310N

Summary of Contents for Bolt VC-310N

  • Page 1 Inspiration strikes Inspiration strikes VC-310N COMPACT ON-CAMERA TTL FLASH User’s Manual...
  • Page 2 Copyright © 2016 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.
  • Page 3 Introduction Thank you for choosing Bolt. The Bolt VC-310N is a compact, full-featured shoe-mount flash for your Nikont camera. This advanced digital flash 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 a wireless slave flash. Among the benefits you’ll enjoy: •...

  • Page 4: Table Of Contents

    Contents Overview ..............................6-7 Warnings ..............................8-9 Installing Batteries ............................10 Mounting the Flash ............................11 Turning On the Flash and Firing a Test Shot ....................12-13 Extended Interface ............................14 Automatic i-TTL Flash Mode ........................15-16 Using Flash Exposure Compensation ......................16 Manual Flash Mode ..........................17-18 Diffusing the Flash ............................
  • Page 5 Using Your VC-310N as a Wireless Master or Slave ...................24-25 Using Your VC-310N as a Wireless Master ....................26-28 Setting Your VC-310N as a Wireless Slave/Remote ..................29-30 Manual Optical Slave Modes S1/S2 ......................31-32 Positioning the Slave and Remote Flash Units ...................33-34 FCC Compliance ............................

  • Page 6: Overview

    16 16 Overview...
  • Page 7 Overview Flash head 16. Optical sensor Flash test button 17. Battery compartment Mode button with cover Flash ready indicator 18. Flash stand Left arrow 19. Diffuser Set button 20. Carrying pouch Right arrow F1 function button F2 function button 10. Power button 11.

  • Page 8: Warnings

    Warnings Before using your VC-310N, please read the following safety notices 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.
  • Page 9 • Do not clean the VC-310N 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. • Should the VC-310N sustain physical damage, do not touch any exposed interior metal parts. If touched, they may generate an electric shock or cause a malfunction.

  • Page 10: Installing Batteries

    Installing Batteries The VC-310N can be powered by two AA batteries of several types: • Lithium (1.5 V) • Nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) (1.2 V) • Alkaline (1.5 V) Turn the flash upside down. Press the button on the battery compartment cover so the cover flips open.

  • Page 11: Mounting The Flash

    Mounting the VC-310N on the included stand adapter: You can mount the VC-310N on the included stand adapter in the same way you would mount it on your camera. This allows you to set the flash up on a flat surface or attach it to a tripod head, light stand, or clamp that has a compatible 1/4"-20 screw mount.

  • Page 12: Turning On The Flash And Firing A Test Shot

    Sleep mode: After approximately two minutes of inactivity, the flash will automatically enter sleep mode to conserve the battery life by turning off the LCD and flash ready light. To reactivate the VC-310N, press the Set button on the flash unit or press your camera’s shutter-release button halfway. During long periods of inactivity, use the power switch to turn the flash off completely.
  • Page 13 Overheating protection mode: If the operating temperature of the VC-310N is too high after several full-power flashes, the flash will enter the overheating protection mode. The thermal warning indicator [TP-HI] will appear on the LCD, and you should let the flash cool down for a period of 2–5 minutes.

  • Page 14: Extended Interface

    Micro-B USB: This flash supports firmware upgrades through the micro USB port on the side of the flash. In order to ensure compatibility with future cameras, the VC-310N’s firmware may be updated. This can be done to ensure proper communication with new cameras or to add new features.

  • Page 15: Automatic I-Ttl Flash Mode

    ISO value Aperture value When the VC-310N is mounted on a compatible Nikon i-TTL camera, it can set the appropriate flash level automatically, in conjunction with the camera’s through-the-lens TTL metering system. To use i-TTL flash mode, mount the flash on the camera and follow these steps: 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.

  • Page 16: Using Flash Exposure Compensation

    In automatic TTL mode, you can use flash exposure compensation to incrementally alter the VC-310N’s flash output, just as you would change exposure with the exposure compensation function on your camera.

  • Page 17: Manual Flash Mode

    Manual flash output You can set the VC-310N’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.

  • Page 18: Diffusing The Flash

    Press the right or left arrows to increase or decrease to the desired flash output level. Press the Set button again to confirm. Press your camera’s shutter release button to take the picture. Adjust your camera’s exposure settings and the light output level of the flash as needed. When adjusting exposure settings on your camera, the highest shutter speed available will be your camera’s flash sync speed.

  • Page 19: Bouncing Your Flash

    Bouncing Your Flash The VC-310N flash head can tilt down to -7° and up at 45°, 60°, 75°, and 90° angles to the lens. It can also swivel horizontally 90° to the right and 60° to the left. Using flash to directly illuminate a subject often creates harsh, unnatural, and unattractive shadows. 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, wall, or reflector.

  • Page 20: Repeat (Stroboscopic) Mode

    Repeat (Stroboscopic) Mode Overview • Multi flash mode • Multi power output RPT flash mode 1/128 5T−7Hz • Time (number of flashes) RPT power output • Flash frequency Time (number of flashes) IS0100 F5 6 Function button options Times Flash frequency The repeat (stroboscopic) mode fires the flash multiple times in quick succession during a single exposure.
  • Page 21 Press the Set button to confirm. Press the F1 function button to change the Time. This will set the number flashes that fire per exposure. Use the right and left arrows to adjust the amount. Press the Set button to confirm. Press the F2 function button [Hz] to change the frequency, or the number of flashes per second.

  • Page 22: Advanced Features

    1/200 of a second. This is helpful in situations that require high shutter speeds, such as action shots, or for creative reasons, like when using a wide aperture. The Bolt VC-310N flash includes a high-speed sync trigger function that enables it to synchronize with shutter speeds up to 1/8000 of a second.

  • Page 23: Second-Curtain Synchronization

    Use your camera’s shutter-priority or manual mode to control the amount of blurring and light trails you capture by varying the shutter speed. The VC-310N supports second-curtain sync modes on cameras that offer this setting. Check your camera’s manual for instructions on how to operate the flash in this mode.

  • Page 24: Using Your Vc-310N As A Wireless Master Or Slave

    Using Your VC-310N as a Wireless Master or Slave The VC-310N is equipped with advanced wireless flash functions, allowing you to fire the flash remotely while maintaining full TTL or manual control. In addition, the flash can be set to multiple channels and groups, affording you a host of creative lighting possibilities.

  • Page 25: Using Your Vc-310N As A Wireless Master Or Slave

    Many slave flash units can be used at once. Groups: With the VC-310N’s wireless system, you can assign slave flash units to any one of three groups (A, B, or C) and set the operating mode and power for each group separately.
  • Page 26 Exposure compensation Master channel To set the VC-310N as a wireless master, follow these steps: Press and hold the Mode button until the flash control modes appear on the LCD and are highlighted. Press the right arrow repeatedly until the Master mode [ ] indicator is highlighted.
  • Page 27 To set up a slave group in Manual mode, follow these steps: Make sure the flash is in master mode. Press the F1 function button repeatedly to cycle through the different groups (A, B, and C). Setting Your VC-310N as a Wireless Master...
  • Page 28 When you have highlighted the group you wish set, press the Mode button repeatedly until it shows [---] for the group mode setting. Press the Set button to confirm the settings. Important! These settings will be saved when you power the unit off and on. Setting Your VC-310N as a Master Slave...

  • Page 29: Setting Your Vc-310N As A Wireless Slave/Remote

    Remote slave indicator Channel To set the VC-310N flash unit as a wireless remote flash, follow these steps: Press and hold the Mode button until the flash control indicators appear on the LCD. Use the left and right arrows to highlight Remote Mode [ Press the Set button to confirm, and the Remote indicator will appear in the upper left-hand corner of the LCD.
  • Page 30 When using multiple slave flash units, select the same group and channel for all units being used in a particular light position. For example, if you are using three VC-310N units, you might want to set one as a main light on 1A, the second as a fill on light 1B, and the third as a hair on light 1C. With this setup, you have the option of setting each group to a different output level via the master flash.

  • Page 31: Manual Optical Slave Modes S1/S2

    This works optically—when the VC-310N “sees” another flash firing, it will instantaneously fire along with it. In order to ensure that the VC-310N fires at the correct time, there are two different slave modes available: S1 and S2. In these modes, there is no TTL assistance for adjusting correct exposure. You will need to set the slave settings independently.

  • Page 32: Manual Optical Slave Modes S1/S2

    Press the Set button to confirm your settings. Warning: Some cameras, when set to red-eye reduction, will emit a series of quick flashes. This may not work properly with any slave mode. We suggest you avoid using red-eye reduction when the VC-310N acts as a slave.

  • Page 33: Positioning The Slave And Remote Flash Units

    Positioning the Slave and Remote Flash Units You can create various professional lighting setups by positioning slave units individually or in groups to function as main, fill, accent, and other lights. Metering your scene with a handheld light meter and setting your light ratios to achieve specific looks will give you a professional level of creative control.

  • Page 34: Fcc Compliance

    • The wireless optical TTL sensor is located on the front of the VC-310N. Make sure that the sensor is facing the master flash and that there are no obstructions between the two units. • When photographing outdoors or in bright ambient light, the optical sensors may be overwhelmed by ambient light, which will lower their sensitivity.

  • Page 35: Specifications

    Specifications Type On-camera and wireless TTL automatic and manual flash Compatible cameras Nikon cameras with Nikon i-TTL flash system support Guide number (at 50 mm focal length, ISO 100) GN 32 Flash recycle time Approx. 5 seconds (AA NiMH) Manual mode power output 1/1, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 1/16, 1/32, 1/64, 1/128, fine-tuning in increments of 1/3 Wireless transmission range Optical up to 33' (10 m) outdoor and 49' (15 m) indoor.

  • Page 36: Troubleshooting

    Troubleshooting Problem Solution The flash is stuck in the camera Make sure that the locking wheel is released (page 11). hot shoe. The flash is turned on but • Make sure that fresh batteries are installed and in the proper won’t fire.
  • Page 37 Problem Solution The flash is set up as a wireless • Make sure that the master flash is within the transmission range, slave, but the light is not and that the wireless sensor on the slave is pointing toward the noticeable in the picture.

  • Page 38: Stroboscopic Reference

    Stroboscopic Reference This chart shows the maximum number of flashes possible for any given frequency/flash output combination. Flash Output/Hz 1/16 1/32 1/64 1/128 20–100 Stroboscopic Reference...

  • Page 39: One-Year Limited Warranty

    To obtain warranty coverage, contact the BOLT Customer Service Department to obtain a return merchandise authorization (“RMA”) number, and return the defective product to BOLT along with the RMA number and proof of purchase. Shipment of the defective product is at the purchaser’s own risk and expense.
  • Page 40 www.boltflashes.com...

Table of Contents