Bolt VC-310C User Manual
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Bolt VC-310C User Manual

Compact on-camera ttl flash
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VC-310C
COMPACT ON-CAMERA TTL FLASH
User's Manual

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Summary of Contents for Bolt VC-310C

  • Page 1 Inspiration strikes Inspiration strikes VC-310C 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-310C is a compact, full-featured shoe-mount flash for your Canon 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 E-TTL Flash Mode ........................15-16 Using Flash Exposure Compensation ......................16-17 Flash Exposure Bracketing ..........................17 Manual Flash Mode ..........................18-19 Diffusing the Flash ............................
  • Page 5 Using the VC-310C as a Wireless Manual Master ..................29-30 Manual Optical Slave Modes S1/S2 ......................30-31 Positioning the Slave and Remote Flash Units ....................32 Using the VC-310C as a Master in the Wireless Multi (Stroboscopic) Mode ..........33-34 Specifications ..............................35 Troubleshooting ............................36-37 FCC Compliance ............................

  • Page 6: Overview

    16 16 Overview...

  • Page 7: Overview

    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-310C, 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: Warnings

    • Do not clean the VC-310C 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-310C 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-310C 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-310C on the included stand adapter: You can mount the VC-310C 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-310C, press the power 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-310C 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-310C’s firmware may be updated. This can be done to ensure proper communication with new cameras or to add new features.

  • Page 15: Automatic E-Ttl Flash Mode

    SYNC Flash exposure bracketing When the VC-310C is mounted on a compatible Canon E-TTL camera, it can set the appropriate flash level automatically, in conjunction with the camera’s through-the-lens (TTL) metering system. To use E-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 E-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-310C’s flash output, just as you would change exposure with the exposure compensation function on your camera.

  • Page 17: Flash Exposure Bracketing

    Use the left or right arrows to adjust the exposure compensation from -3 to +3 stops, in increments of one-third. Press the Set button to confirm the value. Flash Exposure Bracketing (FEB) Flash exposure bracketing (FEB) lets you take three continuous pictures while automatically changing the flash exposure compensation between -3 and +3 stops, in increments of one-third.

  • Page 18: Manual Flash Mode

    S1/S2 indicator SYNC You can set the VC-310C’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 19: Diffusing The Flash

    Press the Set button to highlight the flash output level. Press the right or left arrows to set the desired flash output level. Press the Set button again to confirm settings. 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.

  • Page 20: Bouncing Your Flash

    Bouncing Your Flash The VC-310C 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 21: Multi (Stroboscopic) Mode

    Multi (Stroboscopic) Mode Overview • Multi flash mode MULTI • Multi power output Multi flash mode • Time (number of flashes) 1/128 Multi power output • Flash frequency Time (number of flashes) TIME Flash frequency The Multi (stroboscopic) mode fires the flash multiple times in quick succession during a single exposure. Stroboscopic lighting is often used to illustrate motion—this can create a unique effect in which moving objects appear multiple times in the frame.

  • Page 22: Multi (Stroboscopic) Mode

    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 F1 function button to confirm. Press the F2 function button [Hz] to change the frequency, or the number of flashes per second.

  • Page 23: Advanced Features

    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-310C supports second-curtain sync modes on camera's that offer this setting. Check with your camera's manual for instructions on how to operate the flash in this mode.

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

    Using Your VC-310C as a Wireless Master or Slave The VC-310C 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-310C As A Wireless Master Or Slave

    Many slave flash units can be used at once. Groups: With the VC-310C’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: Using Your Vc-310C As A Wireless Ttl Master

    SYNC Flash control mode To set the VC-310C as a TTL master, follow these steps: Make sure the flash mode is set to E-TTL. Press and hold the Mode button for 3 seconds until the flash control mode is highlighted.
  • Page 27 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-310C units, you might want to set one as a main light 1A, the second as a fill light 1B, and the third as a hair light 1C. With this setup, you have the option of setting each group to a different output level via the master flash.

  • Page 28: Using Your Vc-310C As A Wireless Ttl Slave

    TTL slave indicator GROUP To set the VC-310C flash unit as a wireless TTL slave, follow these steps: Make sure the flash is on and set to E-TTL mode. Press and hold the Mode button until the standard flash control [ ] indicator is highlighted.

  • Page 29: Using The Vc-310C As A Wireless Manual Master

    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-310C units, you might want to set one as a main light 1A, the second as a fill light 1B, and the third as a hair light 1C. With this setup, you have the option of setting each group to a different output level via the master flash.
  • Page 30 This works optically—when the VC-310C “sees” another flash firing, it will instantaneously fire along with it. In order to ensure that the VC-310C fires at the correct time, there are two different slave modes available: S1 and S2.

  • Page 31: Manual Optical Slave Modes S1/S2

    In S2 mode, the slave will ignore any pre-flash and will fire on the second burst of light. Note: Pre-flash is used to help the camera meter and/or focus. To use the VC-310C as a manual optical slave, follow these steps: In Manual mode, press and hold the Mode button until the flash control [ ] indicator appears on the LCD.

  • Page 32: Positioning The Slave And Remote Flash Units

    • The flash head should not be aimed directly into the camera lens. • The wireless optical TTL sensor is located on the front of the VC-310C. Make sure that the sensor is facing the master flash and that there are no obstructions between the two units.

  • Page 33: Using The Vc-310C As A Master In The Wireless Multi (Stroboscopic) Mode

    (Stroboscopic) Mode The VC-310C can be used as a wireless TTL master controller in the Multi (stroboscopic) mode. In wireless stroboscopic mode, the slaves will be set by the master for frequency, number of flashes, and independent group flash power setting, but the master will not add light to the final photo exposure.

  • Page 34: Using The Vc-310C As A Master In The Wireless Multi (Stroboscopic) Mode

    Press the Set button to cycle through the power output levels for each group, followed by the channel setting. Use the left and right arrows to adjust. After setting the channel, press the Set button to confirm. There should be nothing highlighted on the display. Using the VC-310C as a Master in the Wireless Multi (Stroboscopic) Mode...

  • Page 35: Specifications

    Specifications Type On-camera and wireless TTL automatic and manual flash Compatible cameras Canon cameras with Canon E-TTL flash system support Guide numbe (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 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 won’t • Make sure that fresh batteries are installed and in the proper fire.

  • Page 37: Fcc Compliance

    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...

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