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Related Manuals for MK Controls Lightning Bug
Summary of Contents for MK Controls Lightning Bug
- Page 2 Please remember that your safety is much more important than getting the shot. MK Controls, Inc. is not liable for any injuries or damage that may occur while using our products. Being safe should always be your primary concern. Lightning can be lethal.
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Page 3: Table Of Contents
Warranty ......................24 Company Information ..................27 Please note: MK Controls, Inc. is not liable for any damage or injury associated with the use of the Lightning Bug™. Lightning Bug™ is a trademark of MK Controls, Inc. Rev: Version 3.1d May 9... -
Page 4: Introduction
The Lightning Bug™ is based upon the science of lightning. There are two components of lightning; the bright white flash everyone wants to capture and the unseen infrared light that always precedes it. The Lightning Bug™ uses a high- speed photodiode sensor optimized to sense the infrared burst that occurs just before a lightning strike. - Page 5 The hot shoe mount included on the Lightning Bug may have an external flash PC port, or a ¼-20 mount, depending on when it was purchased. Starting in August of 2015, in response to customer suggestions, we modified our hot shoe mount to incorporate a standard threaded mounting port.
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Page 6: Tm Features
Lightning Bug Features - 26 Levels of sensitivity adjustment. - Automatic or manual operation of the camera’s meter. - Auto-meter Off feature to help preserve your camera battery during long sessions. - Exclusive Fireworks delay mode – allows a delay between the initial detected burst, and the actual shutter release. -
Page 7: Specifications
2.5mm Stereo Battery*: Standard 9 Volt ~Please contact MK Controls, Inc. Technical Support for more information if you intend to make your own cables. * MK Controls, Inc. recommends either an Alkaline or General Purpose battery. Rechargeable batteries are not recommended. -
Page 8: Battery Installation/Removal
MK Controls, Inc. does not recommend leaving the battery in place during long storage periods. There is a slight current draw whenever the battery is installed, and after a period of months the battery may no longer have sufficient operating power if left in the Lightning Bug during long-term storage. -
Page 9: Camera Connection
For SONY cameras, a hotshoe adapter may be required – see our website for full details. WARNING – Do NOT leave the cable inserted in the Lightning Bug™ during storage – this may damage to the connector. The Lightning Bug™ Warranty does not cover this type of damage. -
Page 10: Operation
– either can be turned on first. Point your camera, and the let the Lightning Bug™ do the rest! Basic User Controls The Lightning Bug™ has three ‘soft-touch’ buttons that are used to operate all of the features: On/Off... - Page 11 When the Lightning Bug™ is first turned on, it will display the current firmware version by illuminating the LED’s. This version information will remain displayed until the power button is released. This manual describes firmware version 3.1, which will be displayed as shown here: After releasing the power button, the unit will then execute a Power On Self-Test (POST), which will light up all of the LED’s and perform an internal function...
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Page 12: Standard Operating Mode
Standard Operating Mode Decrease Sensitivity Press this button to decrease the sensitivity of the Lightning Bug™. When this button is pressed, the bargraph display (orange LED’s) will show the current sensitivity level. There are a total of 26 levels of available sensitivity. The factory default setting is level 12. - Page 13 Table 1: LED Bar graph Display: Shown below, Level 1 is the LEAST sensitive, Level 26 is the MOST sensitive setting. Standard Mode: Normal (low power) display: Displayed while making adjustments: Rev: Version 3.1d May 9 , 2017 Page 13 of 27...
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Page 14: Fireworks Mode
Press this button to increase the time delay. Determining the Current Delay Level The orange LEDs on the top of the Lightning Bug will always display the current delay level whenever the unit is powered on. See Table 2 for more details. - Page 15 The yellow LED (shaped like a lightning bolt) will always flash twice, then delay, and repeat this sequence approximately once every 2 seconds. Table 2: LED Bar graph Display: Shown below, a setting of 1 is equivalent to NO delay, a setting of 10 is equivalent to a 2.25 second delay.
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Page 16: Additional Features
Adjust Active/Inactive Meter Mode By default, the Lightning Bug™ will activate your camera’s meter anytime the unit is powered on. This functions on most cameras as if the shutter was held down halfway. This greatly reduces the lag between the Lightning Bug™ triggering the camera and the camera actually taking the image. - Page 17 When the automatic meter control is Off, the meter will remain OFF until the shutter trips. When the automatic meter control is On (factory default), the meter will remain ON whenever the Lightning Bug™ is powered on (and will be turned OFF when the unit is powered off).
- Page 18 ~ The Lightning Bug™ is not capable of exceeding your camera capacity for frames per second – this setting reflects the number of times per second that the unit will ‘attempt’ to trip your shutter.
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Page 19: Photography Tips
Field in your images. If you are unaware of how to use hyperfocal focusing, the Internet is a valuable resource; there is ample information available. 2. Set the Lightning Bug™ to match the frames per second (FPS) that the camera is using (see your camera manual for more information). This will allow the Lightning Bug™... - Page 20 Use the chart below for recommended settings. Close Middle Distant Very Dim ISO 100 @ f5.6 ISO 100 @ f4 ISO 200 @ f2.8 Average ISO 100 @ f8 ISO 100 @ f5.6 ISO 200 @ f2.8 Very Bright ISO 100 @ f16 ISO 100 @ f11 ISO 200 @ f4 For night-time use...
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Page 21: Troubleshooting
5. My camera takes a picture when I press the LEFT and RIGHT buttons, but I'm still not getting any shots of lightning! - Watch the yellow lightning bolt on the Lightning Bug - if it lights up, the unit is 'seeing' the lightning flashes. If your camera still isn't taking pictures when the yellow LED lights up the lightning bolt, your camera may not be configured correctly. - Page 22 - Increase the sensitivity of the Lightning Bug™ by pressing the RIGHT arrow. - Make sure that the Lightning Bug™ is not behind a pane of glass - most modern glass windows in cars and homes block infrared light, which the Lightning Bug™ needs to 'see' in order to function.
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Page 23: Lightning Safety
Lightning Safety Please remember that your safety is much more important than getting the shot. MK Controls, Inc. is not liable for any injuries or damage that may occur while using our products. Being safe should always be your primary concern. -
Page 24: Warranty
WARRANTY REPLACEMENT POLICY LIMITED WARRANTY INFORMATION MK Controls, Inc. (the “Company”) warrants its products against defects in material and workmanship for a period of three (3) years from the date you purchase the same as stated on your sales or delivery receipt. - Page 25 LIMITATION OF WARRANTY EXCEPT AS EXPRESSLY SET FORTH IN THE LIMITED WARRANTY, THE COMPANY MAKES NO WARRANTIES, COVENANTS OR CONDITIONS, EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. THE COMPANY EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, COVENANTS AND CONDITIONS NOT STATED IN THIS LIMITED WARRANTY TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW.
- Page 26 We must be able to identify that the pieces were indeed our product; the internal circuit board must be identifiable for us to replace the unit under our replacement policy. Your damaged unit will not be returned. Please note that interface cables are NOT covered under the non-warranty replacement policy.
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Page 27: Company Information
Company Information The Lightning Bug™ is produced and warranted by MK Controls, Inc., an Ohio Corporation. MK Controls, Inc. is based in Harrison, OH, and has manufacturing facilities located in Nashville, GA. Sales Inquiries: sales@mkcontrols.com Technical Support: support@mkcontrols.com Corporate Headquarters: MK Controls, Inc.
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