Bolt VS-560N User Manual
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Bolt VS-560N User Manual

Wireless ttl flash
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VS-560N
WIRELESS TTL FLASH
User's Manual

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Summary of Contents for Bolt VS-560N

  • Page 1 Inspiration strikes Inspiration strikes VS-560N WIRELESS TTL FLASH User’s Manual...
  • Page 2 Copyright © 2014 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...
  • Page 3 Introduction Thank you for choosing the Bolt VS-560N Wireless TTL 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 a wireless slave flash. Among the benefits you’ll enjoy: •...

  • Page 4: Table Of Contents

    Contents Overview ..............................6–9 Warnings ..............................10–12 Installing Batteries ........................... 12–14 Mounting the Flash ..........................14–16 Turning on the Flash and Firing a Test ......................16 Extended Interface ............................17 Using the Automatic TTL Flash Mode ....................... 18–19 Using High-Speed Sync ........................... 19–20 Locking Flash Exposure ...........................
  • Page 5 Using the Autofocus-Assist Light ........................26 Bouncing Your Flash..........................27–29 Using Rear- or Second-Curtain Synchronization ..................29–30 Using Your VS-560N as a Wireless TTL Slave .................... 31–33 Using Your VS-560N as a Wireless Manual Flash ..................33–35 Positioning Remote Flash Units ........................ 36–37 Upgrading the Firmware on the VS-560N .......................
  • Page 6 Overview...

  • Page 7: Overview

    Overview Flash head 16. LCD Reflector panel 17. External power socket Diffuser panel 18. PC sync socket Battery compartment cover 19. Firmware upgrade socket Wireless sensor (optical) 20. AF assist/Wireless ready Mounting foot indicator light Mounting foot lock Mode button Up button 10.
  • Page 8 GROUP A GROUP B GROUP C Overview...
  • Page 9 21. Slave mode 22. TTL mode 23. Wireless TTL mode 24. Manual mode 25. Manual flash output / Slave channel 26. Slave group 27. Zoom mode 28. Zoom position 29. Flash compensation value 30. Camera aperture (f-stop) 31. Stand / Tripod mount Overview...

  • Page 10: Warnings

    Warnings Before using your VS-560N, 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.
  • Page 11 Take the product to an authorized service center for repair. • Do not drop or otherwise cause a strong physical impact to the VS-560N, as this could cause a malfunction that may cause it to explode or ignite.

  • Page 12: Installing Batteries

    • 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-560N and prevent it from functioning properly. Contacts may be cleaned with isopropyl alcohol on a cotton swab.
  • Page 13 To install batteries, make sure the VS-560N is turned off and follow these steps: Press on the battery compartment cover and slide it in the direction of the arrow to remove it. Insert batteries in the orientations indicated by the illustration inside the compartment.

  • Page 14: Mounting The Flash

    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 VS-560N is turned off and follow these steps: Turn the mounting foot lock counter-clockwise to loosen it. Mounting the Flash...
  • Page 15 Do not overtighten. To dismount the flash from your camera, make sure the VS-560N is turned off and follow these steps: Turn the mounting foot lock counter-clockwise to loosen it. Slide the mounting foot out of your camera’s hot shoe.

  • Page 16: Turning On The Flash And Firing A Test

    Mounting the VS-560N on the included stand: You can mount the VS-560N on the included stand in the same way you would mount it on your camera. This allows you to set the flash up on a flat surface, or to attach it to a tripod head, light stand, or clamp that has a compatible ¼˝-20 screw mount.

  • Page 17: Extended Interface

    Extended Interface You can connect your VS-560N 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.

  • Page 18: Using The Automatic Ttl Flash Mode

    Using the Automatic TTL Flash Mode When the VS-560N 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 mode, mount the flash on the camera and follow these steps: Each time you turn the flash on, it will be in automatic mode.

  • Page 19: Using High-Speed Sync

    Using High-Speed Sync You can use shutter speeds higher than your camera’s top flash sync speed with the VS-560N by activating high-speed sync in automatic TTL mode. High-speed sync lets you use shutter speeds as fast as 1/8000 second.

  • Page 20: Locking Flash Exposure

    High-speed sync is set automatically in your camera. Consult your camera’s manual for more information about this feature. Balanced Fill-Light and Red-Eye Reduction The VS-560N supports balanced fill-light and red-eye reduction modes, both of which are set automatically in your camera. Consult your camera’s manual for more information about these features. 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 (FV Lock) on your camera.

  • Page 21: Using Flash Exposure Compensation

    For more information about the flash exposure lock feature, consult your camera’s manual. Using Flash Exposure Compensation In automatic TTL mode, you can use flash exposure compensation to adjust the VS-560N’s flash output incrementally, just as you would adjust exposure with the exposure compensation function on your camera.

  • Page 22: Using The Manual Flash Mode

    Using the Manual Flash Mode You can also set the VS-560N’s flash output level manually for greater creative control over your images. Seven manual settings are available: 1/1, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 1/16, 1/32, and 1/64. The 1/1 setting is the full-power flash, and each successive setting halves the light output.

  • Page 23: Controlling Flash Coverage (Zoom)

    Controlling Flash Coverage (Zoom) The VS-560N’s angle of coverage can be adjusted (“zoomed”) to match the focal length of your lens, so that your image is evenly illuminated from edge to edge. Controlling Flash Coverage (Zoom)
  • Page 24 The available zoom positions are 24mm, 28mm, 35mm, 50mm, 70mm, 85mm, and 105mm. Automatic zoom control: When you turn the VS-560N on, the zoom mode indicator on the LCD will show an A to indicate that it is in automatic mode and at the default 35mm position. When you press the shutter-release button on your camera halfway to initiate communication between the camera and the flash, the flash zoom will adjust to match the lens focal length and the closest zoom setting will be displayed on the LCD.
  • Page 25 Manual zoom control: To manually select a setting that corresponds to the focal length of your lens, press the Zoom button to make the M indicator for manual mode appear. Then continue to press the button to cycle through the available focal length settings. Note: Manual zoom can also be used to achieve special effects, such as using the 105mm setting with a wide- angle lens to produce a vignette.

  • Page 26: 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 VS-560N 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 onto the projected light.

  • Page 27: Bouncing Your Flash

    The light will bounce off of the larger surface before striking your subject, providing softer, more natural illumination. The VS-560N flash head can be tilted up at 45-, 60-, 75-, and 90-degree angles to the lens.
  • Page 28 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.

  • Page 29: Using Rear- Or Second-Curtain Synchronization

    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. 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.
  • Page 30 The VS-560N supports rear-curtain sync modes on cameras that offer the setting. Consult your camera’s manual to find out how to activate it. Use your camera’s manual or shutter-priority mode to control the amount of blurring and light trails you capture by varying the shutter speed.

  • Page 31: Using Your Vs-560N As A Wireless Ttl Slave

    Using Your VS-560N as a Wireless TTL Slave The VS-560N is equipped with advanced wireless TTL flash functions, allowing you to fire the flash remotely while still maintaining full TTL control. In addition, it can be set to multiple channels and groups, giving you unlimited creative lighting possibilities.
  • Page 32 Groups: With the VS-560N’s wireless system, you can assign remote flash units to any one of three groups (A, B, or C) and set the mode and power ratio for each group. Setting the remote TTL flash units: To set a VS-560N flash unit to function as an automatic TTL slave, follow these steps: Make sure the master flash or controller on your camera is on and set to automatic TTL mode.

  • Page 33: Using Your Vs-560N As A Wireless Manual Flash

    For example, if you are using three VS-560N units, you might want to set two as a main light on channel 1, group A and set the third as a fill light on channel 1, group B.
  • Page 34 Using the optical slave feature, the VS-560N can be set to fire whenever it detects a signal from the master flash. This works optically—when the VS-560N “sees” another flash firing, it will instantaneously fire along with it. Setting the remote flash units manually: To set a VS-560N flash unit to function as a slave with the output level selected manually, follow these steps: In Manual mode, use the up and down buttons to select the power output (1 through 1/64).
  • Page 35 If the slave flash is not set correctly, it may be triggered by the pre-flash and fire before the camera’s shutter opens. In order to ensure that the VS-560N fires at the correct time, there are three different slave modes available: modes 0, 1, and 2.

  • Page 36: Positioning Remote Flash Units

    Positioning Remote Flash Units You can create a professional lighting setup by positioning remote units singly 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 37 • The flash head should not be aimed directly into the camera lens. • The wireless sensors are located on the front of the VS-560N. Make sure that sensor is facing the master flash and that there is no obstruction between the two units.

  • Page 38: Upgrading The Firmware On The Vs-560N

    Upgrading the Firmware on the VS-560N In order to ensure compatibility with future cameras, the VS-560N’s firmware may be updated. This can be done to ensure proper communication with new cameras, or to add new features. Visit www.boltflashes.com/firmware to check if a new firmware version has been released. Follow the online instructions to upgrade.

  • Page 39: Troubleshooting

    Problem Solution The flash is turned on but won’t Make sure that fresh batteries are installed and in the proper fire. orientation. (Page 12) The flash is set up as a wireless • Make sure that the master flash is within the transmission range and TTL slave but won’t fire.

  • Page 40: Specifications

    Specifications Type: On-camera and wireless TTL automatic and manual flash Compatible cameras: Nikon cameras with i-TTL flash system support. Guide number (at 50mm focal length, ISO 100): 141 feet / 43 meters Flash coverage: 24mm–105mm (18mm with diffuser panel) Flash duration: 1/1,000–1/20,000 second High-speed synchronization: Yes Flash recycle time: 0.5–9 seconds (AA Ni-MH) Manual mode power output: 1/1, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 1/16, 1/32, 1/64...

  • Page 41: Guide Number Chart

    Tilt positions: 0º, 45º, 60º, 75º, 90º Swivel range: Right 0º–120º, Left 0º–180º Dimensions: Approx. 2.5˝ × 3.9˝ × 4.7˝ (65 × 100 × 120 mm) Weight: Approx. 9.2 oz. (260 g) without batteries Guide Number Chart* Zoom Position GN - Meters GN - Feet 24mm 28mm...

  • Page 42: Fcc Notices

    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.

  • Page 43: 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 44 www.boltflashes.com...

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