Inspiration strikes VS-570F for Fujifilm WIRELESS TTL FLASH User’s Manual
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.
Introduction Thank you for choosing the Bolt VS-570F 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 oncamera flash and an optical wireless master or slave.
Contents Overview ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 6–9 Warnings ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 10–11 Installing Batteries ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 12 Mounting the Flas
Upgrading the Firmware on the VS-570F �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 31 Troubleshooting ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������32-33 FCC Notices ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 33 Specifications ������������������������������
2 15 1 3 45 60 75 VS-570F 9 16 18 11 10 17 14 19 20 8 13 12 4 5 7 6 6 | Overview
Overview 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. Flash head Reflector panel Diffuser panel Battery compartment cover Wireless sensor (optical) Mounting foot Mounting foot lock Mode button Up button Down button Zoom position button Ready light / Test button Power switch Automatic exposure confirmation light 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20.
26 21 22 S TTL GROUP A GROUP B 23 24 25 M GROUP C 31 EV+ EV- 27 8 | Overview 28 29 30
Overview 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31.
Warnings Before using your VS-570F, 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 10 minutes after 20 continuous flashes at full power.
• Do not clean the VS-570F 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 VS-570F get damaged, do not touch any exposed interior metal parts. If touched, they may generate an electric shock or cause a malfunction. Promptly remove the batteries and take the product to an authorized service center for repair.
Installing Batteries The VS-570F can be powered by four AA batteries of several types: • Lithium (1.5 V) • Nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) (1.2 V) • Alkaline (1.5 V) Note: For the fastest recycle times and longest battery life, lithium or NiMH batteries are recommended. To install batteries, make sure the VS-570F is turned off and follow these steps: 1. 2. 3. Press on the battery compartment cover and slide it in the direction of the arrow to remove it.
Mounting the Flash To mount the flash on your camera, make sure the VS-570F is turned off and follow these steps: 1. 2. 3. 1 Turn the mounting foot lock counterclockwise to loosen it. Slide the mounting foot all the way into your camera’s hot shoe. Turn the mounting foot lock clockwise until snug. Do not overtighten.
To dismount the flash from your camera, make sure the VS-570F is turned off and follow these steps: 1. 2. Turn the mounting foot lock counterclockwise to loosen it. Slide the mounting foot out of your camera’s hot shoe. Mounting the VS-570F on the included stand: You can mount the VS-570F 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, simply slide the power switch to the On position. When the flash is ready to fire, the Ready light will glow red. 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 Ready light / Test button. Automatic power-saving function: After 3 minutes of inactivity, the flash will automatically enter power-saving mode to conserve battery life.
Extended Interface You can connect your VS-570F 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. Important: When an external power source is plugged into the flash, the AA batteries must still be in the flash in order for it to operate.
Using the Automatic TTL Flash Mode When the VS-570F 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: 1. 2. 3. 4. Each time you turn the flash on, it will be in automatic mode. This will be confirmed by the TTL mode indicator on the LCD.
Using Flash Exposure Compensation In automatic TTL mode, you can use flash exposure compensation to adjust the VS-570F’s flash output incrementally, just as you would adjust exposure with the exposure compensation function on your camera. To apply flash exposure compensation, press the up or down buttons on the flash to increase or decrease flash exposure by 1/2 stop—up to 3 stops total. The LCD will display EV+ or EV- next to the exposure value to indicate whether it is increased or decreased.
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Press the Mode button repeatedly to cycle through the flash modes until “M” and the flash output level indicator show on the LCD. Press the up or down buttons to set the desired flash output level. The output level will cycle through in both directions. Set the exposure settings you want to use on your camera. The highest shutter speed available will be your camera’s flash sync speed. Take a test shot and check the exposure on your camera’s LCD.
Controlling Flash Coverage (Zoom) The VS-570F’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. When the flash zoom setting is adjusted, the position of the reflectors inside the flash head shift in order to make the angle of coverage wider or narrower. The available zoom positions are 24mm, 28mm, 35mm, 50mm, 70mm, 85mm, and 105mm.
When the flash head is angled up or swiveled to the side, the zoom position is set to 50mm. The “50mm” indicator will flash on the LCD, and the zoom can then be manually adjusted (see below). Note: Older cameras that do not offer digital data transmission with the flash do not support the automatic flash zoom control. The manual zoom control must then be used.
To use the diffuser: 1. 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. 1 The diffuser also softens the light, providing an alternative when no surface is available for bouncing the flash (see Bouncing Your Flash on page 23).
Bouncing Your Flash 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 of the larger surface before striking your subject to provide softer, more natural illumination. The VS-570F flash head can be tilted up at 45°, 60°, 75°, and 90° angles to the lens.
Tip: Bouncing your flash off of colored surfaces can create a color cast in your images. Bouncing off of a white or neutral-colored surface will not alter the color of the light, while bouncing off of a gold-toned surface can give portraits a warmer look. Other colors, while usually not desirable, can be used for creative effects. Creating catchlights: Catchlights are the reflections that appear in people’s eyes in photographs. Without catchlights, eyes can have a dull, lifeless look.
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.
Using the VS-570F as a Wireless TTL Slave You can set the VS-570F as a wireless TTL slave for both the Nikon and Canon TTL systems. This enables you to use a Nikon or Canon wireless TTL master to control the VS-570F as a slave flash unit. To set the wireless TTL slave mode, follow these steps: 1. 2. 3. Make sure the master flash or controller on your camera is turned on and set to automatic TTL mode. Select the appropriate group and channel on the master unit.
B. 4. 5. 6. For Canon TTL slave mode, the C-TTL indicator will appear onscreen. Press the Mode button to confirm, and the LCD will display E-TTL. Use the up or down navigation buttons to select the channel and group. The flash will cycle through channel 1, groups A through C; then GROUP B channel 2, groups A through C; and so on. A. When using a single slave flash, set it to the same group and channel as the master. B.
Using Your VS-570F as a Wireless Manual Flash For even greater creative control, you can set the output levels of your remote flash units manually. Using the optical slave feature, the VS-570F can be set to fire whenever it detects a signal from the masterflash. This works optically—when the VS-570F “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.
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.
• The wireless sensors are located on the front of the VS-570F. Make sure that sensor is facing the master flash and that there is no obstruction between the two units. • When photographing outdoors or in bright ambient light, the sensors can be overwhelmed by ambient light, which will lower their sensitivity. • To avoid creating interference between flash units, using more than three in a single group is not recommended.
Troubleshooting Problem Solution The flash is stuck in the camera hot shoe. Make sure that the mounting foot lock is released (Page 13). The flash is turned on but won’t fire. Make sure that fresh batteries are installed and in the proper orientation (Page 12). The flash is set up as a wireless TTL slave but won’t fire. • Make sure that the master flash is within the transmission range and the wireless sensor on the slave is pointing toward the master flash.
Problem There’s a whining sound coming from the flash. Solution This is normal and does not indicate a malfunction. When the flash becomes warm from continuous use, vibrations inside the unit may cause this sound. It will dissipate as the unit cools. FCC Compliance This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions: 1. 2. This device may not cause harmful interference.
Specifications Type: On-camera and wireless TTL automatic and manual flash Compatible cameras: Fujifilm cameras 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 Flash recycle time: 0.
Guide Number Chart* Zoom Position GN - Meters 24mm 34 GN - Feet 112 28mm 36 118 35mm 38 125 50mm 43 141 70mm 45 148 85mm 47 154 105mm 50 164 *at ISO 100 Guide Number Chart | 35
One-Year Limited Warranty This BOLT product is warranted to the original purchaser to be free from defects in materials and workmanship under normal consumer use for a period of one (1) year from the original purchase date or thirty (30) days after replacement, whichever occurs later.
