Introduction Thank you for choosing the Bolt VD-410 Manual Flash. This flash unit puts creative control in your hands with manually adjustable power output settings. It can be used as both an on-camera flash and as a wireless optical slave.
Contents Overview ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������4-5 Warnings ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������6-7 Installing Batteries ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������8-9 Mounting the Fla
1 2 3 4 9 8 16 15 10 7 14 11 5 6 13 12 4 | Overview
Overview 17 18 1. Flash head 12. Mode select button 2. Reflection panel 13. Test button 3. Diffuser panel 14. Battery compartment cover 4. Wireless optical sensor 15. Power/ready indicator 5. Hot shoe locking wheel 16. Mode indicators 6. Mounting foot 17. Stand/tripod mount 7. External power socket 18. Carrying pouch 8. PC sync socket 9. Output level indicator 10. Flash power level button (+/-) 11.
Warnings Before using your VD-410, please read the following safety notices carefully and thoroughly to ensure safe use and 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, wait at least 10 minutes after 20 continuous flashes at full power.
• Do not clean the VD-410 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 VD-410 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 VD-410 can be powered by four AA batteries of two types: • Nickel-metal hydride (1.2 V) • Alkaline (1.5 V) Note: For the fastest recycle times and longest battery life, NiMH batteries are recommended.
To install batteries, make sure the VD-410 is turned off and follow these steps: 1. 2. 3. With the battery compartment cover facing up, press down and slide the cover in the direction of the arrow to open it. Insert batteries in the orientations indicated by the illustration inside the compartment. Replace the battery compartment cover by pressing and sliding it into place in the opposite direction of the arrow on the cover. 1 2 3 Important! Replace all four batteries at the same time.
Mounting the Flash To mount the flash on your camera, make sure the VD-410 is turned off and follow these steps: 1. 2. 3. Turn the locking wheel counterclockwise to loosen it. Slide the mounting foot all the way into your camera’s hot shoe. Turn the locking wheel clockwise until snug, but don’t overtighten.
To dismount the flash from your camera, make sure the VD-410 is turned off and follow these steps: 1. 2. Turn the locking wheel counterclockwise to loosen it. Slide the mounting foot out of your camera’s hot shoe. Mounting the VD-410 on the included stand: You can mount the VD-410 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 attach it to a tripod head, light stand, or clamp that has a compatible 1/4″-20 screw mount.
Turning On the Flash and Firing a Test VD-410 To turn the flash on, slide the power switch to the On position. M MODE S1 S2 POWER TEST When the flash is ready to fire, the Ready indicator will glow red. ON OFF To fire a test flash, press the Test button. Automatic power-saving function: After 30 minutes of inactivity, the flash will automatically enter a powersaving mode to conserve battery life. The Ready indicator will blink every three seconds and other indicator lights will turn off.
Extended Interface You can connect your VD-410 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 number of flashes and reduce the recycle time in between flashes. Note: 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 Manual Flash The VD-410 offers fully manual flash output adjustment, which enhances creative control over your photography. You can set the flash output level to eight settings: 1/1, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 1/16, 1/32, 1/64, 1/128. The 1/1 setting is the full-power flash, and each successive setting halves the light output. To use the manual mode, turn the flash and camera on and follow these steps: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Make sure the Mode indicator is set to M.
Bouncing Your Flash Using a 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 VD-410 flash head can be tilted up at 45°, 60°, 75°, and 90° angles to the lens.
Creating catchlights: Catchlights are the reflections that appear in people’s eyes in photographs. To create catchlights in your subjects’ eyes when bouncing your flash, follow these steps: 1. 2. Position the flash head at the 90° angle (pointing straight up) to bounce your flash off the ceiling or an overhead reflector. 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 the Flash with the Diffuser Panel You can use the built-in diffuser panel to give the flash a much wider coverage area. The diffuser also softens the light, providing an alternative when no surface is available for bouncing the flash. To use the diffuser, follow these steps: 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.
Using Your VD-410 in Wireless Optical Slave Mode Using the optical slave feature, the VD-410 can be set to fire whenever it detects a signal from a master flash. This works optically—when the VD-410 “sees” another flash firing, it will instantaneously fire along with it. In order to ensure that the VD-410 fires at the correct time, there are two different slave modes available: S1 and S2. In S1 Mode, the flash will fire when it senses any burst of light.
4. 5. 6. Take a test shot, and check the exposure on your camera’s LCD. Adjust your camera’s exposure settings and the light output level of the flash as needed. Press your camera’s shutter-release button to take the picture. Important! Some cameras, when set to red-eye reduction, will emit a series of quick flashes lasting a second or more. This may not work properly with any slave mode. We suggest you avoid using red-eye reduction when the VD-410 acts as a slave.
When positioning wireless slaves to light a subject, keep in mind the following: • The effective communication range between master and remote flash units is approximately 33′ (10 m) • The wireless sensors are located on the front of the VD-410. Make sure 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 sensors can be overwhelmed by ambient light, which will lower their sensitivity.
Troubleshooting Problem Solution The flash is turned on but won’t fire. Make sure that fresh batteries are installed and in the proper orientation. (Page 8) The flash is set up as an optical 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. Remove any obstructions in the line of sight between the two sensors. (Page 20) • The ambient light may be too high.
Specifications Type: On-camera and optical wireless manual flash Guide number: 124.7′ (38 m) ISO 100 Flash duration: 1/300–1/20,000 sec. Flash recycle time: 0.1–5 sec.
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.
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