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TV • VIDEO • CAMCORDER • MECABLITZ
MECABLITZ 34 AF-3 N
Operating instructions
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Foreword Dear Customer, Please read these operating instructions carefully, even if, at first sight, some points may not appear to be of interest. Our design work placed particular We thank you for your confidence in our value on ensuring that operation of the mecablitz is mecablitz MB 34 AF-3N. as simple as possible, but it should be noted that the system cameras for which the flashgun is The MB 34 AF-3N flashgun has been especially intended offer a great diversity of capabilities. designed for
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Contents 1. Safety instructions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24 8. Autofocus measuring flash . . . . . . . . . . .34 2. Preparing the mecablitz for use . . . . . . .25 9. Flash techniques and flash functions . .36 2.1 Power supply . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25 9.1 Automatic fill-in flash . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36 2.2 Loading and replacing the batteries . . . . . .25 9.2 Exposure correction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36 2.3 Automatic flashgun cut-out circuit . .
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1. Safety instructions • NEVER fire a flash in the immediate vicinity of • In the event of flash shots with full light output the eyes! Flash fired directly in front of the eyes observe an interval of at least 3 minutes after a of a person or animal can damage the retina and series of 20 flashes. This will protect the flash- lead to severe visual disorders - even blindness! gun against overload. • Spent batteries should be immediately remo- • NEVER place material that is impervious to light ved.
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2. Preparing the mecablitz for use 2.1 Power supply The flashgun can only be operated with 2 CR2- type lithium batteries. This type of battery can be stored for many years with practically no loss of energy, thus making it ideal for occasional amateur flash photography. Batteries have become discharged or spent when recycling takes more than 60 seconds. ➭ The batteries should be removed from the mecablitz if the flashgun is not going to be ☛ used for a prolonged period. Fig. 1: Unlocking and e
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2. Preparing the mecablitz for use When loading the batteries ensure correct 2.4 Mounting/Removing the flashgun polarity. Incorrectly loaded batteries can dest- • Turn off the mecablitz. roy the flashgun! All batteries must be of the • Press the unlocking catch at the back of the same make and have the same charge level. mecablitz (see fig. 2). Exhausted batteries must not be thrown into • Slide the mounting foot into the camera’s the dustbin! Contribute to the protection of mounting shoe. th
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3. Setting the mecablitz into operation 3.1 Preconditions The mecablitz must only be used with TTL flash controlled cameras! The sensor of TTL flash controlled cameras OFF ON measures the light reaching the film through the camera lens and instantly cuts out the flash when the film has been correctly expo- sed. Please refer to the camera’s operating instructions to find out whether your camera features this function. Fig. 3: Switching the flashgun on and off A full-power flash is fired
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4. Flashgun instructions to the camera The mecablitz transmits different signals and 4.2 Automatic flash sync speed control messages to the camera when it is connected to Most system cameras automatically change to the camera and is switched on. flash sync speed when flash readiness is reached. The flash sync shutter speeds may vary between 4.1 Flash-ready indication 1/30th and 1/300th second, depending on the camera model. Please refer to the camera’s opera- The green light on the mecablitz i
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4. Flashgun instructions to the camera 4.4 Information displayed in the camera’s viewer The following table only gives a general survey. Camera-specific deviations ar possible (please refer to the camera’s operating instructions. • Green arrow Indicates that flash- gun should be used or switched on. • Red arrow Flash readiness indi- cation. • Red arrow is perma- The shot was correct- nently illuminated ly exposed. after exposure, or disappears briefly Fig. 4: Exposure o.k. • Red arrow blinks
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5. TTL flash control The mecablitz receives its information exclusi- The Table on page 39 gives the maximum range vely from the connected TTL-controlled camera. for the selected aperture. The minimum lighting distance is approx. 15% of the maximum Exposure measurement in TTL mode (TTL = threshold range. through-the-lens) is completed by the camera’s sensor. This sensor measures the light reaching If the actual distance is shorter than the the film through the camera lens. An electronic minim
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6. Flash synchronisation Different modes of flash synchronisation are pos- Flash shots at low lighting levels and fast shutter sible, depending on the camera model. Please speeds (normal flash sync speed) can often result refer to the camera’s operating instructions to find in overexposed subjects in front of a very dark out how the individual modes of synchronisation back-ground. The slow-sync function allows the are set on the camera. use of slow shutter speeds right up to 30 seconds, to signi
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6. Flash synchronisation This makes the light trail behind the moving objects instead of appearing in front of them, and renders a more natural looking picture. First curtain Second curtain 6.3 Second curtain synchronisation (REAR) Some cameras offer the facility of second shutter curtain synchronisation. With normal synchronisation, the flash is fired precisely after the opening of the first shutter curtain. When using slow shutter speeds, and with moving objects, this would result in an unnat
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7. Flash in the individual camera modes Use of flash in the program modes TTL-controlled flash shots can be made in all exposure and auto program modes. Once the mecablitz is attached to the camera and switched on, it automatically operates with TTL flash control in auto program (P), aperture priority (A), shutter priority (S) and manual (M) modes. For details please refer to the camera’s operating instructions. Special functions not supported by flash: • Red-eye reduction function. • multi-sen
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8. Autofocus measuring flash The integrated AF red-light beam of the mecablitz supports the automatic focusing of autofocus TTL cameras. When the prevailing light is insufficient for automatic focusing, the mecablitz will project AF red-light beam a pattern of red vertical stripes onto the subject as soon as the camera’s release is lightly touched. The camera’s autofocus system then focuses the picture by this striped pattern. Fig. 5: AF red-light beam Notes: • The range of the autofocus measu
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8. Autofocus measuring flash AF operating modes Please refer to the camera’s operating instructions for further details about the AF modes and their Two operating modes are available with AF came- activation. ras (depending on the camera model): • Focusing priority (SINGLE AF): The shutter can only be released when the subject has been sharply focused by the AF system. If the camera’s AF system is unable to focus sharply, then the shutter cannot be released and the flash cannot be fired. • Shu
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9. Flash techniques and flash functions 9.2 Exposure correction Various cameras enable the user to influence the TTL exposure control. Accordingly, the camera’s exposure settings can be corrected by up to ± 3 apertures (in one-third or half f-stop settings). PLEASE NOTE: Do not forget to switch off this function when it is no longer required! Fig. 6: Fill-in flash in daylight (left without, right with fill-in flash Please refer to the camera’s operating instructions for further details. 9.1 Au
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10. Lighting and attachments guiding edge Your mecablitz provides full and even illumination of normal 24 x 36 mm negatives when using len- ses of 35 mm focal length and longer. A wide-angle diffuser is supplied with the flash- gun to increase the coverage if you wish to use a 28 mm wide-angle lens. A telephoto attachment (identified with a „T“) is included for telephoto lenses of 85 mm focal length. case gap PLEASE NOTE: The use of the wide-angle diffuser diminishes the effective range of Fi
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11. Care and maintenance - Troubleshooting Remove grime and dust with a soft, dry cloth. Do not use cleaning agents as these could damage the plastic parts. Forming the flash capacitor The flash capacitor incorporated in the flashgun undergoes a physical change when the flashgun ☛ is not switched on for prolonged periods. For this reason it is necessary to switch on the flashgun for approx. 10 minutes every 3 months and to fire a few flashes The batteries must supply sufficient power to light u
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12. Technical data Guide number ISO 100/21°: 34 (with telephoto attachment) Number of flashes: Flash recycling time: 28 (without attachment) ca. 100 ca. 6 s at full light output Lighting: Rectangular 20 (with wide-angle diffuser) Without attachment: horiz. approx. 56°, vertical approx. 40° Lighting for 35mm camera from 35 mm focal length With W-diffuser: horiz. approx. 75°, vertical approx. 55° onwards, with wide-angle attachment from 24 mm, and with With T-attachment: horiz. approx. 25°, vert
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Lighting distances 2 2,8 4 5,6 8 11 2 2,8 4 5,6 8 11 ISO ISO 50 10 7 5 3,5 2,5 1,8 50 33 23 16 11 8 6 100 14 10 7 5 3,5 2,5 100 46 33 23 16 11 8 200 20 14 10 7 5 3,5 200 65 46 33 23 16 11 400 28 20 14 10 7 5 400 92 65 46 33 23 16 W – 20% W – 20% [m] [ft] T + 20% T + 20% This table indicates a section of the most im- portant maximum lighting distances in different ISO/aperture combinations. 2 2,8 4 5,6 8 11 ISO 50 10 7 5 3,5 2,5 1,8 The sticker can be applied to the back of the 100 14 10 7 5 3,5
