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TV • VIDEO • CAMCORDER • MECABLITZ
MECABLITZ 34 AF-3 C
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 We thank you for your confidence in our meca- to be of interest. Our design work placed particular value on ensuring that operation of the mecablitz is blitz MB 34 AF-3C. as simple as possible, but it should be noted that the system cameras for which the flashgun is The MB 34 AF-3C flashgun has been especially intended offer a great diversity of capabilities. designed for C
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Contents 1. Safety instructions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23 7.1 Use of flash in the program modes . . . . . .32 2. Preparing the mecablitz for use . . . . . . .24 7.2 Special functions not supported by flash . .32 2.1 Power supply . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24 8. Autofocus measuring flash . . . . . . . . . . .33 2.2 Loading and replacing the batteries . . . . . .24 9. Flash techniques and flash functions . .34 2.3 Automatic flashgun cut-out circuit . . . . . . .25 9.1 Automati
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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. Chemi
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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 ama- teur 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 ex
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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 moun- the dustbin! Contribute to the protection of ting shoe. the
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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 if the ca
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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 When the flash unit is on, the camera will automa- the camera and is switched on. tically switch it to flash sync speed from any ope- rating mode selected. The sync speed depends on 4.1 Flash-ready indication the camera model and usually ranges between 1/30 sec. and 1/250 sec. For details please refer The green light on the meca
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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. blinks: Indicates that flashgun should be used or switched on (on some cameras). illuminated: The flash is ready for use (on some cameras) Please refer to your camera’s operating instructions to find out if this applies to your came- ra model. Fig. 4: Exposure o.k. 9
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5. TTL flash control The mecablitz receives its information exclusively The Table on page 37 gives the maximum range from the connected TTL-controlled camera. for the selected aperture. The minimum lighting distance is approx. 15% of the maximum thres- Exposure measurement in TTL mode (TTL = hold 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 minimum l
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5.1 E-TTL flash control E-TTL flash control is only possible with cameras featuring this function. E-TTL flash control is auto- matically set on the flash unit. In the E-TTL flash control mode, a pre-flash is fired to establish the reflective characteristics of the subject just before the actual shot is taken. A par- tial light output level is transmitted and adjusted on the flash unit as a result of this measurement. The aperture and shutter speed to be used are established by the camera according to th
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6. Flash synchronisation Different modes of flash synchronisation are pos- sible, depending on the camera model. Please refer to the camera’s operating instructions to find out how the individual modes of synchronisation are set on the camera. 6.1 Normal synchronisation First curtain Second curtain This mode is available with all TTL cameras, and it With normal synchronisation, the flash is fired pre- is suitable for most flash shots. With normal cisely after the opening of the first shutter curtai
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7. Flash in the individual camera modes 7.1 Use of flash in the program modes • Program shift: Program shift (shutter speed/aperture combina- TTL-controlled flash shots can be made in all expo- tion) in auto program mode cannot be performed sure and auto program modes. Once the mecablitz when the flashgun is switched on. is attached to the camera and switched on, it auto- matically operates with TTL flash control in auto Please refer to the camera’s operating instructions program (P), aperture prior
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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 a pattern of red vertical stripes onto the subject as soon as the camera’s release is lightly touched. AF red-light beam The camera’s autofocus system then focuses the picture by this striped pattern. Notes: • When the camera’s autofocus system is on, the Fig. 5: AF re
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8. Autofocus measuring flash 9. Flash techniques and flash functions • Depending on the camera type, either the AF illuminator of the camera or that of the flashgun will be activated whenever the autofocus mea- suring facility becomes necessary. • Only the central AF sensor is supported Low-speed lenses, e.g. with an aperture of f/5.6 or f/8 (such as zoom lenses), signifi- Fig. 6: Fill-in flash in daylight (left without, right with fill-in flash) cantly restrict the range of the autofocus 9.1 Automa
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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 Fig.
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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 up the fl
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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°, verti
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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
