V860II Pioneering TTL Li-ion Camera Flash User manual part 1

 

User Manual V860IIC Foreword Thank you for purchasing this product. This V860IIC camera flash applies to Canon EOS series cameras and is compatible with E-TTL II autoflash. With this E-TTL II compatible flash, your shooting will become simpler. You can easily achieve a correct flash exposure even in complex light-changing environments. This camera flash features:

GN60 (m ISO 100, @200mm). 22 steps from 1/1 to 1/128. Pro 2000mAh Li-ion Battery-max.1.5s recycle-650 full power pops. Fully support Canon E-TTL II camera flash. Workable as Master or Slave unit in a wireless flash group. Use dot-matrix LCD panel to make clear and convenient operations. With built-in 2.4GHz wireless remote system to support transmitting and receiving. Provided multiple functions, include HSS (up to 1/8000s), FEC, FEB, etc. Use optional FT-16S to adjust flash parameters & trigger the flash. Stable consistency and color temperature with good even lighting. Support with firmware upgrade. For Your Safety Always keep this product dry. Do not use in rain or in damp conditions. This product contains high-voltage electronic parts. Touching the high-voltage circuit inside it may result in electric shock. Do not disassemble. Should repairs become necessary, this product must be sent to an authorized maintenance center. Stop using this product if it breaks open due to extrusion, falling or strong hit. Otherwise, electric shock may occur if you touch the electronic parts inside it. Do not fire the flash directly into the eyes (especially those of babies) within short distances. Otherwise visual impairment may occur. When taking pictures for babies, keep the flash unit at least 1 meter (3.3 feet) away from them. Using bounce flash to reduce light intensity is also recommended. Do not use the flash unit in the presence of flammable gases, chemicals and other similar materials. In certain circumstances, these materials may be sensitive to the strong light emitting from this flash unit and fire or electromagnetic interference may result. Do not leave or store the flash unit in places where the ambient temperature reads over 50C (e.g. in automobile). Otherwise the electronic parts may be damaged.

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Contents Foreword For Your Safety Name of Parts Body Control Panel Dot-matrix LCD Panel What's in the Box of V860IIC Kit?

What's in the Box of V860IIC (only flash unit)?

Separately Sold Accessories Battery Attaching to a Camera Power Management Flash Mode E-TTL Autoflash FEC (Flash Exposure Compensation) FEB (Flash Exposure Bracketing) FEL: Flash Exposure Lock High-Speed Sync Second-Curtain Sync M: Manual Flash Multi: Stroboscopic Flash Wireless Flash Shooting: Optic Transmission Wireless Settings Master Unit's Flash OFF Setting the Communication Channel ETTL: Fully Automatic Wireless Flash Shooting ETTL: Use the Wireless Flash Shooting of Flash Ratio M: Wireless Flash Shooting with Manual Flash Multi: Wireless Flash Shooting with Manual Flash Wireless Flash Shooting: Radio (2.4G) Transmission Other Applications Wireless Control Function Sync Triggering Modeling Flash Auto Focus Assist Beam Bounce Flash Creating a Catchlight ZOOM: Setting the Flash Coverage and Using the Wide Panel Low Battery Indicator C.Fn: Setting Custom Functions Control with the Camera's Menu Screen Protection Function Technical Data Troubleshooting Firmware Upgrade Compatible Camera Models Maintenance 32 32 35 38 39 39 40 43 44 45 52 54 57 58 59 60 61 62 62 62 Pioneering Li-ion Camera Flash Conventions used in this Manual This manual is based on the assumption that both the camera and camera flashs power switches are powered on. Reference page numbers are indicated by p.**. The following alert symbols are used in this manual:

The Caution symbol gives supplemental information. The Note symbol indicates a warning to prevent shooting problem.

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LCD Panel

(1)E-TTL Autoflash Zoom : zoom display (Page 56)

: Automatic

: Manual(Page 51) ETTL : E-TTL II/E-TTL autoflash 11 10

: Master unit flash ON

: Master unit flash OFF

: Flash exposure compensation (Page 40) Flash exposure compensation amount Focus length (Page

)56

: High-speed sync

(Page 42)

: Second curtain sync (Page 42) F : Aperture (Page 40) Distance indicator display Effective flash range

(Page 40) Flash exposure bracketing sequence

(Page 41)

: Flash exposure bracketing The display will only show the settings currently applied. The functions displayed above function buttons 1 to 4, such as and , change according to settings status. SYNC When a button or dial is operated, the LCD panel illuminated.

(2)M Manual Flash

(3)Multi Flash M : Manual flash Manual flash output Multi : Stroboscopic flash Number of flashes Flash frequency Name of Parts 09 01 02 03 04 05 13 06 12 07 08 Body 01. Catchlight Panel 02. Built-in Wide Panel 03. Flash Head 04. Optic Control Sensor 05. Focus Assist Beam 06. Sync Cord Jack 07. Wireless Control Port 08. Hotshoe 09. Dot-marix LCD Panel 10. Lock Ring 11. Battery Compartment 12. USB Port 13. Slave Flash Ready Indicator 21 20 14 19 RST SET 22 23 15 18 17 16 Control Panel 14. <MODE> Mode Selection Button / Lock button 15. < >Wireless Selection Button 16. Select Dial 17. <SET> Set Button 18. ON/OFF Power Switch 19. < > Test Button / Flash Ready Indicator 20. Function Button 1 21. Function Button 2 22. Function Button 3 23. Function Button 4

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(4) Radio Transmission Shooting/Optic Transmission Shooting Master Unit Flash mode Gr

: Group flash (radio transmission)

: Radio transmission wireless shooting

: Optic transmission wireless shooting

: Master unit flash ON

: Master unit flash OFF

: Master RATIO : Flash ratio Separately Sold Accessories The product can be used in combination with the following accessories sold separately, so as to achieve best photography effects:

X1C TTL wireless flash trigger, FT-16S power & trigger control, Mini softbox, White & Silver reflector, Honeycomb, Color gels, Snoot, etc. Firing group Channel Slave Unit

: Slave icon

: Slave Battery Whats in the Box of V860IIC Kit?

1. Flash Unit2. Li-ion Battery Pack3. Battery Charger 4. Battery Charger Cable5. Mini Stand 6. Protection Case7. Instruction Manual Whats in the Box of V860IIC (only flash unit)?

1. Flash Unit5. Mini Stand6. Protection Case7. Instruction Manual 1 2 3 4 5 6 Features 1. This flash unit uses Li-ion polymer battery which has long runtime. The available charge-and-discharge times are 500. 2. It is reliably safe. The inner circuit is against overcharge, overdischarge, overcurrent, and short circuit. 3. Take only 2.5 hours to fully charge the battery by using the standard battery charger. Cautions 1. Do not short circuit. 2. Do not expose to rain or immerse into water. This battery is not water proof. 3. Keep out of reach of children. 4. No over 24 hours continuous charging. 5. Store in dry, cool, ventilated places. 6. Do not put aside or into fire. 7. Dead batteries should be disposed according to local regulations. 8. If the battery had ceased using for over 3 months, please make a full recharge. Loading and Unloading the Battery To load the battery, push the 1 battery compartment cover downward and open it. According to the triangle sign 2 on the battery pack, insert it into the compartment until a white knob locks the battery with a click sound.

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To unload the battery, tap the 3 white knob and the battery pack will pop out. Then close the compartment. Battery Level Indication Make sure the battery pack is securely loaded in the flash. Check the battery level indication on the LCD panel to see the remaining battery level. Battery Level Indication 3 grids Meaning Full 2 grids 1 grid Blank grid Blinking Middle Low Lower battery, please recharge it. The battery level is going to be used out immediately. And the flash will auto power off in 1 minute. Note: Please recharge the battery as soon as possible (within 10 days). Then, the battery can be used or be placed for long period. Attaching to a Camera Attach the Camera Flash. 1 Slip the camera flashs mounting foot into the cameras hotshoe all the way. Secure the Camera Flash. 2 Rotate the lock ring on the mounting foot until it locks up. Detach the Camera Flash. 3 Rotate the lock ring on the mounting foot until it is loosened. C.Fn C.Fn Disabling Auto Power Off function is recommended when the flash is used off camera. (C.Fn-APO, Page 57) Slave Auto Power Off Timer is set to 60 minutes by default. Another option 30 minutes is available. (C.Fn-

Sv APOT, Page 57) Flash ModeE-TTL Autoflash This flash has three flash modes: E-TTL, Manual (M), and Multi

(Stroboscopic). In E-TTL mode, the camera and the flash will work together to calculate the correct exposure for the subject and the background. In this mode, multiple TTL functions are available:

FEC, FEB, FEL, HSS, second curtain sync, modeling flash, control with the cameras menu screen.

* Press < MODE > Mode Selection Button and three flash modes will display on the LCD panel one by one with each pressing. ETTL Mode Press < MODE > Mode Selection Button to enter E-TTL mode. The LCD panel will display. Press the camera release button halfway to focus. The aperture and effective flash range will be displayed in the viewfinder. When the shutter button is fully pressed, the flash will fire a pre-

flash that the camera will use to calculate exposure and flash output the instant before the photo is taken. FEC: Flash Exposure Compensation With FEC function, this flash can adjust from -3 to +3 in 1/3rd stops. It is useful in situations where minor adjusting of the TTL system is needed based on the environment. Setting FEC:

Press Function Button 2 1 < >. The icon < >

and flash exposure compensation amount will be highlighted on the LCD panel. Set the flash exposure 2 compensation amount. Turn the Select Dial to set Power Management Use ON/OFF Power Switch to power the flash unit on or off. Turn off if it will not be used for an extended period of time. Setting as a master flash, it will turn the power off automatically after a certain period (approx. 90 seconds) of idle use. Pressing the camera shutter halfway or pressing any flash button will wake up the flash unit. Setting as a slave flash, it will enter sleep mode after a certain period (adjustable, 60 minutes by default) of idle use. Pressing any flash button will wake it up. the amount. 0.3means 1/3 step, 0.7means 2/3 step. To cancel the flash exposure compensation, set the amount to +0. Press < SET > button again 3 to confirm the setting.

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FEB: Flash Exposure Bracketing You can take three flash shots while automatically changing the flash output for each shot from -3 to +3 in 1/3rd stops. The camera will record three images with different exposures: one exposed according to camera calculations, one over-exposed and another under-exposed. Over and under exposure amount is user adjustable. This function helps get correct exposure especially in shooting moving objects or when environmental lights are complex. Press function button 3 1 < >. The icon < >

FEB and the exposure bracketing amount will be highlighted on the LCD panel. If the subject is too far away and underexposure, the < >

icon will blink in the viewfinder. Move closer to the subject and try the FE lock again. If <ETTL> is not displayed on the LCD panel, FE lock cannot be set. If the subject is too small, FE lock might not be very effective. 2 compensation amount. Set the flash exposure Turn the Select Dial to set High-Speed Sync High Speed Sync (FP flash) enables the flash to synchronize with all camera shutter speeds. This is convenient when you want to use aperture priority for fill-flash portraits. 1 < > so that < > is Press Function Button 2 SYNC displayed. the amount. 0.3means 1/3 step, 0.7means 2/3 step. Press < SET > button again 3 to confirm the setting. Then your FEC and FEB settings are displayed on the LCD panel. FEB will be cancelled after three photos are taken. For best results, set the camera drive mode to single and ensure the flash is ready before shooting. FEB can be used with FEC and FEL. You can prevent the FEB from being cancelled C.Fn automatically after three photos are taken. (C.Fn-

FEB ACL , Page 57) C.Fn The FEB shooting sequence can be changed. (C.Fn-

FEB, Page 57) FEL: Flash Exposure Lock FEL can lock the correct flash exposure setting for any part of the scene. With <ETTL> displayed on the LCD panel, press the cameras

<FEL> button. If the camera does not have the <FEL> button, press the < * > button. Focus the subject. Press the <FEL> button. 1 2 Aim the subject at the center of the viewfinder and press <FEL>

button. 2 displayed in the viewfinder. Check that < > is If you set a shutter speed that is the same as or slower than the cameras maximum flash sync speed, < > will not be displayed in the viewfinder. With high-speed sync, the faster the shutter speed, the shorter the effective flash range. To return to normal flash, press < > button again. Then SYNC

< > will disappear. Multi flash mode cannot be set in high-speed sync mode. Over-temperature protection may be activated after 15 consecutive high-speed sync flashes. Second-Curtain Sync With a slow shutter speed, you can create a light train following the subject. The flash fires right before the shutter closes. Press function button 4 < >

button so that < > is displayed on the LCD panel. SYNC The camera flash will fire a preflash and the required flash output for the subject is retained in memory. Each time the <FEL> button is pressed, a preflash will be fired and a new flash exposure setting will be locked.

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M: Manual Flash Multi: Stroboscopic Flash The flash output is adjustable from 1/1 full power to 1/128th power in 1/3rd stop increments. To obtain a correct flash exposure, use a hand-held flash meter to determine the required flash output. Press < MODE > button so 1 that < M > is displayed. With stroboscopic flash, a rapid series of flashes is fired. It can be used to capture a multiple images of a moving subject in a single photograph. You can set the firing frequency (number of flashes per sec. expressed as Hz), the number of flashes, and the flash output. Turn the Select Dial to choose MULTI Press <MODE> button so 1 that < > is displayed. 2 a desired flash output. 3 flash times. Set the flash frequency and Press < > button to MULTI Turn the Select Dial to choose 2 a desired flash output amount. 3 confirm the setting. Press < SET > button again to Flash Output Range The following table makes it easier to see how the stop changes in terms of f/stop when you increase or decrease the flash output. For example, when you decrease the flash output to 1/2, 1/2-0.3, or 1/2-

0.7, and then increase the flash output to more than 1/2, 1/2+0.3, 1/2+0.7, and 1/1 will be displayed. Figures displayed when reducing flash output level 1/1-0.3 1/1-0.7 1/1 1/2 1/2-0.3 1/2-0.7 1/2+0.7 1/2+0.3 1/4+0.7 1/4+0.3 1/4 Figures displayed when increasing flash output level Optic S1 Secondary Unit Setting In M manual flash mode, press <S1/S2> button so that this flash can function as an optic S1 secondary flash with optic sensor. With this function, the flash will fire synchronously when the main flash fires, the same effect as that by the use of radio triggers. This helps create multiple lighting effects. Optic S2 Secondary Unit Setting Press <S1/S2> button so that this flash can also function as an optic S2 secondary flash with optic sensor in M manual flash mode. This is useful when cameras have pre-flash function. With this function, the flash will ignore a single preflash from the main flash and will only fire in response to the second, actual flash from the main unit. S1 and S2 optic triggering is only available in M manual flash mode. select the item (blinks). Turn the Select Dial to set the number and press

< > button again to confirm. The next item to be set will blink. Hz After you finish the setting, press <SET> button and all the settings will be displayed. Calculating the Shutter Speed During stroboscopic flash, the shutter remains open until the firing stops. Use the formula below to calculate the shutter speed and set it with the camera. Number of Flashes / Flash Frequency = Shutter Speed For example, if the number of flashes is 10 and the firing frequency is 5 Hz, the shutter speed should be at least 2 seconds. To avoid overheating and deteriorating the flash head, do not use stroboscopic flash more than 10 times in succession. After 10 times, allow the camera flash to rest for at least 15 minutes. If you try to use the stroboscopic flash more than 10 times in succession, the firing might stop automatically to protect the flash head. If this happens, allow at least 15 minutes rest for the camera flash. Stroboscopic flash is most effective with a highly reflective subject against a dark background. Using a tripod and a remote control is recommended. A flash output of 1/1 and 1/2 cannot be set for stroboscopic flash. Stroboscopic flash can be used withbuLb. If the number of flashes is displayed as --, the firing will continue until the shutter closes or the battery is exhausted. The number of flashes will be limited as shown by the following table.

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Maximum Stroboscopic Flashes:

Flash output Hz 1/4 1/8 1/16 1/32 1/64 1 7 14 30 60 90 2 6 14 30 60 90 3 5 12 30 60 90 4 4 10 20 50 80 5 4 8 20 50 80 1/128 100 100 100 100 100 6-7 8-9 3 6 20 40 70 90 3 5 10 30 60 80 Flash output Hz 10 11 12-14 15-19 20-50 60-199 1/4 1/8 1/16 1/32 1/64 1/128 2 4 8 20 50 70 2 4 8 20 40 70 2 4 8 20 40 60 2 4 8 18 35 50 2 4 8 16 30 40 2 4 8 12 20 40 If the number of flashes is displayed as --, the maximum number of flashes will be as shown in the following table regardless of the flash frequency. Flash Output Number of Flashes 1/4 2 1/8 4 1/16 1/32 1/64 1/128 8 12 20 40 Wireless Flash Shooting: Optic Transmission This product supports wireless flash application and functions as either a master or a slave unit. As a master unit, it can control Canon speedlites e.g. 580EXII, 600EX-RT via wireless. As a slave unit, it can receive wireless signals of Canon speedlites e.g. 580EXII, 600EX-RT and commanders of Canon cameras e.g. 7D/60D/600D. You can set up two to three slave groups for E-TTL II autoflash shooting. With E-TTL II autoflash, you can easily create various lighting effects. Any flash settings (of flash exposure compensation, high-speed sync, FE lock, FEB, manual flash, Multi flash) on the master unit will be automatically sent to the slave units. So the only thing you need to do is to set the master unit to ETTL mode without any operation for the slave units at all during the shooting. This flash can work in ETTL autoflash, M manual flash, and Multi stroboscopic flash modes when set as a master unit. Positioning and Operation Range 15m(49.2ft) Indoors Outdoors 10m(32.8ft) 80 8m(26.2ft) 12m(39.4ft) Even with multiple slave units, the master unit can control all of them via wireless. In this user manual, master unit refers to the camera flash on a camera and slave unit will be controlled by the master unit. 1. Wireless Settings You can switch between normal flash and wireless flash. For normal flash shooting, be sure to set the wireless setting to OFF. Master Unit Setting Press < > button so that < >

or < > are displayed on the LCD panel. Slave Unit Setting Press < > button so that < >

or < > are displayed on the LCD panel. 2. Master Units Flash OFF When the master unit is set to OFF, only the slave units will fire a flash. 1 that < > is displayed Press Function Button 4 so MENU2 on the LCD panel. ON/OFF 2 < > to control the Press Function Button 1 ON/OFF of the master unit.

< >The master unit flash firing is ON.

< >The master unit flash firing is OFF.

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Even if the master unit flash firing is disabled, it still fires a preflash to transmit wireless signals.

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