Inspiration strikes VM-260 FLEXIBLE MACRO FLASH User s Manual
Copyright 2017 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. 2 Introduction
Thank you for choosing Bolt. Ideal for macro photography and illuminating close-up subjects, Bolt s VM-260 employs dual flashes mounted on 11-inch flexible arms for precise placement. This lightweight on-camera flash provides the high output needed to capture subjects at a close range while maintaining a wide depth of field. The flash offers a guide number of 39 feet at ISO 100, and the output is adjustable in eight steps from 1/1 to 1/128 power. The two independent arms allow for creative placement to manage light and shadows. Unlike macro ring lights, the flexible arms allow you to move your flashes extremely close to subjects while staying out of the picture frame. The VM-260 is powered by three AA batteries (not included) that will provide over 400 flashes at full power. The hot-shoe mount is compatible with Canon, Nikon, Sony, and select Fujifilm, Olympus, Pentax, and Panasonic cameras. Introduction 3
Precautions Please read and follow these instructions, and keep this manual in a safe place. Keep this product away from water and any flammable gases or liquids. Do not attempt to disassemble or repair this product. There are components inside that can produce a hazardous electric shock. Always install AA batteries of the same type and age. Do not combine different types or old and new batteries. Install the batteries in the proper orientation, as indicated by the markings in the battery compartment. Do not stare at the lights when they are powered on. Remove all power sources from the unit before long-term storage. Clean this product with only a soft, dry cloth. Keep this product away from children. Make sure that this product is intact and that there are no missing parts. All images are for illustrative purposes only. 4 Precautions
Contents Overview...6 9 Installing Batteries...10 11 Mounting the VM-260...12 Turning On the VM-260 and Firing a Test...13 14 Brightness Adjustment...14 Manual Mode...15 Slave Mode...15 16 Troubleshooting...17 Specifications...18 Warranty...19 Contents 5
2 3 4 5 M S1 S2 13 6 S1/S2 MODE TEST ON/OFF 12 7 11 10 1 8 9 6 Overview
Overview Flexible LED Lights: 1. Twin flashtubes 2. Flexible arms Power Control Unit: 3. Control panel 4. Battery compartment cover 5. Mode button 6. S1/S2 selector button 7. Left navigation button 8. Mounting foot 9. Locking wheel 10. Right navigation button 11. Set button 12. On/off button 13. Test button Overview 7
14 15 M S1 S2 16 18 S1/S2 MODE TEST ON/OFF 17 8 Overview
Control Panel 14. Manual mode indicator 15. Slave mode indicators 16. Flash output indicator 17. Ready indicator 18. Optical sensor Overview 9
Installing Batteries The VM-260 can be powered by three AA batteries of several types: Lithium (1.5 V) Nickel-metal hydride (Ni-MH) (1.2 V) Alkaline (1.5 V) Note: For the longest battery life, lithium or Ni-MH batteries are recommended. To install batteries, make sure the VM-260 is turned off, and follow these steps: 1. Press on the battery compartment cover, and slide it in the direction of the arrow to open it. 2. Insert batteries in the orientations indicated by the illustrations inside the compartment. 3. Close the battery compartment cover by pressing and sliding it into place, in the opposite direction of the arrow on the cover. 10 Installing Batteries
Important! When battery power is low, the battery level indicator will blink on the LCD. Replace all three batteries at the same time. Do not mix battery types or brands, or use old and new batteries together. 1 2 3 Installing Batteries 11
Mounting the VM-260 To mount the VM-260 on your camera, make sure the unit is turned off, and follow these steps: 1. Rotate the locking wheel counterclockwise to loosen it. 2. Slide the mounting foot all the way into your camera s hot shoe. 3. Rotate the locking wheel clockwise until secure. Before dismounting the VM-260 from your camera, make sure it s turned off. 1 2 12 Mounting the VM-260
Turning On the VM-260 and Firing a Test To turn the VM-260 on, press and hold the On/off button until the control panel lights up. To fire a test, press the Test button. After firing the flash, the ready indicator will blink to indicate the capacitor is charging. Once it s recharged, the indicator will stop blinking. Automatic power-saving function: After 2 minutes of inactivity, the VM-260 enters power-saving mode. Press the Test button to resume use. After thirty minutes of inactivity, the VM-260 will automatically enter sleep mode to conserve battery life. To reactivate, press the On/off button. During long periods of inactivity, it is recommended that you use the On/off button to turn the unit off completely. Turning On the VM-260 and Firing a Test 13
Battery level indicator: Press the Set button to check the battery level. The LED indicators show the remaining battery power. Each two LEDs indicate 25% of the battery power. LED Display Status Battery Level 70% 100% 40% 69% 10% 39% 0% 9% When there is less than 25% battery power remaining, the two LEDs on the left will blink. Brightness Adjustment The brightness output of the VM-260 can be adjusted from 1/1 to 1/128 power. To adjust the output, press the right or left navigation buttons. The power output level indicator displays the current brightness. 14 Turning On the VM-260 and Firing a Test - Brightness Adjustment
Manual Mode In manual mode the VM-260 is triggered by the camera via the hot-shoe connection. To select manual mode, press the Mode button so the manual mode indicator is lit. Slave Mode The VM-260 has an optical sensor that will trigger the flash when it detects a burst from your master flash. There are two slave modes to select from: S1 Mode: When the VM-260 is set to S1 mode, it will fire in sync with every flash from the master. S2 Mode: When set to S2 mode, the VM-260 will ignore one pre-flash and fire in sync with the second flash. This is useful when used with a master flash in TTL mode. Manual Mode / Slave Mode 15
To select slave mode: Press the S1/S2 button to select the appropriate slave mode. Press the right or left navigation buttons to increase or decrease the brightness. The onscreen power output level indicator displays the current brightness output. 16 Slave Mode
Troubleshooting Problem The battery indicator fluctuates between full and empty when repeatedly reinstalling the same batteries. The VM-260 is stuck in the camera hot shoe. The VM-260 is turned on, but the flash tubes won t fire. Solution This is normal and may happen when the batteries are nearly exhausted. Replace the batteries. Make sure that the locking wheel is released. Make sure that fresh batteries are installed and are in the proper orientation. Make sure the power control unit is securely attached to the camera. Make sure that the electrical contact on the foot of the control unit is not dirty. Clean it and try again. Troubleshooting 17
Specifications Type Compatible cameras On-camera LED flexible macro flash Canon, Nikon, Sony, and select Fujifilm, Olympus, Pentax, and Panasonic Flash guide number (GN) 39 ft. @ ISO 100 Power source AA lithium, NiMH, or alkaline batteries ( 3) Sync Dimensions (H W D) 1/200 sec. 17.5 2.9 1.5 in. (44.4 7.4 3.8 cm) Weight (without batteries) 7.4 oz. (209.8 g) FCC Compliance This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions: 1. This device may not cause harmful interference. 2. This device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation. 18 Specifications
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. The warranty provider s responsibility with respect to this limited warranty shall be limited solely to repair or replacement, at the provider s discretion, of any product that fails during normal use of this product in its intended manner and in its intended environment. Inoperability of the product or part(s) shall be determined by the warranty provider. If the product has been discontinued, the warranty provider reserves the right to replace it with a model of equivalent quality and function. This warranty does not cover damage or defect caused by misuse, neglect, accident, alteration, abuse, improper installation or maintenance. EXCEPT AS PROVIDED HEREIN, THE WARRANTY PROVIDER MAKES NEITHER ANY EXPRESS WARRANTIES NOR ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO ANY IMPLIED WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. This warranty provides you with specific legal rights, and you may also have additional rights that vary from state to state. To obtain warranty coverage, contact the BOLT Customer Service Department to obtain a return merchandise authorization ( RMA ) number, and return the defective product to BOLT along with the RMA number and proof of purchase. Shipment of the defective product is at the purchaser s own risk and expense. For more information or to arrange service, visit www.boltflashes.com or call Customer Service at 212-594-2353. Product warranty provided by the Gradus Group. www.gradusgroup.com BOLT is a registered trademark of the Gradus Group. 2017 Gradus Group LLC. All Rights Reserved. Limited Warranty 19
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