AEO Photo Micro MT Pro 4.0 User Manual

Photo

AEO

NATURE PHOTOGRAPHY TRIGGERS™

Professional Lightning & Motion Activated Camera Shutter Triggers

AEO MultiTrigger Pro Lithium Version 4.0

The AEO MultiTrigger Pro Lithium 4.0 is a dual mode Lightning Shutter Trigger / Motion Sensing Trigger
combination. Mode selection can be made by setting the Mode Slide Switch to either “Lightning” or
“Motion”. Enhancements in our “Pro” series triggers include both a sensitivity over ride adjustment, a
locking hot shoe / tripod mount., and improved ambient noise filtering (shutter hammer from 60Hz

sources), rechargeable Li-Ion battery usage and a built-in USB charging system.

IF YOUR TRIGGER SHIPPED FROM A DISTRIBUTOR AND YOU DID NOT RECEIVE A CABLE, OR YOU WERE
NOT OFFERED TO SELECT A CABLE AT TIME OF PURCHASE, PLEASE CONTACT AEO PHOTO AT

[e-mail]. WE WILL ASSIST YOU IN OBTAINING THE CORRECT CABLE FOR OUR CAMERA.

BEFORE TESTING YOUR DEVICE READ THIS ENTIRE MANUAL, ESPECIALLY THE SECTION ON
“IMPORTANT BATTERY INFORMATION”.

Lightning Mode:

Test your new device right out of the box: Set the mode switch to “Lightning”. Turn the power on. The
red LED will flash every time the device triggers. It’s normal for it to trigger once on power up. If it
continues to trigger, check for light sources leaking into the room. (If you cover the window of the
device with your hand, it should not trigger). Set off a camera flash (using another camera or a flash
attachment). The flash should trigger the device.

Manual adjustment of the sensitivity is accomplished by adjusting the “trim screw” accessible on the left
side of the device (looking from above). The port in the most aft position is the sensitivity adjustment.
(The “forward port” is your cable connection). The Sensitivity Trim is a SINGLE TURN adjustment.
CAUTION: DO NOT ATTEMPT TO FORCE THE ADJUSTMENT BEYOND IT’S MECHANICAL STOPS. DOING SO
MAY DAMAGE THE SENSITIVITY ADJUSTMENT. Use a small jewelers screwdriver standard or Phillips) to
make the adjustments. Full CLOCKWISE sets the sensitivity at 120% of the factory set point. Full
COUNTER CLOCKWISE sets the sensitivity at 20% of the factory set point. We recommend for most
situations to use the normal set point which is approximately ¼ turn CCW from the full sensitivity point.
Other photography scenarios may dictate different settings at the professional photographer’s
discretion.

Photographic Capture of Lightning:
The device triggers on the first bolt it detects and activates the shutter release of your camera within 0.3
ms. Most lightning events last several hundred milliseconds.

Photographing Lightning is as much Art as it is Science. Getting the right conditions and settings can be
challenging, and some folks have a better knack for it than others. But to get you started, here are some
basic “recommendations”:

1. The camera should be mounted on a tripod. You want it stable during the exposure.

2. Mount the device in your camera’s hot shoe mount with the red semi-clear window facing the

direction you are photographing. Insert the supplied plug into your camera remote shutter
interface.

3. Point the camera at the storm or in the direction you see lightning activity.

4. Set your Auto Focus feature to OFF or Disable.

5. Set the focus to infinity. (If the lightning is closer than that, you’re too close to it!!!)

6. We’ve found that when photographing lightning at night, an f-stop of 5.6 works well.

7. Shutter speed should be long for night shots, 2-10 seconds. For daytime shots, don’t exceed 1

second and you’ll need a smaller aperture/ larger f-stop as well.

8. Turn the lightning trigger device power on FIRST before you power up the camera. (When the

trigger is first tuned on, it will trigger once on power up . . . not a big deal for digital
photography, but if you use film, you’ll lose one frame.)

9. Avoid using your cell phone near the device while it’s operating. Your lightning shutter trigger is

a sensitive device and can be triggered inadvertently by strong, nearby RF transmissions.

10. Grab your favorite refreshing beverage and wait for the show to start!

Motion Mode:

Your AEO MultiTrigger Pro is equipped with a passive PIR 10 meter motion detector. Motion is detected
via changes in the Infrared within the field of view of the device. The spectrum of the detector is in the
LWIR, meaning that it will only detect movement of IR sources that generate heat, such as an animal or
a human. Since LWIR is NOT transmissive through materials such as glass and acrylic, your trigger will
NOT sense motion through a window. At the sensors limits of 10 meters, larger object such as humans,
deer and bear should be detectable. Up closer, the sensor will detect movement of smaller objects. The
field of view is approximately 35 degrees, so you may need to position the sensor carefully so as to
detect motion in the area you wish to photograph.
The Hot Shoe mount on your trigger also includes a standard ¼-20 female thread for mounting on a

tripod. This free’s up your hot shoe for other accessories such as a flash.

To operate in “Motion Detection Mode”, simply place the Mode Switch in the “Motion” Position. To
test your device, connect your camera as outlined previously in the “Lightning Detection” Mode. Wave
your hand in front of the detector to ensure it triggers properly. Experiment with walking in front of the
trigger to establish your effective field of view at various distances.

IMPORTANT BATTERY INFORMATION: The LS 4.0 Lithium Series Triggers are designed to operate with a
single Li-Ion 14500 3.7V rechargeable battery ONLY. Using any other type of battery may cause damage
to the charging system (PRO Models) and the battery itself.

In accordance with postal regulations regarding the shipment of Li-Ion batteries, your AEO LS 4.0 Trigger
is shipped with a partially depleted rechargeable Li-Ion 14500 battery. Before using your device, ensure
the battery has been completely charged. Once charged, the device is designed to operate for over 180
hours continuously on a single charge.

Pro Models are equipped with a built in Li-Ion battery charger that derives power from any USB source
via a Micro-B USB connector on the RIGHT side of the device. When powered via USB, the USB LED
indicator is ORANGE during a charge cycle, GREEN when the charge cycle is complete

INSTALLING NEW BATTERY: AEO RECOMMENDS THAT YOU NEVER OPEN THE BATTERY

COMPARTMENT ON OUR PRO MODELS. THE BUILT-IN CHARGER NEGATES THE NEED TO REMOVE THE

CELL FOR CHARGING. IF THE CELL IS REMOVED AND RE-INSERTED REVERSE POLARITY, THE DEVICE
WILL BE DAMAGED AND NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY.