Cactus KF36 Instruction Manual

™

KF36 Manual Adjustable Flash

Instruction Manual

Harvest One Limited

1101 David House, 8-20 Nanking Street
Kowloon, Hong Kong
www.cactus-image.com

Printed in Hong Kong © 2009 Harvest One Limited

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1

NOMENCLATURE

Open Flash Button
Sensor Socket
Battery Compartment Cover
Illuminated Calculator Dial
ASA / DIN Indicator Arrow
Lens / Filter Slot
Zoom / Bounce Flash Head
Zoom Setting Indicator
Bounce Angle Scale
Sufficient Light Indicator
Calculator Dial Light Button
On-Off Switch
Ready Light
Mounting Foot Lock Lever
Mounting Foot
Shutter Cord Socket
AC Adapter / Power Grip Receptacle
Vari-Power Settings
Vari- Power Dial (Black Arrow)
Distance Scales (ft & m)
f-Stop Scale
ASA / DIN Film Speed Dial
Auto Mode Colored Wedges
Mode Selector Dial
Mode Selector Window
Vari Sensor Module
Alkaline / NiCad Battery Holder
28mm Wide Angle Lens
Detachable Shutter Cord
Carrying Case

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IMPORTANT SAFEGUARDS

!

When using your photographic equipment, follow the following
basic safety precautions:

Read and understand all instructions before use.
Do not leave any equipment unattended while in use. Close

supervision is necessary when any equipment is used by or
near children.

Care must be taken as burns can occur from touching the hot
parts of the flash.

Do not operate equipment with a damaged cord or if the
equipment has been dropped or damaged. Return appliances
to the nearest authorized service facility for examination, repair
or electrical or mechanical adjustment.

Do not let cord hang over the edges of table or counter or
touch hot surfaces.

If an extension cord is necessary, a cord with a suitable current
rating should be used. Cords rated for less amperage than the
equipment may overheat. Care should be taken to arrange the
cord so that it will not be tripped over or pulled.

Always unplug the equipment from the electrical outlet when
that is not in use. Never yank the cord or pull the plug from the
outlet directly. Grasp the plug then pull to disconnect instead.

Let the equipment cool first before putting away. Loop the cord
loosely around equipment when storing.

To protect against electric shock hazards, do not immerse this
equipment in water or other liquids.

To avoid electric shock hazard, do not disassemble this
equipment. Incorrect reassembly can cause electric shock
hazard when the equipment is used subsequently. Return
appliances to the nearest authorized service facility for
examination, repair or electrical or mechanical adjustment.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

3

Power Source

4

Ready Light

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Battery Saving Circuit

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Battery Operation

5

Inserting Batteries
Forming the Capacitor
Thyristor Circuit

Zoom / Bounce Flash Head

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Zoom Position
Bounce Angle

Output Control

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Vari Sensor Module
Mode Selector Dial

Calculator Dial

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Sufficient Light Indicator

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Attaching the Flash to the Camera

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Shooting Automatically

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On-Camera Direct Flash
On-Camera Bounce Flash
Off-Camera Direct and Bounce Flash

Shooting Manually

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Direct Flash
Zoom
Bounce Flash
Vari-Power

Fill-in Flash

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Multiple Flash Lighting

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Specifications

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Power Specifications
General Specifications

Manual Operation Guide Numbers

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Automatic f-stop Settings and Corresponding Ranges

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Warranty

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Calculator Dial Illustrations

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4

Power Source

Your flash operates on four 1.5 volts size AA batteries as a standard power
source. Alkaline batteries are recommended.

Ready Light

The flash is equipped with a Ready Light (13) with a 3-stage operation: It
glows red when the flash is at 1/2 power; glows green when the flash is at 3/4
power; and blinks red and green alternatively when the Battery Saving Circuit
is in operation and the unit is at full power.

The new Cactus KF-36 has a modified triggering circuit which allows you to
fire the flash before the Ready Light goes on. But be aware that
underexposures may result when the unit is fired before the Ready Light is on.

Battery Saving Circuit

Your flash unit has a built-in battery-saving circuit that acts to significantly
prolong battery life. When this circuit is in operation, the Ready Light will blink
red and green alternatively.

The purpose of this Instruction Manual is to familiarize you with your flash and
give you the basics for flash photography. Once you’ve used your flash for a
while, you may want more in-depth information on flash lighting techniques.
There is a wealth of information available on the internet. Books on this topic
are available in bookstore, library and local photo dealer. You may find it
helpful to visit Cactus’s website at www.cactus-image.com as well.

5

Battery Operation

Inserting Batteries

Set the Flash Head to the straight-ahead 0ﾟposition. Pushing with your
thumb from the front of the unit, slide and open the Battery Compartment
Cover (3) and take out the Battery Holder (27). NOTE: There is a stop
built into the cover to prevent it from coming all the way off the back. DO
NOT FORCE THE COVER.

Insert four fresh 1.5 volt size AA alkaline batteries or NiCads, following
the battery positioning marked on the Holder.

Insert the Holder into the battery compartment (align the square corner)
and slide the Battery Compartment Cover closed.

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There are some simple procedures for getting the most out of your flash and
batteries. Always turn your unit off right after you’ve finished using it to prolong
battery life. Also, when storing your flash for a period of time, remove the
batteries to prevent possible damage from battery corrosion.

Replace the batteries if the red Ready Light fails to glow within 30 seconds.

Forming the Capacitor

When your flash is new or when it has not been used for a certain period of
time, the capacitor may lose its ability to store electricity. When this occurs,
you can “form” the capacitor as follows:

Set the Mode Selector Dial (24) to the manual “M” position.
With batteries in the flash, slide the On-Off Switch (12) to the RED “ON”

position.
When the green Ready Light glows, fire the flash using the Open Flash

Button (1), allowing the Ready Light to glow 15 to 20 seconds first. After a
sequence of 5 flashes, your capacitor will then be formed and you are
ready to begin shooting.

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Thyristor Circuit

Your flash has a unique power conservation system called “thyristor circuit”. In
any of the four auto modes, this circuit saves the excess energy not needed
for a proper exposure, thereby providing very fast recycling time and a greater
number of flashes per battery charge. The recycle time and the number of
flashes per charge both vary depending on the flash-to-subject distance and
the auto mode used. As you move the flash closer to the subject, the flash
recycles faster and is capable of providing more flashes per set of batteries.

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Zoom / Bounce Flash Head

Output Control

Zoom Position

The Zoom / Bounce Flash Head (7) allows you to coordinate the field coverage
of your flash with the field covered by your camera lens. Positions are marked
on the Zoom Setting Indicator (8) for wide, normal and tele – equivalent to
camera focal lengths of 35mm, 50/55 mm and 105mm. Extend or retract the
Zoom / Bounce Flash Head to the position which is closest to the focal length
of the camera lens you are using.

In addition, a 28 mm Wide Angle Flash Lens (28) is included in the package of
Cactus KF-36 Flash. Insert the flash lens into the Lens / Filter Slot (6), with the
tab on the lens at the bottom. The 28mm Flash Lens is designed to be used
with the Zoom / Bounce Flash Head in the wide position.

Bounce Angle

Cactus KF-36 will tilt to any of the five click positions (9) ( 0ﾟ, 45ﾟ, 60ﾟ, 75ﾟ, 90

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), depending on the lighting you want to create. When the flash is set at 45ﾟ,
60ﾟ, 75ﾟor 90ﾟ position, you can bounce light off a reflective surface to create
softer lighting.

Vari Sensor Module

Cactus KF-36 Electronic Flash is equipped with a removable Vari Sensor
Module (26) that measures the light reflected from the subject and other
reflective surfaces near the subject. This information is interpreted by a solid
state computer in the sensor which programs the flash to automatically provide
just the right amount of light required for a correct exposure. The practical
advantage is that you don’t have to change the f-stop on your camera lens
when you move closer to a subject or farther away. As long as your subject is
within the automatic operating range of the flash for that f-stop, the computer
automatically makes the adjustment for you.

In order to remove the Vari Sensor Module from the flash, pull it straight out
from the body of the flash. To mount the Module back on the flash, align the
black ridge at the back of the Module with the groove in the Sensor Socket (2)
and push the Module firmly into the flash.