Ikelite AF35 User Manual

AF35 AutoFlash

Instruction Manual

4035 - 4035.1

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AF

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AUTOFLASH

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Thank you for your purchase of Ikelite equipment. Please read this
instruction manual completely before attempting to operate or dive
with this product. Please refer to the back page of this manual to
register your Ikelite product.

Table of Contents

Housing Compatibility ................................................P. 3

ncluded with AF35 AutoFlash Kit ............................P. 3

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Parts of the AF35 ........................................................P. 4

Specifications ..............................................................P. 5

Battery Compartment ..................................................P. 4

Opening - Battery Compartment O-ring ..........................P. 5

Changing the Batteries - Closing the Compartment ......P. 5

AF35 Flash Settings (Off, Auto, Manual) ........................P. 6

AF35 Flash Ready Light..................................................P. 7

Ready Light in Auto Mode ..............................................P. 7

Setting the Auto Exposure Selector Dial ..................P. 8

AF35 Flash Diffuser ....................................................P. 9

Mounting Ikelite Housing to the Tray ........................P. 10

Tray Inserts......................................................................P. 11

Sony Housing Tray Insert Installation..............................P. 12

Mounting Housing to the Tray ........................................P. 13

Installing Housing Deflectors ....................................P. 14

Connecting AF35 Handle to Tray (Single or Dual)........P. 16

Flex Arm ......................................................................P. 17

Lubricant ......................................................................P. 18

Maintenance ................................................................P. 18

Routine Cleaning - Long Term Storage ..........................P. 18

Battery Compartment Flooding ................................P. 19

Troubleshooting ..........................................................P. 20

Recommendations ......................................................P. 21

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Table of Contents

Customer Support........................................................P. 22

Limited Warranty ........................................................P. 23

Returning Products for Service ................................P. 23

Product Registration ..................................................Back Cover

- continued

Housing Compatibility

The AF35 AutoFlash fits Ikelite ULTRAcompact and Compact
digital housing styles DC100 and DC200, and most compact
digital housings manufactured by Canon, Olympus, Panasonic,
and Sony.

Included with AF35 AutoFlash Kit

- AF35 AutoFlash

- Flash Diffuser

- Flexible Arm

- AutoFlash Sensor

- Rubber Grip

- Tray (single or dual)

- Tray Inserts

- Mounting Hardware

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Parts of the AF35

ikelite

AUTOFLASH

ikelite

35

AF

Selector
Dial

AF35 AutoFlash

Pop-bead
Flex Arm

Sensor

Rubber Grip

Tray

Specifications

Firing Modes ............................Auto - 6 manual power settings

Energy Rating ..........................35 watt-seconds

Coverage Angle ........................70° - 80° with diffuser

Guide # (ISO 100) feet..............28 surface - 16 underwater

Guide # (ISO 100) meters ........9 surface - 5 underwater

Color Temperature ....................5700° K

Power Source............................4 “AA” alkaline, NiCad, NiMH

Flashes......................................300 full power

Recycle Time ............................2.5 seconds

Weight ......................................0.6 kg - 1.3 pounds

Depth Rating ............................90m - 300 feet

CE - Compliant with applicable EU directives.

Complies with FCC part 15, subpart B, Section 15.109 for Class “B”
Products.

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AUTO

Battery Compartment

Opening - Always turn the AutoFlash OFF (as shown) and dry the flash

before opening the battery door. To access the
battery compartment, rotate the knob

Knob

counter-clockwise several turns and gently
remove the door. Tilt the back of the flash down
while removing the battery door to eliminate the
possibility of water droplets falling into the
battery compartment. Note: Do not remove the
knob from the battery door.

Battery Compartment O-ring

Keep the o-ring and sealing surfaces
clean. No lubricant is needed on the
o-ring.

O-ring seal appears
as solid black line
when properly sealed

Changing the Batteries

Install four AA-cell batteries: alkaline, NiCad, or
NiMH. Refer to the “+” and “-” markings in the battery compartment to
help properly install the batteries. If the batteries are installed incorrectly
it may damage the electronics. Batteries should be replaced when the
flash takes 15 seconds or longer to recycle.

Closing the Compartment

Check that the o-ring and sealing surfaces are clean, and the o-ring is in
its original position. Replace the battery door. Make sure it fits into the
recess around the battery compartment. Rotate the knob clockwise
several times and firmly hand-tighten to assure the proper o-ring seal,
otherwise the battery compartment may leak. Caution: Do Not use a
tool when tightening as it may damage the battery door. The o-ring seal

is visible through the battery door. Visually confirm that there is a
solid black line which indicates a seal all the way around the door.

Mode Switch

5

AUTO

AUTO

AF35 Flash Settings

To use the AF35 AutoFlash in the Auto or Manual Mode the camera’s
built-in flash must be set to fire on every shot as it is used to trigger the
AF35 AutoFlash.

OFF - Figure 1 shows the AF35
flash Mode Switch set to OFF.
Always turn the flash OFF when not
in use for prolonged periods or when
changing batteries.

AUTO - Figure 2 shows the AF35
flash Mode Switch set to AUTO.
From the OFF position rotate the
mode switch clockwise to access the
AUTO exposure setting; the white
indicator on the knob aligns with
AUTO. When taking pictures with
the Mode Switch in the Auto
position, the Auto Sensor
automatically controls the flash
output of the AF35 flash.

See Auto Exposure Selector Dial,
page 8, for setup and additional
information when using the AF35 in the AUTO mode.

MANUAL - Figure 3 shows the Mode Switch in the manual exposure
mode with the AF35 turned to the F (full power) position. Rotate the
Mode Switch clockwise to access the different power settings. Each
power setting clockwise from F reduces the light output of the AF35 in
one-half f-stop increments. When shooting in manual mode, it is
suggested that you start at F (full power). If the subject in the photo is
underexposed (too dark) you must move closer to the subject.

(Fig.1) (Fig.2)

AUTO

(Fig.3) (Fig.4)

AUTO

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AUTO

AF35 Flash Settings - continued

If the subject is overexposed (too light), then you can rotate the mode
switch clockwise to reduce the light output of the flash until the desired
exposure is obtained. The AF35 provides five reductions in power in 1/2
f-stop increments from the full power setting. Figure 4, page 6, for
example, shows the Mode Switch set to minus 1-1/2 f-stops. When the
AF35 is in any manual setting the Auto Exposure Selector Dial setting
has no effect on the flash output.
Switch the AF35 between Auto and Manual settings at any time.

AF35 Flash Ready Light

The AF35 flash features a ready/confidence light at the rear of the flash
that glows when the flash has recycled and is
ready to fire. When the recycle times range
between 10 and 15 seconds it is recommended
that fresh batteries be installed.
Note: The AF35 flash will most likely recycle
faster than the camera’s built-in flash. Since
the camera’s built-in flash is required to trigger
the AF35 flash, make sure the camera’s built-in
flash has recycled and is ready to fire before
taking a picture.

Ready
Light

Ready Light in Auto Mode

When the AF35 fires in the Auto Mode and enough light reaches the
subject for proper exposure the ready light will glow green for about 2-3
seconds, then glow red. If the ready light does not glow green, but glows
red immediately after taking a picture, not enough light reached the
subject for proper exposure. Move closer to the subject and take another
picture and check the ready light.

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Ikelite

MADE IN THE USA

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Setting the Auto Exposure Selector Dial

On the side of the Auto Sensor is the Auto
Exposure Selector Dial. Different cameras
may require different exposure values. Once
the correct exposure value is determined for
a particular camera, no further adjustments
should be necessary to obtain acceptable
flash exposures of varying subjects
within normal shooting ranges.
To determine the camera’s optimum Exposure Value we recommend the
following procedure. This procedure can be done above water.

Make sure the camera’s battery is fully charged and the AF35 flash has
fresh batteries. Assemble the AF35 flash and camera housing with the
flash deflector installed on the housing. Make sure the camera’s built-in
flash is set to fire on every shot and is fully charged. Turn the AF35 Mode
Dial to AUTO. Set the Auto Exposure Selector Dial to 5 as shown above.
Position the camera and flash approximately 1m (3 feet) from a colorful
subject. Subject should not be all white or black. Take a picture, review
the picture, if the picture is overexposed (light), turn the Auto Exposure
Selector Dial down to 4, if the picture is underexposed (dark) turn the Auto
Exposure Selector Dial up to 6. Repeat this procedure until the optimum
exposure is obtained. Once the optimum Auto Exposure Value has been
determined for that camera, use that value anytime that camera is used
with the AF35 in the Auto Mode. Repeat this procedure anytime a different

camera is used with the AF35 AutoFlash.

Auto Exposure
Selector Dial

For advanced users, the Auto Exposure Selector Dial can be used for
exposure compensation while remaining in the automatic mode. When the
AF35 is set in the Auto Mode, the Auto Exposure Selector Dial can be
used to increase or decrease the flash intensity in difficult lighting
conditions.

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