Metz Mecablitz 34 AF-3 P User Manual

TV • VIDEO • CAMCORDER • MECABLITZ

MECABLITZ 34 AF-3 P

Operating instructions

Foreword

Dear Customer,
We thank you for your confidence in our meca-

blitz MB 34 AF-3P.
The MB 34 AF-3P flashgun has been especially

designed for Pentax AF system cameras.
IMPORTANT: Never mount the flashgun in the
accessory shoe of any other system camera,
otherwise the flashgun’s foot or the camera’s
accessory shoe can be destroyed!
The dedicated contacts in the foot of the MB 34
AF-3P only support the controlling commands
of Pentax AF system cameras.

The following pages give details for the correct
operation of the mecablitz flashgun and summari­ze its fields of application.

Please read these operating instructions carefully,
even if, at first sight, some points may not appear
to be of interest. Our design work placed
value on ensuring that operation of the mecablitz is
as simple
the system cameras for which the flashgun is
intended offer a great diversity of capabilities.
We wish you much pleasure with your new Metz

flashgun in conjunction
camera to light up the darkest points, and for

creative flash lighting.

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as possible, but it should be noted that

with a Pentax AF system

particular

Contents

1. Safety instructions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

2. Preparing the mecablitz for use . . . . . . .5

2.1 Power supply . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

2.2 Loading and replacing the batteries . . . . . .5

2.3 Automatic flashgun cut-out circuit . . . . . . .6

2.4 Mounting/Removing the mecablitz . . . . . . .6

3. Setting the mecablitz into operation . . .7

3.1 Preconditions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

3.2 Switching the flashgun on and off . . . . . . .7

4. Flashgun instructions to the camera . . .8

4.1 Flash-ready indication . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

4.2 Automatic flash sync speed control . . . . . .9

4.3 Correct-exposure indication . . . . . . . . . . .9

4.4 Information displayed in the

camera’s viewfinder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9

5. TTL flash control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10

6. Flash in the individual camera modes . .11

7. Autofocus measuring flash . . . . . . . . . . .11

8. Flash techniques and flash functions . .13

8.1 Automatic fill-in flash . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13

8.2 Exposure correction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13

9.

Lighting and attachments

10. Care and maintenance ­Manual firing button

Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15

11. Technical data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16

Lighting distances . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17

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. . . . . . . . . . . .14

1. Safety instructions

• NEVER fire a flash in the immediate vicinity of
the eyes! Flash fired directly in front of the eyes
of a person or animal can damage the retina and
lead to severe visual disorders - even blindness!

• Spent batteries should be immediately remo­ved. Chemicals leaking out of spent batteries
will damage the flashgun.

• Do not short-circuit batteries! DANGER OF
EXPLOSION!

• Batteries should not be exposed to excessive
heat, for instance sunshine, fire and the like!

• NEVER throw spent batteries in a fire!

• Do not expose the flashgun to dripping or
splashing water!

• Protect the flashgun against excessive heat and
high humidity levels! Do not keep the flashgun
in the glove compartment of a car!

• In the event of flash shots with full light output
observe an interval of at least 3 minutes after a
series of 20 flashes. This will protect the flash­gun against overload.

•

NEVER place material that is impervious to light
in front of, or directly
The reflector screen must be perfectly clean
when a flash is fired. The high energy of the
flash light will burn the material or damage the
screen if this is not observed!

• NEVER dismantle the flashgun! DANGER: HIGH
VOLTAGE! There are
flashgun that can be repaired by a layperson.

Disposal of batteries

Do not dispose of spent batteries with domestic
rubbish.

Please return spent batteries to collecting points
should they exist in your country!

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on, the reflector screen.

no components inside the

2. Preparing the mecablitz for use

2.1 Power supply

The flashgun can only be operated with 2 CR2-type lithi­um batteries. This type of battery can be stored for many
years with practically no loss of energy, thus making it
ideal for occasional amateur flash photography.

Batteries have become discharged or spent

☞

when recycling takes more than 60 seconds.
The batteries should be removed from the
mecablitz if the flashgun is not going to be used
for a prolonged period.

2.2 Loading and exchanging batteries

• Turn off the flashgun with the main switch.

• Press the unlocking catch, slide the battery
compartment lid to the right and fold open (see
fig. 1).

• Insert the batteries according to the indicated
battery symbols.

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➭

☛

Fig. 1: Unlocking and exchanging batteries
The supplied lithium batteries are expendables

and, as such, are not subject to our warranty pro­visions.

After the batteries have been inserted, fold down
the battery compartment lid, and push to the left
until it engages audible with the unlocking catch.

2. Preparing the mecablitz for use

When loading the batteries ensure correct pola-

☞

rity. Incorrectly loaded batteries can destroy the
flashgun! All batteries must be of the same
make and have the same charge level.
sted batteries must not be thrown into the
dustbin! Contribute to the protection of the
environment and discard exhausted batteries
at the appropriate disposal points.

2.3 Automatic flashgun switch-off

To avoid accidental battery discharge the flashgun
automatically switches itself off to save power
approximately 8 minutes after

- the flashgun was switched on

- the last flash was fired

- tripping the camera release, or

- switching on the camera light metering system.
The green flash-ready indicator is turned off.
To turn on the mecablitz again switch the main
switch OFF and then ON. The flashgun should
always be turned off if it is not being used.

Exhau-

2.4 Mounting/Removing the flashgun

Mounting:

• Turn off the mecablitz.

• Turn the clamping nut upwards against the
case of the flashgun.

• Slide the mecablitz foot completely into the
camera's accessory shoe.

• Turn the clamping nut downwards against the
camera body, thereby securing the flash unit.

Removing:

• Switch off the flash unit before it is removed.

• Turn the clamping nut upwards against the
case of the flashgun and remove the flash unit
from the camera.

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