Sekonic 401-309 User manual

FLASHMATE

Operating Manual

■ SAFETY PRECAUTIONS

WARNING

CAUTION

This manual uses the following safety labels for

and

that you must follow.

WARNING

CAUTION

REFERENCE: Provides the reference information and related functions that are

WARNING

CAUTION

Indicates hazards or unsafe practices that can result in severe
personal injury or death.

Indicates hazards or unsafe practices that can result in the personal
injury or damage to your L-308S exposure meter.

NOTE: Indicates a caution or limitation that accompanies operation. Please

read the note to avoid incorrect operation.

useful in operating the L-308S. We recommend that you read these
reference.

● Please place in a location where an infant cannot reach and
accidentally get the strap wrapped around his or her neck.
There is danger of strangulation.

● Keep the Lumidisc and synchro terminal cap out of reach of
young children, as swallowing such objects can cause
suffocation.

● Never place batteries in fire, short disassemble heat or charge
them. The batteries might break down, and cause an accident,
injury or pollute the environment.

● There is a danger of electric shock if the meter is handled with
wet hands, during rain, in areas splashed by water or where
there is a lot of moisture, if you use cord flash mode. Also,
such action may damage the product.

Table of Contents

Safety Precautions
Table of Contents

1. Parts Designation..........................................................................1

2. Explanation of the Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) ..........................2

3. Before Using..................................................................................3

1. Attach the strap .......................................................................... 3

2. Inserting the battery ...................................................................3

3. Checking battery capacity .......................................................... 4

4. Replacing battery during measurement ..................................... 4

5. Auto Power OFF function............................................................5

6. Setting ISO film speed................................................................5

4. Basic Operation.............................................................................6

1. Incident or reflected light measuring.......................................... 6

2. Setting measuring mode ............................................................ 6

3. When set for incident light ......................................................... 8

4. When set for reflected light ........................................................ 9

5. Measurement .............................................................................. 10

1. Measuring Ambient Light .........................................................10

1-1 Shutter Speed Priority mode............................................10

1-2 EV mode .......................................................................... 11

1-3 Cinematography...............................................................13

2. Measuring Flash Light .............................................................. 14

2-1 Cord Flash mode.............................................................. 14

2-2 Auto Reset Cordless Flash mode ..................................... 16

6. Advanced Functions ....................................................................18

1. Measuring Light Contrast......................................................... 18

2. How to use an incident illuminance (LUX or FC) meter ............19

3. Custom setting function ...........................................................20

7. Accessories .................................................................................21

8. Technical Data .............................................................................22

9. Safty Guide and Maintenance..................................................... 23

1. Parts Designation

Power Button(ON/OFF Switch)

Flash Synchro Terminal

Synchro Terminal Cap

Lumisphere

Mode Button

Measuring
Button

Liquid Crystal Display (LCD)
Up Button

Down Button

ISO Button

Strap Eyelet

Lens

Lumisphere

Battery
Compartment Cover

Lumidisc

Strap

2. Explanation of the Liquid Crystal Display (LCD)

For explanation purposes, the display illustrated here shows icons and

*

readouts simultaneously. Actual display will never appear like this.

q Measuring Mode icons

Ambient (See page 10)
Auto Reset Cordless Flash (See page 16)
Cord Flash (See page 14)

w

ISO Display (See page 5)

Displays ISO Film setting.

e Aperture/EV display

Appears when aperture value is displayed.
Appears when using EV mode. (See page 11)

r 0.1 step display

Depending on set mode, this displays measurement value at 1/10 aperture or
1/10 EV. (See page 10)

t Shutter Priority indicator, Shutter speed display for still photography or frames per

second (f/s) for cinematography

Appears when Shutter Priority (T) mode. (See page 10)
Appears when shutter speed is in full seconds. (See page 10)
Appears when cine speed is set in frames per seconds. (See page 13)

y Battery Power Indicator (See page 4)

3. Before Using

1. Attach the strap

1) Attach the Strap !5 by passing the small end
loop through the strap eyelet !2 and passing the
other end of strap through it.

WARNING

● Please place in a location where an infant cannot reach and
accidentally get the strap wrapped around his or her neck.
There is danger of strangulation.

2. Inserting the battery

1) Requires type-AA 1.5-volt manganese dry cell
battery (R6P) or type-AA 1.5-volt alkali dry cell
battery (LR6) or type-AA 1.5-volt lithium dry cell
battery (FR6).

Do not use any battery other than the designated
types.

2) Slide down the battery compartment cover !1 in
the direction of the arrow to remove.

3) Insert the battery observing the polarity with the
+, - marks in the battery compartment.

4) Align battery compartment cover with main unit
and slide shut.

Make sure that the cover is properly in place and
closed.

NOTE: ● Nickel and cadmium storage batteries (NiCd) and nickel and

hydrogen batteries (NiH) cannot be used.

● Remove battery if meter is not used for an extended period.
Batteries can leak and damage the exposure meter. Dispose of
used batteries properly.

● If the LCD does not light, check that the battery capacity is
sufficient, and check that the battery positive and negative
terminals are not reversed.

3. Before Using

3. Checking battery capacity

When the Power button q is ON, the battery power indicator on the LCD t is
displayed.

(Displayed) Battery power level is good.
(Displayed) Battery power level is low. Have a spare battery ready.
(Blinking) Replace battery immediately.

REFERENCE: • If the liquid crystal display extinguishes immediately after the

display appears when power is first applied, that is an
indication that the battery is dead. Please promptly replace the
battery.

• In case of continuous measuring, the battery life of this unit is
as below in normal temperature.
Manganese dry cell about 10 hours

Alkali dry cell about 20 hours (according to our test condition)

• The battery accompanying with this unit when you purchased
might die with in less than the above battery life because it is
for sample-use.

4. Replacing battery during measurement

1) Always turn the power OFF before replacing batteries. If batteries are
removed with the power ON, measurements and settings can no longer be
recalled.

2) If after replacing the battery, or during measurements, strange screens
(displays that have not been set) appear in the LCD, or nothing happens, no
matter what button is pushed, remove the battery and wait at least ten
seconds and then replace the battery. This allows the software to
automatically reset.

WARNING

● Never place batteries in fire, short, disassemble, heat or charge
them. The batteries might break down, and cause an accident,
injury or pollute the environment.

NOTE: ● A three second pause between power ON and OFF is

recommended to avoid damage to the meter.

3. Before Using

ISO

5. Auto Power OFF function

1) To conserve battery power, the meter will turn OFF about four minutes after
last use.

2) Whether the Auto Power OFF function turns the power OFF or the Power
button q is pressed, the settings and measured values remain stored in
memory. When the Power button is pressed again the last settings are
displayed.

REFERENCE: • The power shuts OFF automatically after one minute when the

power button is pressed and held.

6. Setting ISO film speed

1) Hold down the ISO button i and press
either the Up button y or Down
button u to select ISO film speed for
the film being used.

2) You can also change the ISO film speed
after taking measurements. The new
value is automatically displayed.

REFERENCE: • Setting value will change consecutively if the Up button or

Down button is depressed for one second or longer.

4. Basic Operation

MOD

E

1. Incident or reflected light measuring

1) To set for either incident or reflected light operation, slide the Lumisphere w
mounting until it clicks.

Incident light mode Reflected light mode Setting operation

NOTE: ● Always use the Lumisphere mounting for setting.

Hand operation of the Lumisphere may cause damage.

● The Lumisphere is an important light receiving unit. Please
handle with care and try not to mark or soil.

Wipe Lumisphere with a dry soft cloth if it becomes dirty.
Never use organic cleaners (like thinner or benzene) to clean

Lumisphere.

2. Setting measuring mode

1) Press the Mode button e to select a mode.
The mode switching sequence is as follows.

Shutter Speed Priority
mode (ambient light)
[see page 10]

Cord Flash
[see page 14]

EV mode
(ambient light)
[see page 11]

Auto Reset Cordless
Flash mode
[see page 16]