Sony HVL-F43M Operating Instructions

4-463-175-11(1)

Flash

GBOperating Instructions

FRMode d’emploi

HVL-F43M

English

Before operating the product, please read this manual thoroughly and retain it for future reference.

WARNING

To reduce the risk of fire or electric shock,

1) do not expose the unit to rain or moisture.

2) do not place objects filled with liquids, such as vases, on the apparatus.

Keep out of reach of small children to prevent accidental swallowing.

Do not expose the batteries to excessive heat such as sunshine, fire or the like.

Tape over lithium battery contacts to avoid short-circuit when disposing of batteries, and follow local regulations for battery disposal.

Keep batteries or things that could be swallowed away from young children. Contact a doctor immediately if an object is swallowed.

Immediately remove the batteries and discontinue use if...

• the product is dropped or subjected to an impact in which the interior is exposed.

• the product emits a strange smell, heat, or smoke.

Do not disassemble. Electric shock may occur if a high voltage circuit inside the product is touched.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS

When using your photographic equipment, basic safety precautions should always be followed, including the following:

Read and understand all instructions before using.

Close supervision is necessary when any appliance is used by or near children. Do not leave appliance unattended while in use.

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

Do not operate appliance with a damaged cord or if the appliance has been dropped or damaged- until it has been examined by a qualified serviceman.

Let appliance cool completely before putting away. Loop cord loosely around appliance when storing.

To reduce the risk of electric shock, do not immerse this appliance in water or other liquids.

To reduce the risk of electric shock, do not disassemble this appliance, but take it to a qualified serviceman when service or repair work is required. Incorrect reassembly can cause electric shock when the appliance is used subsequently.

The use of an accessory attachment not recommended by the manufacturer may cause a risk of fire, electric shock, or injury to persons.

Batteries may become hot or explode due to improper use.

Use only the batteries specified in this instruction manual.

Do not install the batteries with the polarity (+/-) reversed.

Do not subject batteries to fire or high temperatures.

Do not attempt to recharge (except for rechargeable batteries), short or disassemble.

Do not mix, batteries of different types, brands or ages.

SAVE THESE INSTRUCTIONS

CAUTION

Do not touch the flashtube during operation, it may become hot when the flash fires.

For customers in Europe

Disposal of Old Electrical & Electronic Equipment (Applicable in the European Union and other European countries with separate collection systems)

This symbol on the product or on its packaging indicates that this product shall not be treated as household waste. Instead it shall be handed over to the applicable collection point for the recycling of electrical and electronic equipment. By ensuring this product is disposed of correctly, you will help prevent potential negative consequences for the environment and human health, which could otherwise be caused by inappropriate waste handling of this product. The recycling of materials will help to conserve natural resources. For more detailed information about recycling of this product, please contact your local Civic Office, your household waste disposal service or the shop where you purchased the product.

Notice for the customers in the countries applying EU Directives

This product has been manufactured by or on behalf of Sony Corporation, 1-7-1 Konan Minato-ku Tokyo, 108-0075 Japan. Inquiries related to product compliance based on European Union legislation shall be addressed to the authorized representative, Sony Deutschland GmbH, Hedelfinger Strasse 61, 70327 Stuttgart, Germany. For any service or guarantee matters, please refer to the addresses provided in the separate service or guarantee documents.

For the customers in the U.S.A.

CAUTION

You are cautioned that any changes or modifications not expressly approved in this manual could void your authority to operate this equipment.

NOTE:

This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications. However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur a particular installation. If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or television reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of following measures: – Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna. – Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver. – Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the

receiver is connected.

– Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.

Table of Contents

Features .................................................................................................... 8

Name of parts .......................................................................................... 9

Preparations

Inserting batteries .................................................................................. 13

Attachment and removal of the flash unit ............................................. 14

Turning on the power ............................................................................ 16

Changing the flash mode ....................................................................... 19

Basics

Program auto flash (The basics) ............................................................ 21

Using flash in each recording mode of the camera ............................... 25

Shooting with illumination (LED light) ................................................27

Advanced Operations

Test-flash ............................................................................................... 29

Zoom flash coverage ............................................................................. 30

Flash compensation ............................................................................... 33

Bounce flash .......................................................................................... 35

Close-up photography (downward bounce) .......................................... 40

Manual flash (M) ................................................................................... 41

High-speed sync (HSS) ......................................................................... 45

Multiple flash (MULTI) ........................................................................ 46

Wireless flash mode (WL) ..................................................................... 51

AF illuminator ....................................................................................... 65

Reset to the default settings ................................................................... 66

Custom settings ..................................................................................... 67

Additional Information

Notes on use .......................................................................................... 74

Maintenance .......................................................................................... 76

Specifications ........................................................................................ 77

Before use

This flash unit can be used in combination with Sony Interchangeable Lens Digital Cameras, Sony Interchangeable Lens Digital HD Video Camera Recorders, and Sony Digital Still Cameras that have a conventional Multi Interface Shoe. Some functions may not work depending on the model of your camera or video camera recorder. For details on compatible camera models of this flash unit, visit the Sony website in your area, or consult your Sony dealer or local authorized Sony service facility. See the operating instructions of this unit and refer to the operating instructions of your camera.

Although this flash unit is designed with dustproofness and splashproofness in mind, it may not keep dust or splashes completely out.

Do not place this flash unit in the following locations

Regardless of whether this flash unit is in use or in storage, do not place it in any of the following locations. Doing so may lead to a malfunction.

• Placing this flash unit in locations subject to direct sunlight such as on dashboards or near a heater may cause this unit to deform or malfunction.

• Locations with excessive vibration

• Locations with strong electromagnetism

• Locations with excessive sand In locations such as the seashore and other sandy areas or where dust clouds occur, protect the unit from sand and dust. This may lead to a malfunction.

Features

*Except the DSLR-A100

The HVL-F43M is a compact flash with a guide number of 43 (meters, 105 mm position, ISO 100).

, page 77

Can be used with compatible lenses to enable ADI (Advanced Distance Integration) flash metering, which is not affected by the reflection rate of the background or subject.

, page 26

Enables High-speed Sync. , page 45

Quick shift bounce function enables you to set the upper or side position easily during bounce flash photography.

, page 38

Equipped with a high power LED light (400 lx, 0.5 m). Brightness can be adjusted to 10 levels.

, page 27

Built-in bounce sheet enables you to create a highlight in the subject’s eyes.

, page 37

This flash unit supports flash coverage to a focal length of 15 mm by using a built-in wide panel when the flash is triggered.

, page 32

Corrects the white balance automatically using the color temperature information.*

, page 24

Adjusts the optimum flash coverage according to the image sensor size of the camera.*

, page 30

Name of parts





A Built-in wide panel (32) B Flashtube C Wireless control signal receiver

(52)

D AF illuminator (65)

Remove the protective sheet from the front of the AF illuminator before use.

E Multi Interface foot (14) F LED LIGHT button (27) G LED light unit (27) H Bounce sheet (37)

Figures in parentheses are the page numbers where a description of each LCD segment can be found.













I Bounce indicator (upper/lower

angle) (36)

J LCD panel (12) K Control panel (11) L Bounce indicator (side angle)

(36)



M Lock lever (14) N Release button (14) O Battery chamber door (13) P Mini-stand (53)

* Tripod attachment hole

Figures in parentheses are the page numbers where a description of each LCD segment can be found.

Control panel

Figures in parentheses are the page numbers where a description of each LCD segment can be found.

A TTL/M (MANUAL/MULTI)

button (42, 46, 57, 61, 66)

B MODE button (19) C TEST button (29)

The status while the lamp is lit Amber: Flash ready Green: Proper exposure

D Fn (function)/direction buttons

(41, 46, 57, 58, 61, 67)

E Power switch (16) F LCD illuminator button G ZOOM button (31)

LCD panel illuminator

If the LCD panel is too dark, you can illuminate it by pressing the LCD illuminator button.

• The LCD panel remains illuminated for about 8 seconds when the flash unit is used by itself or connected to a camera that is in power save mode. This time is extended if the flash or camera is used.

• Press the LCD illuminator button again while the LCD panel is illuminated to extinguish the LCD panel illuminator.

LCD panel



A HSS (High-speed-sync)

indicator (45)

B Ratio-flash indicator (61) C Flash mode indicator (19) D Wireless channel indicator (64,

69)

E Wireless controller indicator

(51)

F Operating indicator (67) G Power-level indicator (41, 46) H Zoom indicator (30) I TTL/Manual-flash/Multiple-flash

indicator (41, 46)

J Zoom/Multiple-flash repetition

display (30, 46)

K Wireless controller/remote

indicator (55, 58, 61)

L Hz indicator (46) M Flash-range/Flash-range-

warning (near side, far side)/ Multiple-flash frequency/flashratio display (23, 46, 61)

N Flash compensation indicator

(TTL) (33)

O Overheat indicator (18) P Wide-panel indicator (32) Q Bounce indicator (35) R Custom indicator (67) S Low-battery indicator (17)

Figures in parentheses are the page numbers where a description of each LCD segment can be found.

reparations

Inserting batteries

The HVL-F43M may be powered by :

• Four LR6 (AA-size) alkaline batteries*

• Four AA-size rechargeable nickel-metal hydride (Ni-MH) batteries* * Batteries are not supplied. Always ensure that rechargeable nickel-metal hydride batteries are charged in the specified charger unit.

1 Open the battery chamber door as shown.

2 Insert the batteries in the battery chamber as in the

diagram.

Preparations

3 Close the battery chamber door.

• Follow the reverse procedure when opening the battery chamber door.

Attachment and removal of the flash unit

Attaching the flash unit to the camera

• Before attaching to the camera, remove the protective cap from the terminal of the

Multi Interface foot of the flash unit and remove the shoe cap from the camera.

• When not using the flash unit, reattach the protective cap to the terminal of its

Multi Interface foot.

• If the built-in flash in the camera is protruding, lower it before attaching the

flash unit.

1 Turn off the power of the flash unit, and rotate the lock

lever towards [RELEASE] while pressing the release button.

2 Firmly insert the Multi Interface foot all the way into the

Multi Interface Shoe of the camera in the direction of the arrow.

3 Firmly rotate the lock lever towards [LOCK] to secure

the flash unit.

• This flash unit is suitable for a Multi Interface Shoe. When attaching this unit to

a camera that has an Auto-lock Accessory Shoe, use the Shoe Adaptor (ADPAMA) (not supplied).

Removing the flash unit from the

camera

1 While pressing the release button 1, rotate the lock

lever towards [RELEASE] 2.

2 With the lock lever in the [RELEASE] position, slide the

flash unit forward.

Preparations

Turning on the power

Set the POWER switch to ON.

The power of the flash unit turns on.

• When the power of the flash unit is turned on, the LCD panel lights up.

• If nothing appears on the LCD panel when the POWER switch is set to ON,

check the orientation of the batteries.

To turn the power off

Set the POWER switch to OFF.

Power save mode

If the flash unit is not operated for 3 minutes when used by itself or connected to a camera that is in power save mode, it switches to power save mode to save the batteries and the LCD display goes out.

• During wireless flash photography (pages 55, 61), the flash unit changes to power save mode after 60 minutes.

• You can change the time until power save, or disable power save. (page 71)

• The flash unit automatically changes to power save mode when the power switch of the camera* is set to OFF.

Except the DSLR-A100

• When the camera is in power save mode, for example when the LCD monitor automatically turns off, the camera does not communicate with the flash unit. In this state, flash mode and TTL/M mode switching, automatic zoom, wide panel display and flash range display are not linked with your camera.

Checking Batteries

The indicator on the data panel blinks when the batteries are low.

blinking Changing the batteries is recommended. The flash unit can still be used when the TEST button lights up in amber.

Only blinking Flash cannot be used. Insert new batteries.

Preparations

indicator

When the temperature of this unit rises after continuous flash use or use in a high temperature environment, its internal safety circuit automatically suspends operation (overheating).

• The indicator blinks when overheating is detected.

• Flash operation is suspended until the temperature of the unit falls and the indicator turns off.

• When overheating is detected, set the POWER switch to OFF and stop using the

flash unit for about 10 minutes to allow it to cool down.

Changing the flash mode

Press the MODE button.

• The indicator on the LCD panel changes as follows. When the flash unit is not connected to your camera, or when the camera is in power save mode or the LCD monitor of the camera is being turned off when the flash unit is connected to the camera:

( AUTO) t WL t t ( AUTO) t . . .

When your camera is turned on and the flash unit is connected to your camera (WL is not set up):

( AUTO) t t ( AUTO) t . . .

• [ ] lights up when the camera is set to Fill-flash. [ AUTO] lights up when the camera is set to Auto flash.

Preparations

About flash mode

• (Fill-flash mode)

The flash unit always fires.

• AUTO (Auto flash mode)

The flash unit is set to this mode when the camera is set to auto flash.

• WL (Wireless flash mode)

This mode is used during wireless flash photography.

• (Un-fill-flash mode)

The flash unit does not fire.

Basi

Program auto flash (The basics)

• If your camera has an AUTO mode or Scene Selection mode, they are dealt with here as program auto.

1 Select the P mode on the camera.

2 Press the MODE button to display [ AUTO] or [ ] on

the LCD panel.

• [ ] lights up when the camera is set to Fill-flash. [ AUTO] lights up when the camera is set to Auto flash.

Basics

3 Press the shutter button halfway down and make sure

that the subject is within the flash range.

• See page 23 for details on the flash range.

4 When the flash unit is charged, press the shutter

button to take a photo.

• The flash unit is fully charged when the TEST button on the control panel is

lit in amber.

When the correct exposure has been obtained for the photo just taken, the TEST button on the control panel blinks in green.

• The photo will be under-exposed because of a lack of luminescence if taken before charging is complete.

• Press the shutter button after making sure that charging is complete when using the flash unit with the self-timer.

• The flash mode selected (auto flash ( AUTO), fill-flash ( ), or un-fill-flash ( )) depends on your camera. For details, refer to the operating instructions of your camera.

Flash range

Press the shutter button halfway down.

The flash range for the proper exposure is displayed on the LCD panel. Make sure that the subject is within this range and then take the photo.

The range that can be displayed on the LCD panel is from 1.0 m to 28 m (0.7 m to 28 m for downward bounce; see page 40). When the distance is beyond this range,

or is lit on either side of the Flash range.

Proper exposure is obtained at less than 1.0 m. If the flash range is less than 1.0 m, the lower area of the image on the LCD monitor of the camera may become dark. Change the flash range to adjust the aperture and ISO sensitivity.

Proper exposure is obtained from 1.0 m to 28 m or more.

• The flash ranges when using upward bounce flash or wireless flash are not shown.

• When you take a photo closer than the lower limit of the flash range, the photo may be over-exposed even if the TEST button blinks green, or the lower area of the image on the LCD monitor of the camera may darken. Always take a photo within the indicated flash range.

Basics

Auto WB Adjustment with Color Temperature Info

White balance is automatically adjusted by your camera (except the DSLR-A100) based on color temperature information when the flash unit fires.

• Auto WB Adjustment functions when you attach the flash unit to your camera

and use TTL flash mode on the flash unit.

• This function does not work during manual flash photography. (page 41)

Using flash in each recording mode of the camera

If the camera is set to aperture priority (A mode), shutter speed priority (S mode) or manual exposure mode (M mode), TTL flash photography can be performed according to the mode.

1 Select A, S or M mode on the camera.

2 Press the MODE button to display [ ].

• Fill-flash is selected.

3 Set the aperture and/or shutter speed according to the

mode you select, and then focus the subject. See the table below.

Recording mode of the camera Settings

A (Aperture priority flash photography)

S (Shutter speed priority flash photography)

Set the aperture.

• Reduce the aperture (i.e. increase the fstop) to reduce the flash range, or open the aperture (i.e. reduce the f-stop) to increase the flash range.

• The shutter speed is set automatically.

Set the shutter speed.

Basics

Recording mode of the camera Settings

TTL flash

Manual flash provides a fixed flash intensity irrespective of the brightness of the subject and the camera setting. TTL* flash measures the light from the subject that is reflected through the lens. TTL metering also has a P-TTL metering function, which adds a pre-flash to TTL metering, and an ADI metering function, which adds distance data to the P-TTL metering. This flash unit defines all P-TTL and ADI metering as TTL flash and

is displayed on the LCD panel.

TTL = through the lens

• ADI metering is possible in combination with a lens with a built-in distance encoder. Before using the ADI metering function, check whether your lens has a built-in distance encoder by referring to the specifications in the operating instructions supplied with your lens.

M (Manual exposure mode flash photography)

Set the aperture and shutter speed.

• Reduce the aperture (i.e. increase the fstop) to reduce the flash range, or open the aperture (i.e. reduce the f-stop) to increase the flash range.

4 Press the shutter button when charging is complete.

Shooting with illumination (LED light)

Using the LED light as an illuminator lets you create natural light and shadows and shoot realistic movies even in poor light such as indoors.

Using the LED light

1 Press the LED LIGHT button.

• The LED light comes on.

• The LEVEL screen appears on the LCD panel.

Basics

2 Change the brightness with the f or F button.

• You can adjust the brightness of the LED light to 10 levels (1-10).

• When the LED light is on, the [ ] (Flash on) indicator on the camera turns off. (The flash cannot fire when the LED light is on.)

Turning off the LED light

Press the LED LIGHT button again.

• The LED light goes off and the LCD panel returns to the normal indicator screen.

• The white balance may vary depending on the camera, lens and settings during shooting. If this happens, set the white balance on the camera.

• The color temperature varies slightly with brightness adjustments and LED temperature, so check the white balance before recording.

vanced Operations

Test-flash

You can try a test flash before shooting. Check the light level using the test flash when you use a flash meter, etc., in the manual flash (M) mode.

Press the TEST button when the TEST button lights up in amber.

• The TEST button is turned on as follows, according to the current state of the flash unit.

– Amber: Flash ready – Green: Proper exposure

• The light level of the test-flash depends on the light level setting (page 41). The flash unit fires with a light level of 1/1 in TTL mode.

• You can check shadows on the subject before taking photos with the test-flash (modeling flash) function. The flash unit has two modeling flash modes, three times flashes mode and modeling flash mode in which the flash unit fires repeatedly for four seconds. For details on setting the test-flash mode, see “C05 To change the test-flash mode” (page 71) in “Custom settings”.

Advanced Operations

Zoom flash coverage

Auto zoom

This flash unit automatically switches optimum flash coverage (zoom flash coverage) to cover a range of focal lengths from 24 mm to 105 mm when photographing (auto zoom). Normally, you do not need to switch the flash coverage manually. The auto zoom is working when [A ZOOM] is displayed on the LCD panel. The zoom is not displayed on the LCD panel when [A ZOOM] is displayed.

24 mm focal length 105 mm focal length

• When a lens having a focal length of less than 24 mm is used with auto zoom,

[WIDE] on the LCD panel blinks. Use of the built-in wide panel (page 32) is recommended in this case to prevent darkening at the periphery of the image.

Auto zoom control optimized for image sensor size

This unit provides optimal flash coverage according to the image sensor size (APS-C format/35mm format) of the camera (except the DSLR-A100).

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