Sony HVL-F56AM User Manual

Flash

Operating Instructions Mode d’emploi Bedienungsanleitung Istruzioni per l’uso Gebruiksaanwijzing

2-687-455-13 (1)

HVL-F56AM

English

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

WARNING

To reduce fire or shock hazard, do not expose the unit to rain or moisture.

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.

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 .................................... 6

Name of parts ..........................7

Control panel ........................... 8

Data panel ................................9

Preparations

Inserting batteries ................. 10

Attachment and removal

of the flash ............................. 12

Auto power ON/OFF .......... 13

Basics

Program auto flash

(The basics) ............................ 14

Recording modes .................. 17

Apprications

Zoom flash coverage ............ 19

Test-flash/Modeling flash ... 22

Bounce flash .......................... 24

Close-up photography

(downward bounce) .............27

Data panel illuminator .........28

AF illuminator ....................... 29

Mode and select buttons ......30

Manual flash (M) .................. 32

High-speed sync (HSS) ........ 35

Wireless flash mode (WL).... 37

Connecting camera and flash

by cable...................................43

Setting power level (LEVEL)

................................................. 44

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

Reset to default settings .......51

Custom setting ...................... 52

Additional Information

Accessories.............................55

Notes on use .......................... 57

Maintenance .......................... 58

Specifications .........................59

Before use

For details, refer to the operating instructions supplied with your camera.

This flash is not dust-proof, splash-proof or waterproof. Do not place this flash in the following locations

Regardless of whether this 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 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

• The HVL-F56AM is a compact, clip-on flash that provides a large flash output with a guide number 56 (85 mm position, ISO 100 · m).

• The built-in wide panel expands flash coverage to a focal length of 17 mm.

• The HVL-F56AM assures highly reliable ADI (Advanced Distance Integration) flash metering when used in combination with compatible lenses.

• The HVL-F56AM supports wireless high-speed sync photography.

• The flash head tilts 90° upward, 180° left and 90° right to bounce flash (with lock function) and 10° downward for close-up photography.

* This function may not be available on some camera models.

Name of parts

Built-in wide panel (21)

Flashtube

Inside terminal

• Accessory terminal (43)

• External-power terminal (56)

Terminal cap

AF illuminator

(29)

Wireless controlsignal receiver (37)

Bounce indicator (24)

Data panel (9)

Control panel (8)

Mounting-footrelease button (12)

Mounting foot

Bounce lockrelease button (24)

Battery-chamber door (10)

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

Control panel

SELECT button

MODE button

Data-panel illuminator (28)

Flash ON/OFF button (13)

Flash-ready lamp (15)

– button

+ button

Test-flash button/ Modeling-flash button (23)

Test-flash mode selection/Hold switch (22)

ZOOM (flash-coverage) selection button (20)

Data panel

Wireless controller indicator*

High-speed-sync indicator (35)

Wireless flash indicator (40-42)

Flash-OK indicator (15)

TTL indicator (32)

Manual-flashcontrol indicator (32)

Multiple-flash indicator (46)

Custom indicator (52)

Ratio-flash indicator*

* This indicator is

displayed, but this function is not available.

Power-level indicator (44)

Flash-range-warning indicators (16)

Flash-range (16)/Multiple-flashfrequency display (47)

Hz indicator (47)

Flash ON/OFF indicators (14)

ft/m indicator (53)

Low-battery indicator (11)

Bounce indicator (24)

TIMES indicator (48)

mm indicator (19)

Zoom (19, 20)/Multiple-flashrepetition display (48)

Manual-ZOOM indicator (20)

On this page, all indicators are displayed for explanatory purposes.

Inserting batteries

The HVL-F56AM may be powered by : *Batteries are not supplied.

• Four AA-size alkaline batteries

• Four AA-size lithium batteries

• Four AA-size rechargeable nickel-metal hydride (Ni-MH) batteries 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.

3 Close the battery-chamber door.

• Follow the reverse steps when opening the battery-chamber door.

• The indicator appears on the data panel. If it does not appear, press the flash ON/OFF button.

Checking Batteries

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

blinking

Changing the batteries is recommended. The flash can still be used in this state if (Flash-ready lamp) on the rear of the unit is lit.

Only blinking

Flash cannot be used. Insert new batteries.

• If nothing appears when the flash ON/OFF button is pressed, check the orientation of the batteries.

Preparations

Attachment and removal of the flash

Attaching the flash to the camera

Push the mounting foot firmly onto the camera until it stops.

• The flash is locked in place automatically.

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

the flash unit.

Removing the flash from the camera

While pressing the mounting-foot release button 1, remove the flash 2.

Auto power ON/OFF

Press the flash ON/OFF button on the back side of the flash.

Power of the flash turns it on.

When the flash is switched on, will appear on the data panel indicator.

If you press the flash ON/OFF button while the flash is turned on, the flash switches off and appears on the data panel indicator.

• disappears after 8 seconds.

Auto power off

When the camera or flash is not used for four minutes, power switches off and data panel indicators disappear automatically to save the batteries.

• In wireless flash photography (p. 37), data panel indicators disappear after 60 minutes.

• The customized settings enable you to disable auto power off or change the auto power off time (p. 53).

Preparations

Program auto flash (The basics)

1 Select the P mode on the camera. 2 Press the flash ON/OFF button to display or

• and appear with Autoflash. Only appears with Fill-flash.

3 Press the shutter button partway down and make sure

that the subject is within the flash range.

• See page 16 for details on the flash range.

4 When the flash is charged, press the shutter button to

take a photo.

• The flash is charged when indicators on the rear of the unit and in the camera viewfinder are both lit.

When the correct exposure has been obtained for the photo just taken,

is displayed in the data panel for approximately four seconds.

• The photo will be under-exposed if taken before charging is complete.

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

• Either Autoflash or Fill-flash is selected, depending on your camera. For details, refer to the operating instructions of your camera.

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

Basics

Continued on the next page

Flash range

Press the shutter button partway down.

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

The range that can be displayed on the data panel is from 1.5 m to 28 m (0.7 m to 28 m for downward bounce; see p. 27). When the distance is beyond this range, or is lit on either side of the viewfinder.

Proper exposure is obtained at less than 1.5 m.

Proper exposure is obtained from 8 m to 28 m or more.

• The flash range is not shown when using flash bounce above and to the

left or right, with wireless flash, or when off-camera cables are used.

• When photographing beyond the lower limit of the flash range, the

photo may be over-exposed despite being displayed, or the bottom of the picture may darken. Always photograph within the indicated flash range.

Recording modes

Aperture priority flash photography (A)

1 Select the A mode on the camera. 2 Press the flash ON/OFF button to display .

• Fill-flash is selected.

3 Set the aperture and focus the subject.

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

• The shutter speed is automatically set.

4 Press the shutter button when charging is complete.

Basics

Continued on the next page

Shutter speed priority flash photography (S)

1 Select the S mode on the camera. 2 Press the flash ON/OFF button to display .

• Fill-flash is selected.

3 Set the shutter speed, and focus the subject. 4 Press the shutter button when charging is complete.

Manual exposure mode flash photography (M)

1 Select the M mode on the camera. 2 Press the flash ON/OFF button to display .

• Fill-flash is selected.

3 Set the aperture and shutter speed, and focus the

subject.

• Reduce the aperture (i.e. increase the f-stop) 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.

Zoom flash coverage

Auto zoom

This flash automatically switches zoom coverage to cover a range of focal lengths from 24 mm to 85 mm when photographing (auto zoom). Normally, you do not need to switch the zoom coverage manually.

24 mm focal length 85 mm focal length

• Press the shutter button partway down to display the zoom coverage set automatically.

• Auto zoom coverage is set as follows:

Focal length in use Coverage

24 mm - 27 mm 24 mm 28 mm - 34 mm 28 mm 35 mm - 49 mm 35 mm 50 mm - 69 mm 50 mm 70 mm - 84 mm 70 mm 85 mm or more 85 mm

• When a lens having a focal length of less than 24 mm is used with auto zoom, “24 mm” blinks. Use of the built-in wide panel (p. 21) is recommended in this case to prevent darkening at the periphery of the image.

Continued on the next page

Applications

Manual zoom

You can manually set the zoom coverage regardless of the focal length of the lens in use.

Press the ZOOM button to display the desired zoom coverage.

• Zoom coverage is changed in the following order.

Auto zoom t 24mm t 28mm t 35mm t 50mm t 70mm t 85mm

• When zoom is set manually, “M.ZOOM” is displayed above zoom

coverage.

• If the zoom coverage is set to less than the focal length of the lens in use,

the periphery of the screen darkens.

Built-in wide panel (17 mm zoom angle)

Pulling out the built-in wide panel expands flash coverage to a focal length of 17 mm.

Pull out the adaptor.

• The zoom coverage display on the data panel shows “17 mm.” The flash range is also displayed.

• When storing the wide panel, insert it in completely.

• When photographing a flat subject from the front at a focal length of about 17 mm, the periphery of the screen may darken slightly because the focal distances at the center and periphery of the screen are different.

• When using a wide-angle lens with a focal length below 17 mm, the periphery of the screen may darken.

Applications

Test-flash/Modeling flash

You can try one or more test flashes before shooting. This is particularly convenient for checking shadows in wireless flash photography when the flash is separated from the camera. * Modeling flash is used to check shadows on the subject before taking

photos.

1 Set the test-flash mode selection/hold switch to the

desired mode.

Flash once at the set light level (LEVEL 1/1 to 1/32).

• Use this test-flash mode when a flash meter is used in manual flash mode (p. 32).

• In multiple flash mode (p. 46), while pressing the test-flash button, the flash flashes the number of times you have set.

Flash three times at a rate of two flashes per second (guide number 5.6 at 24 mm position).

• Used to roughly verify shadows.

Flash 4 seconds at a rate of 40 flashes per second (guide number

1.4 at 24 mm position).

• Convenient for verifying detailed shadows for macro photography.

HOLD

The setting prevents incorrect operation.

• All flash operations are locked except the test-flash button and data panel illuminator. The camera can be operated so you can take photographs.

2 Press the test-flash/modeling-flash button when

charging is complete.

• Do not press the shutter button while the flash is in use.

• The strength of shadows will differ from that during actual photography.

• When using the flash in a bright place or outdoors or when using a bounce flash, shadows are lighter so verification is more difficult.

Applications

Bounce flash

Using the flash with a wall directly behind the subject produces strong shadows on the wall. By directing the flash at the ceiling you can illuminate the subject with reflected light, reducing the intensity of the shadows and producing a softer light on the screen.

Bounce flash Normal flash

Rotate the flash upwards or to the left and right while pressing the bounce lock-release button.

• The bounce indicator appears on the data panel.

The flash may be set to the following angles.

• Upwards: 45°, 60°, 75°, 90°

• Downwards: 10° (see “Close-up Photography” p. 27)

• Right: 30°, 45°, 60°, 75°, 90°

• Left: 30°, 45°, 60°, 75°, 90°, 120°, 150°, 180°

• The bounce lock engages at the 0° position. When the flash is returned to the original position, the lock-release button needs not to be pressed.

• When the flash is rotated upwards or to the left and right, the flash range is not displayed on the data panel. High-speed sync is also cleared.

• Use a white ceiling or wall to reflect the flash. A colored surface may color the light. High ceilings or glass are not recommended.

Continued on the next page

Applications

Adjusting bounce angle

Simultaneously using direct light and bounced light from the flash produces uneven lighting. Determine the bounce angle with respect to the distance to the reflective surface, the distance from the camera to the subject, the focal length of the lens etc.

Correct

Incorrect

When flash is bounced upwards

Determine the angle in relation to the following table.

Focal length of lens Bounce angle

70 mm minimum 45°

28-70 mm 60°

28 mm maximum 75°, 90°

Bouncing to Left and Right

Rotating the flash by 90° to bounce light sideways is recommended. If an angle of less than 90° is used, care should be taken to ensure that direct light from the flash does not illuminate the subject.

Close-up photography (downward bounce)

Tilt the flash slightly downwards when photographing objects between 0.7 m and 1.5 m from the camera to ensure accurate illumination.

Rotate the flash downwards while pressing the bounce lockrelease button.

• The downward bounce indicator appears on the data panel.

• The rotation angle is 10°.

Applications

• When photographing at a distance closer than 0.7 m, the flash will not be able to completely cover the subject and the bottom of the picture will be darker. Use an off-camera or macro flash.

Data panel illuminator

Illuminates the data panel at low-light levels.

Press the data panel illuminator.

• The data panel is illuminated for approximately eight seconds. This

period is extended if the flash is used during this time.

• Press the button again while the data panel is illuminated to extinguish

the data panel illuminator.

AF illuminator

In low-light or when subject contrast is low, when the shutter button is pressed partway down for Auto Focus, the red lamp on the front of the flash unit will light. This is the AF illuminator used as an aid in Auto Focus.

• The AF illuminator operates even when the flash is off.

• The camera AF illuminator does not operate while the flash AF illuminator is operating.

• The AF illuminator does not operate while Continuous AF is used in focusing mode (when continually focusing on a moving subject).

• The AF illuminator may not operate if the focal length of the lens is greater than 300 mm. The flash will not operate when removed from the camera.

Applications

Mode and select buttons

The mode, select, +, and - buttons are used to select the functions described on the next page.

The functions are selected with the following basic procedure. See the relevant pages for details.

1 Select the major item with the mode button. 2 Select the minor item with the select button. 3 Make the setting with the + and - buttons. 4 Press the select button* repeatedly until blinking

stops.

* Also possible with the mode button or flash ON/OFF button.

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