Tamrac MicroSync II User Manual

User’s Guide

MicroSync®II is a product.

®

Wireless radio system

for firing strobes and most

DSLR cameras.

*

• Fires strobes from the hot shoe of most DSLR cameras.

• Receiver has interchangeable plugs to fit directly into most
strobes (no sync cord required).

• Instant, automatic on/off power management.

• 16 channels with automatic synchronization.

• Transmitter battery life up to three years.

• 200 feet maximum range.

*Firing a DSLR camera requires an accessory cord (not included).

www.microsyncdigital.com

2

Table of Contents

English

MicroSync®II Package Contents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Operation at a Glance: Transmitter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Operation at a Glance: Receiver. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Firing Strobes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Changing or Synchronizing Channels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Tips and Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Remotely Firing a DSLR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Camera Firing Cords . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Sync Cords and Adapters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Warranty. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

German . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Spanish. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

French . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

3

This MicroSync®II package has the following contents:

Specifications:

Transmitter Receiver

Batteries/Approx.Life CR2032 / 3 yrs 2 AA / 1 yr
Plugs Hot shoe

Interchangeable 1⁄4” mono plug,

3.5mm mono plug, two-prong plug,
and shoe mount

Ports Sub-mini phone input Sub-mini phone output 2.5 mm

2.5mm

Size 2.13 x 0.9 x 1.26” 1.42 x 0.9 x 4.17”without plug

(54 x 23 x 32 mm) attached, (36 x 23 x 106 mm)

Weight incl. Batteries 0.7 oz (20 g) 3.35 oz (95 g)
System Requirements Cameras with a Power pack or monolight with

universal hot shoe sync voltage above 3 volts and less

than 100 volts

Max Range 200 ft (60 m)
Max Sync Speed Focal plane: 1/200th of a second *

Leaf shutter: 1/350th of a second
Channels 16
Frequency 433 MHz

Transmitter

(included in kit only)

Transmitter
Battery (installed)

Receiver

Plugs

AA batteries

Lanyard

Mono Plug Two Prong Plug Mini Plug

(3.5mm)

Shoe Mount

CR2032

*Please note that maximum sync speed will vary among camera/strobe combinations and may be less.

4

Operation at a Glance: Transmitter

Hot Foot

Slips into the
hot shoe of
most cameras.

Test Fire
Button

Press to
manually fire
strobes.

Channel Select Button

Press once and the LCD will display the
current channel. When pressed again,
channel will change to next channel.

LCD

Displays channel and
battery level. Battery
icon will flash when
battery is low.

Battery Compartment Door

Replace battery when the battery
icon on LCD flashes.

Transmitter Input

Can be used with a
sync cord to connect
the transmitter to a
camera’s sync
terminal.

Locking Ring

Used to secure the
transmitter into the
hot shoe.

LED

Flashes to
confirm
signal trans­mission and
channel
change.

Please Note: There are no on/off buttons on the transmitter or receiver
because they feature an automatic power management system. Both units
remain in a state of 'sleep' until the instant they are used.

5

Operation at a Glance: Receiver

Antenna

For best range,
position verti­cally and keep
clear of metal,
concrete, and
water.

Lanyard Attachment

Can be used to hang the
receiver from a tripod or
light stand.

Battery Com­partment Door

Replace batteries
when battery
icon on LCD
flashes.

Receiver Output

For use with adapter
cord or firing a camera
or strobe.

Strobe Sync Plugs

Allow receiver to be plugged directly into
most mono lights and power packs.

Slide
down
to open

LCD

Displays channel
and battery
level. Battery
icon will flash
when battery
is low.

LED

Flashes to confirm
startup, signal
reception, and
channel change
instruction from
transmitter.

Mono

Plug

Two Prong

Plug

Mini Plug

(3.5mm)

Attaching Plugs

Insert plug adapter into
receiver base and turn
clockwise to lock.

6

Directions for Firing Strobes and Channel Operation

To Fire Strobes

To fire strobe lights using the MicroSync®II, you need a MicroSync®II transmitter
and a MicroSync®II receiver. Follow these easy steps:

1. Insert the transmitter into the hot shoe of your camera and turn your camera on.
If your camera doesn’t have a hot shoe, visit www.microsyncdigital.com to learn
how to fire strobes from cameras without a hot shoe.

2. Open the receiver’s battery compartment door by pulling down on the side of
the receiver with the grooves on it.

3. Install the two included “AA” batteries (observe the polarity of the batteries as
indicated).

4. A set of four interchangeable plugs are supplied with the MicroSync®II. Each
plug has a bayonet-type mount for attaching it to the receiver. Select the plug
type that corresponds to your strobe’s sync input. Insert plug adapter into the
receiver base and turn the plug adapter clockwise to lock (see illustration on
page 5). If the plugs supplied are not compatible with your strobe, you may be
able to connect the receiver to your strobe with a cable. Visit
www.microsyncdigital.com for information about available cables.

5. Plug the receiver into the sync socket of your power pack or monolight.

6. Shoot!

To Change or Synchronize Channels

The MicroSync®II has 16 channels. The transmitter and receiver must be on the
same channel. Both the transmitter and the receiver are set to channel 1 at the
factory. The receiver also automatically resets to channel 1 when the batteries are
removed and reinstalled.
Please note: Channels 1-4 of the MicroSync®II are compatible with channels 1-4
of the previous version of the MicroSync®and have the same sync speed and
range as the previous version of the MicroSync®. Channel 16 has been designed
with less sensitivity in order to work with strobes that produce interference. As a
result, this channel has a maximum range of approximately 20 feet.

To change or synchronize the channels, follow these steps:

1. Turn on your power pack or monolight.

2. Plug the receiver into the sync socket of the power pack or monolight.

3. While standing within three feet of the receiver, press the channel select
button on the transmitter. The transmitter’s LCD screen will display the current
channel. Press the channel select button again to select the next channel.
The transmitter will wirelessly synchronize the receiver to the last selected
channel. The receiver’s LCD screen will then display the channel selected.

Please note: This channel changing or synchronizing procedure must be done
within three feet of the receiver and within 10 seconds of plugging the receiver in
to a strobe or power pack. After 10 seconds the receiver will lock itself to the last
selected channel. This feature ensures that another MicroSync®II user cannot
inadvertently change the channel of your MicroSync®II receiver.

7

Tips and Troubleshooting

Instant, automatic on/off power management

There are no on/off buttons on the transmitter or receiver because they fea­ture an automatic power management system. Both units remain in a state
of 'sleep' until the instant they are used.

My MicroSync®II won’t fire

The most common reason is unsynchronized channels. Test the strobe inde­pendently to be sure it is firing. If the strobe works, but the MicroSync

®

II
doesn’t, turn the strobe off and on again with the receiver connected.
Within 10 seconds after the strobe is turned on, synchronize the channels
(transmitter must be within three feet of receiver). The transmitter’s LCD
screen will confirm the channel selection. The receiver’s LCD screen should
display the same channel.

Low Batteries

The transmitter and the receiver have a low-battery indicator on the LCD
screens. If so indicated, replace the batteries, observing polarity.

I can’t get enough range

The MicroSync®II has been tested to 200 feet (60 m). Radio reflections and
obstructions may reduce the range significantly, so observe the following
guidelines to achieve the best range: Position the receiver antenna
vertically, and as high as possible. Keep your hands from covering the
transmitter antenna. Avoid having metal, concrete, or water obstructions
between the transmitter and receiver. Relocate the receiver to avoid
possible local reflections. Moving the transmitter a few feet will often
solve the problem.

Some strobes (particularly Canon’s 580EX and 580EX II) generate interfer­ence that prevents the receiver from receiving a signal from the transmitter.
Channel 16 has been designed with less sensitivity to compensate for the
interference from these strobes. Because of the reduced sensitivity of
Channel 16, the maximum range of this channel is approximately 20 feet.

8

Directions for Firing a DSLR

To remotely fire a DSLR

The MicroSync®II can be used to remotely fire most DSLRs that have an
electronic cable release input. To do this, you will need a camera firing cord
for your DSLR. MicroSync

®

II camera firing cords are available for most
Canon, Nikon and Pentax digital and film SLRs. For available camera firing
cords visit: www.microsyncdigital.com.

Once you obtain the proper cord for your camera, follow these
easy steps:

1. Turn your camera on.

2. Locate the electronic shutter release input on your camera.

3. Plug the corresponding end of the camera firing cord into the camera’s

electronic shutter release input.

4. Plug the cord’s sub-mini phone plug

(2.5mm) into the MicroSync

®

II

receiver’s output port.

5. Install the shoe mount adapter on to

the receiver and place it into the
camera’s hot shoe. Please note that
this adapter is not a live hot shoe; it
is only a mechanism for holding the
receiver on the camera.

6. While holding the transmitter,

press the test fire button to fire
the camera.

Please Note: For cameras in auto focus mode, you will need to press and

hold down the test fire button for a second to allow the camera to focus
and then fire.

9

Camera Firing Cords

For Canon Pro DSLRs

Model VMC115

Works with Canon 10D, 20D, 30D,
40D, 50D, 5D, 5D Mark II, 7D,
1D Mark II, 1D Mark II N, 1D Mark III,
1D Mark IV, 1Ds Mark II, 1Ds Mark III,
1V, 1VHS, and EOS 3 SLRs.

For Nikon DSLRs

Model VMC116

Works with Nikon D1, D1H, D1X,
D2H, D2Hs, D2X, D2Xs, D3, D3S,
D3X, D200, D300, D300s, D700,
F100, F5, F6, N90 and N90s SLRs.

For Canon Digital Rebel
and Pentax DSLRs

Model VMC117

Works with Canon 60D, EOS Digital
Rebel (300D), Digital Rebel T1i
(500D), Digital Rebel T2i (550D),
Digital Rebel T3 (1100D), Digital
Rebel T3i (600D), Digital Rebel XS
(1000D), Digital Rebel Xsi (450D),
Digital Rebel XT (350D), and Digital Rebel XTi (400D) DSLRs. Also works
with Pentax K-5, K-7, K-r, K-x, K10D, K20D, K100D, K110D, K200D, *istD,
*istDL, *istDS, and *istDS2 DSLRs.

For a complete list of compatible DSLRs,
visit www.microsyncdigital.com.

10

Sync Cords and Adapters

To expand the utility of the MicroSync®II system, we offer the
following sync cords and adapters (sold separately).

PC Cord for MicroSync®II
Model VMC112

Common Uses:

• Remotely fire a PC terminal-

equipped flash (such as Canon’s
580EX II and Nikon’s SB-26,
SB-28, SB-80, SB-800 or SB-900).

• Fire a remote light and a hot shoe

mounted flash simultaneously.

• Fire strobes remotely using a PC terminal-equipped light meter.

• Fire strobes remotely from PC terminal-equipped medium format

cameras or lenses.

Universal Sync Cord Adapter
for MicroSync

®

II

Model VMC113

This adapter allows you to plug your
strobe’s sync cord into the Micro­Sync

®

II receiver.
Note: This adapter is only necessary
for strobes that do not have either
the

1

⁄4” mono plug, mini (3.5mm) plug

or two prong plug sync inputs.

Sync Cord Reducer for
MicroSync

®

II

Model VMC114

Mini (3.5mm) to Sub-mini (2.5mm)

Makes sync cords with mini phone
(3.5mm) plugs compatible with
MicroSync

®

II sub-mini phone

(2.5mm) ports.

For instructions on the use of these sync cords
and adapters, visit www.microsyncdigital.com.

11

2 YEAR LIMITED WARRANTY

This MicroSync®II product is fully warranted to the original retail purchaser
against defects in materials and workmanship for 2 years, except as noted
below. This warranty shall apply to those products which have been put to the
use intended by the manufacturer and does not apply to products
damaged by misuse or neglect. Service under this warranty is available by for­warding the product, freight prepaid, with dated proof of purchase to Tamrac’s
Service Department, 9240 Jordan Avenue, Chatsworth, CA 91311, USA.

(Note: MicroSync

®

II products purchased outside of the United States
should be returned to the place of purchase or to the Tamrac distrib­utor in that country for warranty coverage.) If our inspection finds the

product to be defective in either materials or workmanship, we will repair or
replace it at our option and return it freight collect. This
procedure shall be the exclusive remedy for any breach of this limited war­ranty. Tamrac shall not be liable for consequential or incidental damages. There
are no other expressed or implied warranties, including merchantability or fit­ness for particular purpose, that extend beyond the terms of this limited war­ranty. This warranty gives you specific legal rights, and you may also have
other specific legal rights which may vary from state to state.

Warning

!! Do not plug the two-prong plug of the MicroSync®II receiver into
a wall socket or extension cord. The two-prong adapter is to be plugged
into flash units with the corresponding two-prong receptacle only!!
Plugging the receiver into a wall socket is not an intended use. Doing so will

permanently damage the receiver and will void the warranty.

Warranty

Modifications made to the product, unless expressly approved by
Tamrac, Inc., could void the user’s authority to operate the equipment.

FCC ID: UJYMS0200
This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to
the following two conditions: (1) This device may not cause harmful
interference, and (2) this device must accept any interference received,
including interference that may cause undesired operation.

EC Conformity declaration

MicroSync®II complies with the spectrum and electromagnetic regulations as
provided by the European Community (EMV-RL 2004/108/EG). A declaration of
conformity might be obtained from the importer in your country.

12

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Englisch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Deutsch

MicroSync®II Packungsinhalt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Kurzbeschreibung: Sender . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Kurzbeschreibung: Empfänger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Auslösen von Blitzgeräten . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Ändern oder Synchronisieren der Kanäle. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Hinweise und Fehlerbehebung. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

Fernauslösung einer digitalen SLR-Kamera . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Kameraauslösekabel fur verschiedene Kameras . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

Synchronisationskabel und-adapter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Garantieerklärung. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Spanisch. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

Französisch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

Wichtiger Hinweis zu Batterien und Akkus

Das nebenstehende Symbol weist Sie darauf hin, dass ausgediente Batterien und
Akkus im Interesse des Umweltschutzes weder zerlegt noch verbrannt, noch im
Hausmüll entsorgt werden dürfen, sondern ausschließlich an den dafür
eingerichteten Sammelstellen abgegeben werden müssen, z.B. dort, wo
Sie neue Batterien und Akkus kaufen können, oder an Sammelstellen
der öffentlich-rechtlichen Entsorger. Recycling schont die Natur und Ihre
Gesundheit.

EG-Konformitätserklärung

Für den Tamrac MicroSync®II wird bestätigt, dass er den Anforderungen entspricht,
die in der Richtlinie des Rates zur Angleichung der Rechtsvorschriften der Mitglied­staaten über die elektromagnetische Verträglichkeit und das Funkspektrum (EMV-RL
2004/108/EG) festgelegt sind. Eine Konformitätserklärungs-Kopie können Sie
anfordern bei:
HapaTeam Handelsges. mbH, Goethestr. 11, D-85386 Eching

13

Diese MicroSync

®

II-Packung enthält folgende Teile:

Technische Daten:

Sender Empfänger

Batterie/Lebensdauer CR2032 / ca. 3 Jahre 2 Mignon-Zellen / ca. 1 Jahr
Geräteanschluss Aufsteckfuß

auswechselbar: Mono-Klinke ¼“,

bzw.- befestigung Mini-Klinke 3,5 mm, Doppelstift-

Stecker oder Kamera-Aufsteckfuß

Weitere Anschlusse

Sub-Mini-Klinkenbuchse

Sub-Mini-Klinkenbuchse 2,5 mm

2,5 mm (Eingang) (Ausgang)

Abmessungen 54 x 23 x 32 mm 36 x 23 x 106 mm (ohne einen der

auswechselbaren Steckanschlusse)

Gewicht inkl. Batterie(n) 20 g 95 g
System-Voraussetzung Kamera mit u blichem Generator- oder Kompaktblitzgerät

Aufsteckschuh mit mit Synchronisationsspannung
Mittenkontakt zwischen 3 Volt und 100 Volt

Reichweite ca. 60 m
kürzeste Verschlusszeit Schlitzverschluss: 1/200 s*

zur Synchronisation Zentralverschluss: 1/350 s
Kanäle 16
Sendefrequenz 433 MHz

Sender

(nur im Set enthalten)

Batterie für
Sender (eingelegt)

Empfänger

Steckanschlüsse

Mignon-Zellen
(Typ AA, LR06)

Handschlaufe

Mono-Klinke Doppelstift-

Stecker

Mini-Klinke

(3,5 mm)

Aufsteckfuß

(ohne el. Kontakte,
nur zur Befestigung)

CR2032

* Die kürzeste Verschlusszeit kann je nach Kamera-Blitz-Kombination auch kürzer sein.