Bolt VC-310 User manual

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VC-310
COMPACT ON-CAMERA TTL FLASH
User’s Manual

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Copyright © 2016 Gradus Group.
Bolt and other names of Bolt products are trademarks of Gradus Group. Other product and corporate names mentioned herein are trademarks of their respective holders.

Introduction |3
Introduction
Thank you for choosing Bolt. The VC-310 is a compact, full-featured shoe-mount ash for your Sony, Olympus/
Panasonic, or Fujilm camera. This advanced digital ash puts creative control in your hands with a broad range of
automatic and manual features. It can be used as both an on-camera ash and a wireless slave ash. Among the
benets you’ll enjoy:
• Full compatibility with TTL metering system
• Eight manual ash levels: full to 1/128 power, plus ne-tuning by 1/3 increments
• Stroboscopic mode
• Tilt and swivel head: -7° down, 90° up, 90° right, and 60° left
• Backlit LCD
• Autofocus assist for low-light photography
• Snap-on diffuser
• Automatic power-saving function
• Overheating protection
• Upgradeable rmware

4 |Contents
Contents
Overview ......................................................................................................................................................6-7
Warnings ......................................................................................................................................................8-9
Installing Batteries ......................................................................................................................................... 10
Mounting the Flash ........................................................................................................................................ 11
Turning On the Flash and Firing a Test Shot...............................................................................................12-14
Extended Interface......................................................................................................................................... 14
Automatic TTL Flash Mode........................................................................................................................15-16
Using Flash Exposure Compensation.............................................................................................................. 16
Manual Flash Mode ..................................................................................................................................17-18
Diffusing the Flash......................................................................................................................................... 18
Bouncing Your Flash....................................................................................................................................... 19
Stroboscopic Mode (VC-310SMI and VC-310OP models only)....................................................................20-21
Manual Optical Slave Modes S1/S2...........................................................................................................22-23
Positioning the Slave and Remote Flash Units ...........................................................................................24-25
Stroboscopic Reference ................................................................................................................................. 26

Contents |5
Specications ................................................................................................................................................ 27
Troubleshooting ........................................................................................................................................28-29
FCC Compliance ............................................................................................................................................ 30
One-Year Limited Warranty ............................................................................................................................ 31

6 |Overview
Made in China
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Overview |7
Overview
1. Flash head
2. Flash test button
3. Mode button
4. Flash ready indicator
5. Left arrow
6. Set button
7. Right arrow
8. F1 function button
9. F2 function button
10. Power button
11. LCD panel
12. Flash head position
indicator (tilt)
13. Micro USB port
14. Mounting foot
15. Locking wheel
16. Optical sensor
17. Battery compartment
with cover
18. Flash stand
19. Diffuser
20. Carrying pouch
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8 |Warnings
Warnings
Before using your VC-310, please read the following safety notices thoroughly to ensure safe use and to help
prevent damage to your ash or injury to yourself or others.
• Do not re the ash at close range directly into the eyes of people or animals.
• To avoid overheating and damaging your ash unit, please wait for at least ten minutes after thirty
continuous ashes at full power (page 13).
• Do not disassemble or attempt to repair this product yourself. There are high-voltage components inside
that can produce a hazardous electric shock.
• Keep this product and its batteries out of the reach of children.
• Use only the power sources specied in this manual.
• Always switch the ash off before changing the batteries.
• Always install AA batteries of the same type, brand, and age. Do not combine different types or brands, or
old and new batteries. Install the batteries in the proper orientation, according to the indicator in the
battery chamber.
• Do not use or store the VC-310 in ammable conditions (such as environments containing ammable gases
or liquid chemicals).

Warnings |9
• Do not clean the VC-310 with agents containing corrosive or ammable substances such as paint thinner,
benzene, or nail polish remover.
• This product is not water resistant. Keep it away from rain, snow, humidity, and general moisture.
• Should the VC-310 sustain physical damage, do not touch any exposed interior metal parts. If touched, they
may generate an electric shock or cause a malfunction. Promptly remove the batteries and take the product
to an authorized service center for repair.
• If you detect excessive heat, smoke, or a burning smell coming from the ash, immediately stop operation
and remove the batteries to prevent the product from igniting or melting. Take the product to an authorized
service center for repair.
• Do not drop or otherwise cause a strong physical impact to the VC-310.
• For long-term storage, remove the batteries from the VC-310.
• Do not store or use this product at temperatures above 104°F (40°C).
• Keep the metal contacts in the battery compartment clean and free of corrosion and dirt. Contacts may be
cleaned with isopropyl alcohol on a cotton swab.
• Dispose of used batteries properly.

10 |Installing Batteries
Installing Batteries
The VC-310 can be powered by two AA batteries of several types:
• Lithium (1.5 V)
• Nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) (1.2 V)
• Alkaline (1.5 V)
1. Turn the ash upside down.
2. Press the button on the battery compartment cover so the cover
ips open.
3. Insert two AA batteries (not included) according to the diagrams inside
the battery compartment.
4. Close the battery compartment cover until it clicks.
When the battery power is low, the battery indicator [ ] will ash on
the LCD.
Important! Replace both batteries at the same time. Do not mix battery
types or brands, or use old and new batteries together.
Made in China
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Mounting the Flash |11
Mounting the Flash
To mount the ash on your camera, make sure the VC-310 is turned off
and follow these steps:
1. Rotate the locking wheel counterclockwise to loosen it.
2. Slide the mounting foot all the way into your camera’s hot shoe.
3. Rotate the locking wheel clockwise until secure.
To dismount the ash from your camera, make sure the VC-310 is turned
off and follow these steps:
1. Rotate the locking wheel counterclockwise to release the ash.
2. Slide the mounting foot out of your camera’s hot shoe.
Mounting the VC-310 on the included stand adapter:
You can mount the VC-310 on the included stand adapter in the same way you would mount it on your camera.
This allows you to set the ash up on a at surface or attach it to a tripod head, light stand, or clamp that has
a compatible 1/4"-20 screw mount.
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12 |Turning On the Flash and Firing a Test
Turning On the Flash and Firing a Test Shot
To turn the ash on, press and hold the power button until the LCD illuminates. To turn the ash off, hold the
power button for approximately two seconds.
Flash ready indicator: The ash ready indicator lets you know when the ash is ready to re again. The
indicator will blink red when charging and remain lit when the ash is ready to re.
To re a test ash, press the Test button.
Depending on your camera model, a ash icon may also appear in the viewnder when the VC-310 is mounted
on your camera.
Sleep mode: After approximately two minutes of inactivity, the ash will automatically enter sleep mode
to conserve the battery life by turning off the LCD and ash ready light. To reactivate the VC-310, press the
Set button on the ash unit or press your camera’s shutter-release button halfway. During long periods of
inactivity, use the power switch to turn the ash off completely.
LCD illumination: When you turn the ash on the LCD illuminates for approximately ten seconds before
turning off to save battery life. Press any button on the ash to light up the display when you need to view the
LCD in a low light environment.

Turning On the Flash and Firing a Test |13
Overheating protection mode: If the operating temperature of the VC-310 is too high after several full-power
ashes, the ash will enter the overheating protection mode. The thermal warning indicator [TP-HI] will appear
on the LCD, and you should let the ash cool down for a period of 2–5 minutes.
LED preview and focusing: There are three LEDs built into the ash head that can be used as a preview
light, to illuminate the subject for reference, or as an autofocus assist light, to help the camera focus when the
scene is too dim.
Using the LEDs as a preview light:
VC-310SMI and VC-310OP: Press the power button while the ash is on. To turn the preview light off, press
the power button again.
VC-310F: Press the F2 function button to turn the preview light on and off.
The LEDs will function as an autofocus assist light whenever you press the camera’s shutter release halfway.
Modeling ash: The modeling ash res a burst of several ashes to show you where unwanted shadows
occur in your setup. Press and hold the Test button for more than two seconds.
Default setting: You can restore the ash to its original settings.

14 |Extended Interface
To reset the VC-310SMI to its original settings, follow these steps:
1. Make sure the ash is off.
2. Press and hold the Test and Power buttons for 3 seconds, then release.
To reset the VC-310OP to its original settings, follow these steps:
1. Make sure the ash is off.
2. Press and hold the Test and Power buttons until the ash turns on, then release.
To reset the VC-310F to its original settings, follow these steps:
1. Make sure the ash is on.
2. Press and hold the Mode and Right buttons for 3 seconds, then release.
Extended Interface
Micro-B USB: This ash supports rmware upgrades through the micro USB port on the side of the ash. In
order to ensure compatibility with future cameras, the VC-310’s rmware may be updated. This can be done to
ensure proper communication with new cameras or to add new features. Visit www.boltashes.com/rmware
to check if a new rmware version has been released. Follow the online instructions to upgrade.

Automatic TTL Flash Mode |15
Automatic TTL Flash Mode
When the VC-310 is mounted on a compatible TTL camera, it can set the appropriate ash level automatically,
in conjunction with the camera’s through-the-lens (TTL) metering system.
To use the automatic TTL ash mode, mount the ash on the camera and follow these steps:
1. Turn the ash on and press the Mode button repeatedly to cycle through the ash modes until the TTL
mode indicator appears on the LCD.
2. Make sure your camera is set to a programmed or automatic mode, or on a priority mode such as
aperture priority.
TTL
+0 7EV
IS0100
F5 6
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Overview
1. TTL ash mode
2. Flash exposure compensation
3. ISO value
4. Aperture value
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16 |Using Flash Exposure Compensation
3. Press the shutter release button on your camera halfway to ensure that the camera is communicating
with the ash. The camera’s aperture settings will appear on the ash LCD, and a ash icon will appear in
the camera’s viewnder.
4. Press your camera’s shutter release button to take the picture.
Using Flash Exposure Compensation
Flash exposure compensation allows you to adjust and optimize your ash’s automated setting by increasing
or decreasing its light output without affecting the exposure as a whole.
In automatic TTL mode, you can use ash exposure compensation to incrementally alter the VC-310’s ash
output, just as you would change exposure with the exposure compensation function on your camera.
To apply ash exposure compensation, follow these steps:
1. VC-310F and VC-310OP: Press the Set button so that the ash exposure compensation value is
highlighted and appears on the LCD.
VC-310SMI: Press the Set button so that the ash exposure compensation value blinks.
2. Use the left or right arrows to adjust the exposure compensation from -3 to +3 stops, in increments of
one-third.
3. Press the Set button to conrm the value.

Manual Flash Mode |17
Manual Flash Mode
You can set the VC-310’s ash output level manually, for greater creative control over your images. The 1/1
setting is the full-power ash, and each successive setting halves the light output, all the way down to 1/128.
You can also ne-tune the ash output in 1/3 increments.
To use the manual mode, turn the ash and camera on and follow these steps:
1. Press the Mode button repeatedly to cycle through the ash modes until the manual mode icon [M] and
the ash output level appear on the LCD.
2. Set the exposure settings you want to use on your camera.
3. VC-310F and VC-310OP: Press the Set button to highlight the ash output level.
VC-310SMI: Press the Set button so that the ash output level blinks.
Overview
1. Manual ash mode
2. Manual ash output power
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1/128 +0 3 EV
IS0100
F5 6
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18 |Diffusing the Flash
4. Press the right or left arrows to increase or decrease to the desired ash output level.
5. Press the Set button to conrm.
6. Press your camera’s shutter release button to take the picture.
7. Adjust your camera’s exposure settings and the ash’s light output level as needed.
When adjusting exposure settings on your camera, the highest shutter speed available will be your camera’s
ash sync speed.
Tip: For best results when shooting in manual ash mode, use a handheld light meter.
Diffusing the Flash
Use the included diffuser to soften the light from the ash.
To attach the diffuser, t the diffuser onto the ash head and make sure it is secure.

Bouncing Your Flash |19
Bouncing Your Flash
The VC-310 ash head can tilt down to -7° and up at 45°, 60°, 75°, and 90° angles to the lens. It can also
swivel horizontally 90° to the right and 60° to the left.
Using ash to directly illuminate a subject often creates harsh, unnatural, and unattractive shadows. The
ash can be tilted or swiveled, allowing you to aim your ash at a large white or neutral-colored surface,
such as a ceiling, wall, or reector. The light will bounce off the larger surface before striking your subject to
provide softer, more natural illumination. In addition, the ash can tilt down by seven degrees in order to fully
illuminate your subject when shooting close-up photography.
When bouncing your ash, you may need to adjust your exposure settings, since there will be less light falling
on your subject. The farther away the bounce surface and your subject are, the less illumination there will be.
Tip: Bouncing your ash off colored surfaces can create a color cast in your images. Bouncing off a white or
neutral-colored surface will not alter the color of the light, while bouncing off a gold-toned surface can give
portraits a warmer look. Other colors, while usually not desirable, can be used for creative effects.

20 |Stroboscopic Mode
Stroboscopic Mode (VC-310SMI and VC-310OP models only)
• Multi ash mode
• Multi power output
• Time (number of ashes)
• Flash frequency
The stroboscopic mode res the ash multiple times in quick succession during a single exposure.
Stroboscopic lighting is often used to illustrate motion—this can create a unique effect in which moving
objects appear multiple times in the frame. It is also useful when capturing fast-moving objects due to the
ash pulsating faster than the shutter can open and close.
Important! For the VC-310SMI model, this mode is labeled as Multi. For the VC-310OP model, this mode is
labeled as RPT.
To enable the stroboscopic mode, turn on the ash and camera and follow these steps:
1. Press the Mode button repeatedly until the stroboscopic mode appears on the LCD.
Overview
1. Stroboscopic ash indicator
2. Stroboscopic output power
3. Time (number of ashes)
4. Flash frequency
MULTI
TIME
Hz
1/128 5T−7Hz
IS0100
F5 6
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