Bolt VS-570C User manual

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VS-570C for Canon
WIRELESS TTL FLASH
User’s Manual

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Copyright © 2015 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 the Bolt VS-570C Wireless TTL Flash. This advanced digital ash unit 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 an optical wireless master or slave. Among the benets you’ll enjoy:
• Full compatibility with Canon’s E-TTL and E-TTL II metering systems
• Optical wireless master or slave
• Wireless TTL control with multiple ash units and groups
• Automatic and manual zoom from 24mm to 105mm
• Tilt and swivel head: 90° up, 120° right, and 180° left
• 1.8-inch backlit LCD
• Seven manual ash levels: full to 1/64 power
• Autofocus assist for low-light photography
• High-speed sync
• Rear-curtain sync
• Built-in reector and diffuser panels
• Automatic power-saving function
• Upgradeable rmware

4 |Contents
Contents
Overview ..................................................................................................................................................... 6–9
Warnings ................................................................................................................................................. 10–12
Installing Batteries ................................................................................................................................... 12–14
Mounting the Flash .................................................................................................................................. 14–16
Turning on the Flash and Firing a Test............................................................................................................ 16
Extended Interface......................................................................................................................................... 17
Using the Automatic TTL Flash Mode ....................................................................................................... 18–19
Using High-Speed Sync ........................................................................................................................... 19–20
Locking Flash Exposure ........................................................................................................................... 20–21
Using Flash Exposure Compensation.............................................................................................................. 21
Using the Manual Flash Mode .................................................................................................................. 22–23
Controlling Flash Coverage (Zoom) .......................................................................................................... 23–26
Using the Autofocus-Assist Light.................................................................................................................... 26
Bouncing Your Flash................................................................................................................................. 27–29
Using Rear- or Second-Curtain Synchronization ....................................................................................... 29–30

Contents |5
Using Your VS-570C as a Wireless Master or Slave................................................................................... 31–32
Using Your VS-570C as a Wireless Master ................................................................................................ 32–35
TTL Master Setup .......................................................................................................................................... 36
Choose the Group mode............................................................................................................................37-39
Manual Master Setup................................................................................................................................40-41
Choose the Group mode............................................................................................................................41-43
Master Summary Screen ..........................................................................................................................44-47
Using Your VS-570C as a Wireless TTL Slave.............................................................................................48-49
Using Your VS-570C as a Wireless Manual Flash .......................................................................................50-52
Positioning Remote Flash Units .................................................................................................................52-53
Upgrading the Firmware on the VS-570C ....................................................................................................... 53
Troubleshooting ........................................................................................................................................54-55
Specications ................................................................................................................................................ 56
Guide Number Chart ...................................................................................................................................... 57
FCC Notices................................................................................................................................................... 58
One-Year Limited Warranty ............................................................................................................................ 59

6 |Overview
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VS-570C

Overview |7
Overview
1. Flash head
2. Reector panel
3. Diffuser panel
4. Battery compartment cover
5. Wireless sensor (optical)
6. Mounting foot
7. Mounting foot lock
8. Mode button
9. Up button
10. Down button
11. Zoom position button
12. Ready light / Test button
13. Power switch
14. Automatic exposure
conrmation light
15. Flash head position indicator
16. LCD
17. External power socket
18. PC sync socket
19. Firmware upgrade socket
20. AF assist / Wireless ready
indicator light

8 |Overview
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TTL
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Overview |9
Wireless TTL Master Settings
21. High-speed sync
22. Slave mode
23. TTL mode
24. Wireless TTL mode
25. Manual mode
26. Manual ash output / Slave channel
27. Slave group
28. Zoom mode
29. Zoom position
30. Flash compensation value
31. Camera aperture (f-stop)
32. Stand / Tripod mount

10 |Warnings
Warnings
Before using your VS-570C, please read the following safety notices carefully and 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. This can cause damage to
the retina and may even lead to blindness.
• To avoid overheating and damaging your ash unit, please wait for at least 10 minutes after 20 continuous
ashes at full power.
• 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 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. This could cause batteries to leak, overheat, or explode.

Warnings |11
• Install batteries in the proper orientation, according to the indicator in the battery chamber. Installing
batteries in the reverse orientation could cause them to leak, overheat, or explode.
• Do not use or store the VS-570C in ammable conditions (such as environments containing ammable
gases or liquid chemicals). This could damage the ash, start a re, or cause an electric shock.
• Do not clean the VS-570C 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 VS-570C get damaged, 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 VS-570C, as this could cause a malfunction
that may cause it to explode or ignite.
• Remove all batteries from the VS-570C before long-term storage in order to prevent the product from
igniting or leaking corrosive liquids.

12 |Installing Batteries
• 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. Do not touch
them with your ngers. Corrosive elements on the contacts can damage the VS-570C and prevent it from
functioning properly. Contacts may be cleaned with isopropyl alcohol on a cotton swab.
• Dispose of used batteries properly. Never heat them or throw them into a re, as this could cause the
batteries to leak corrosive liquids, generate heat, or explode.
Installing Batteries
The VS-570C can be powered by four AA batteries of several types:
• Lithium (1.5 V)
• Nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) (1.2 V)
• Alkaline (1.5 V)
Note: For the fastest recycle times and longest battery life, lithium or NiMH batteries are recommended.

Installing Batteries |13
To install batteries, make sure the VS-570C is turned off and follow these steps:
1. Press on the battery compartment cover and slide it in the direction of the arrow to remove it.
2. Insert batteries in the orientations indicated by the illustration inside the compartment.
3. Replace the battery compartment cover by pressing and sliding it into place in the opposite direction of
the arrow on the cover.
Important!
Replace all four batteries at
the same time. Do not mix
battery types or brands, or
use old and new batteries
together.
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14 |Mounting the Flash
Mounting the Flash
To mount the ash on your camera, make sure the VS-570C is turned off and follow these steps:
1. Turn the mounting foot lock counterclockwise to loosen it.
2. Slide the mounting foot all the way into your camera’s hot shoe.
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Mounting the Flash |15
3. Turn the mounting foot lock clockwise until snug.
Do not overtighten.
To dismount the ash from your camera, make sure the
VS-570C is turned off and follow these steps:
1. Turn the mounting foot lock counterclockwise to loosen it.
2. Slide the mounting foot out of your camera’s hot shoe.
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16 |Turning on the Flash and Firing a Test
Mounting the VS-570C on the included stand:
You can mount the VS-570C on the included stand in the same way you would mount it on your camera. This
allows you to set the ash up on a at surface or to attach it to a tripod head, light stand, or clamp that has a
compatible 1/4"-20 screw mount.
Turning On the Flash and Firing a Test
To turn the ash on, simply slide the power switch to the On position.
When the ash is ready to re, the Ready light will glow red. If the ash is mounted on your camera, a ash
icon will also appear in the camera’s viewnder.
To re a test ash, press the Ready light / Test button.
Automatic power-saving function: After 3 minutes of inactivity, the ash will automatically enter power-
saving mode to conserve battery life. The LCD will display a single OFF indicator, and the Ready light will turn
off. To reactivate the VS-570C, simply press any button on the control panel, or tap your camera’s shutter-
release button. During long periods of inactivity, it is recommended that you use the power switch to turn the
ash off completely.
LCD illumination: When a button is pressed, the LCD will be illuminated for about 5 seconds.

Extended Interface |17
Extended Interface
You can connect your VS-570C to an external power source or PC sync via the extended interface on the side
of the ash.
External power source: An external power source, such as the Bolt Cyclone Battery Pack, can greatly
increase the battery life of your ash and reduce the recycle time in between ashes.
Important: When an external power source is plugged into the ash, the AA batteries must still be in the ash
in order for it to operate.
PC Sync: You can synchronize your VS-570C with a camera by running a PC cord between your camera and
the VS-570C’s PC sync socket. This lets you position the ash away from the camera, thus giving you more
lighting options.
Note: The PC sync socket on the VS-570C is only for synchronous signal input, and not output.
To access the extended interface, follow these steps:
1. Pull back the contact cover on the side of the ash.
2. Plug the cable into the corresponding socket.
A. For an external power source, plug the Bolt BO-1011 power cable (sold separately) into the external
power source socket.
B. For PC sync, plug a PC cord into the PC sync socket.

18 |Using the Automatic TTL Flash Mode
Using the Automatic TTL Flash Mode
When the VS-570C is mounted on a compatible 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 mode, mount the
ash on the camera and follow these steps:
1. Each time you turn the ash on, it will be in automatic mode. This will be conrmed by the TTL mode
indicator on the LCD. If the ash has been set to another mode, press the Mode button repeatedly to cycle
through the ash modes until “TTL” or “E-TTL” is shown on the LCD.
2. Make sure your camera is set on a programmed or automatic mode, or on a priority mode such as
aperture priority.
3. Press the shutter-release button on your camera halfway to ensure that the camera is communicating
with the ash. The camera’s aperture setting will be displayed on the ash LCD, and a ash icon will
appear in the camera’s viewnder.

Using High-Speed Sync |19
4. Press your camera’s shutter-release button to take the picture. The Conrmation light below it will glow
green momentarily to indicate that the proper exposure was attained.
The aperture indicator on the VS-570C provides readouts up to f/11, in full-stop increments. The indicator will
display the f-stop closest to your current camera setting.
Note: The aperture setting may not appear with all cameras.
Using High-Speed Sync
You can use shutter speeds higher than your camera’s top ash sync speed with the VS-570C by activating
high-speed sync in automatic TTL mode. High-speed sync lets you use shutter speeds as fast as 1/8000
second. This is especially useful when using large apertures in bright situations or when freezing motion.

20 |Locking Flash Exposure
To activate high-speed sync mode on the VS-570C,
press the Mode button repeatedly to cycle through
the ash modes until the high-speed sync mode
indicator appears on the LCD.
To turn high-speed sync on or off, press the up
or down buttons. “On” will appear in the top right
corner of the LCD when high-speed sync mode is
activated, and “--” will appear when high-speed
sync mode is deactivated.
Locking Flash Exposure
In automatic TTL mode, you can lock the ash output level that is optimal for specic elements of your scene
by using the ash exposure lock (FEL) on your camera. To lock ash exposure, follow these steps:
1. Position the element of your scene that you want to be correctly exposed in the center of your viewnder.
2. Press the FEL button on your camera. The ash will re a test shot and lock its output level.
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