Bolt VS-570N FOR NIKON User manual

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VS-570N for Nikon
WIRELESS TTL FLASH
User’s Manual
97257

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.
2 |Introduction

Introduction |3
Introduction
Thank you for choosing the Bolt VS-570N 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 a wireless slave ash. Among the benets you’ll enjoy:
• Full compatibility with Nikon’s i-TTL system
• 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 reector and diffuser panels
• Automatic power-saving function
• Upgradeable rmware

4 |Contents
Contents
Overview ..................................................................................................................................................... 6–9
Warnings ................................................................................................................................................. 10–11
Installing Batteries ......................................................................................................................................... 12
Mounting the Flash .................................................................................................................................. 13–14
Turning on the Flash and Firing a Test............................................................................................................ 15
Extended Interface......................................................................................................................................... 16
Using the Automatic TTL Flash Mode ............................................................................................................. 17
Using High-Speed Sync ................................................................................................................................. 18
Balanced Fill-Light and Red-Eye Reduction The ............................................................................................. 18
Locking Flash Exposure ................................................................................................................................. 19
Using Flash Exposure Compensation.........................................................................................................19-20
Using the Manual Flash Mode ...................................................................................................................20-21
Controlling Flash Coverage (Zoom) ...........................................................................................................21-23
Using the Autofocus-Assist Light.................................................................................................................... 24
Bouncing Your Flash................................................................................................................................. 24–26

Contents |5
Using Rear- or Second-Curtain Synchronization ............................................................................................. 27
Using Your VS-570N as a Wireless Master or Slave....................................................................................28-29
Using the VS-570N as a Wireless Master...................................................................................................30-35
Using Your VS-570N as a Wireless TTL Slave............................................................................................ 36–37
Using Your VS-570N as a Wireless Manual Flash...................................................................................... 37–39
Positioning Remote Flash Units .................................................................................................................40-41
Upgrading the Firmware on the VS-570N ....................................................................................................... 42
Troubleshooting ........................................................................................................................................42-43
Specications .......................................................................................................................................... 44–45
Guide Number Chart ...................................................................................................................................... 45
FCC Notices................................................................................................................................................... 46
One-Year Limited Warranty............................................................................................................................. 47

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VS-570N
6 |Overview

Overview |7
Overview
1. Flash head
2. Reector 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
conrmation 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
32
H
TTL
EV+
EV-
M
GROUP BGROUP A GROUP C
S
21
28 29 30 31
22 23 24 25 26
27

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-570N, 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 specied 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.
• 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-570N 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.

Warnings |11
• Do not clean the VS-570N 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-570N 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-570N, as this could cause a malfunction
that may cause it to explode or ignite.
• Remove all batteries from the VS-570N before long-term storage in order to prevent the product from
igniting or leaking corrosive liquids.
• 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-570N 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.

12 |Installing Batteries
Installing Batteries
The VS-570N can be powered by four AA batteries of several types:
• Lithium (1.5V)
• Nickel-metal hydride (Ni-MH) (1.2V)
• Alkaline (1.5V)
Note: For the fastest recycle times and longest battery life, lithium or Ni-MH batteries are recommended.
To install batteries, make sure the VS-570N 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.
1 2

Mounting the Flash |13
Mounting the Flash
To mount the ash on your camera, make sure the VS-570N 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.
3. Turn the mounting foot lock clockwise until snug. Do not overtighten.
LOCK
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LOCK
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14 |Mounting the Flash
To dismount the ash from your camera, make sure the VS-570N is turned off and follow these steps:
1. Turn the mounting foot lock counter-clockwise to loosen it.
2. Slide the mounting foot out of your camera’s hot shoe.
Mounting the VS-570N on the included stand:
You can mount the VS-570N 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 ¼˝-20 screw mount.

Turning on the Flash and Firing a Test |15
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 viewnder.
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-570N, 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.

16 |Extended Interface
Extended Interface
You can connect your VS-570N 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.
Note: When using an external power source, the AA batteries must still be in the ash in order to operate.
PC Sync: You can synchronize your VS-570N with a camera by running a PC cord between your camera and
the VS-570N’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-570N 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.

Using the Automatic TTL Flash Mode |17
Using the Automatic TTL Flash Mode
When the VS-570N 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 conrmed 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” 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 viewnder.
4. Press your camera’s shutter-release button to take the picture. The OK indicator will ash on the VS-
570N’s LCD, and the OK light below it will glow green momentarily to indicate that the proper exposure
was attained.
Note: The aperture indicator on the VS-570N provides readouts up to f/11, in full-stop increments. The
indicator will display the f-stop closest to your current camera setting.

18 |Using High-Speed Sync - Balanced Fill-Light and Red-Eye Reduction
Using High-Speed Sync
You can use shutter speeds higher than your camera’s top ash sync speed with the VS-570N 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.
High-speed sync is set automatically in your camera. Consult your camera’s manual for more information
about this feature.
Balanced Fill-Light and Red-Eye Reduction
The VS-570N supports balanced ll-light and red-eye reduction modes, both of which are set automatically in
your camera. Consult your camera’s manual for more information about these features.

Locking Flash Exposure - Using Flash ExposureCompensation |19
Locking Flash Exposure
In automatic TTL mode, you can lock the ash output level that is optimal for specic elements of your scene
by using the ash exposure lock (FV Lock) 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 viewnder.
2. Press the FV Lock button on your camera. The ash will re a test shot and lock its output level.
3. Reframe your image as desired and take the shot.
For more information about the ash exposure lock feature, consult your camera’s manual
Using Flash Exposure
Compensation
In automatic TTL mode, you can use ash exposure
compensation to adjust the VS-570N’s ash output
incrementally, just as you would adjust exposure with the
exposure compensation function on your camera.
TTL
EV+

20 |Using the Manual Flash Mode
To apply ash exposure compensation, press the up or down buttons on the ash to increase or decrease
ash exposure by 1/3 stop—up to 3 stops total. The LCD will display EV+ or EV- next to the exposure value to
indicate whether it is increased or decreased.
Using the Manual Flash Mode
You can also set the VS-570N’s ash output level manually for greater creative control over your images.
Seven manual settings are available: 1/1, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 1/16, 1/32, and 1/64. The 1/1 setting is the full-power
ash, and each successive setting halves the light
output. 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 “M” and the ash output
level indicator show on the LCD. Press the up or
down buttons to set the desired ash output level.
The output level will cycle through in
both directions.
M
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