Bolt VM-160-V2 User manual

VM-160-V2
LED MACRO RING LIGHT
User Manual

2 |Introduction
Thank you for choosing Bolt.
Thank you for choosing the Bolt VM-160-V2 LED Macro Ring Light. This LED light combines a compact design
with versatile features to give you both ease of use and creative lighting control. It’s great for shooting close-ups
of flowers, insects, and products. Among the benefits you’ll enjoy:
• Eight levels of brightness adjustment
• Left- and right-only illumination
• Flash mode
• Automatic power-saving function

Table of Contents |3
Table of Contents
Precautions ............................................................................................................................................................4
Overview ................................................................................................................................................................6
Battery Installation .................................................................................................................................................9
Mounting the Power Control Unit.......................................................................................................................... 11
Mounting the LED Ring Light.................................................................................................................................12
Operating the VM-160-V2......................................................................................................................................13
Attaching the Amber Filter ....................................................................................................................................16
Troubleshooting ....................................................................................................................................................17
Specifications ........................................................................................................................................................18
One-Year Limited Warranty....................................................................................................................................19

4 |Precautions
⚠⚡
• Before using this product, please thoroughly read the
following safety notices to ensure safe use and help
prevent damage to your flash or injury to yourself and
others.
• Do not fire the flash at close range directly into the eyes
of people or animals. This can cause damage to the retina
and may even lead to blindness.
• 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 specified in this manual.
• Always switch the flash o before changing the batteries.
• Always install batteries of the same type, brand, and age.
Do not combine dierent types or brands, or old and new
batteries. This can cause the batteries to leak, overheat,
or explode. Install the batteries in the proper orientation,
according to the indicator in the battery chamber.
Installing batteries in the reverse orientation may cause
them to leak, overheat, or explode.
• Do not clean this product with agents containing
corrosive or flammable substances such as paint thinner,
benzene, or nail-polish remover.
• Do not use or store this product in flammable conditions
(such as environments containing flammable gases or
liquid chemicals). This can damage the flash, start a fire,
or cause an electric shock.
Precautions

Precautions |5
• This product is not water resistant. Keep it away from
rain, snow, humidity, and general moisture.
• If you detect a burning smell, smoke, or excessive heat
coming from the flash, immediately stop operation and
remove the batteries to prevent the product from igniting
or melting.
• Do not drop or otherwise cause a strong physical impact
to this product, as this can cause a malfunction that may
cause it to explode or ignite.
• If the product sustains 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.
• For long-term storage, remove all batteries from this
product to prevent the product from igniting or leaking
corrosive liquids.
• Do not store or use this product at temperatures above
149°F (65°C).
• Keep the metal contacts in the battery compartment
clean and free of corrosion and dirt. Do not touch them
with your fingers. Corrosive elements on the contacts
can damage this product 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 fire, as this can cause the batteries to
leak corrosive liquids, generate heat, or explode.
• Images are for illustrative purposes only.

6 |Overview
Overview
Power Control Unit
1 LCD
2 Mode button
3 Pilot button (Test)
4 Left navigation button
5 Mounting foot
6 Locking Wheel
7 Right navigation button
8 Set button
9 Power button
10 Light button
LED Ring Light
11 LED
12 Lens adapter ring locks
Included Accessories
• Amber filter
• Eight adapter rings (40.5, 52, 55, 58, 62, 67, 72,
and 77 mm)

Overview |7
11
12
3
4
10
9
8
7
2
56
1

8 |Overview
LCD
1 Exposure parameter
2 Manual mode
3 Flash output power
4 Battery capacity
5 Lock
6 Light mode
7 Full flash mode
8 Left flash mode
9 Right flash mode
10 Power level
12
76 8 9
3 4
10
5

Battery Installation |9
Battery Installation
The VM-160-V2 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 longest battery life, lithium or NiMH batteries are
recommended.
To install batteries, make sure the VM-160-V2 is turned o, and follow
these steps:
1. Press on the battery compartment cover, and slide it in the direction
of the arrow to open it.
1

10 |Battery Installation
2. Insert batteries in the correct orientations.
3. Close the battery compartment cover.
Important! When battery power is low, the battery level indicator will
blink on the LCD. Replace all four batteries at the same time. Do not mix
battery types or brands, or use old and new batteries together.
2
3

Mounting the Power Control Unit |11
Mounting the Power Control Unit
1. Make sure the VM-160-V2 is turned o, and 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.
1 2 3

12 |Mounting the LED Ring Light
Mounting the LED Ring Light
The LED ring light mounts onto your camera’s lens via one of the included adapter rings: 40.5, 52, 55, 58, 62,
67, 72, and 77 mm.
1. Determine the adapter ring size for your camera lens. The
engraving on the ring should match your lens’s filter thread.
2. Screw the adapter ring onto your camera lens.
3. Press and hold both lens adapter ring locks and attach the ring
light onto the lens adapter. Make sure the ring light is securely
attached onto the lens adapter, and release the locks.
Note: Make sure the Bolt logo is on the bottom of the ring light and
facing away from the camera.
Important! Use manual focus as some lenses have front elements that rotate during autofocusing.
23

Operating the VM-160-V2 |13
Operating the VM-160-V2
Power
Press and hold the Power button for 3 seconds until
the LCD on the power control unit turns on.
Test Flash
Fire a test by pressing the Pilot button. The ring light
will flash once.
Full Flash Mode
Full Flash uses all the ring light’s LEDs and turns on
for approximately half a second when the camera’s
shutter is released. Engage the Full Flash mode
by pressing the Mode button repeatedly until the
indicator appears on the LCD.
/Left and Right Flash Mode
For more dramatic lighting, you can set your
VM-160-V2 to illuminate only from the left or right half
of the LED ring light. To set your VM-160-V2 to Left or
Right mode, press the Mode button repeatedly until
the or indicator appears on the LCD.
Light Mode
Pressing Light mode will turn on the LEDs for
continuous lighting. This is ideal for seeing exactly
where the light will fall, as well as for shooting video.
Press the Light button so the indicator appears on the
LCD.

14 |Operating the VM-160-V2
Brightness Adjustment
You can adjust the brightness output of your VM-160-V2 with eight levels from 1/128, 1/64, 1/32, 1/16, 1/8, 1/4,
1/2, and 1/1. Adjust by pressing the Right or Left navigation buttons to increase or decrease the brightness. The
onscreen power level displays the current brightness output.
LCD Illumination
To illuminate the LCD, press the Set button. The LCD will illuminate for about 10 seconds.
Sleep Mode
After 30 seconds of inactivity, the VM-160-V2 will automatically enter SL power-saving mode to conserve battery
life. To reactivate the VM-160-V2, press the Power button or your camera’s shutter-release button. During long
periods of inactivity, use the Power button to turn the ring light o completely.

Operating the VM-160-V2 |15
Battery Level Indicator
The battery level indicator on the LCD shows
the remaining battery power.
When switching from Light mode to a Flash
mode, the power level indicator may rise to a
higher level. This happens when the battery
power is very low and indicates the batteries
will have a longer eective life in Flash mode.
Note: the flash modes will work only if the control unit is mounted on the camera’s hot shoe.
LCD Display Status Battery Level
70%–100%
40%–69%
10%–39%
0%–9%

16 |Attaching the Amber Filter
Attaching the Amber Filter
The VM-160-V2 comes with an amber filter which modifies the light
output and produces a warmer glow on your subject.
Match the filter with the base of the ring light and press it on until secure.

Troubleshooting |17
Troubleshooting
Problem Solution
The VM-160-V2 is stuck in the camera hot shoe. Make sure the mounting foot lock is loosened.
The VM-160-V2 is turned on and is in Light
mode but won’t light up.
Make sure fresh batteries are installed and are in the proper orientation.
The VM-160-V2 is turned on and is in Flash
mode but won’t fire.
Make sure fresh batteries are installed and are in the proper orientation.
Make sure the control unit is securely attached to the camera.
Make sure the electrical contact on the foot of the control unit is not
dirty. Clean it and try again.
The VM-160-V2 is rotating right or left while the
camera is focusing.
Your lens has a rotating front element. Use manual focus.
The battery indicator fluctuates between full
and empty when reinstalling the same batteries
repeatedly.
This is normal and may happen when the batteries are nearly
exhausted. Replace the batteries.

18 |Specifications
Specifications
Mount Standard hot shoe
Lens filter thread 40.5, 52, 55, 58, 62, 67, 72, and 77 mm
Color temperature 5500 K
Filter color temperature 3200 K
Exposure time 1/100 sec.
Power source 4× AA lithium, NiMH, or alkaline batteries
Dimensions (H × W × D) Power control unit: 4.1 × 2.75 × 1.65 in. (104 × 70 × 42 mm)
LED ring light: 4.8 × 4.6 × 0.8 in. (123 × 117 × 21 mm)
Weight (without batteries) 7.8 oz. (224 g)

Warranty |19
One-Year Limited Warranty
This BOLT product is warranted to the original purchaser to be free from defects in materials and workmanship under normal
consumer use for a period of one (1) year from the original purchase date or thirty (30) days after replacement, whichever occurs
later. The warranty provider’s responsibility with respect to this limited warranty shall be limited solely to repair or replacement, at the
provider’s discretion, of any product that fails during normal use of this product in its intended manner and in its intended environment.
Inoperability of the product or part(s) shall be determined by the warranty provider. If the product has been discontinued, the warranty
provider reserves the right to replace it with a model of equivalent quality and function.
This warranty does not cover damage or defect caused by misuse, neglect, accident, alteration, abuse, improper installation or
maintenance. EXCEPT AS PROVIDED HEREIN, THE WARRANTY PROVIDER MAKES NEITHER ANY EXPRESS WARRANTIES NOR ANY
IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO ANY IMPLIED WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A
PARTICULAR PURPOSE. This warranty provides you with specific legal rights, and you may also have additional rights that vary from
state to state.
To obtain warranty coverage, contact the BOLT Customer Service Department to obtain a return merchandise authorization (“RMA”)
number, and return the defective product to BOLT along with the RMA number and proof of purchase. Shipment of the defective
product is at the purchaser’s own risk and expense.
For more information or to arrange service, visit www.boltflashes.com or call Customer Service at 212-594-2353.
Product warranty provided by the Gradus Group.
www.gradusgroup.com
BOLT is a registered trademark of the Gradus Group. © 2023 Gradus Group LLC. All Rights Reserved.

GG2